Radioactive Materials in Biosolids: National Survey, Dose Modeling & POTW Guidance

On November 26, 2003, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) published a Notice in the Federal Register (Vol.68, No.228: 66503-66504) announcing the availability of three new documents on the Interagency Steering Committee on Radiation Standards (ISCORS) web site (www.iscors.org) concerni ng radioa ctive mate rials in sewage sl udge and a sh from publicly owned treatment works (POTWs). One of the documents is the final report presenting the results of a volunteer ISCORS survey of sewage sludge and ash samples provided by 313 POTWs. The second document is a draft final dose modeling document, employing multiple exposure pathway modeling focused on a series of generic scenarios, to track possible exposure of POTW workers and members of the general public to radioactivity from the sewage sludge or ash. The third document is a draft final report providing recommendations on the management of radioactivity in sewage sludge and ash for POTW owners and operators. This report includes background information about radioactivity, sources of radioactive materials and how they may enter POTWs, criteria for evaluating levels of radioactive material i n sludge and ash, and a summary of the results of the ISCORS survey and dose modeling efforts.