Application - sdmp-00330005

DOE-HDBK-XXXX-2005

06/30/2005

would also be part of the Glossary as well as more commonplace or non-critical terms

and definitions.

This Glossary of Environment, Safety and Health Terms is now intended to be a

comprehensive listing of ES&H terms and definitions that appear in any DOE ES&H

rule, Directive or DOE Technical Standard. It should be used by any writer, reviewer or

user of any DOE rule, Directive or Technical Standard to support consistent use and

understanding of an ES&H term and definition. It is a living document that functions as a

common repository and handy reference book.

There are multiple definitions for some terms because these terms are used in different

contexts and/or derive from different sources. The source of each term is identified

where possible. Obviously, some sources are more authoritative than others. Terms

defined in statutes take precedent over the same terms grounded in New or Old Series (4-

digit directives) DOE Orders. The hierarchy of source authority proceeds downward to

manuals, guides, and standards generally in that order. There is often a rationale, such as

technical accuracy or specificity, for incorporating terms from a less authoritative source.

1.3 Application

The contents of this Glossary (DOE- HDBK-XXXX) are generally applicable to all DOE

nuclear and non-nuclear activities. Users should select those terms applicable to their

needs noting the source cited. DOE handbooks are not mandatory Directives, and it is

not expected that these definitions will always be used. The reader may wish to consult

the latest DOE guidance for newer definitions. However, any new usage for a term in

this Glossary would risk introducing the confusion the document is intended to prevent.

The DOE Office of NEPA Policy and Assistance, EH-42, has issued its own glossary of

technical and regulatory terms most commonly encountered in NEPA documents. This

"Glossary of Terms Used in DOE NEPA Documents" is available electronically on the

Web at http://tis.eh.doe.gov/nepa/ . It has been reformatted for inclusion in this DOE

Glossary of Environment, Safety and Health Terms as an appendix. There are currently

182 terms defined in the NEPA Glossary, 22 of which appear to duplicate terms in this

Glossary. A comparison of the definitions for the 22 terms that appear in both the DOE

Glossary of Environment, Safety and Health Terms and the NEPA Glossary yields the

following in the opinion of this author:

Better definitions for the terms ALARA, COLLECTIVE DOSE, COMMITTED DOSE

EQUIVALENT (HT-50), FISSIONABLE MATERIALS, LOW-LEVEL WASTE (LLW),

QUALITY FACTOR, RADIATION, and WEIGHTING FACTOR (WT) will be found in

the main text, the DOE Glossary of Environment, Safety and Health Terms. Definitions

DRAFT