Radioactive Materials

Title:	Radioactive Materials
Publication date:	2/15/2025
Effective date:	10/30/2020

BRIEF

Policy Summary

This policy describes Berkeley Lab's approach to ensuring the safe control of radioactive material and radioactive items. Policies and practices include:

Control and accountability of radioactive material
Inventory control and quarterly reports
Physical security of nuclear and radioactive material

Who Should Read This Policy

All persons who plan to work in or near an area controlled for radiological protection or who plan to work with or support work with radiological materials or radiation-generating devices capable of producing induced radioactivity.

To Read the Full Policy, Go To:

The POLICY tab on this page

To Read the ES&H Program Details, Go To:

ES&H Manual Chapter 21

Contact Information

David Kestell

Radiological Control Manager
Environment, Waste, and Radiation Protection Department
Environment, Health, and Safety Division
[email protected]

Title:	Radioactive Materials
Publication date:	2/15/2025
Effective date:	10/30/2020

POLICY

A. Purpose

This policy describes Berkeley Lab's standards for controlling radioactive materials, radioactive items, and radioactive sources.

B. Persons Affected

All persons who plan to work in or near an area controlled for radiological protection or who plan to work with or support work with radiological materials or radiation-generating devices capable of producing induced radioactivity.

C. Exceptions

Not applicable

D. Policy Statement

Berkeley Lab applies radiological safety practices to control radioactive material and radioactive items. Policies and practices include:

Control and Accountability of Radioactive Material
Inventory Control and Quarterly Reports
Physical Security of Nuclear and Radioactive Material

Berkeley Lab's Environment, Health and Safety Division, in collaboration with the Security and Emergency Services Division, has responsibility for establishing programs and procedures that address these requirements.

D.1 Control and Accountability of Radioactive Material

General: Only radioactive material authorized by an approved RPG-reviewed work authorization will be procured. All incoming shipments of radioactive materials will be delivered to the RPG for survey and inclusion in the Laboratory inventory control system prior to being delivered to their intended final destination.
Nuclear Material Control and Accountability Program: Nuclear materials are materials that DOE has identified as requiring special controls to prevent their loss or theft. The Nuclear Material Control and Accountability Program at Berkeley Lab is outlined in the institutional program procedure Material Control and Accountability Plan (MCAP).

D.2 Inventory Control and Quarterly Reports

Radioactive materials must be controlled at all times. Each Activity Lead (AL) or assigned custodian is responsible for maintaining accurate records of the amount and type of radioactive material in storage and use in their laboratory. All transfers, receipts, and movements of radioactive materials must be coordinated with the RPG. Each quarter, through the Radiological Authorization Database And Reports (RADAR) system, RPG provides a Quarterly Inventory Report (QIR) to the AL. The AL must promptly update the report.

Sealed radioactive sources must be signed out when removed from the storage location, and the use location must be tracked. The RPG performs periodic inventory audits for all radioactive materials, including sealed sources.

D.3 Physical Security of Nuclear and Radioactive Material

DOE nuclear-material control requirements consist of four function areas: access controls, material surveillance, material containment, and detection/assessment. Berkeley Lab maintains a rigorous nuclear-material control program. Berkeley Lab's nuclear-material containment policy is based on the graded safeguards approach and the consequence of loss. The material surveillance program implemented at Berkeley Lab includes storage/use area proximity alarms, video surveillance, and standardized administrative controls.

Radioactive materials not defined as DOE nuclear material must also be accounted for and protected from theft or misuse. Radioactive materials should be stored and used in limited-access facilities and secured when not in use.

E. Roles and Responsibilities

Role	Responsibility
Nuclear Material Control and Accountability Team	Develops and promulgates LBNL’s Material Control and Accountability Plan Manages the Berkeley Lab Nuclear Material Control and Accountability Program
Activity Lead	Maintains accurate records of the amount and type of radioactive material in storage and use in their laboratory Protects radioactive materials from theft and misuse Completes the Quarterly Inventory Report
Radiation Protection Group (RPG)	Approves procurement of radioactive materials Receives and surveys incoming and outgoing radioactive material shipments Enters radioactive materials into the inventory control system Delivers incoming shipments of radioactive materials to their final destination Provides Activity Leads with Quarterly Inventory Reports through the RADAR database Performs periodic radioactive material inventory audits
Workers	Sign out and track use locations of sealed sources Protect radioactive materials from theft and misuse Coordinate transfers, receipts, and movements of radioactive materials with RPG Coordinate transfers, receipts, and movements of radioactive materials with the NMC&A Team

F. Definitions/Acronyms

Term	Definition
NMMSS	Nuclear Materials Management and Safeguard System
Nuclear materials	Materials used in the production, testing, use, or assembly of nuclear weapons or components of nuclear weapons that the Secretary of Energy determines to be nuclear material
QIR	Quarterly Inventory Report
Sealed radioactive sources	Radioactive materials encapsulated or plated in such a way that they will not be dispersed under normal conditions

G. Recordkeeping Requirements

The care, maintenance, and disposition of RPG records will be done in accordance with Berkeley Lab records management policies and procedures.

H. Implementing Documents

Document number	Title	Type
07.08.001.001	Radiation Protection Program	Program
N/A	Radiological Control Manual	Manual

I. Contact Information