Other Regulations - doe-std-1136-20040198

DOE-STD-1136-2004

Guide of Good Practices for Occupational Radiation Protection in Uranium Facilities

Section V of DOE Order 5400.5,Ch.2, Radiation Protection of the Public and Environment, provides

radiological protection requirements and guidelines for cleanup of residual radioactive material and

management of the resulting wastes and residues and release of property. This DOE Order establishes a

basic public dose limit of 100-mrem (1-mSv) effective dose equivalent in a year for exposure to residual

radioactive material (in addition to naturally occurring "background" exposures).

10.1.1 Other Regulations

D&D of most uranium-contaminated facilities will involve cleanup of a combination of radioactive

wastes, hazardous wastes, and mixed wastes. Federal regulations that are applicable to the cleanup and

disposal of these wastes are summarized in this section, along with the DOE guidance on implementation of

the following regulations:

10.1.1.1 National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (USC, 1970) and 40 CFR 1500 (CEQ, 1992)

This act established a national policy to ensure that environmental factors are considered in any

Federal agency's planning and decision- making. DOE O 451.1B, Ch.1, National Environmental Policy Act

Compliance Program (DOE 2001c), defines DOE responsibilities and procedures to implement NEPA. The

decommissioning of a DOE uranium facility will require a determination of whether or not the action is a

"major or significant government action adversely affecting the environment" in accordance with NEPA. If

it qualifies as such an action, an environmental assessment (EA) or environmental impact statement (EIS)

will be required. The EA or EIS must discuss the amount of material that will remain onsite and its effect,

in addition to addressing the alternatives. The alternatives will include retaining radioactive material 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 pre-operational or other EA or EIS, then the decommissioning can proceed in accordance

with the information contained in other applicable regulations.

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