Title: |
Vegetation Sampling and Management |
Publication date: |
8/11/2021 |
Effective date: |
6/26/2013 |
BRIEF
Policy Summary
Only trees in which tritium concentrations are indistinguishable from regional background levels may be removed from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) site. Additionally, all trees within the designated tritium restricted area (see Environmental Services Group (ESG) Procedure 270, Appendix A) must be authorized by ESG personnel prior to cutting, chipping, relocating within, and/or removing from the designated area.
Who Should Read This Policy
Berkeley Lab Facilities employees, construction subcontractors, and their supervisors who:
- Manage or perform tree trimming or cutting, or
- Plan construction projects that require tree trimming or cutting.
To Read the Full Policy, Go To:
The POLICY tab on this wiki page
To Read the ES&H Program, Go To:
Contact Information
Environmental Risk Assessments (for Radioactivity) Subject Matter Expert
ESG
Environment, Health and Safety Division
Title: |
Vegetation Sampling and Management |
Publication date: |
8/11/2021 |
Effective date: |
6/26/2013 |
POLICY
A. Purpose
The Vegetation Sampling and Management Program at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) ensures that tritium-contaminated trees (either potentially or confirmed to have tritium concentrations above regional background) are not removed from the Berkeley Lab site.
B. Persons Affected
Berkeley Lab Facilities employees, construction subcontractors, and their supervisors who:
- Manage or perform tree trimming or cutting, or
- Plan construction projects that require tree trimming or cutting.
C. Exceptions
If analytical results show tritium concentrations are indistinguishable from regional background in a tree within the designated tritium restricted area, then that tree may be removed from the Berkeley Lab site (Department of Energy (DOE) Berkeley Site Office, 1999).
D. Policy Statement
- Only trees in which the tritium concentration is indistinguishable from regional background levels may be removed from the Berkeley Lab site.
- A flowchart of the process for assessing potentially contaminated trees is shown in Work Process A, General Requirements and Flowchart.
- The map showing the area where trees may not be removed without sampling for tritium and confirming concentrations are indistinguishable from regional background is in Work Process B, Map of Restricted Area Where Trees May Not Be Removed.
E. Roles and Responsibilities
Role |
Responsibilities |
Supervisors |
|
Employees |
|
Environmental Services Group |
|
F. Definitions/Acronyms
Term |
Definition |
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. |
Regional background |
Tritium levels in trees in the region beyond the influence of Berkeley Lab activities, which may be less than the lowest activity the analytical laboratory can detect |
Restricted area |
An area surrounding Building 75 where tritium levels in trees may exceed the regional background (where tree removal is restricted), and where tritium sampling is required in order to remove trees |
Unauthorized tree removal |
Removing trees or wood chips from the restricted area without obtaining confirmation from ESG that tritium levels in the trees are indistinguishable from regional background levels |
G. Recordkeeping Requirements
Supervisors must ensure that vegetation management activities are performed within acceptable operating standards and that any required records are current.
H. Implementing Documents
Document Number |
Other Reference Number |
Title |
Type |
07.09.009.001 |
N/A |
Vegetation Sampling and Management |
Program |
07.09.009.002 |
N/A |
Work Process A, General Requirements and Flowchart |
Process |
07.09.009.003 |
N/A |
Work Process B, Map of Restricted Area Where Trees May Not Be Removed |
Process |
N/A |
ESG Procedure 270 |
Assessing Tritium in Trees Slated for Removal on LBNL Property |
Procedure |
N/A |
ESG Procedure 266 |
Soil and Vegetation Sampling for the Environmental Radiological Protection Program |
Procedure |
N/A |
LBL-27170 |
Site Environmental Report (most recent) |
Report |
I. Contact Information
Environmental Risk Assessments for Radioactivity Subject Matter Expert
Environmental Services Group
EHS Division
J. Revision History
Date |
Revision |
By Whom |
Revision Description |
Section(s) Affected |
Change Type |
1/2/2012 |
0 |
Pauer |
Rewrite for wiki (brief) |
All |
Minor |
6/26/2013 |
1 |
Wahl |
Rewrite for wiki (policy) |
All |
Minor |
8/11/2021 |
1.1 |
J. Cummings |
Periodic review: minor clarifications |
All |
Minor |
DOCUMENT INFORMATION
Title: |
Vegetation Sampling and Management |
Document number |
07.09.009.001 |
Revision number |
1.1 |
Publication date: |
8/11/2021 |
Effective date: |
6/26/2013 |
Next review date: |
8/11/2024 |
Policy Area: |
Environmental Protection Program |
RPM Section (home) |
ESH |
RPM Section (cross-reference) |
None |
Functional Division |
EHS |
Prior reference information (optional) |
ES&H MANUALES&H Manual Section 11.3.6 moved to Chapter 59 |
Source Requirements Documents
- Department of Energy, Radiation Protection of the Public and the Environment, DOE Order 458.1 (September 15, 2020)
Other Driving Requirements
- Nolan, Richard H. "Tree and Vegetation Management Program," memo from DOE Berkeley Site Office to David McGraw, EH&S Division Director, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (April 5, 1999)
- Retired document, and information contained within it was promulgated to the appropriate ESG plans/procedures. Department of Energy, Environmental Radiological Effluent Monitoring and Environmental Surveillance, DOE-HDBK-1216-2015
Implementing Documents
Document number |
Other Reference Number |
Title |
Type |
07.09.009.000 |
N/A |
Vegetation Sampling and Management |
Program |
07.09.009.002 |
N/A |
Work Process A, General Requirements and Flowchart |
Process |
07.09.009.003 |
N/A |
Work Process B, Map of Restricted Area Where Trees May Not Be Removed |
Process |
N/A |
ESG Procedure 270 |
Assessing Tritium in Trees Slated for Removal on LBNL Property |
Procedure |
N/A |
ESG Procedure 266 |
Soil and Vegetation Sampling for the Environmental Radiological Protection Program |
Procedure |
N/A |
LBL-27170 |
Site Environmental Report (most recent) |
Report |