2007 ORAU Annual Report - Oak Ridge Associated Universities

I n d e p e n d e n t E n v i r o n m e n t a l
A s s e s s m e n t a n d V e r i f i c a t i o n
Programs
“As many of our country’s aging nuclear facilities undergo
remediation, ORAU partners with cleanup agencies to provide
objective, independent surveillance of decontamination and
decommissioning efforts to protect workers, the public, and the
environment from potential radiation risks. These efforts go a long
way in enhancing credibility with the public and stakeholder trust in
environmental cleanup activities.”
Eric Abelquist, Vice President and Director of Independent Environmental
Assessment and Verification Programs
DOE and other federal agencies spend billions of
dollars cleaning up radioactively contaminated
sites each year and need assurances that release
criteria have been met. The ultimate safety
of these buildings and lands is of paramount
concern for the public and future stakeholders
of these properties as well. ORAU is the nation’s
leading provider of independent verification
surveys of environmental cleanup, greatly
enhancing public trust and instilling confidence
in the decontamination and decommissioning of
contaminated sites.
Contact Information
Independent Environmental Assessment
and Verification Programs
(865) 576-3740
eric.abelquist@orau.org
http://orise.orau.gov/ieav
2007 Accomplishments
• Renewed a five-year, $5.8 million agreement with the
NRC to continue to serve as the sole-source, independent
contractor to address regulatory activities related to the
decommissioning of previously contaminated reactor and
materials sites
• Supported independent verification activities for DOE and
NRC at several sites, including Yankee Rowe, Connecticut
Yankee, Miamisburg Closure Project, Oak Ridge East
Tennessee Technology Park Zone 1, the K-25 Building,
and the University of Washington
• Maintained an active role in the development of
American National Standards Institute (ANSI) N42.37,
which provides training in basic radiation detection and
the proper use of detection instruments in support of
homeland security
• Updated the COMPASS software program that guides
users of the Multi-Agency Radiation Survey and Site
Investigation Manual (MARSSIM) into making informed
decisions in designing final status radiological surveys
• Developed a number of hypothetical scenarios
estimating exposure to timepieces containing radium-226
in support of a proposal by the NRC to impose stricter
regulation of consumer items containing radium-
226 in the public domain
• Analyzed more than 8,100 samples at the on-site
radiochemistry laboratory
• Installed 20 new stations and performed maintenance
at 81 sites for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration’s (NOAA) Climate Reference Network
• Conducted 26 health physics courses for more than 450
professionals from around the world
Focus Areas
• Independent Verification: Use of field and laboratory
techniques to evaluate final site conditions and to
validate a contractor’s final status survey procedures
• Characterization Surveys: Designed using the data
quality objectives process and includes surface scans for
gamma radiation as well as soil sampling and analysis
• Health Physics Services: Includes applied health physics
evaluations, audit services, and standards development.
• Radiation Sciences Training: Hands-on, laboratory-based
training in a variety of health physics topics
Key Customers
• U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
- Oak Ridge Office (ORO)
• U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
• U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)
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