RPM | REQUIREMENTS AND POLICIES MANUAL

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    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

    Contact Information

    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

    I. Contact Information

    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

    DOCUMENT INFORMATION

    Title:

    Environmental Radiological Protection

    Document number

    07.09.010.001

    Revision number

    1.1

    Publication date:

    8/11/2021

    Effective date:

    12/18/2012

    Next review date:

    8/11/2026

    Policy Area:

    Environmental Protection Program

    RPM Section (home)

    ESH

    RPM Section (cross-reference)

    None

    Functional Division

    EHS

    Prior reference information (optional)

    ES&H MANUAL, Chapter 11, Section 11.3.4 moved to Chapter 50

    Source Requirements Documents

    Document number

    Title

    Type

    Department of Energy Order 458.1

    Radiation Protection of the Public and the Environment September 15, 2020

    Order

    Title 40 CFR Part 61, Subpart H (1989, as amended)

    Environmental Protection Agency, National Emission Standards for Emissions of Radionuclides Other Than Radon from Department of Energy Facilities

    Standard

    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



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