35.81 - Acquisition of Radioactive Materials

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Last updated: October 7, 2024

A. General. Radioactive materials may be obtained by several methods. The major source of radioactive materials is the purchase of radioisotopes and sealed sources from commercial vendors. Other sources include, but are not limited to, surplus or donated radioactive materials, neutron activation material, the transfer of materials from one user to another, and the transfer of material from another institution or organization to the University of Idaho.

A-1. Regardless of the method used to acquire radioactive material, users must have authorization from the Radiation Safety Committee or written permission from the radiation safety officer before they can obtain radioactive material [See FSH 1640.71 and FSH 6120 H-3]. Please refer also to the university’s 1996 Radiation Safety Manual.

A-2. The use of radioactive materials and radiation producing equipment on UI property is subject to the terms and conditions of the university’s Broad Scope Radioactive Materials License No. 11-27382-01 issued by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The terms of that license require adherence to procedures outlined in the 1996 Radiation Safety Manual. The university is subject to significant penalties, as well as potential loss of its broad license, for violations of procedures specified in the Manual.

B. Process. The process of purchasing radioactive materials requires the use of a requisition, similar to other types of purchases, and a valid “Permit to Purchase Radioactive Materials” form. The radiation safety officer or designee approves the “Permit to Purchase Radioactive Materials” form and Purchasing Services processes the requisition. All other methods of acquiring radioactive material require approval from the radiation safety officer or designee.

C. Procedures. Personnel at the Moscow campus who have received authorization from the Radiation Safety Committee to use radioactive material can order materials by complying with the following steps (procedures for obtaining and receiving radioactive materials at university facilities located outside of Moscow shall be determined by the Radiation Safety Committee at the time of authorization):

C-1. Procedures for Ordering From a Commercial Vendor.

i) Complete a requisition describing the radioactive material(s) to be ordered. Type "RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS" on the first line in the Description section of the requisition form. Departmental Purchase Orders (DPOs) may not be used to order radioactive materials.

ii) Complete the Permit to Purchase Radioactive Materials Form RSM-2M and attach to the requisition.

iii) Obtain the signature of the radiation safety officer or designee.

iv) Follow the normal procedures for processing a requisition.

v) It shall be the responsibility of Purchasing Services to ensure all requisitions are accompanied by a completed Permit to Purchase Radioactive Materials Form RSM-2M before issuing a purchase order.

vi) The purchase order must show the following as the “ship-to” address:

Name of Authorized User c/o Radiation Safety Officer Environmental Health and Safety University of Idaho 1108 West Sixth Street Moscow, ID 83844-2030

vii) For those departments processing requisitions electronically, complete the Permit to Purchase Radioactive Materials Form RSM-2M, obtain the radiation safety officer or designee's signature, and forward the form to Purchasing Services. Purchasing Services will match the requisition with the Permit to Purchase Radioactive Materials form.

viii) Before processing an order for radioactive materials, a vendor must have in possession a valid copy of the university's radioactive materials license. Please contact the radiation safety officer or designee to verify if a vendor has a current copy of the university's radioactive materials license on file or requires a copy.

C-2. Procedures for Obtaining Surplus or Donated Radioactive Materials. Personnel obtaining surplus or donated radioactive material must obtain approval from the radiation safety officer before acquiring this material. The radiation safety officer shall ensure the university is licensed to possess this type and amount of radioactive material and shall determine whether or not it is in the best interests of the university to accept this material.

C-3. Procedures for Obtaining Radioactive Material by Neutron Activation. Users must obtain a release form from the radiation safety officer or designee before obtaining irradiated materials at Washington State University's nuclear reactor. Irradiated materials must first be brought to the Environmental Health and Safety Office after arriving on campus for check-in and monitoring requirements.

C-4. Procedures for Transferring Radioactive Materials.

i) Radioactive materials may be transferred from an authorized user to the radiation safety officer for waste disposal.

ii) Radioactive materials may be transferred from one user to another upon written approval of the radiation safety officer or designee, providing the receiving user is authorized to use the materials being transferred.

iii) Approval from the radiation safety officer or designee shall be required before transferring radioactive materials to or away from the University of Idaho.

C-5. Procedures for Obtaining Uranium-and Thorium-Containing Materials.

i) Possession of 125 grams or less of uranium- or thorium-containing material will not require authorization from the Radiation Safety Committee. However, this material will require registration with the radiation safety officer to ensure compliance with Nuclear Regulatory Commission regulations.

ii) Possession of more than 125 grams of uranium- or thorium-containing material will require authorization from the Radiation Safety Committee.

C-6. Exempt Radioactive Materials -The Radiation Safety Committee does not consider any radioactive materials used for research or teaching purposes as exempt. All planned acquisition of radioactive material must be reported to the radiation safety officer. Certain commercially available sealed products (including items such as timepieces, static eliminators, lock illuminators, thermostat dials and pointers, night compasses, exit lights, and smoke alarms) may be exempt from authorization requirements. The radiation safety officer or designee may be contacted for further clarification.

D. Information. For further information, consult the 1996 Radiation Safety Manual or call the Environmental Health and Safety Office, (208) 885-6524.

Version History

Amended October 2024. Minor edit to update owner position title.