266
21 Reoccupying the Hot Zone
of radiation emitted, as well as factors affecting the amount of radioactivity that can
be resuspended.
External radiation exposure from gamma-emitting radionuclides is fairly straightforward, as discussed in the first two chapters of this book; but calculating the dose
from internal radioactivity and from resuspended radioactivity can be challenging.
This is where software models can be helpful; in particular, a series of computer
codes called ResRad (which stands for “residual radioactivity”) includes one program
developed for this purpose—RESRAD-RDD [8].
There will likely be a cycle that develops for the radiological aspects of
determining remediation limits:
1. Collect radiological data
2. Develop dose models
3. Determine appropriate cleanup standards
4. Conduct remediation to achieve cleanup standards
5. Collect radiological data and perform new modeling.
A crucial aspect of this cycle will require radiological sampling and surveying;
this will include air sampling, contamination monitoring, and measurements of both
dose and dose rate to monitor the progress of the cleanup as well as to confirm the
accuracy of the computer models and as input to help refine further modeling.
As areas are checked by regulatory agencies and released for reoccupancy it will
be possible for workers and business owners to move back into their places of business
and for tenants to return to their homes as soon as streets, sidewalks, and other access
routes are cleared and reopened.
It is also worth noting that it might not make sense to reoccupy every affected
area; some areas might not be worth the cost of remediation and it might make more
sense to cordon them off and to relocate the people and businesses from those areas
rather than to remediate or demolish and rebuild the affected properties. In a city,
for example, with low occupancy rates for apartment and office buildings, it is likely
to cost less to refurbish underutilized buildings and the surrounding infrastructure
than to tear up concrete and asphalt, demolish heavily contaminated buildings, and
dispose of the debris as radioactive waste.
21.1.4 Organizing the Decision-Making
The 2014 NCRP report also includes a discussion on the process of developing
recommendations and making decisions on whether or not they should be implemented and how that should be done. As shown in the graphic, NCRP suggests a
Decision-Making Team comprised of representatives from all levels of government
from the local to the national, taking input from stakeholders as well as from a
Recovery Management Team; the Recovery Management Team, in turn, receives
input and suggestions from a number of Technical Working groups, each assigned a
different problem or problem area.
21 Reoccupying the Hot Zone
of radiation emitted, as well as factors affecting the amount of radioactivity that can
be resuspended.
External radiation exposure from gamma-emitting radionuclides is fairly straightforward, as discussed in the first two chapters of this book; but calculating the dose
from internal radioactivity and from resuspended radioactivity can be challenging.
This is where software models can be helpful; in particular, a series of computer
codes called ResRad (which stands for “residual radioactivity”) includes one program
developed for this purpose—RESRAD-RDD [8].
There will likely be a cycle that develops for the radiological aspects of
determining remediation limits:
1. Collect radiological data
2. Develop dose models
3. Determine appropriate cleanup standards
4. Conduct remediation to achieve cleanup standards
5. Collect radiological data and perform new modeling.
A crucial aspect of this cycle will require radiological sampling and surveying;
this will include air sampling, contamination monitoring, and measurements of both
dose and dose rate to monitor the progress of the cleanup as well as to confirm the
accuracy of the computer models and as input to help refine further modeling.
As areas are checked by regulatory agencies and released for reoccupancy it will
be possible for workers and business owners to move back into their places of business
and for tenants to return to their homes as soon as streets, sidewalks, and other access
routes are cleared and reopened.
It is also worth noting that it might not make sense to reoccupy every affected
area; some areas might not be worth the cost of remediation and it might make more
sense to cordon them off and to relocate the people and businesses from those areas
rather than to remediate or demolish and rebuild the affected properties. In a city,
for example, with low occupancy rates for apartment and office buildings, it is likely
to cost less to refurbish underutilized buildings and the surrounding infrastructure
than to tear up concrete and asphalt, demolish heavily contaminated buildings, and
dispose of the debris as radioactive waste.
21.1.4 Organizing the Decision-Making
The 2014 NCRP report also includes a discussion on the process of developing
recommendations and making decisions on whether or not they should be implemented and how that should be done. As shown in the graphic, NCRP suggests a
Decision-Making Team comprised of representatives from all levels of government
from the local to the national, taking input from stakeholders as well as from a
Recovery Management Team; the Recovery Management Team, in turn, receives
input and suggestions from a number of Technical Working groups, each assigned a
different problem or problem area.