1. (a) Purpose and scope. This section establishes radiation safety requirements for persons using sources of radiation for well logging service operations, including radioactive markers, mineral exploration and tracer studies. The requirements of this section are in addition to, and not in substitution for, the requirements of §289.112 of this title (relating to Hearing and Enforcement Procedures), §289.114 of this title (relating to Notices, Instructions, and Reports to Workers; Inspections), §289.119 of this title (relating to Radiation Safety Requirements for Particle Accelerators), §289.122 of this title (relating to Registration of Radiation Machine Use and Services), §289.126 of this title (relating to Fees for Certificates of Registration, Radioactive Material(s) Licenses, Emergency Planning and Implementation, and other Regulatory Services), §289.201 of this title (relating to General Provisions), §289.202 of this title (relating to Standards for Protection Against Radiation), and §289.252 of this title (relating to Licensing of Radioactive Material). This section applies to all licensees or registrants who use sources of radiation for well logging service operations, radioactive markers, mineral exploration and tracer studies.

2. (b) Definitions. The following words and terms when used in this section shall have the following meaning unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

   1. (1) Field station--A facility where sources of radiation may be stored or used and from which equipment is dispatched to temporary job sites.
   2. (2) Injection tool--A device used for controlled injection of radioactive tracer material.
   3. (3) Licensing state--Any state with rules equivalent to the Suggested State Regulations for Control of Radiation relating to, and an effective program for, the regulatory control of naturally occurring or accelerator-produced radioactive material (NARM) and has been designated as such by the Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors, Inc.
   4. (4) Logging assistant (equipment operator)--Any individual who, under the personal supervision of a logging supervisor, handles sealed sources or tracers that are not in logging tools or shipping containers or who performs surveys required by subsection (x) of this section.
   5. (5) Logging supervisor (field engineer)--The individual who provides personal supervision of the utilization of sources of radiation at temporary job sites.
   6. (6) Logging tool--A device used subsurface to perform well logging.
   7. (7) Mineral logging--Any logging performed for the purpose of mineral exploration other than oil or gas.
   8. (8) Personal supervision--Guidance and instruction by the supervisor, who is physically present at the job site and in such proximity that visual contact can be maintained and immediate assistance given as required.
   9. (9) Radiation safety officer--An individual named by the licensee or registrant who has a knowledge of, responsibility for, and authority to enforce appropriate radiation protection rules, standards, and practices on behalf of the licensee and/or registrant; and who meets the requirements of subsection (q) of this section.
   10. (10) Radioactive marker--Radioactive material placed subsurface or upon a structure intended for subsurface use for the purpose of depth determination or direction orientation.
   11. (11) Residential location--Any area where structures in which people lodge or live are located, and the grounds on which these structures are located including, but not limited to, houses, apartments, condominiums, and garages.
   12. (12) Service company--Any contracted or subcontracted company that is present at the temporary job site, specifically, that company to which the licensees' equipment is connected and that is exposed to radioactive material.
   13. (13) Source holder--A housing or assembly into which a radioactive source is placed for the purpose of facilitating the handling and use of the source.
   14. (14) Storage container--A container designed to provide radiation safety and security when sources of radiation are being stored.
   15. (15) Temporary job site--A location where well logging or tracer studies are performed other than the specific location(s) listed on a license or certificate of registration.
   16. (16) Tracer study--The release of a substance tagged with radioactive material for the purpose of tracing the movement or position of the tagged substance in the wellbore, at the wellhead, or adjacent formation.
   17. (17) Transport container--A container that meets the regulations of the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) and is designed to provide radiation safety and security when sources of radiation are being transported.
   18. (18) Uranium sinker bar--A weight containing depleted uranium used to aid in the descent of a logging tool down toward the bottom of a wellbore.
   19. (19) Wellbore--A drilled hole in which wireline service operations are performed.
   20. (20) Well logging--All operations involving the lowering and raising of measuring devices or logging tools (that may or may not contain sources of radiation) into wellbores or cavities for the purpose of obtaining information about the well and/or adjacent formations.
   21. (21) Wireline--An armored steel cable containing one or more electrical conductors used to lower and raise logging tools in the wellbore.
   22. (22) Wireline service operation--Any mechanical service that is performed in the wellbore using devices that are lowered into the well on a wireline for purposes of evaluation.

3. (c) Prohibition.

   1. (1) No licensee shall perform well logging service operations with a sealed source(s) in any well or wellbore unless, prior to commencement of the operation, the licensee has a written agreement with the well operator, well owner, drilling contractor, or land owner that specifies who will be responsible for ensuring the following requirements are met:

      1. (A) a reasonable effort at recovery will be made in the event a sealed source is lost or lodged downhole;
      2. (B) a person shall not attempt to recover a sealed source in a manner that, in the licensee's opinion, could result in a source rupture;
      3. (C) in the event the environment, any equipment, or personnel are contaminated with radioactive material, decontamination to levels specified in §289.202(o) and (eee) of this title must be performed; and
      4. (D) the requirements of subsection (aa)(4) of this section shall be met in the event a decision is made to abandon the sealed source downhole.

   2. (2) No licensee shall perform tracer study operations with a substance tagged with radioactive material in any well or wellbore unless, prior to commencement of the operation, the licensee has a written agreement with the well operator, well owner, drilling contractor or land owner, and the service company to which the licensee's equipment is connected, as applicable, that specifies who will be responsible for ensuring the following requirements are met:

      1. (A) in the event the service company's personnel or equipment are contaminated with radioactive material, they must be decontaminated in accordance with §289.202(eee) of this title before release from the job site or release for unrestricted use;
      2. (B) in the event the well head or job site are contaminated with radioactive material, they must be decontaminated in accordance with §289.202(ddd) of this title to the concentration limits specified Table II, Column 2 in §289.202(ggg)(1) of this title, with the units changed from microcuries per milliliter to microcuries per gram before release for unrestricted use; and

      3. (C) in the event radioactive material is to be reversed from the well or the well screens out, the licensee must have established procedures and equipment or facilities to do the following:

         1. (i) reverse material into a preconstructed pit that is specifically established in the event of a screen out; or
         2. (ii) reverse material into suitable transport container(s) in the event of a screen out.
   3. (3) A copy of the written agreement in accordance with paragraphs (1) or (2) of this subsection shall be maintained for inspection by the agency for a period of five years following completion of the well logging service operation or tracer study.
4. (d) Limits on levels of radiation. Sources of radiation shall be used, stored, and transported in such a manner that the requirements of §289.202 of this title, and §289.252(t) of this title as applicable, are met.

5. (e) Storage precautions.

   1. (1) Each source of radiation, except accelerators, shall be provided with a storage and/or transport container. The container shall have a lock (or tamper seal for calibration sources) to prevent unauthorized removal of, or exposure to, the source of radiation.
   2. (2) Each area or room in which sources of radiation are stored shall be posted in accordance with §289.202(aa)(5) of this title.
   3. (3) Sources of radiation shall be stored downhole or in a bunker in order to minimize the danger from explosion and/or fire.
   4. (4) Sources of radiation may not be stored in residential locations. This section does not apply to storage of radioactive material in a vehicle in transit for use at temporary job sites, if the licensee complies with subsection (x)(2) of this section.
   5. (5) Sources of radiation in storage shall be secured to prevent tampering, or removal by unauthorized individuals.
6. (f) Transport precautions. Transport containers shall be locked and physically secured to the transporting vehicle to prevent shifting during transport, accidental loss, tampering, or unauthorized removal.

7. (g) Radiation survey instruments.

   1. (1) The licensee or registrant shall maintain a sufficient number of calibrated and operable radiation survey instruments at each location where radioactive material is stored or used to make physical radiation surveys as required by this section and by §289.202(p) of this title. Instrumentation shall be capable of measuring 0.1 milliroentgen per hour through at least 50 milliroentgens per hour. (Instrumentation capable of measuring 0.1 mR/hr through 50 mR/hr may not be sufficient to determine compliance with the regulations of the DOT.)
   2. (2) A licensee using tracer material shall have available at each field station and temporary job site additional calibrated and operable radiation survey instruments sensitive enough to detect the radioactive surface contamination limits specified in §289.202(eee) of this title.

   3. (3) Each radiation survey instrument shall be calibrated:

      1. (A) by a person specifically licensed or registered by the agency, another agreement state or licensing state or the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to perform such service;
      2. (B) at intervals not to exceed six months and after each survey instrument repair;
      3. (C) for the types of radiation used and at energies appropriate for use; and
      4. (D) at an accuracy within plus or minus 20% of the true radiation level at each calibration point.
   4. (4) Calibration records shall be maintained for a period of five years from the date of calibration for inspection by the agency.
8. (h) Leak testing of sealed sources. Sources of radioactive material shall be tested for leakage and contamination in accordance with §289.201(g) of this title. Records of leak tests shall be maintained for agency inspection for five years from the date of the leak test.

9. (i) Quarterly inventory. Each licensee or registrant shall conduct a quarterly physical inventory to account for all sources of radiation received or possessed at intervals not to exceed three months. Records of inventories shall be maintained for five years from the date of the inventory for inspection by the agency and shall include:

   1. (1) the quantities and kinds of sources of radiation;
   2. (2) the location where sources of radiation are assigned;
   3. (3) a unique identification of each source of radiation;
   4. (4) the date of the inventory; and
   5. (5) the name of the individual conducting the inventory.

10. (j) Utilization records. Each licensee or registrant shall maintain current records, that shall be kept available for inspection by the agency for five years from the date of the recorded event, showing the following information for each source of radiation:

    1. (1) identification of each source of radiation to include:

       1. (A) the make and model number and/or serial number (or if absent, a description) of each sealed source used; or
       2. (B) the radionuclide and activity of tracer materials and radioactive markers used at a particular well site and the disposition of any unused tracer materials.
    2. (2) the identity of the logging supervisor or individual who is responsible for receiving sources of radiation, to whom assigned; and
    3. (3) the locations where used and dates of use.

11. (k) Design and performance criteria for sealed sources used in well logging operations.

    1. (1) Each sealed source manufactured after August 1, 1992, (except those containing radioactive material in gaseous form) used in well logging operations shall be certified at the time of manufacture to meet the following minimum criteria.

       1. (A) The sealed source is of doubly encapsulated construction.
       2. (B) The sealed source contains radioactive material with a chemical/physical form as insoluble and nondispersible as practicable.

       3. (C) The sealed source's prototype has been tested and found to maintain its integrity after each of the following tests.

          1. (i) Temperature. The test source must be held at -40 degrees Centigrade for 20 minutes, 600 degrees Centigrade for one hour, and then be subjected to a thermal shock test with a temperature drop from 600 degrees Centigrade to 20 degrees Centigrade within 15 seconds.
          2. (ii) Impact. A 5 kilogram steel hammer, 2.5 centimeters in diameter, must be dropped from a height of 1 meter onto the test source.
          3. (iii) Vibration. The test source must be subjected to a vibration from 25 Hz to 500 Hz at 5 g amplitude for 30 minutes.
          4. (iv) Puncture. A 1 gram hammer and pin, 0.3 centimeter pin diameter, must be dropped from a height of 1 meter onto the test source.
          5. (v) Pressure. The test source must be subjected to an external pressure of 24,600 pounds per square inch absolute (1.695 X 107 pascals) without leakage.
    2. (2) In the absence of prototype testing required by paragraph (1)(C) of this subsection, sealed sources (except those containing radioactive material in gaseous form) used after January 1, 1993, shall be certified to meet the requirements of paragraph (1)(C) of this subsection.
    3. (3) Certification of source criteria as required by paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection shall be performed only by persons specifically authorized to do so by the agency, another agreement or licensing state, or the NRC.
    4. (4) Certification documents shall be maintained by the licensee for inspection by the agency for a period of five years after source disposal.

12. (l) Labeling.

    1. (1) Each source, source holder, or logging tool containing radioactive material other than exempt quantity, shall bear a durable, legible, and clearly visible marking or label that has, as a minimum, the standard radiation caution symbol with no color requirement, and the wording DANGER (or CAUTION), RADIOACTIVE--DO NOT HANDLE, NOTIFY CIVIL AUTHORITIES (OR NAME OF COMPANY).
    2. (2) The labeling specified in paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be on the smallest component (i.e., source, source holder, or logging tool) that is transported as a separate piece of equipment.
    3. (3) Each transport container shall have permanently attached to it a durable, legible, and clearly visible label that has, as a minimum, the standard radiation caution symbol and the wording DANGER (or CAUTION), RADIOACTIVE, NOTIFY CIVIL AUTHORITIES (OR NAME OF COMPANY).
    4. (4) After August 1, 1993, each transport container shall have attached to it a durable, legible, and clearly visible label(s) that has, as a minimum, the licensee's name, address, and telephone number, the radionuclide, its activity, and the assay date.

13. (m) Inspection and maintenance.

    1. (1) Each licensee or registrant shall conduct, at intervals not to exceed six months, a program of visual inspection and maintenance of source holders (or sealed source, if there is no source holder), logging tools, source handling tools, storage containers, transport containers, and injection tools to assure proper labeling and physical condition. The inspection program may be performed concurrently with routine leak testing of sealed sources. Records of inspection and maintenance shall be maintained for a period of five years for inspection by the agency.
    2. (2) If any inspection conducted in accordance with paragraph (1) of this subsection reveals damage to labeling or components critical to radiation safety, the device shall be removed from service until repairs have been made.
    3. (3) Any operation, such as drilling, cutting, or chiseling on a source holder containing a sealed source, shall be performed only by persons specifically licensed to do so by the agency, another agreement or licensing state, or the NRC.
    4. (4) The repair, opening, or modification of any sealed source shall be performed only by persons specifically licensed to do so by the agency, another agreement or licensing state, or the NRC.

14. (n) Training requirements.

    1. (1) No licensee or registrant shall permit any individual to act as a logging supervisor until such individual has:

       1. (A) successfully completed in a course recognized by the agency, another agreement or licensing state, or the NRC, at least 24 hours of formal training in the subjects outlined in subsection (bb)(1) of this section;

       2. (B) received copies of and instruction in:

          1. (i) the rules contained in this section and the applicable subsections of §§289.114, 289.201 and 289.202 of this title or their equivalent;
          2. (ii) the conditions of the appropriate license or certificate of registration; and
          3. (iii) the licensee's or registrant's operating and emergency procedures;
       3. (C) demonstrated understanding of the requirements in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of this paragraph by successfully completing a written examination administered by the licensee or registrant;
       4. (D) completed two months of on-the-job training under the supervision of a logging supervisor; and
       5. (E) demonstrated through a field evaluation, competence in the use of sources of radiation, related handling tools, and the type of radiation survey instruments that will be used in the job assignment.

    2. (2) No licensee or registrant shall permit any individual to act as a logging assistant until such individual has:

       1. (A) received copies of and instruction in the applicable subsections of §§289.114, 289.201, and 289.202 of this title or their equivalent and the licensee's or registrant's operating and emergency procedures;
       2. (B) demonstrated understanding of the requirements in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph by successfully completing a written examination administered by the licensee or registrant; and
       3. (C) demonstrated competence to use, under the personal supervision of the logging supervisor, the sources of radiation, related handling tools, and radiation survey instruments that will be used in the job assignment.
    3. (3) The licensee or registrant shall provide an annual radiation safety review for logging supervisors and logging assistants.
    4. (4) Each licensee or registrant shall maintain records that document that the requirements of paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of this subsection are met. Such records shall be maintained for inspection by the agency until the agency authorizes their disposal.
15. (o) Operating and emergency procedures. The licensee or registrant shall maintain written operating and emergency procedures that include descriptions of and directions in at least the items listed in subsection (bb)(4) of this section.

16. (p) Personnel monitoring.

    1. (1) In addition to the requirements of §289.202(p) and (q) of this title, no licensee or registrant shall permit any individual to act as a logging supervisor or logging assistant unless that individual wears either a film badge or a thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD) at all times during well logging service operations and/or tracer studies utilizing sources of radiation. Each film badge or TLD shall be assigned to and worn by only one individual. Film badges must be replaced at least monthly and TLDs replaced at least quarterly. After replacement, each film badge or TLD must be returned to the supplier for processing within 14 calendar days or as soon as practicable. In circumstances that make it impossible to return each film badge or TLD within 14 calendar days, such circumstances must be documented and available for review by the agency.
    2. (2) When necessary in order to aid in determining the extent of an individual's exposure to concentrations of radioactive material, the agency may require a licensee to make available to the individual appropriate bioassay services and to furnish a copy of the reports of such services to the agency.
    3. (3) Personnel monitoring records shall be maintained for inspection by the agency until the agency authorizes their disposal.

17. (q) Radiation safety officer.

    1. (1) A radiation safety officer (RSO) shall be designated for every license and certificate of registration issued by the agency.

    2. (2) The RSO's documented qualifications shall include:

       1. (A) possession of a high school diploma or a certificate of high school equivalency based on the GED test;
       2. (B) completion of the training and testing requirements of subsection (n)(1) of this section; and
       3. (C) two years of experience as a logging supervisor to include knowledge of well logging service operations and tracer studies.

    3. (3) The specific duties of the RSO include, but are not limited to, the following:

       1. (A) to establish and oversee operating, emergency, and as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA) procedures, and to review them regularly to ensure that the procedures are current and conform with this chapter;
       2. (B) to oversee and approve all phases of the training program for well logging service operations and/or tracer studies personnel so that appropriate and effective radiation protection practices are taught;
       3. (C) to ensure that required radiation surveys and leak tests are performed and documented in accordance with this chapter, including any corrective measures when levels of radiation exceed established limits;
       4. (D) to ensure that personnel monitoring is used properly by occupationally-exposed personnel, that records are kept of the monitoring results, and that timely notifications are made as required by §289.114 of this title;
       5. (E) to investigate and report to the agency each known or suspected case of radiation exposure to an individual or radiation level detected in excess of limits established by this chapter and each theft or loss of source(s) of radiation, to determine the cause, and to take steps to prevent its recurrence;
       6. (F) to have a thorough knowledge of management policies and administrative procedures of the licensee or registrant;
       7. (G) to assume control and have the authority to institute corrective actions including shutdown of operations when necessary in emergency situations or unsafe conditions;
       8. (H) to maintain records as required by this chapter (see subsection (bb)(5) of this section);
       9. (I) to ensure the proper storing, labeling, transport, and use of sources of radiation, storage, and/or transport containers;
       10. (J) to ensure that quarterly inventories are performed in accordance with subsection (i) of this section; and
       11. (K) to ensure that personnel are complying with this chapter, the conditions of the license or the registration, and the operating and emergency procedures of the licensee or registrant.
18. (r) Security. During each well logging or tracer application, the logging supervisor or other designated employee is responsible for protecting against unauthorized and/or unnecessary entry into a restricted area, as defined in §289.201 of this title.
19. (s) Handling tools. The licensee shall provide and require the use of tools that will assure remote handling of sealed sources other than low activity calibration sources.

20. (t) Tracer studies.

    1. (1) Protective gloves and other appropriate protective clothing and equipment shall be used by all personnel handling radioactive tracer material. Precautions shall be taken to avoid ingestion or inhalation of radioactive material, and to avoid contamination of field stations, temporary job sites, vehicles, associated equipment, and clothing.
    2. (2) No licensee shall permit the injection of radioactive material into usable quality groundwater (3,000 parts per million (ppm) total dissolved solids or less) without prior written authorization from the agency.
21. (u) Particle accelerators. No licensee or registrant shall permit above-ground testing of particle accelerators that results in the production of radiation except in areas or facilities controlled or shielded to meet the requirements of §289.202(f) or (n) of this title, as applicable.
22. (v) Radioactive markers. The licensee may use radioactive markers in wells only if the individual markers contain quantities of radioactive material not exceeding the quantities specified in §289.251(q)(2) of this title. The use of markers is subject only to the provisions of this subsection and subsection (i) of this section.
23. (w) Uranium sinker bars. The licensee may use a depleted uranium sinker bar in well logging service operations only if it is legibly impressed with the wording DANGER (or CAUTION), RADIOACTIVE-DEPLETED URANIUM, NOTIFY CIVIL AUTHORITIES (OR NAME OF COMPANY).

24. (x) Radiation surveys.

    1. (1) Radiation surveys (and calculations, for neutron sources) shall be made and recorded for each area where radioactive materials are stored.
    2. (2) Radiation surveys (and calculations, for neutron sources) of the radiation levels in occupied positions and on the exterior of each vehicle used to transport radioactive materials shall be made and recorded. Such surveys (and calculations, for neutron sources) shall include each source of radiation and combination of sources of radiation transported in the vehicle.
    3. (3) If the sealed source assembly is removed from the logging tool before departing the job site, a survey meter shall be used to verify that the logging tool is free of contamination.
    4. (4) If the licensee has reason to believe that the encapsulation of the sealed source could be damaged by an operation, the licensee shall immediately conduct a radiation survey, including a contamination survey, during and after the operation.
    5. (5) Radiation surveys shall be made and recorded at the job site and/or well head for each tracer operation except for those utilizing hydrogen-3, carbon-14, sulfur-35, or krypton-85. These surveys shall include measurements of radiation levels before and after the operation.
    6. (6) Records required in accordance with paragraphs (1)-(5) of this subsection shall also include the dates, the identification of individual(s) making the survey, the unique identification of survey instrument(s) used, radiation measurements in milliroentgen per hour (mR/hr), calculations in millirem per hour, and an exact description of the location of the survey. Records of these surveys shall be maintained for inspection by the agency for two years after completion of the survey.

25. (y) Records and documents required at field stations.

    1. (1) Each licensee or registrant maintaining field stations from which well logging service operations are conducted shall have the following records and documents available at each station for inspection by the agency:

       1. (A) a copy of the appropriate license or certificate of registration;
       2. (B) operating and emergency procedures;
       3. (C) applicable rules as listed in the license or certificate of registration;
       4. (D) survey records required in accordance with subsection (x) of this section;
       5. (E) quarterly inventories required in accordance with subsection (i) of this section;
       6. (F) utilization records required in accordance with subsection (j) of this section;
       7. (G) records of inspection and maintenance required in accordance with subsection (m) of this section;
       8. (H) records of the survey instrument calibration and leak test for the specific devices and sources at the field station;
       9. (I) records of personnel monitoring required in accordance with subsection (p) of this section for personnel employed at the field station;
       10. (J) training records required in accordance with subsection (n) of this section;
       11. (K) shipping papers for the transportation of radioactive material; and
       12. (L) records of receipt, transfer, and disposal of radioactive material at the field station.
    2. (2) Records required in accordance with paragraph (1)(A)-(L) of this subsection shall be maintained in accordance with subsection (bb)(5) of this section.

26. (z) Records and documents required at temporary job sites. Each licensee or registrant conducting well logging service operations at a temporary job site shall have the following records and documents available at that site for inspection by the agency:

    1. (1) a copy of the appropriate license or certificate of registration;
    2. (2) operating and emergency procedures;
    3. (3) survey records required in accordance with subsection (x) of this section for the period of operation at that site;
    4. (4) evidence of current calibration for the radiation survey instruments in use at the site;
    5. (5) a copy of the current leak test record for the source(s) in use; and
    6. (6) shipping papers for the transportation of radioactive material.

27. (aa) Notification of incidents and lost sources; abandonment procedures for irretrievable sources.

    1. (1) Notification of incidents and sources lost in other than downhole well logging operations shall be made in accordance with appropriate provisions of §289.202 of this title.

    2. (2) Whenever there is reason to believe that a sealed source or a device containing radioactive material has been ruptured, the licensee shall notify the agency immediately by telephone and submit written notification within 30 days. The written notification shall designate the following:

       1. (A) the well or other location;
       2. (B) a description of the magnitude and extent of the escape of radioactive material;
       3. (C) an assessment of the consequences of the rupture; and
       4. (D) an explanation of the efforts planned or being taken to mitigate these consequences.

    3. (3) Whenever a sealed source or device containing radioactive material is lost downhole, the licensee shall:

       1. (A) monitor with a radiation survey instrument (or logging tool adjusted to detect gamma emissions from source(s) lost downhole), at the surface for the presence of radioactive contamination during logging tool recovery (fishing) operations; and
       2. (B) notify the agency immediately by telephone and submit written notification within 30 days if radioactive contamination is detected at the surface or if the source appears to be damaged.

    4. (4) When it becomes apparent that efforts to recover the radioactive source will not be successful, the licensee shall:

       1. (A) advise the well operator of the Texas Railroad Commission rules regarding abandonment and an appropriate method of abandonment, that shall include:

          1. (i) the immobilization and sealing in place of the radioactive source with a cement plug;
          2. (ii) the setting of a whipstock or other deflection device; and
          3. (iii) the mounting of a permanent identification plaque, containing information required by paragraph (5) of this subsection, at the surface of the well;
       2. (B) notify the agency by telephone giving the circumstances of the loss; and

       3. (C) file a written report with the agency within 30 days of the abandonment, setting forth the following information:

          1. (i) date of occurrence;
          2. (ii) a description of the radioactive source involved, including radionuclide, activity, chemical and physical form, and serial number;
          3. (iii) surface location and identification of well;
          4. (iv) results of efforts to immobilize and seal the source in place;
          5. (v) depth of the radioactive source;
          6. (vi) depth of the top of the cement plug;
          7. (vii) depth of the well; and
          8. (viii) information contained on the permanent identification plaque.

    5. (5) 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 (bb)(3) of this section) for posting the well or wellbore. This plaque shall:

       1. (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; e.g., a 7 inch square. Letter size of the word "CAUTION" should be approximately twice the letter size of the rest of the information; e.g., 1/2 inch and 1/4 inch letter size, respectively; and

       2. (B) contain the following engraved information on its face:

          1. (i) the word "CAUTION";
          2. (ii) the radiation symbol (color not required);
          3. (iii) the date of abandonment;
          4. (iv) the name of the well operator or well owner;
          5. (v) the well name and well identification number(s) or other designation;
          6. (vi) radionuclide(s) and activity(ies) of the source(s);
          7. (vii) the source depth and the plug back depth (depth to the top of the plug); and

          8. (viii) an appropriate warning, depending on the specific circumstances of each abandonment, such as the following:

             1. (I) "Do not drill below plug back depth";
             2. (II) "Do not enlarge casing"; or
             3. (III) "Do not re-enter hole before contacting Bureau of Radiation Control, Texas Department of Health."
    6. (6) 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.
    7. (7) 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.

28. (bb) Appendices.

    1. (1) Subjects to be included in training courses for well logging service operations and/or tracer studies are as follows:

       1. (A) fundamentals of radiation safety that include:

          1. (i) characteristics of radiation;
          2. (ii) units of radiation dose (rem) and activity;
          3. (iii) significance of radiation dose specifying radiation protection standards and biological effects of radiation;
          4. (iv) levels of radiation from sources of radiation;
          5. (v) methods of controlling radiation dose specifying time, distance, and shielding;
          6. (vi) radiation safety practices, specifying prevention of contamination and methods of decontamination; and
          7. (vii) discussion of ingestion, inhalation pathways;

       2. (B) radiation detection instrumentation to be used that includes:

          1. (i) use of radiation survey instruments specifying operation, calibration, and limitations;
          2. (ii) survey techniques; and
          3. (iii) use of personnel monitoring equipment specifying film badges, thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs), and pocket dosimeters;

       3. (C) equipment to be used that specifies;

          1. (i) handling equipment and remote handling tools;
          2. (ii) sources of radiation;
          3. (iii) storage control, disposal, and transport of equipment and sources of radiation;
          4. (iv) operation and control of equipment; and
          5. (v) maintenance of equipment;
       4. (D) the requirements of pertinent federal and state regulations;
       5. (E) the licensee's or registrant's written operating and emergency procedures;
       6. (F) the licensee's or registrant's record keeping procedures; and
       7. (G) case histories and potential consequences of accidents in well logging service operations and tracer studies.

    2. (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:

       1. (A) sources of contamination;
       2. (B) contamination detection and control;
       3. (C) decontamination techniques and limits;
       4. (D) survey techniques for tracer materials; and
       5. (E) packaging requirements for transportation of radioactive materials, especially residual materials from tracer studies.
    3. (3) The following is an example of a plaque for identifying wells containing sealed sources of radioactive material abandoned downhole:

Source Note:The provisions of this §289.253 adopted to be effective April 15, 1997, 22 TexReg 3297.