We have been asked by the Dpartment of Energy to share the following information with the physics community. If you have questions, please direct them to Raymond Greenberg (Raymond.F.Greenberg.Jr@nnsa.doe.gov ) at the Department of Energy.
Warren
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The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) sponsors a program to recover excess and unwanted radioactive sealed sources presenting disposal difficulties. The DOE conducts this program with reduced or no costs to the licensees. Traditionally, the program dealt largely with americium-241 and plutonium sources. Owing to heightened concerns about terrorist threats to steal radioactive material for use in a dirty bomb, the DOE is moving aggressively to include other isotopes of concern. Medical licensees are encouraged to register other sealed sources for potential inclusion in this program. The DOE is currently emphasizing larger excess sources containing cobalt-60 and cesium-137, such as medical irradiators. The DOE is also considering a campaign to manage large numbers of small obsolete sources, examples of which are cesium-137 brachytherapy sources, and various radium-226, americium-241, and other sources. To be considered, institutions must register their material with Los Alamos Na
tional Laboratory. Use this link
Dr. Warren W. Hein
Associate Executive Officer
American Association of Physics Teachers
One Physics Ellipse
College Park, MD 20740-3842