A program based on this guide will provide assurance to all concerned that the appropriate elements of radiation safety have been included to protect workers, the general public, and the environment in proximity to the decommissioning activities.

Implementation of such a program will provide assurance to those agencies responsible for review or audit of the decommissioning project that the requirements for radiation protection have been addressed.

1.1 This guide provides instruction to the individual charged with the responsibility for developing and implementing the radiation protection program for decommissioning operations.

1.2 This guide provides a basis for the user to develop radiation protection program documentation that will support both the radiological engineering and radiation safety aspects of the decommissioning project.

1.3 This guide presents a description of those elements that should be addressed in a specific radiation protection plan for each decommissioning project. The plan would, in turn, form the basis for development of the implementation procedures that execute the intent of the plan.

1.4 This guide applies to the development of radiation protection programs established to control exposures to radiation and radioactive materials associated with the decommissioning of nuclear facilities. The intent of this guide is to supplement existing radiation protection programs as they may pertain to decommissioning workers, members of the general public and the environment by describing the basic elements of a radiation protection program for decommissioning operations.

1.5 This guide defines the elements of a radiation protection program that will ensure that the goals and objectives of a decommissioning activity are attained within the radiological limits and restrictions imposed by applicable governing and regulating agencies. The implementation of such a program will provide radiological protection to personnel and the environment. This guide should be used for developing the documentation that defines the intent and implementation of the radiation protection program for a specific decommissioning project.

1.6 The Radiation Protection Program should address the following elements (see Note 1). This program shall be developed and maintained such that it satisfies all applicable Quality Assurance requirements developed for the decommissioning project.

Note 1—If the site to be decommissioned is adjacent to an operating site, the radiological impact of the operating site must be considered in the development of the Radiation Protection Program for the decommissioning site.

1.7 This guide does not address the subjects of emergency preparedness, safeguards, accountability, waste handling, storage, and transportation. Each of these issues has a direct interface with the radiation protection program. However, each constitutes a program in and of itself from program definition through implementation.

1.8 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.