In-Situ Radiation Detection Demonstration
Abstract
The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has hundreds of facilities where radioactive materials have been used or are being used, including firing ranges, low-level radioactive waste disposal areas, and areas where past activities have resulted in environmental contamination. Depleted uranium (DU) and radium are the dominant contaminants, and to a lesser extent, mixed fission/activation products, enriched uranium, thorium, and plutonium/americium. Affected sites range in size from a few acres to square miles. Characterization of surface contamination concentrations has historically been performed using extensive soil sampling programs in conjunction with surface radiation surveys conducted with hand-held radiation monitoring equipment. Selection of sampling locations has been guided in the past by professional judgement or randomly or statistically selected strategies using guidance found in draft NUREG/CR-5849, Manual for Conducting Radiological Surveys in Support of License Termination. (Berger, 1992) With the advent of implementation of NUREG-1575, Multi-Agency Radiation Survey and Site Investigation Manual (MARSSIM) (NRC, 1997), has come a more formal process of site sampling and survey for affected areas. Sampling is required within the suspect affected areas classified as Class 1, 2 or 3. Surface soil contaminant characterizationusing soil sampling and hand-held monitoring are costly, time consuming, and may result in long delays between submission of samples for analysis and obtaining final results. Time delays due to analyses can be minimized by requesting accelerated analysis times, such as seven- to fourteen-day turnaround for the submitted samples. However, there is an additional premium to be paid for expedited analysis, and the cost increase may not be warranted or justifiable.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 2000
- Accession Number
- ADA607310
Entities
People
- David A. B. Miller
- Stephen W. Duce