Residual Radioactivity Levels - STD-1128-98master0261

DOE-STD-1128-98

Guide of Good Practices for Occupational Radiological Protection in Plutonium Facilities

onsite under DOE control, cleaning the site to a level that would be acceptable for

unrestricted release, and the null or no-action alternative of "walking away" from the site.

If the action does not require an EA or EIS, either because the possible adverse effects

are insignificant or because decommissioning was adequately addressed in a

preoperational or other EA or EIS, then the decommissioning can proceed in accordance

with the information contained in other applicable regulations.

-- Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) (USC, 1976a) - This act

authorizes the EPA and the States to regulate hazardous and solid wastes.

-- Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act

(CERCLA) (USC, 1980) and 40 CFR 300 (EPA, 1992c) - This act requires the

identification and cleanup of inactive hazardous waste sites by responsible parties,

and imposes certain response and reporting requirements for releases of hazardous

substances.

-- Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) (USC, 1986) and

40 CFR 300 (EPA, 1992c).

Interagency agreements can also exist between DOE, EPA, state, and local agencies

(Daugherty, 1993). Any special arrangement agreed to as part of an interagency

agreement will need to be honored during the D&D activities.

10.1.2 Residual Radioactivity Levels

A primary concern in the D&D of any nuclear facility is the level of residual radioactivity

that may be permitted for unrestricted use. However, the emphasis of this document is on

occupational radiological protection. See Section 4.2.4 for guidance on contamination

monitoring in the workplace. Additional information on acceptable residual levels may be

found in the following sources. This list is not inclusive and facilities must determine the

applicable requirements. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in Regulatory

Guide 1.86, Termination of Operating Licenses for Nuclear Reactors (AEC, 1974), and

ANSI/HPS N13.12 (ANSI, 1999b), provide definitive values for acceptable surface

contamination levels for termination of operating licenses for nuclear reactors and for

materials, equipment, and facilities.

The EPA has been mandated by Congress to develop guidelines that will be applicable to all

nuclear facilities as well as to the release of formerly contaminated or controlled radioactive

facilities for unrestricted release. Such guidelines will likely be based on the radiation dose

to the maximum exposed member of the general population. The maximum allowable

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