Radioactive issues encountered during a hazardous waste cleanup

The discovery of abandoned and buried drums containing hazardous materials seems to be an everyday occurrence. From abandoned dump sites to residential neighborhoods, the problem exists. However, in addition to hazardous materials, regulated and unregulated radioactive materials are also being discovered. The topic of fate and transport of radioactive isotopes in the environment is relatively new to most individuals and regulatory agencies concerned with issues of hazardous waste management. The regulations and management guidelines that do exist for high and low level radioactive materials do not pertain to all radioactive materials and may not cover the span of issues associated with these wastes. This paper discusses radioactivity, radioactive sources, relevant health physics issues, categories and classifications of radioactive materials, pertinent regulations and disposal alternatives. In addition, a case study reviews the site investigations and evaluations associated with unregulated radioactive material and hazardous waste identified at a former private industrial waste landfill in the northeastern United States. The case study focuses on the activities and methods associated with the characterization, classification and ultimate disposition of the radioactive material present on this site