Training

Published in December 1997, MARSSIM provides a single, nationally consistent guide for verifying that radioactively contaminated sites have been cleaned up to standards, rather than each regulatory agency having its own manual and standards. Such increased efficiency eliminates the confusion that could often result from contractors having to work from three or four different manuals.

ESSAP's Eric Abelquist played a large role in the development of the manual because of his vast experience in designing and conducting radiological surveys in support of decommissioning. Eric served as one of the primary writers as well as a consolidator of comments as the manual went through the various draft stages.

Eric Abelquist's involvement in the development of the manual gave him the knowledge necessary for working with another ORISE program to quickly develop a training course in the implementation of MARSSIM. This course is offered through ORISE's PTP (Professional Training Programs) several times a year. Specific information on the MARSSIM course offered by PTP, its schedule, and how to register can be found below.

This course, which has been expanded to five days for 1999 offerings, emphasizes the decision-making processes involved in the design and implementation of a MARSSIM-based decommissioning survey. Topics include an overview of radiological survey types, the data quality objectives process, selection and application of DCGLs, background reference area selection, survey instrument detection sensitivity, area classification, statistical design of surveys, measurement uncertainty, and performing statistical tests. It is expected that the course instructors will include the following advisors to the MARSSIM committee: Eric Abelquist (CHP), James Berger (CHP), and Dr. Carl Gogolak.

At the request of participants, PTP and ESSAP are developing an additional course that will focus on instrumentation and detection devices.

ESSAP staff not only help to teach the MARSSIM course in Oak Ridge, but they also travel throughout the United States providing on-site training to various facilities. ESSAP also provides instructors for a MARSSIM course designed specifically for the Environmental Protection Agency managers and DOE personnel.

ESSAP has also recently completed the initial design modules for a MARSSIM Training Application software that is expected to make learning MARSSIM easier.

If you are interested in having our MARSSIM training course offered at a location of your choosing, please contact Paul Frame at (865) 576 3388.

As more and more attention is being directed toward the decommissioning of nuclear facilities, the need for a standardized approach for implementing the necessary radiological surveys has become apparent. A multi-agency committee representing the NRC, DOE, EPA and DOD has attempted to address this need by producing a guidance document known as the MARSSIM manual. The recommended protocols are quite different from what most of us in the "nuclear business" are familiar with. ORISE is conducting this course to familiarize those who need to know with the theory and implementation of the MARSSIM manual.

This five-day course emphasizes the decision-making processes involved in the design and implementation of a MARSSIM-based decommissioning survey. Topics include an overview of radiological survey types, the data quality objectives process, selection and application of DCGLs, background reference area selection, survey instrument detection sensitivity, area classification, statistical design of surveys, measurement uncertainty, and performing statistical tests.

This course is designed for those individuals who will be responsible for designing the decommissioning radiological survey plans, overseeing the implementation of these plans, and evaluating the collected data. It is not aimed at the technicians who will actually be performing the surveys.

A tuition of $1,795 includes the full cost of training and instructional materials.

Argonne National Laboratory offers site-specific MARSSIM training courses for technical staff, managers, and the public.

http://web.ead.anl.gov/marssim/index.cfm

The Multi-Agency Radiation Survey and Site Investigation Manual (MARSSIM) provides information on planning, conducting, evaluating, and documenting building surface and surface soil final status radiological surveys for demonstrating compliance with dose or risk-based regulations or standards.

The MARSSIM is a multi-agency consensus document that was developed collaboratively by four Federal agencies having authority and control over radioactive materials: Department of Defense (DOD), Department of Energy (DOE), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).

The purpose of MARSSIM is to describe a consistent approach for planning, performing, and assessing building surface and surface soil final status surveys to meet established dose or risk-based release criteria, while at the same time encouraging an effective use of resources.

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