DEPLETED URANIUM DETECTION/LOCATION SYSTEM

DEPLETED URANIUM PENETRATOR REMNANTS MAY BE PRESENT IN THE SOIL AND ULTIMATELY COULD BECOME DISPERSED IN THE AIR OR WATER, CREATING HEALTH HAZARDS. CURRENT TRENDS AND DECONTAMINATION PRACTICES MAY REQUIRE REMOVAL AND DISPOSAL OF VAST AMOUNTS OF SOIL TO ENSURE URANIUM REMOVAL. MOST OF THIS SOIL IS NOT CONTAMINATED, AND SHOULD NOT BE STORED AT HIGH COST IN THE LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE FOR DISPOSAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS. ANTECH SERVICES, INC. HAS PROPOSED THE USE OF A MOBILE ARRAY OF SCINTILLATION DETECTORS TO DETECT DISCRETE LARGE PIECES OR AGGREGATES OF SMALL FRAGMENTS OF DEPLETED URANIUM IN SITU. THIS WILL ALLOW REMOVAL OF ONLY CONTAMINATED SOILS REDUCING THE COST AND TIME REQUIRED FOR DECONTAMINATION OF LARGE SITES. PHASE I WILL PROVIDE LABORATORY DEMONSTRATION OF A SINGLE DETECTOR SYSTEM IN MOTION, AND OPTIONALLY MAY INCLUDE FIELD DEMONSTRATION AT A DOD SITE. ANTECH AND THE PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR HAVE SIGNIFICANT EXPERIENCE WITH DEPLETED URANIUM DETECTION BY GAMMA RAY SPECTROSCOPY, INCLUDING DEMONSTRATION OF RAPID DETECTION AT DISTANCES GREATER THAN REQUIRED FOR THIS APPLICATION, BUT WITH LESS SHIELDING. THE DATA AGREE ACCEPTABLY WELL WITH THEORETICAL ESTIMATES OF DETECTABILITY. PHASE I WILL CONFIRM THE THEORETICALLY PREDICTED FEASIBILITY AT SOILS DEPTHS TO TWO FEET.