EPA’S CLEAN MATERIALS PROGRAM- A YEAR OF PROGRESS

摘要

During the past year the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has made significant progress inrnachieving the objectives of its Clean Materials Program, designed to control the introduction ofrnradioactive materials into the consumer metal supply. EPA is addressing the issue of radioactivelyrncontaminated scrap metal and consumer products on the international and domestic levels.rnParticipation on the IAEA workgroup to develop clearance values has concluded, with an issuance ofrnan IAEA Safety Guide expected in 2001. If adopted by IAEA member states, these values will controlrnthe amount of radioactivity in scrap metals being released from nuclear facilities in these states. EPA isrnnow focusing its efforts on working with IAEA to develop an international interception values, whichrnwill prevent radioactive material from crossing international borders. On the domestic front, EPArncommenced its pilot program to collect “orphan” radioactive sources with the assistance of thernConference of Radiation Control Program Directors (CRCPD) and the Colorado Department of PublicrnHealth and Environment (CDPHE). These sources, which have fallen out of regulatory control, pose arnsignificant threat to workers and the general public. Thirty-four of these sources, which are currently inrnthe hands of persons not licensed to own them, are scheduled to be recycled by the manufacturer orrndisposed of by early 2001. An interactive CD ROM-based training program for first responders isrnbeing developed to prevent radiological exposure to those who are responsible for addressing radiationrnalarms at metal processing facilities. These alarms are often the result of illegal “orphan” sources inrnscrap metal loads.