NORM
Naturally-Occurring Radioactive Material
By definition, naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) is not subject to regulatory control under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, or the Low Level Radioactive Waste Policy Act. Because of these regulatory
exclusions, NORM is subject primarily only to individual state radiation control regulations. In North Dakota, NORM is under the regulatory control of the Radiation Control Program of the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Waste Management.
Questions may be addressed to the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality at 701-328-5166.
Naturally occurring radioactive
materials (NORM) generally contain radionuclides found in
nature, such as radium, thorium, uranium, etc. Once this NORM
becomes concentrated through human activity, such as mineral
extraction or oil production, it can become a radioactive
contamination hazard or a radioactive waste.
There are two types of NORM material: Discrete
and Diffuse.
The first, discrete NORM,
has a relatively high radioactivity concentration in a very
small volume, such as a radium source used in medical
procedures or level gauges. Because of its relatively high
concentration of radioactivity, this type of NORM poses a
direct radiation exposure hazard.
The second type, diffuse NORM,
has a much lower concentration of radioactivity, but is
spread out over a large volume of material, such as
contaminated soil. Diffuse NORM poses a different type of
problem because of its high volume and low concentration of
radioactive material. The following are six sources of
diffuse NORM:
- Metal Mining
& Processing Waste
- Coal Ash
- Phosphate Waste
- Uranium Mining
Overburden
- Oil and Gas
Production Wastes
- Water Treatment
Residues
Diffuse NORM may pose
a health hazard because of its many uses. For example, though
most metal-mining waste is stored near where it is generated,
small amounts have been used as construction backfill and
road building materials. It is also used in concrete and
wallboard.
Coal ash is primarily
used as an additive in concrete and as backfill.
Phosphate waste
(slag) from the processing of elemental phosphorous has been
used in construction and in paving.
Uranium mining waste
is the soil and rock that is removed during surface or
underground uranium mining. This waste is sometimes used to
backfill mined-out areas and to construct roads around the
mining site.
Oil and gas
production may produce radioactive pipe scale (a residue left
in pipes from producing oil wells) and sludge that leave sites
and equipment contaminated. In the past, some contaminated
piping and other scrap metal have been used inadvertently by
schools and other organizations for playground equipment,
welding material, fencing, etc. because this contaminated
metal was recycled before it was found to be contaminated.
Radiation-contaminated
water treatment residue accumulates when radioactive material
is filtered out of drinking water during the purifying
process. This waste may be disposed of in landfills or
lagoons. It may also be used in agriculture as a soil
conditioner.
There is increasing
evidence that improper use or disposal of such
naturally-occurring radioactive materials can result in
significant contamination of the environment and elevated
radiation exposure. This can adversely affect the health of
those occupationally exposed, as well as the general public.
By definition, naturally occurring
radioactive material (NORM) is not subject to regulatory
control under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, or the Low Level
Radioactive Waste Policy Act. Because of these regulatory
exclusions, NORM is subject primarily only to individual
state radiation control regulations. In North Dakota, NORM is
under the regulatory control of the Radiation Control Program
of the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Waste Management.
Wastes containing NORM are generally
not regulated by federal agencies. One exception is the
transportation of NORM contaminated wastes. These shipments
are subject to U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)
regulations. In addition, NORM handling and management
activities may be subject to regulations promulgated by the
Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) as
well as those maintained by the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality.
There are currently no federal
regulations covering disposal of NORM. The State of North
Dakota, as an Agreement State, does regulate all aspects of
NORM (and other non-byproduct radioactive material).
Currently there are no regulations specific to the control of
NORM. NORM is covered by the same regulations that apply to
other radioactive material in the state.
Material or equipment found to contain
less than 5 picocuries of total radium per gram of material
through accredited lab analysis is not considered NORM, by
definition, and may be disposed of, or released for
unrestricted use.
Material or equipment found to be
contaminated to levels above 5 picocuries per gram are
considered NORM and must be handled, stored, transported and
disposed of in accordance with the North Dakota
Radiological Health Rules.
Article 10—Radiological Health Rules
For ease in finding the incorporated rules, we have included links to 33-10 that have NRC rules incorporated. See links under the Full Incorporated Rules column.
Chapter
|
Title
|
Full Incorporated Rules (Printable)
|
33.1-10-01
|
General Provisions |
|
33.1-10-02
|
Registration of Radiation Machine Facilities and Services |
|
33.1-10-03.1
|
Rules of General Application to Domestic Licensing of Byproduct Material |
33.1-10-03.1
|
33.1-10-04.2
|
Standards for Protection Against Radiation |
33.1-10-04.2
|
33.1-10-05.1
|
Radiation Safety Requirements for Industrial Radiographic Operations |
33.1-10-05.1
|
33.1-10-06
|
X-Rays in the Healing Arts |
|
33.1-10-07.2
|
Medical Use of Byproduct Material |
33.1-10-07.2
|
33.1-10-08
|
Radiation Safety Requirements for Analytical X-ray Equipment |
|
33.1-10-09
|
Radiation Safety Requirements for Particle Accelerators |
|
33.1-10-10.1
|
Notices, Instructions, and Reports to Workers - Inspections |
33.1-10-10.1
|
33.1-10-11
|
Fees for Issuance of License and Registration Certificates and Inspections |
|
33.1-10-12.1
|
Licenses and Radiation Safety Requirements for Well Logging |
33.1-10-12.1
|
33.1-10-13.1
|
Packaging and Transportation of Radioactive Material |
33.1-10-13.1
|
33.1-10-14.1
|
Licenses and Radiation Safety Requirements for Irradiators |
33.1-10-14.1
|
33.1-10-15
|
Therapeutic Radiation Machines |
|
33.1-10-16
|
Domestic Licensing of Source Material |
33.1-10-16
|
33.1-10-17
|
Domestic Licensing of Special Nuclear Material |
33.1-10-17
|
33.1-10-18
|
General Domestic Licenses for Byproduct Material |
33.1-10-18
|
33.1-10-19
|
Reciprocal Recognition of Licenses |
33.1-10-19
|
33.1-10-20
|
Specific Domestic Licenses to Manufacture or Transfer Certain Item Containing Byproduct Material |
33.1-10-20
|
33.1-10-21
|
Specific Domestic Licenses of Broad Scope for Byproduct Material |
33.1-10-21
|
33.1-10-22
|
Physical Protection of Category 1 and Category 2 Quantities of Radioactive Material |
33.1-10-22
|
33.1-10-23
|
Regulation and Licensing of Technologically Enhanced Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material |
|
Repealed Rules
Chapter
|
Title
|
Related Links
|
33-10-03
|
Licensing of Radioactive Material [Repealed] |
|
33-10-04
|
Standards for Protection Against Radiation [Repealed] |
|
33-10-04.1
|
Standards for Protection Against Radiation [Repealed] |
|
33-10-05
|
Radiation Safety Requirements for Industrial Radiographic Operations [Repealed] |
|
33-10-07
|
Use of Radionuclides in the Healing Arts [Repealed] |
|
33-10-07.1
|
Medical Use of Radioactive Material [Repealed] |
|
33-10-10
|
Notices, Instructions, and Reports to Workers - Inspections [Repealed] |
|
33-10-12
|
Radiation Safety Requirements for Wireline Service Operations and Subsurface Tracer Studies [Repealed] |
|
33-10-13
|
Transportation of Radioactive Material [Repealed] |
|
33-10-14
|
Licenses and Radiation Safety Requirements for Irradiators [Repealed] |
|
The safe handling, storage, transport
and disposal of NORM is a very important issue. NORM or other
radioactive waste disposal standards have changed
substantially with improved technology and evolving
environmental protection considerations. Regulatory programs
and standards continue to change, so if you would like more
information on the handling, storage, transport or disposal
of NORM, contact:
Or visit:
- The Conference of Radiation Control Program
Directors Suggested State Regulations for Control of Radiation:
PART N
-- "REGULATION AND LICENSING OF TECHNOLOGICALLY ENHANCED NATURALLY
OCCURRING RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS (TENORM)"