scope:

Intended Audience.

This document is intended to assist Project Managers in the development of Project Management Plans and supporting documents that will lead to the successful restoration of sites contaminated with radioactive material. Guidance is included to ensure that each Project Delivery Team (PDT) is established with the necessary disciplines and perspectives. Individuals asked to work on radioactively contaminated sites may find the document useful in understanding and fulfilling their role as members of the PDT. Various terms, regulations, and processes used in the restoration of radioactively contaminated sites are described to facilitate effective communication between the PDT members and stakeholders.

Contents.

• Chapter 1 explains the purpose, scope and intended audience of this guidance document. It lists some important units, quantities and conversions that are necessary to fully understand and work on remediation of radioactively contaminated sites.
• Chapter 2 explains how the presence of radioactive waste affects the necessary actions and associated management of a project.
• Chapter 3 explains the TPP approach to managing remediation at sites contaminated with radioactive materials.
• Chapter 4 discusses health and safety concerns relative to a radioactive site.
• Chapter 5 describes the conceptual site model and risk assessment.
• Chapter 6 describes sampling of radioactive materials.
• Chapter 7 describes characterization of sites.
• Chapter 8 describes characterizing radioactive waste.
• Chapter 9 addresses the primary regulatory processes involved at radioactive remediation sites.
• Chapter 10 addresses remedies and innovative technologies that may be used at radioactive remediation sites.
• Chapter 11 explains the procedures and issues involved in transportation of radioactive materials.
• Chapter 12 discusses options and methods of disposal of radioactive materials.
• Chapter 13 discusses the Multi-Agency Radiation Site Survey and Investigation Manual (MARSSIM) Final Status Survey (FSS).
• Appendix A provides references and bibliography of regulatory documents, regulations and laws.
• Appendix B provides contact information for Federal and state radiation control agencies.
• Appendix C includes technical information on radioactive materials, decay, measuring techniques, and instrumentation.
• Appendix D lists some typical remediation site characteristics.

Purpose.

This engineer manual (EM) contains planning and management guidelines to be used for United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) work with radioactive waste, either alone or combined with hazardous or toxic components. This manual primarily describes regulatory and management responsibilities, provides guidance on accomplishing those responsibilities, and explains their relation to the Project Management Business Process (PMBP) and Technical Project Planning (TPP) applied to USACE activities at radioactive waste sites. Additionally, this manual will promote USACE policies to ensure Corps-wide application across all programs. This manual is not intended to provide detailed technical recommendations or sophisticated scientific procedures. The manual will necessarily incorporate some technical information to provide background for the regulatory and management responsibilities. In addition to the Department of Defense (DOD) branches, these responsibilities are defined and enforced by other Federal agencies, including the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), the Department of Energy (DOE), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of Transportation (DOT), and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Applicability.

The guidelines within this manual are applicable to all USACE elements and major subordinate commands (MSC) having responsibility through governmental interagency agreement or by assignment by HQUSACE for the remediation of sites contaminated with radioactive materials. These guidelines are applicable to both the Military and Civil Works missions of the USACE. Strictly chemical or biological aspects of sites are not addressed except in passing reference to their component part of mixed waste. While most of the guidance included will be applicable to work performed outside the United States, other regulatory agencies, dose limits, and radioactive handling and disposal regulations may be applicable.