GROUND WATER--Nuclear Regulatory Commission Rules on Lost Well Logging Sources


In Reply Refer To:                         January 20, 1984
WGS-Mail Stop 405

WATER RESOURCES DIVISION MEMORANDUM NO. 84.49

Subject:  GROUND WATER--Nuclear Regulatory Commission Rules on Lost Well
                        Logging Sources

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has amended its regulations to establish
requirements to be accomplished in the event that a nuclear well logging
source cannot be retrieved from a well.  An irretrievable well logging
source is defined as any sealed source containing licensed material that is
pulled off or not connected to the wireline that suspends the source in the
well and for which all reasonable efforts for recovery have been expended.

A copy of the regulation as published in the Federal Register is attached
for your reference.  One change which requires attention from Water
Resources Division personnel is that a written agreement must be executed
with the well owner before logging with a nuclear probe is undertaken.  The
agreement must state that the well will be plugged and marked if the well
logging source is irretrievable.  A sample letter is attached.  Project
chiefs who request nuclear logging should have a copy of the signed letter
from the well owner in hand before the nuclear source is placed in the hole.

If further clarification is required, please contact Arnold Boettcher,
Borehole Geophysical Services Unit, FTS 234-2615.




                                  Thomas J. Buchanan
                                  Assistant Chief Hydrologist
                                    for Operations

Attachments
[Contact the Branch of Operational Support, Reston, for a copy of
the attachment from the Federal Register].

Distribution:  A,B,S,FO,PO

This memorandum supersedes no previous WRD Memorandum.

Key Words:  Nuclear Well Logging, Nuclear Regulatory Commission








                                         _________________________
                                                   Date


Chief, Borehole Geophysical Services Unit
U.S. Geological Survey, Water Resources Division
Mail Stop 405, Box 25046
Denver Federal Center
Denver, Colorado  80225

Dear Sir:

The purpose of this letter is to comply with the Nuclear Regulatory

Commission requirement that a written agreement with the well owner or

operator be executed before a well can be logged with a nuclear well

logging source.  I understand that, if during a geophysical well logging

operation a nuclear source is irretrievably lost down my well, the well

will be cemented and monumented as outlined in U.S. Nuclear Regulatory

Commission Regulations 10 CFR 30.56(a) and 70.60(a).





                                   ________________________________
                                     Well Owner's Signature


                                   ________________________________
                                     Well Location
                                   ________________________________
                                     State


                                   ________________________________
                                     County

Assistant Chief Hydrologist for Operations

Attachments

Distribution: A, B, S, FO, PO

This memorandon supersedes no previous WRD Memorandum.