Part 300: Obtaining Authorization to Use Radioactive Materials

• 300.10 Introduction
• 300.20 Format for Application
• 300.30 Departmental and College Responsibilities
• 300.40 Submittal of Application
• 300.50 Radiation Safety Committee Responsibilities
• 300.60 Changes in Authorized Use
• 300.70 Renewal of an Authorization

300.10 Introduction

Any person who wishes to use radioactive materials shall first obtain authorization from the Radiation Safety Committee. A written request following the format in Part 300.20 shall be submitted to the Radiation Safety Committee via the radiation safety officer. The request will be reviewed by the radiation safety officer prior to any action taken by the Radiation Safety Committee. 

300.20 Format for Application To Use Radioactive Materials

1. Section 1 - User Information - Provide the information listed below.
   1. Name
   2. Department
   3. Office
   4. Phone Number
2. Section 2 - Type and Maximum Quantity of Radioactive Material(s) Requested - List each radioisotope and the possession limit required. Please be reasonable in requesting possession limits but also allow enough to cover the storage of waste and for acquisition of new material.
3. Section 3 - Description of Intended Use of Radioactive Materials - The description must include sufficient detail so that the Radiation Safety Committee will have a clear understanding of the intended use. Detailed protocols and experimental procedures no longer than three pages each may be included as appendices in the application. Do not include reprints of publications. Please be careful not to use language, jargon or phrases that are specific to your type of research.
4. Section 4 - Personnel, Experience and Training - List all personnel, including yourself, employees, and students, who will be present during the use of radioactive materials. Refer to Part 600 for definitions and rules regarding user categories. List the user status for each person. For authorized and general supervised users, include the training and experience for each user.
5. Section 5 - Location of Use - List all locations where radioactive materials will be used and whether they will be a restricted or unrestricted area (please refer to Part 305 for an explanation of restricted versus unrestricted areas). Indicate which rooms will be the main areas of use, which will be storage locations, which areas are equipment rooms, and which areas will have minimal use. Also, include a description of the facilities (fume hoods, freezers/refrigerators, other equipment) that are available and will be used for research with radioactive materials.
   NOTE 1: A work place, work space, room or laboratory where radioactive materials are used is defined as the entire space enclosed by fire-resistive boundaries.
   NOTE 2: Some rooms or areas may be used by more than one authorized user. In these situations, a central use log must be maintained by all users that identifies the user(s), describes the activities that were conducted, and records the time and date. Applicants must indicate in their applications if they will be using radioactive materials in a multi-user space. The radiation safety officer or designee can be contacted to determine if a space is being used by another user(s).
6. Section 6 - Radiation Detection Instrumentation - Include a description of the types of radiation detection instrumentation that will be used for analysis, surveying and personnel monitoring. List the instruments by manufacturer, model number, and type of detector, if applicable.
7. Section 7 - Waste Disposal and Storage - Describe the type(s) of waste material that will be generated, the chemical or biological characteristics associated with the waste(s), and the method(s) of disposal. Please refer to Part 340 for waste disposal information.
8. Section 8 - Personnel Safety - Indicate if any personnel monitoring or bioassays are required and for what isotopes. Describe any special monitoring or safety practices that would be necessary for the types of activities conducted. Please account for routes of entry of radioactive materials (e.g., skin contact/absorption, ingestion, inhalation, etc.) and radiation exposures and how personnel will be protected (e.g., personal protective equipment, fume hoods, safety devices, etc.).
9. Section 9 - Signatures and Date - The authorized user(s) must sign and date the application. By signing the application, each authorized user affirms that he/she has read the University of Idaho Radiation Safety Manual and is aware of the requirements for using radioactive materials.

300.30 Departmental and College Responsibilities

The department chair and college dean must also review and sign the application. Approval by the department chair and college dean affirms that he/she is aware of the research being conducted by the authorized user and that adequate facilities and equipment are available for this type of research. Departmental and college approval also affirms that if the authorized user is unable to pay any costs resulting from the use, acquisition, and storage of radioactive materials (e.g., resignation or termination of employment, insufficient teaching or research funding, etc.), the department and/or college has an obligation to pay these costs.

300.40 Submittal of Application

The applicant will submit one copy of the Application To Use Radioactive Materials with original signatures to the radiation safety officer. The radiation safety officer will evaluate the application prior to review by the Radiation Safety Committee and recommend changes or corrections, if any, to the applicant.

300.50 Radiation Safety Committee Responsibilities:

1. The committee shall review each application and ascertain that:
   1. The applicant has suitable training, experience, facilities and equipment to safely use and/or conduct experiments involving radioactive materials;
   2. Adequate operating and handling precautions are taken by the applicant; and
   3. The safety of personnel and the general public are protected.
2. The committee may request more information from the applicant before reaching a decision. The decision of the Radiation Safety Committee is final.
3. The committee shall notify the applicant in writing of the disposition of the application and shall specify terms under which the use of radioactive materials is authorized.
4. The committee shall also provide to the radiation safety officer any instructions for personnel monitoring, surveying, required posting of caution signs, etc., it deems appropriate and as required by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission regulations.
5. Upon approval by the Radiation Safety Committee of the application to use radioactive materials, the authorized user shall receive a Radioactive Materials Authorization Form RSM-1M and a unique authorization number.

300.60 Changes in Authorized Use

Users who have been authorized to use radioactive materials must amend their authorization whenever there will be a change in the use of the radioactive materials. These changes include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Changes in the type of radioactive material.
2. Changes in the possession limit of a radioactive material.
3. Changes in the intended use of a radioactive material (if the user is in doubt about what is a change in the intended use, please contact the radiation safety officer or clarification).
4. Changes in the location of use of a radioactive material.
5. Changes in the status of individual users (e.g., from a direct supervised user to a general supervised user).
6. Changes in waste disposal methods.

The user must request and receive approval from the Radiation Safety Committee prior to initiating the change.

The radiation safety officer is allowed to approve changes in the possession limit of a previously approved radioisotope, changes in the location of use, changes in the disposal limits for liquid radioactive waste, and changes in the status of an individual user. This approval will only be temporary until acted upon by the Radiation Safety Committee at the next scheduled committee meeting.

300.70 Renewal of an Authorization

The authorization issued by the Radiation Safety Committee is effective for three years. To renew an authorization, the user shall submit a full application to the Radiation Safety Committee via the radiation safety officer thirty days prior to the stated expiration date. The renewal application must include a cover page summarizing any changes from the previous application. In addition, the user may reference in the renewal application previously submitted experimental protocols and procedures if there have been no changes.