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DOE Response To The NIST Boulder Plutonium

Contamination Incident

David EverrettContractor Response CoordinatorDOE RAP, Region 6

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RAP Response • Establish continuous air

sampling outside the laboratory entrance

• Contamination control outside the laboratory entrance

• Establish air and smear sample screening methods

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DOE Region 6 RAP • Requested by the NIST Boulder facility on

June 17, 2008

• Provided initial radiological characterization support to NIST radiation safety personnel

• Initial entry into the contaminated area on June 19, 2008

RAP Response (cont.)• Initial entry into the

laboratory areas to evaluate air-borne contamination levels

• Perform contamination measurements and collect smears

• Determine, if possible the activity (amount) remaining in the broken container and laboratory areas

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RAP Response (cont.)• Additional DOE equipment and

personnel deployed to NIST on June 20, 2008• Continuous air sampler (CAM) with auto

alarm capability• Low background sample counter to

resolve high-natural (radon) background levels in air samples

• Additional personnel from DOE plutonium facilities

• Consultation with DOE REAC/TC 5

Advanced Measurements• Portable gamma spectroscopy

• Measure Pu activity remaining in the broken vial, large area wipes, and other sample containers

• Measure activity in duplicate Pu reference standard

• Need accurate distances, long count times, but more importantly contamination issues…

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DOE RAP Conclusions• Extensive removable contamination

observed in the laboratory area• DOE Triage personnel able to provide

initial estimate of remaining Pu activity (60-78%)

• NIST able to combine survey results and measurements to evaluate amount of Pu lost to the sewer system

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Questions ?