Answer to Question #1163 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"

Q

As environmental compliance specialist for a pipeline oil and gas pipeline company, I have recently gone through a NORM survey seminar. I understand the basics of performing these surveys; however, I am in need of a reporting method. Are there preset guidelines for reporting your findings? Is there a nationally recognized form in the industry?

A

There is no nationally recognized form for reporting data. What is required is that the data be reported in the appropriate units. Reporting data in counts per minute is a qualitative measurement. For example, if you were using a count rate meter with a pancake detector for measuring beta on a surface, or the same instrument with a sodium-iodide scintillation detector for gamma, the counts would have to be converted to Bq cm^-2, dpm per 100 cm² for the beta, or mSv h^-1 or µR h^-1 for the gamma, using appropriate conversion factors. When the data are converted to appropriate units (that is, activity or exposure rate), then the values can be compared to the guidelines. Check with your state regulatory agency to coordinate on how robust your surveys need to be for a particular activity. It is customary to report enough information such that the survey measurement can be reconstructed by another party. For most situations, you should consider reporting who the surveyor was (initials), date and time of the measurement, the instrument and detector used, location of the measurement, for how long the measurement was made, background readings, conversion factors, and the gross measurement such that the results can be checked for proper conversion. These data can be compiled in a spreadsheet and attached to the report. It is also customary to provide a summary table in your report with the number of measurements, minimum result, maximum result, mean or median result, and standard deviation of the measurements.

Phil Egidi
Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment