Posting Underground Radioactive Material Areas

DOE-STD-1098-99

Radiological Control

Radiological Standards

June 2004

For periods of eight continuous hours or less, the area is under the continuous observation and control of an

individual knowledgeable of, and empowered to implement, required access and exposure control measures

[see 835.604(a)].

Provisions for labeling radioactive material are specified in Chapter 4.

237 Posting Underground Radioactive Material Areas

Underground radioactive material areas should be established to indicate the presence of underground items that

contain radioactive materials, such as pipelines, radioactive cribs, covered ponds, covered ditches, catch tanks,

inactive burial grounds, and sites of known, covered, unplanned releases (spills). Underground radioactive material

areas need not be posted if physical or administrative controls are implemented to ensure appropriate radiological

controls are established prior to excavating, penetrating, or otherwise disturbing underground radioactive materials.

Underground radioactive material areas should be posted "UNDERGROUND RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL."

Posting should include instructions or special warnings to workers such as "Consult With Radiological Control

Organization Before Digging" or "Subsurface Contamination Exists." The posting should meet the applicable

requirements of Article 231.

Underground radioactive material areas may be located outside controlled areas unless access is likely to result in

individual doses (total effective dose equivalent) greater than 100 millirem in a year from underground radioactive

material.

Underground radioactive material areas are exempt from the entry and exit requirements of Chapter 3 when access is

not likely to result in individual doses greater than 100 millirem in a year. Article 333.1 provides entry provisions for

instances in which access is likely to result in individual doses greater than 100 millirem in a year.

238 Posting Soil Contamination Areas

For areas with contaminated soil that is not releasable in accordance with DOE's environmental protection

standards, a soil contamination area should be established that is posted in accordance with the requirements in

Article 231.1 through 231.8. Posting should include the words "Caution, Soil Contamination Area" and instructions

or special warnings to workers, such as "Consult With Radiological Control Organization Before Digging" or

"Subsurface Contamination Exists."

Soil contamination areas may be located outs ide controlled areas if exposure to the material in the area is not likely

to cause any individual to receive a total effective dose equivalent in excess of 100 millirem in a year.

If the contamination levels in the area exceed the values provided in Table 2-2 (as evidenced by the likelihood of

tracking contamination out of the area at levels exceeding these values), then the area is a contamination area or

high contamination area and shall be posted in accordance with Article 235 [see 835.2(a), contami nation area and

high contamination area and 835.603(d) and (e)].

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