Radioactive Waste Disposal Categories

Disposal Through Natural Decay

(RSM Section IV.F)

 Long-term retention of short-lived radioactive material for the purpose of decay is authorized by the RSO on a case by case basis. After retention for a suitable time interval (ten half-lives), evaluate the remaining activity and properly document the evaluation. If the evaluation demonstrates that the activity(s) are below the "exempt quantities of concentrations" [reference 25 TAC §289.202(ggg)(2) – Table II], the RSO may authorize the disposal of the material as conventional waste, provided all radioactive material labels, symbols, etc. are removed and the waste contains no hazardous characteristics.