ENVIRONMENTAL INSTRUMENTATION FOR
IN SITU RADIONUCLIDE ASSAY

L.

E.

Bruns

Rockwell Hanford Operations
Richland, Washington

ABSTRACT

To adequately characterize and note the movement of radionuclides with

time in the Hanford Waste Management Complex, environmental in-field and

tn sttu instruments are being developed by Rockwell Hanford Operations.
The instruments should be invaluable both from a cost and adequate
coverage standpoint.
Several field systems have been fabricated for
assaying the radionuclides using beta, gamma, neutron, alpha, and X-ray
radiation.
Others are in the process of being developed or in the
planning stage.

INTRODUCTION

An advantage of working with radionuclides is the ability to in sttu

detect very small quantities, amounts below that which is harmful to
man.
For waste management of radionuclides at Hanford near Richland,
Washington, public protection assurance can be enhanced today and in the
future by use of environmental tn sttu instruments that can quantify
very low to high levels of radionuclides rapidly and inexpensively.

This presentation includes advantages of tm sttu instruments, the programs being pursued by Rockwell Hanford Operations, and future work.

Rockwell personnel proposed an environmental instrumentation program in
1973 (Bruns, 1973).
This proposal included several mobile vans and
other portable systems.
Since 1973, temporary mobile equipment was
tested and used, available instrumentation was adapted to radionuclide
characterization, two van systems have been developed and fabricated,
and new concepts have been devised.

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