SCATR Program  (Source Collection and Threat Reduction)
last updated  1/18/2013

The SCATR Program is an initiative to reduce the amount of unused radioactive material stored by licensees.  CRCPD is working with the Los Alamos National Lab (LANL) and the Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration for disposition of these radiation sources that could be used for malicious intent.   
 
The Department of Energy recognized that the availability of disposal of such sources is limited and expensive and has initiated this rare opportunity for licensees to have financial assistance in the proper disposition of these sources. 

The Source Collection and Threat Reduction (SCATR) Program is:

• A project of the Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors, Inc. (CRCPD), in cooperation with individual State and local radiation control programs;
• Supported by the U.S. Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Agency;
• To provide funds for the disposition of unwanted radioactive material;
• A supplement to other Federal and national programs of assistance with radioactive material

A material is eligible for SCATR Program if it is: No longer wanted by the owner; Discrete radioactive material (sealed sources or vials but not scaled pipe), whether naturally occurring, or accelerator or reactor produced; Under either general or specific license, by either a State or the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission; Not eligible for assistance by another Federal or national program; or less than 750 mg of radium or less than 10 Ci of other non-transuranic; and greater than 120 day half-life; and it is registered at http://osrp.lanl.gov/crcpdscatr.shtml.     (Larger quantities of these materials are dealt with by the DOE Off-Site Recovery Program and should be registered at http://osrp.lanl.gov) Acceptable for disposition at an existing outlet; and Included in a collection, in most cases, as may be organized by a radiation control agency, users group or in some cases a manufacturer, in cooperation with the CRCPD.    To implement a SCATR project the organizers must, assisted by the SCATR staff: Identify unwanted materials; Find outlets for disposition of the materials ; Establish a facility in which to collect the materials; Obtain commitment of SCATR funds; Contract for the inspection, packaging, transportation and disposition of the materials; Arrange transportation of materials to the collection point; Perform the collection and disposition; File the reports of transfer with the licensing agencies; Request payment for contracted services; Report what was done and lessons learned for subsequent projects. CRCPD needs state radiation control program sponsors for collection and disposal. Collection schedules and funding are prioritized, based on the most efficient use of program funds.  Reimbursement for disposition of unwanted radioactive sources will be through agreements with States or other organizers. If your state is interested in assisting in the collection, please contact James Yusko <jyusko@state.pa.us>, Chair of the E-34 Committee on Unwanted Radioactive Materials, Russ Meyer, <RMeyer@crcpd.org> or Bill House <BHouse@crcpd.org> at CRCPD. For more information about CRCPD assistance,  see Unwanted Rad. Material also on crcpd.org