Survey Projects
When the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and various state governments oversee decontamination and decommissioning (D&D) activities at one of the nation’s nuclear facilities, how can government officials and the public be absolutely sure that the contractor’s efforts met strict cleanup requirements?
The independent verification team of Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) provides expert radiological surveys and environmental assessments for cleanup projects across the country. ORAU’s reputation after 25 years in the business, our laboratory capabilities, and experienced personnel have positioned the program as a leader in the verification of D&D activities at radioactively contaminated sites. No matter how large or small the D&D project, ORAU has the equipment and the expertise to meet your independent verification needs.
Independent Verification
As the primary independent verification contractor for all DOE cleanup projects and the only verification contractor for the NRC, ORAU uses its technical expertise to rigorously evaluate and verify that previously
contaminated areas meet federal guidelines for D&D.
Characterization Surveys
Before ORAU’s team of qualified experts can verify that a project meets proper release criteria, characterization surveys are often required to determine the radiological condition of a specific site.
Other Field Investigations
From scoping to verification surveys, we provide a variety of expert site evaluations to determine the appropriate course of actions to ensure a site is safe for the public and future land use conditions.
Guidance Documents
As a key developer of the Multi-Agency Radiation Survey and Site Investigation Manual (MARSSIM), we use a standardized, documented approach to meet the requirements of each D&D project.
Radiochemistry Laboratory
Our state-of-the-art radiochemistry laboratory supports the assessment program in its independent verification mission by performing independent analysis of environmental samples collected at survey sites. As the only laboratory performing work for the NRC, our strengths and capabilities have positioned us as a leader in the field of radiochemical analysis.
Stakeholder Group Assistance
We offer confidence to stakeholder groups by performing an unbiased analysis of D&D projects. It is our responsibility to provide documentation and recommendations to the cleanup regulator if a site requires additional work before its release.
