Ariz. Admin. Code § R9-7-1751 - Notification of Incidents and Lost Sources; Abandonment Procedures for Irretrievable Sources

A. If, after making a reasonable effort to recover a sealed source or device that contains radioactive material using methods that are not likely to result in damage or rupture and contamination, a licensee determines that the source or device is lodged in a well, the licensee shall:

1. Immediately notify the Department by telephone of the circumstances that resulted in the inability to retrieve the source and, if there is no evidence of contamination, obtain the following from the Department:

a. A determination that the source is irretrievable and abandonment is necessary because further efforts to recover the source are likely to result in an immediate threat to public health and safety, and

b. An approval to implement abandonment procedures;

2. Advise the well owner or operator, as applicable, of the abandonment procedures implemented under R9-7-1702(A) and (C); and

3. Either ensure that abandonment procedures are implemented within 30 days after the Department classifies the source as irretrievable or request an extension of time if unable to complete abandonment procedures.

B. A licensee shall immediately notify the Department by telephone and subsequently, within 30 days, by confirmatory letter if the licensee knows or has reason to believe that a sealed source has been ruptured or the well has otherwise been contaminated. The letter shall describe the well location, the magnitude and extent of radioactive contamination, the consequences of the rupture, and the efforts planned or initiated to mitigate the consequences.

C. A licensee shall notify the Department of the theft or loss of any radioactive material, radiation overexposure, excessive levels and concentrations of radiation, and incidents as required by R9-7-443, R9-7-444, and R9-7-445.

D. A licensee shall, within 30 days after a sealed source has been classified as irretrievable, report in writing to the Department.

The licensee shall send a copy of the report to each state or federal agency that issued permits or otherwise approved of the drilling operation. The report shall contain the following information:

1. Date of occurrence;

2. A description of the irretrievable well logging source involved, including the name of the radionuclide and its quantity, and the chemical and physical form of the radio-nuclide;

3. Surface location and identification of the well;

4. Results of efforts to immobilize and seal the source in place;

5. A brief description of the attempted recovery effort;

6. Depth of the source;

7. Depth of the top of the cement plug;

8. Depth of the well;

9. The reasons why further efforts to recover the source are likely to result in an immediate threat to public health and safety, necessitating abandonment;

10. Information contained on the permanent identification plaque; and

11. State and federal agencies receiving a copy of the report.

Notes

Ariz. Admin. Code § R9-7-1751

New Section R9-7-1751 recodified from R12-1-1751 at 24 A.A.R. 813, effective March 22, 2018 (Supp. 18-1).