NORM – A SPECIAL CASE IN THE U.S.?

摘要

Based on 32 years of experience in a state radiation regulatory program this paper willrnexamine the many differences that exist in the United States in the manner in whichrnnaturally occur ring radioactive material (NORM) is regulated versus the manner in whichrnother radioactive material is regulated. In particular it will highlight the wide disparity inrnthe risks allowed to the public from technologically enhanced naturally occurringrnradioactive material (TENORM) waste versus Atomic Energy Act (AEA) regulatedrnradioactive material. In addition some comparisons will be made between the level ofrnacceptable risk from machine sources of radiation and AEA radioactive material. Therndifferences in the Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors Suggested StaternRegulations Part N for TENORM and the accepted national standards for release ofrnsurface contaminated materials will be highlighted. Specific references will be made tornthe recent decision of the Secretary of the Department of Energy to restrict the release ofrndecontaminated nickel to the metals market. In addition the dramatic differences in thernlevel of protection provided by the new standard promulgated by the EnvironmentalrnProtection agency for radionuclides in drinking water will also be highlighted.rnIn the United States today TENORM is only regulated by the states. It is a subset of thernnon-AEA radioactive material, which is not regulated at the federal level. Acceleratorrnproduced radioactive material is another subset of the non-AEA radioactive material.rnTENORM is important because it is associated with numerous activities of man and has arngreater potential for exposing the public than most other radioactive material. This is onernof the major dichotomies with this issue, the radioactive material with the most potentialrnto expose the public is the one with the least regulation and even where there is regulationrnit does not provide the same level of protection that is provided for AEA regulatedrnradioactive materials. Radium, one of the most dangerous radioactive materials known,rnis a major component of TENORM. Numerous instances have occurred involvingrnTENORM in which the public has received significant exposures. Table I belowrngenerally depicts the regulatory scheme in the United States.