[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 10, Volume 1]
[Revised as of January 1, 2005]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 10CFR34.27]

[Page 551-552]
 
                            TITLE 10--ENERGY
 
                CHAPTER I--NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
 
PART 34_LICENSES FOR INDUSTRIAL RADIOGRAPHY AND RADIATION SAFETY REQUIREMENTS 
FOR INDUSTRIAL RADIOGRAPHIC OPERATIONS--Table of Contents
 
                           Subpart C_Equipment
 
Sec. 34.27  Leak testing and replacement of sealed sources.

    (a) The replacement of any sealed source fastened to or contained in 
a radiographic exposure device and leak testing of any sealed source 
must be performed by persons authorized to do so by the NRC or an 
Agreement State.
    (b) The opening, repair, or modification of any sealed source must 
be performed by persons specifically authorized to do so by the 
Commission or an Agreement State.
    (c) Testing and recordkeeping requirements.
    (1) Each licensee who uses a sealed source shall have the source 
tested for leakage at intervals not to exceed 6 months. The leak testing 
of the source must be performed using a method approved by the 
Commission or by an Agreement State. The wipe sample should be taken 
from the nearest accessible point to the sealed source where 
contamination might accumulate. The wipe sample must be analyzed for 
radioactive contamination. The analysis must be capable of detecting the 
presence of 185 Bq (0.005 microcurie) of radioactive material on the 
test sample and must be performed by a person specifically authorized by 
the Commission or an Agreement State to perform the analysis.
    (2) The licensee shall maintain records of the leak tests in 
accordance with Sec. 34.67.
    (3) Unless a sealed source is accompanied by a certificate from the 
transferor that shows that it has been leak tested within 6 months 
before the transfer, it may not be used by the licensee until tested for 
leakage. Sealed sources that are in storage and not in use do not 
require leak testing, but must be tested before use or transfer to 
another person if the interval of storage exceeds 6 months.
    (d) Any test conducted pursuant to paragraph (c) of this section 
which reveals the presence of 185 Bq (0.005 microcurie) or more of 
removable radioactive material must be considered evidence that the 
sealed source is leaking. The licensee shall immediately withdraw the 
equipment involved from use and shall have it decontaminated and 
repaired or disposed of in accordance with Commission regulations. A 
report must be filed with the Director of Nuclear Material Safety and 
Safeguards, by an appropriate method listed in Sec. 30.6(a) of this 
chapter, the report to be filed within 5 days of any test with results 
that exceed the threshold in this paragraph (d), and to describe the 
equipment involved, the test results, and the corrective action taken. A 
copy of the report must be sent to the Administrator of the appropriate 
Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Regional Office listed in appendix D of 
10 CFR part 20 of this chapter ``Standards for Protection Against 
Radiation.''
    (e) Each exposure device using depleted uranium (DU) shielding and 
an ``S'' tube configuration must be tested for DU contamination at 
intervals not to exceed 12 months. The analysis must be capable of 
detecting the presence of 185 Bq (0.005 microcuries) of radioactive 
material on the test sample and must be performed by a person 
specifically authorized by the Commission or an Agreement State to 
perform the analysis. Should such testing reveal the presence of 185 Bq 
(0.005 microcuries) or more of removable DU contamination, the exposure 
device must be removed from use until an evaluation of the wear on the 
S-tube has been made. Should the evaluation reveal that the S-tube is 
worn through, the device may not be used again. DU shielded devices do 
not have to be tested for DU contamination while in storage and not in 
use. Before using or transferring such a device however, the device must 
be tested for DU contamination if the interval of storage exceeded 12 
months. A record of the DU leak-test must be made in accordance with 
Sec. 34.67. Licensees will have until June 27, 1998, to

[[Page 552]]

comply with the DU leak-testing requirements of this paragraph.

[62 FR 28963, May 28, 1997, as amended at 63 FR 37061, July 9, 1998; 67 
FR 77652, Dec. 19, 2002; 68 FR 58805, Oct. 10, 2003]