| (ii) a description of the radioactive source involved,
including radionuclide, activity, chemical and physical form, and
manufacturer, model number and serial number;
(iii) surface location and identification of well;
(iv) results of efforts to immobilize and seal the
source in place;
(v) depth of the radioactive source;
(vi) depth of the top of the cement plug;
(vii) depth of the well; and
(viii) information contained on the permanent identification
plaque.
(6) Whenever a sealed source containing radioactive
material is abandoned downhole, the licensee shall provide a permanent
plaque (an example of a suggested plaque is shown in subsection (ee)(3)
of this section) for posting on the well or wellbore. This plaque
shall meet the following requirements:
(A) be constructed of long-lasting material such as
stainless steel, brass, bronze, or monel. The size of the plaque should
be convenient for use on active or inactive wells; for example, a
7-inch (17 cm) square. Letter size of the word "CAUTION" should be
approximately twice the letter size of the rest of the information;
for example, 1/2 inch (1.27 cm) and 1/4 inch (0.63 cm) letter size,
respectively; and
(B) contain the following engraved information on its
face:
(i) the word "CAUTION;"
(ii) the radiation symbol (color not required);
(iii) the date of abandonment;
(iv) the name of the well operator or well owner;
(v) the well name and well identification number(s)
or other designation;
(vi) radionuclide(s) and activity(ies) of the source(s);
(vii) the source depth and the plug back depth (depth
to the top of the plug); and
(viii) an appropriate warning, depending on the specific
circumstances of each abandonment, such as the following:
(I) "Do not drill below plug back depth;"
(II) "Do not enlarge casing;" or
(III) "Do not re-enter hole before contacting Radiation
Control, Texas Department of State Health Services."
(7) The licensee shall immediately notify the agency
by telephone and confirming letter if the licensee knows or has reason
to believe that radioactive material has been lost in or to an underground
potable water source. Such notice shall designate well location and
describe the magnitude and extent of loss of radioactive material,
consequences of such loss and efforts taken or planned to mitigate
these consequences.
(8) In the event of an uncontrolled release of radioactive
tracer material to the environment, the licensee shall notify the
agency by telephone within 24 hours and submit written notification
within 30 days.
(ee) Appendices.
(1) Subjects to be included in training courses for
well logging service operations and/or tracer studies are as follows:
(A) fundamentals of radiation safety that include:
(i) characteristics of radiation;
(ii) units of radiation dose (rem) and activity;
(iii) significance of radiation dose specifying radiation
protection standards and biological effects of radiation;
(iv) levels of radiation from sources of radiation;
(v) methods of controlling radiation dose specifying
time, distance, and shielding;
(vi) radiation safety practices, specifying prevention
of contamination and methods of decontamination; and
(vii) discussion of ingestion, inhalation pathways;
(B) radiation detection instrumentation to be used
that includes:
(i) use of radiation survey instruments specifying
operation, calibration, and limitations;
(ii) survey techniques; and
(iii) use of individual monitoring devices;
(C) equipment to be used that specifies;
(i) handling equipment and remote handling tools;
(ii) sources of radiation;
(iii) storage control, disposal, and transport of equipment
and sources of radiation;
(iv) operation and control of equipment; and
(v) maintenance of equipment;
(D) pertinent federal and state requirements;
(E) the licensee's or registrant's written operating,
safety, and emergency procedures;
(F) the licensee's or registrant's record keeping procedures;
and
(G) case histories and potential consequences of accidents
in well logging service operations and tracer studies.
(2) In addition to the subjects for training courses
required in paragraph (1) of this subsection, individuals performing
tracer studies must also complete training in the following subjects:
(A) sources of contamination;
(B) contamination detection and control;
(C) decontamination techniques and limits;
(D) survey techniques for tracer materials; and
(E) packaging requirements for transportation of radioactive
materials, especially residual materials from tracer studies.
(3) The following is an example of a plaque for identifying
wells containing sealed sources of radioactive material abandoned
downhole:
Attached Graphic
(4) The licensee's or registrant's operating, safety,
and emergency procedures shall include descriptions of and instructions
in at least the following:
(A) the handling and use of sources of radiation in
wells without surface casing for protecting fresh water aquifers,
if appropriate;
(B) the handling and use of sources of radiation to
be employed so that no individual is likely to be exposed to radiation
doses in excess of the limits established in §289.202 of this
title, or §289.231 of this title, as applicable. Every reasonable
effort shall be made to keep radiation exposures and releases of radioactive
material in soils and effluents to unrestricted areas as low as is
reasonably achievable;
(C) methods and occasions for conducting radiation
surveys;
(D) methods and occasions for locking and securing
sources of radiation;
(E) personnel monitoring, including bioassays, and
the use of individual monitoring devices;
(F) removal of radioactive material from storage, transportation
of radioactive material to field locations and temporary job sites,
including packaging of sources of radiation in the vehicles, placarding
of vehicles, securing sources of radiation during transportation,
and return to storage;
(G) minimizing exposure of individuals during routine
use and in the event of an accident;
(H) procedures for notifying proper personnel in the
event of an accident or well excursion;
(I) maintenance of records;
(J) use, inspection, and maintenance of source holders,
logging tools, source handling tools, storage containers, transport
containers, and injection tools;
(K) procedures to be followed in the event a sealed
source is lost or lodged downhole;
(L) procedures to be used for picking up, receiving,
handling, and opening packages containing radioactive material;
(M) procedures to be used for surveys of temporary
job sites and equipment, and decontamination of vehicles, associated
equipment, and clothing following tracer studies;
(N) storage and disposal of radioactive waste;
(O) procedures for laundering contaminated clothing,
if applicable;
(P) licensee's or registrant's management structure;
(Q) posting of radiation areas and labeling radioactive
material containers;
(R) procedures to be followed in the event of an uncontrolled
release of radioactive tracer material to the environment; and
(S) actions to be taken if a sealed source is ruptured,
including actions to prevent the spread of contamination and minimize
inhalation and ingestion of radioactive material, and actions to obtain
suitable radiation survey instruments as required by subsection (i)
of this section.
(5) The following records/documents shall be maintained
by the licensee or registrant for inspection by the agency.
Attached Graphic
|
| Source Note: The provisions of this §289.253 adopted to be effective April 15, 1997, 22 TexReg 3297; amended to be effective October 1, 2000, 25 TexReg 9580; amended to be effective April 29, 2003, 28 TexReg 3508; amended to be effective March 29, 2006, 31 TexReg 2458; amended to be effective October 1, 2011, 36 TexReg 5851; amended to be effective March 22, 2015, 40 TexReg 1386; amended to be effective September 24, 2018, 43 TexReg 6289 |
