Skip to main content

MARSSIM

Accredited continuing education course on implementing the Multi-Agency Radiation Survey and Site Investigation Manual

Introduction

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 Multi-Agency Radiation Survey and Site Investigation Manual (MARSSIM). ORAU conducts this five-day course to familiarize participants with the theory and implementation of the MARSSIM manual. The American Academy of Health Physics grants 40 Continuing Education Credits for completion of this course.

Training dates

October 23-27, 2023 Register now

February 5-9, 2024 Register now

Please also consider registering for the online MARSSIM course.

Course description

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.

Who should attend

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

Cost

$1,995 – The tuition includes the full cost of training and instructional materials in electronic form (PDF). Attendees should bring a laptop or tablet that is wifi enabled in order to download the instructional materials on the first day of the course. A printed copy of the instructional materials may be purchased for an additional fee ($50) if preferred. The print option can be selected during registration. Attendees will also receive a free copy of the ORAU Professional Training Programs Electronic Library DVD.

If you are interested in having this course delivered at your site, please contact Tonya Bernhardt at (865) 241-6620.

Questions

If you have additional questions about this course, please contact the Registrar.

Impact Areas

Registration Information

 

PTP has upgraded our instructional materials to an electronic format. Attendees should bring a laptop or tablet that is wifi enabled in order to download the instructional materials on the first day of the course. Printed materials will still be available for an additional fee ($50). The print option can be selected during registration.

The decision deadline for running a course is 30 days prior to the course start date. If there are not enough registrants at that time, the course will be cancelled, so please REGISTER EARLY. If you are unable to register prior to the deadline, please contact the Registrar for assistance.

You have several options on registration and payment for an ORAU PTP course:

Be sure to read the following information prior to registering.

Non-citizens (U.S.)

Since this training takes place in a Department of Energy facility, certain security requirements must be met. Foreign nationals must be cleared before attending, a process that may take several weeks. If you are a foreign national, contact the Registrar for additional information.

Confirmation

One month prior to the course starting date, if that much advance time is available, you will receive written confirmation of your registration, as well as additional information regarding time, local lodging, and local transportation. You are responsible for your own  lodging arrangements.

You may cancel your registration 30 days prior to the course start date with no penalty. Individuals who cancel within 30 days of the course start date will be assessed a 10% cancellation fee based on the cost of the course. Individuals who do not notify ORAU of cancellation and do not attend the course will be assessed a 20% cancellation fee.

Cancellations must be communicated directly to the ORAU Professional Training Programs Registrar and a confirmation will be provided. Cancellation fees will be invoiced to participants after the completion of the course. If a course was paid in full at the time of registration, reimbursement (minus any applicable cancellation fee) will be processed after course completion.

ORAU’s Professional Training Programs reserves the right to cancel or reschedule a course due to insufficient participants, or for other reasons beyond our control. If a course is canceled, you will be notified by phone or email one month prior to the start date of the course. No cancellation fee will be assessed for courses canceled by ORAU. If ORAU cancels the course, any payments received prior to the cancellation of the course will be refunded in full.

ORAU does not recommend that participants make non-refundable travel arrangements prior to the one month cancellation window. ORAU is not liable for such costs if the course is canceled.

Time Action Cancellation Fee
≥ 30 days before start date of the course ORAU cancels course or participant cancels registration None
< 30 days before start date of the course Participant cancels registration 10% of course cost
Week of course Participant does not attend and/or provide notification before start date of the course 20% of course cost

The ORAU-ANL Decommissioning Certificate Program is a formal curriculum that documents that an individual has achieved a baseline level of training in the subject of facility/site decommissioning.

To complete the certificate program, participants must attend two requisite core courses and one additional elective course. They do not need to be taken in any specific order. After the training requirements have been met, it is the responsibility of the participant to contact the ORAU Registrar and request the Decommissioning Certificate. When it has been confirmed by the ORAU Registrar that the requirements have been completed, the individual will be awarded the Decommissioning Certificate.

At this time, no administrative fees are being imposed for the certificate. The sole expense to the participant is the cost of attending the courses.

Requisite Courses

Participants must attend the following two core courses:

Elective Courses

Participants must attend one elective course from the following:

Issuance of Decommissioning Certificate

For the Decommissioning Certificate to be issued, the participant must provide the ORAU Registrar with documentation that the training requirements have been met. This documentation could consist of copies of the certificates of completion from the core and elective courses. If a certificate of completion for one of the ANL courses is unavailable, it would be acceptable to provide the ORAU Registrar with a letter or email from Argonne National Laboratory confirming that the individual attended the course(s). Without a certificate of completion for one of the ORAU courses, the participant must be able to provide the Registrar with the specific dates that the course(s) was attended and the attendance must be confirmed by the Registrar.

Continuing Education Credits

All of the requisite and elective courses have been assigned at least 16 Continuing Education Credits (CECs) by the American Academy of Health Physics.

  1. From the airport, take US 129 N (Alcoa Highway) toward Knoxville for approximately 2.3 miles.
  2. Use the right lane to merge onto I-140 W via the ramp to Oak Ridge.
  3. Continue on I-140 W for approximately 11.4 miles. You will cross I-40/I-75. As you cross the interstate continue onto TN-162 N (Pellissippi Parkway).
  4. In 5.9 miles, TN-162 N will merge with TN-62 W. You will travel through the small Solway community that primarily consists of gas stations and small stores. Continue over the Clinch River/Solway Bridge, and past a local cemetery that will be on the right.
  5. Stay in one of the left two lanes and continue another 6.3 miles to Oak Ridge.

Directions to the training center:

  1. After you have crossed over the Clinch River/Solway Bridge and are next to the cemetery, you will see a sign that says “Bethel Valley Road ORNL Y-12 Complex, CLOSED TO THROUGH TRAFFIC.” Our facility is located prior to the closure. Take the exit right onto Bethel Valley Road.
  2. In approximately 0.8 miles, the training center will be on the left at the intersection of Bethel Valley Road and Pumphouse Road (to the left) and Scarboro Road (to the right). Turn left onto Pumphouse Road. There will be two entrances immediately on the left into the parking lot.
  3. To enter the facility, walk around to the front of the building. The training center entrance faces Bethel Valley Road closest to the intersection.

Google Earth coordinates of training facility: 35.983667 -84.222

Hotel Address Phone Distance
Candlewood Suites* 10206 Parkside Drive, Knoxville 1(865) 777-0400
1(877) 226-3539		 10 miles
Comfort Inn 433 S. Rutgers Ave., Oak Ridge 1(865) 481-8200
1(800) 228-5150		 2.5 miles
Courtyard by Marriott 216 Langley Place, Knoxville 1(865) 539-0600 9 miles
Days Inn 206 S. Illinois Ave., Oak Ridge 1(865) 483-5615
1(800) 329-7466		 3 miles
Doubletree 215 S. Illinois Ave., Oak Ridge 1(865) 481-2468
1(800) 222-TREE		 3 miles
Hampton Inn 208 S. Illinois Ave., Oak Ridge 1(865) 482-7889
1(800) HAMPTON		 3 miles
Holiday Inn Express* 114 Tulsa Road, Oak Ridge 1(888) 465-4329 3.5 miles
Homewood Suites by Hilton 10935 Turkey Drive, Knoxville 1(865) 777-0375 10 miles
Quality Inn 216 S. Rutgers Ave., Oak Ridge 1(865) 483-6809 3 miles
Residence Inn by Marriott* 215 Langley Place, Knoxville 1(865) 539-5339 9 miles
SpringHill Suites by Marriott 10955 Turkey Drive, Knoxville 1(865) 966-8888 10 miles
Staybridge Suites (Extended Stay)* 420 S. Illinois Ave., Oak Ridge 1(865) 298-0050
1(800) 238-8000		 2.5 miles
TownePlace Suites by Marriott* 205 Langley Place, Knoxville 1(865) 693-5216 9 miles
Westgate Apartments 101-O Gates Drive 1(865) 481-0603 8 miles

*Ask for the ORAU special rate.

Airline Phone Number
Allegiant Air 1(702) 505-8888
American Airlines 1(800) 433-7300
Delta Airlines 1(702) 505-8888
Frontier Airlines 1(801) 401-9000
United Airlines 1(800) 864-8331
McGhee Tyson Airport 1(865) 342-3000
Rental Car Agency Phone Number Reservations
Alamo 1(865) 342-3210 1(800) 327-9633
AVIS 1(865) 342-3220 1(800) 331-1212
Budget Car Rental 1(865) 342-3220 1(800) 527-0700
Dollar Car Rental 1(865) 342-3250 1(800) 366-2277
Enterprise Rent-a-Car 1(865) 342-1650 1(800) Rent-A-Car
Enterprise Rent-a-Car, Oak Ridge 1(865) 483-8494 1(800) 325-8007
Hertz 1(865) 342-3232 1(800) 654-3131
National Car Rental 1(865) 342-3240 1(800) 227-7368

Tentative Course Schedule

 

Monday

 
8:00 AM Welcome, Registration, Orientation and Photo 
9:00 AM MARSSIM Overview
3:15 PM Radiological Survey Types in Support of Decommissioning
Tuesday

 
8:00 AM DCGLs: Selection and Application
9:30 AM Statistics Overview for MARSSIM
11:00 AM RESRAD/DandD, RESRAD-BUILD, VSP
2:00 PM Problem Session: DCGLs
4:00 PM Electronic Resources
Wednesday

 
8:00 AM Classification and Survey Units
9:30 AM Reference Areas
12:30 PM Survey Activity Assessment & Detection Sensitivity of Survey Instrumentation
2:30 PM Statistical Design of Final Status Survey
Thursday

 
8:00 AM Class Exercise: Examples for MARSSIM FSS Design
10:30 AM Integrated Final Status Survey
12:30 PM MARSAME (Supplement to NUREG-1575)
1:30 PM Performing the Statistical Tests
2:30 PM Evaluating the Cushing Data Set
3:30 PM Data Quality Assessment
Friday

 
8:00 AM Indistinguishable from Background 
9:30 AM Final Status Survey Reports
10:30 AM MARSSIM Summary
11:30 PM Course Critique and Adjourn

What our students are saying

“Very good course. As someone who is not familiar with MARSSIM. I find the course exciting. The instructors made the course pretty easy to follow and made me want to learn more.”

“Very good information. It really helped me understand fundamentals behind MARSSIM as well as how to actually apply it.”

“It was really helpful to learn MARSSIM from MARSSIM experts.”

“I would recommend this course to those involved with decommissioning projects. It certainly dissected and explained the working and theory of MARSSIM along with practical applications.”

MARSSIM Training Course instructor in class

Contact us

For more information about ORAU's Professional Training Programs, contact:

Registrar
ORAU Professional Training Programs 
P.O. Box 117, MS-11
Oak Ridge, TN 37831-0117
Phone: (865) 576-3576
Fax: (865) 241-9152
registrar@orau.org

ORAU Professional Training Programs flyer

View the PTP course flyer (.PDF, 1.28 MB)