Radiation Cleanup Standards

U.S. regulators and professional associations have promulgated regulations and guidelines for the decommissioning of nuclear and radiological facilities. These include,

  • Processes for decommissioning and decontamination (D&D),

  • Protocols for performing radiological surveys,

  • Standards for radiation cleanup for release for unrestricted use.

These are summarized below.


 Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)

 

10 CFR 20 Subpart E.  Radiological Criteria for License Termination.  This is commonly referred to as the License Termination Rule (LTR).

10 CFR 20.1402  Radiological Criteria for Unrestricted Use
"A site will be considered acceptable for unrestricted use if the residual radioactivity that is distinguishable from background radiation results in a TEDE to an average member of the critical group that does not exceed 25 milllirem (0.25 milliSievert) per year, including that from groundwater sources of drinking water, and the residual radioactivity has been reduced to levels that are as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA). Determination of the levels which are ALARA must take into account consideration of any detriments, such as deaths from transportation accidents, expected to potentially result from decontamination and waste disposal."

Regulatory Guide 1.86.  Termination of Operating Licenses for Nuclear Reactors.
Specifies total average, total maximum, and total removable surface contamination limits for alpha and beta/gamma contamination for four categories of radionuclides.  Although this AEC standard was promulgated over 30 years ago, it remains the standard for the NRC, DOE and state regulators.

 

NUREG-1727.  NMSS Standard Review Plan for Decommissioning. Specifies requirements for decommissioning plans.

Appendix D of NUREG-1727.  As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA). Specifies methodology for cost-benefit analysis to demonstrate what levels below a 25 millirem/year cleanup standard are ALARA.

NUREG-1757, Vol. 1.  Consolidated NMSS Decommissioning Guidance.  Decommissioning Process for Materials Licensees.


NUREG-1757, Vol. 2.  Consolidated NMSS Decommissioning Guidance.  Characterization, Survey, and Determination of Radiological Criteria.


NUREG-1757, Vol. 3  Consolidated NMSS Decommissioning Guidance. Financial Assurance, Record Keeping and Timliness.

 

NUREG-1761.  Radiological Surveys for Controlling Release of Solid Materials.

 

Memorandum of Understanding Between the Environmental Protection Agency and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.  Consultation and Finality on Decommissioning and Decontamination of Contaminated Sites.  Distribution Memorandum OSWER 9295.8-06a.


Department of Energy (DOE)

 

DOE Order 5400.5.  Radiation Protection of the Public & the Environment.  Specifies a basic dose limit of 100 millirem/year plus ALARA for operating facilities.  Specifies cleanup limits surface contamination that are equivalent to Regulatory Guide 1.86.  Specifies soil cleanup standards for radium and thorium based on ARARs (see EPA below).

 

DOE G 441.1-XX (Draft).  Guidance for "Release and Control of Material with Residual Radioactive Material" from DOE facilities.  It reiterates DOE's adoption of a dose limit of 25 mrem/year for all pathways and Regulatory Guide 1.86 for surface contamination.


California Department of Public Health (DPH), Radiolologic Health Branch (RHB)

 

DECON-1.  State of California.  "Guidelines for Decontamination of Facilities and Equipment prior to Release for Unrestricted Use." June 1977. (Supplemented by IPM-88-2).   Adopts the surface contamination guidelines of Regulatory Guide 1.86.

 

IPM-88-2.  State of California.  "Policy Momorandum on Clearance Inspection & Survey."  December 1, 1997. (Superseded by RML-00-01 and RML-00-02).  Adopts the surface contamination guidelines of Regulatory Guide 1.86.

 

RML-00-01.  State of California.  "Policy Momorandum on Oversight of Large Scale Decommissioning Projects."  May 1, 2000.

 

RML-00-02.  State of California.  "Policy Momorandum on Radiological Release Criteria for facilities Undergoing Large Scale Decommissioning."  May 1, 2000.   RML-00-02 adopted the NRC's 10 CFR 20 Subpart E License Termination Rule of 25 mrem/y plus ALARA.  Though California is an NRC Agreement State and is obligated to enforce existing NRC regulations, this policy was challenged in California court and struck down.


Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

 

EPA Radiation Site Cleanup - Technical and Guidance Documents.  EPA has developed both guidance and technical documents that assist in setting cleanup levels for radioactively contaminated sites.

 

40 CFR 196 (Draft) "Radiation Cleanup Standards."  This draft rule issued by EPA in 1994 proposed use of a 15 millirem/year dose limit for soil contamination and a 4 millirem/year limit for groundwater consistent with the EPA Primary Drinking Water Regulations of 40 CFR 141 and 142.  Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for 40 CFR 196.  The draft rule was subsequently withdrawn.  

 

EPA 402-R-96-011 A.  "Radiation Site Cleanup Regulations - Technical Support Document for the Developmenmt of Radiation Cleanup Levels for Soil."  September 1994.  This document develops soil cleanup levels for diffferent exposure scenarios, including suburban residential, rural residential (family farm), and industrial use, for dose levels of 15 millirem/year and risk levels of 3E-4 , and 1E-4.  Link on EPA Web site.

 

OSWER 9200-4.18.  "Establishment of Cleanup Levels for CERCLA Sites with Radioactive Contamination."  August 22, 1997.  This EPA policy memorandom establishes 15 mrem/y as a cleanup goal that is protective of public health and the environment and consistent with the CERCLA risk range of 1E-6 to 1E-4.  Link on EPA web site.

 

Memorandum of Understanding Between the Environmental Protection Agency and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.  Consultation and Finality on Decommissioning and Decontamination of Contaminated Sites.  Distribution Memorandum OSWER 9295.8-06a.


Preliminary Remediation Goals (PRGs).   Soil cleanup levels based on theoretical 1E-6 risk levels.

OSWER No. 9355.01-83A.  Distribution of OSWER Radionuclide Preliminary Remediation Goals (PRGs) for Superfund Electronic Calculator.
PRG Calculator

Dose Compliance Concentrations (DCCs).  Soil cleanup levels based on user input dose levels.

OSWER No. 9355.0-86A.  Distribution of OSWER Radionuclide ARAR Dose Compliance Concentrations (DCCs) for Superfund Electronic Calculator.
DCC Calculator


American National Standards Institute - Health Physics Society

 

ANSI/HPS N13.12-1999.  American National Standards Institute.  "Surface and Volumetric Radioactivity Standards for Clearance."  August 31, 1999.  Demonstrates that Regulatory Guide 1.86 surface contamination limits set in 1974 are equal to or less than an equivalent of 1 mrem/y.  Click here for comparison table between Reg. Guide 1.86 limits and those proposed by ANSI/HPS N13.12-1999.

 

ANSI/HPS N13.49-2001.  "Performance and Documentation of Radiological Surveys." August 6, 2001.  Provides non-regulatory guidance for the performance of radiation surveys.  


Oak Ridge Associated Universities

 

Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education.

 

Independent Environmental Assessment & Verification.  The U.S. center of excellence for protocols, procedures and performance of radiation surveys.

 

Miscellaneous

 

MARSSIM.  "Multi-Agency Radiation Survey and Site Investigation Manual."  Guidance from the NRC, DOE, EPA ad DOD for performing final status radiological surveys.  Link on EPA web site.

 

N001SRR140131, "Approved Site-wide Release Criteria for Remediation of Radiological Facilities at the SSFL.  February 18, 1999.

 

Radiological Release Process.   Process for the Release of Land and Facilities for (Radiologically) Unrestricted Use.  September 12, 2005.


Technical Feasibility of Detecting Radionuclide Contamination at the 1E-6 Risk Level.  Using EPA assessment and criteria, it is shown to be technically infeasible to distinguish radionuclide contamination in soil at a 1-in-a-million risk level (PRG) above background for most radionuclides, because these levels are, in general, less than laboratory soil detection limits and less than background soil variability.  March 6, 2007.

 


California Senate Bill SB 990

 

In spring 2007, California State Senator Kuehl introduced SB 990.  SB 990 prohibits the sale, transfer or lease of any part of Santa Susana Field Laboratory (SSFL) for any use, unless the Director of the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) certifies that the land has undergone complete remediation, pursuant of the most protective cleanup standards (this implies a 1-in-a-million risk level) that have been promulgated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (this implies CERCLA guidance) for sites that contain chemical and radioactive contamination and that are based on the most restrictive potential land use for these sites (this implies agricultural land use).