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SIN 899-4
Waste Management Services
Many
sources of radiation and radioactive materials occur naturally,
and we are exposed to them every day. These naturally occurring
sources of exposure may have been technologically enhanced by other,
seemingly unrelated activities. An example is the radioactive waste
residue remaining from the mining, extraction, and processing of
many minerals and other natural resources. Perhaps the largest volume
of radioactive waste in the United States is generated from the
production of phosphate fertilizer. The result is that radioactive
wastes are much more pervasive than what is commonly thought.
ERG
works with facility owners and operators through all phases of operations.
Specific expertise includes permitting and radioactive materials
licensing, radiation safety program development, risk assessments,
radiological measurements data collection and interpretation, site
characterization of radioactive wastes, decommissioning plan preparation,
radiation safety support during remediation, post-remediation MARSSIM
based final status surveys, and long term monitoring. Note, ERG
does NOT excavate, transport, or dispose of radioactive wastes.
ERG has
extensive knowledge and experience with federal and state regulations
pertaining to radiation safety, radioactive materials, and the disposal
options for radioactive wastes. At our client's request, we often
provide project information related to our expertise to federal
and state regulators, and have established a track record of successfully
completing projects in full compliance with all appropriate laws,
codes, regulations, and guidance. In addition to our knowledge of
the regulations, we have achieved success through our relationships
with regulators around the country. Successful outcomes would not
have been achieved without a thorough understanding client and regulatory
expectations and preferences.
A discussion
of the specific tasks which ERG has completed for clients related
to services contemplated under SIN 899-4 are as follows:
1. Data Collection and Interpretation
ERG has collected and interpreted radiological site and waste data
from over sixty facilities across the United States. The majority
of these site or waste characterizations are surveys to measure
gamma radiation levels using portable instruments and a global positioning
system (GPS). These surveys record radiological data by location
for subsequent presentation and interpretation. This data is used
to depict the extent of the wastes, and assist in planning for its
mitigation or removal. ERG has also developed our 3-DISS technology
for logging position data with corresponding alpha and beta counts
for indoor use. In addition, ERG has collected soil samples for
radiological analyses at many facilities, and has performed radiation
background studies at several sites. This data can be used to correlate
gamma radiation levels and soil concentrations of waste radionuclides.
ERG has also collected data of surface radiological contamination
on facilities and equipment at sites.
2. Exposure Assessments and Risk
Analysis
ERG
has performed all-encompassing radiation dose assessments at seven
facilities, and has performed exposure assessments related to radon
barrier cover design at an additional eleven sites. To perform an
exposure assessment, ERG routinely uses publicly available computer
codes such as RESRAD to evaluate who may be exposed to radioactive
constituents, how they would be exposed, and how much exposure could
occur. The first step is to identify the population that is, or
may be in the future, potentially exposed. The second step is to
develop a conceptual model which describes the pathways by which
exposure could occur. Based upon these specific parameters, a radiation
dose assessment can be calculated.
3. Waste Management Plans and
Surveys
ERG
has developed decommissioning plans for three uranium mill sites,
three Uranium in situ leach facilities, and five other Nuclear Regulatory
Commission (NRC) licensed facilities. In addition, ERG has provided
subject matter consulting services to the decommissioning plans
of thirteen other facilities. Once the site has been remediated,
a final status survey is performed to document the radiological
levels for the appropriate regulatory agency. ERG has prepared final
status surveys in conformance with the Multi-Agency Radiological
Site Survey Investigation Manual (MARSSIM), and has conducted the
final status surveys at ten sites. ERG has also provided radiological
monitoring guidance to the waste removal contractor at ten sites
using in situ techniques, and at eight sites using an on-site laboratory.
4. Other Tasks Related to Waste
Management
ERG
has provided operational services, advice, or guidance to other
radiological waste mitigation or removal projects including the
radiation safety officer, the quality assurance officer, the radiation
support manager, and technician level support at sites. ERG has
conducted health physics audits and ALARA audits, and has provided
employee radiation safety training to numerous clients.
5. Other Direct Costs Related
to Waste Management
ERG
owns a large inventory of radiological monitoring equipment for
supporting site characterization, health and safety monitoring,
and decommissioning of radioactively contaminated properties, including
establishing on-site laboratories. Instruments available to rent
include radiation detectors, lapel and high volume air samplers,
multichannel gamma-ray analyzers, exempt quantity radioactive sources,
air supply filters, air particulate monitors, and photo-ionization
detectors. Factory or ERG calibrations are provided for all equipment.
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