RG Ab [bp 1320 Collection LVMGaoSafer) - [, Box Fetter - J 411676 DRAFT MEMO, TOTTER TO FLOCK, CONCERNING ESTAPLISHMENT SF INTERIM GROUND CONTAMINATION VALUES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PLUTCNIUM, I attended the meating cf the Nevada Plutonium Committee, in which Chet sought advise on establishment of the subject interim values. The com- mittee response is factually reported ir the draft. approach, T bave the followina comments: fs to the sugqaested An interim auide is, a number or numbers one uses until somethina better 7s available. He need the auide now. The suqecestad ap- proach, i.e., “approach the 00D,” "evaluate existine information,” "“axplore areas of required future research,” seems to dron the notion Gf interim cuide in order to ge for “definitive culdes or standards.” TI don't opt aqainst such an effort, rather suggest that interim cuides should be based on what 1s known new. ?, Cooperation with the DOD has been tried in order to cet usable data (fram fiel¢c experiments such as plutonium scattering in Meyaday, but such additional effort is nat needed to aet early interim numbers for APC use. AEC s nul’ orevide the leadership and set the precedence. 3. In my view, interin quides of two types are neadcod: a. For cleanup of recent accidents, t.9., freshly denosited Pu. The nurbers world be in units of suantity of Pu per unit area and actual values would probably be in the ranae of 9.4 to 4% Ci per square mater for ¢39Pu oxpressed as an averaqe for an area. Choosing the numbers and assicning a oroper context is more a matter of conscience tan brains. bp. ous [& Rohert J. Catlin Division of Gperaticnal tafety 1. were wand ' } } iemOR AES ee A RIE September 30, 1971 US DOE ARCHIVE® _ 326 U.S. ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION For cleanun of old debris like Pikisi. Secky Flats, and NTS, quides should he expressed in terms of average quantity ofPu ner qram of soil. Actual values would probably die in the ranae from 1% to 1,900 pCi/qr as an average value for zero to one inch depth. Levels of Pu in soil below one inch depth should >= considered case by case. BEST COPY AVAILABLE