Title: |
Environmental Radiological Protection |
Publication date: |
8/11/2021 |
Effective date: |
12/18/2012 |
BRIEF
Policy Summary
This policy describes Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory's (Berkeley Lab's) approach to protect the public and the environment against undue risk from radiation associated with radiological activities. This policy ensures that potential exposure to the public and environment from Berkeley Lab activities are as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA) by limiting:
- Emissions of radionuclides into the air.
- Discharges of radioactive liquids to the sanitary sewer.
- Doses from radioactive waste management.
- Radiological contamination of groundwater.
- Doses from property released for reuse.
Who Should Read This Policy
Berkeley Lab managers, supervisors, employees, and affiliates who plan to work with or support work with radiation-generating equipment or radioactive materials
To Read the Full Policy, Go To:
The POLICY tab on this wiki page
To Read the ES&H Program Details, Go To:
ES&H Manual Chapter 50
For assistance regarding environmental radiological protection, contact:
Air Quality: Outdoor Radiological Subject Matter Expert
Title: |
Environmental Radiological Protection |
Publication date: |
8/11/2021 |
Effective date: |
12/18/2012 |
POLICY
A. Purpose
This policy describes the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) approach to protecting the public and the environment against undue risk from radiation associated with radiological activities. This policy ensures that doses to the public and the environment (including animal and plant life) from Berkeley Lab activities are as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA) by limiting:
- Emissions of radionuclides into the air.
- Discharges of radioactive liquids to the sanitary sewer and stormwater systems.
- Radiological contamination of groundwater, drinking water, and soil.
- Exposure of the environment (including animal and plant life) to radionuclide emissions and discharges.
B. Persons Affected
Berkeley Lab managers, supervisors, employees, and affiliates who plan to work with or support work with radiation-generating equipment or radioactive materials
C. Exceptions
None
D. Policy Statement
Berkeley Lab has an established and implemented program to protect the public and the environment against undue risk from radiation associated with radiological activities. Using a graded approach, this program is tailored to Berkeley Lab activities. The program ensures compliance with public dose limits and ensures that potential radiation exposure to the public and environment from Berkeley Lab activities is as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA).
E. Roles and Responsibilities
Role |
Responsibilities |
Principal Investigators and Supervisors |
- Ensure that environmental laws, regulations, and policies are followed.
- Request technical advice from the Environmental Services Group on pertinent environmental requirements and appropriate compliance strategies.
- Ensure that activities are performed within acceptable operating standards and that any required records are current.
- Notify the Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) Division immediately of any unplanned accidental releases.
|
Employees |
- Follow applicable environmental laws, regulations, and policies.
- Must be fully aware of the environmental impact of their activities, and comply with all requirements that govern those activities.
- Perform activities within acceptable operating standards, and maintain current records whenever required.
- Ensure that exposures of the public and the environment to radioactive emissions and discharges are kept as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA).
- Take immediate action to stop unplanned releases to the environment, and report all instances of unplanned environmental releases to the EHS Division.
- Complete all required training provided by supervisors and the EHS Division.
|
Environmental Services Group |
- Develops Laboratory policies and procedures to assure that operations are conducted in an environmentally safe manner and that they fully comply with all applicable environmental laws, regulations, and Department of Energy (DOE) orders.
- Prepares environmental compliance plans and reports as mandated by DOE orders and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requirements.
- Assesses current and planned Berkeley Lab programs, and assists in defining environmental protection compliance upgrades and corrective actions.
- Identifies significant institutional environmental compliance issues, and develops cost-effective mechanisms to resolve them.
- Performs environmental dose assessments to document that radiation doses to the public and environment are maintained well below applicable standards and regulations.
- Prepares budget requests for and manages environmental protection upgrades and corrective actions for institutional projects.
- Curtails or suspends any operations that pose an immediate danger to members of the public or the environment.
- Monitors radioactive emissions and discharges to the environment to verify compliance with applicable regulations.
- Investigates reports of unplanned environmental releases, and notifies appropriate authorities in a timely manner, as required.
- Coordinates and represents Berkeley Lab activities during environmental audits and inspections by regulatory agencies and the DOE.
- Responds to information requests from the public.
|
F. Definitions/Acronyms
Term |
Definition |
As low as reasonably achievable (ALARA) |
An approach to radiological management and control that aims to keep exposures to the general public (individual and collective) and the environment at levels as low as are reasonable, taking into account social, technical, economic, practical, and public policy considerations. ALARA is not a dose limit but a process with the objective of attaining doses as far below the applicable controlling limits as can be reasonably achieved. |
Effluent |
Any treated or untreated liquid discharge from Berkeley Lab or a Laboratory facility |
Emission |
Any filtered or unfiltered substance released to the air from Berkeley Lab or a Laboratory facility |
Environmental monitoring |
The collection and analysis of environmental samples or direct measurements of environmental media. Environmental monitoring consists of three major activities: effluent monitoring, environmental surveillance, and meteorological monitoring. |
Environmental occurrence |
Any sudden or sustained deviation from a regulated or planned performance at an operation that has environmental protection and compliance significance |
Environmental surveillance |
The collection and analysis of samples, or direct measurements of air, water, soil, foodstuff, animal and plant life, and other media from Berkeley Lab and its environs to determine compliance with applicable standards and permit requirements; assess radiation exposures of members of the public; and assess the effects, if any, on the local environment |
Radionuclide |
A natural or manmade atom that spontaneously undergoes radioactive decay |
United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) |
A federal agency responsible for enforcing environmental laws, including Clear Air Act regulations for radionuclide air emissions |
G. Recordkeeping Requirements
Environmental Radiation Survey Results maintained by EHS
H. Implementing Documents
Document number |
Title |
Type |
07.08.001.001 |
Radiation Protection |
Program |
07.09.010.001 |
Environmental Radiological Protection |
Program |
07.09.010.002 |
Work Process A, Environmental Radiological Protection Program |
Process |
NA |
Environmental ALARA Program Plan (PP-5001) |
Program |
Air Quality: Outdoor Radiological Subject Matter Expert
J. Revision History
Date |
Revision |
By whom |
Revision Description |
Section(s) affected |
Change Type |
1/2/2012 |
0 |
L. Wahl |
Rewrite for wiki (brief) |
All |
Minor |
3/7/2013 |
1 |
L. Wahl |
Rewrite for wiki (policy) |
All |
Minor |
8/11/2021 |
1.1 |
J. Cummings |
Minor edits/review |
All |
Minor |
