MARSSIM
| Survey Projects |
|---|
| Independent Verification |
| Guidance Documents |
| Field Investigations |
| Radiochemical Laboratory |
As greater attention is being directed toward the decontamination and decommissioning of nuclear facilities, the need for a standardized approach for implementing the necessary radiological surveys has become increasingly important.
A multi-agency committee representing the Department of Defense (DOD), Department of Energy (DOE), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has addressed this need by producing a guidance document known as the Multi-Agency Radiation Survey and Site Investigation Manual (MARSSIM).
Published in December 1997, MARSSIM provides detailed guidance for planning, implementing and evaluating environmental and facility radiological surveys to demonstrate compliance with a dose- or risk-based regulation. MARSSIM focuses on the demonstration of compliance during the final status survey once scoping, characterization and any necessary remedial actions are completed.
MARSSIM provides a single, nationally consistent guide for verifying that radioactively contaminated sites have been cleaned up to standards. Combining this information into one manual has increased efficiency, and has eliminated the confusion that can result from contractors working from multiple manuals.
MARSSIM is flexible enough to use with many existing statutory programs, such as the NRC's License Termination Rule, EPA's Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program, the Federal Facilities Base Closure and Realignment, and various state programs. MARSSIM’s comprehensive guidance addresses all phases (planning, conducting, evaluating, and documenting) of the surface soil survey process for demonstrating compliance with dose- or risk-based requirements.
ORISE’s Involvement in the Development of MARSSIM
ORISE maintained an important role in the development of the manual because of our vast experience in designing and conducting radiological surveys. ORISE has demonstrated its expertise through:
- original MARSSIM workgroup membership
- development of COMPASS software to facilitate the use of MARSSIM
- development of the first MARSSIM training course with more than 70 courses successfully completed
Training
ORISE provides support to MARSSIM users by offering five-day training courses for individuals who will be responsible for the decision-making processes involved in the design and implementation of a MARSSIM-based decontamination and decommissioning survey. Topics covered include:
- an overview of radiological survey types
- the data quality objectives process
- selection and application of derived concentration guideline levels
- background reference area selection
- survey instrument detection sensitivity
- area classification
- statistical design of surveys
- measurement uncertainty
- performing statistical tests
The MARSSIM course is offered through Oak Ridge Associated Universities several times each year. Additional information on the course, its schedule, and how to register can be found on the MARSSIM training page on the Oak Ridge Associated Universities site.
MARSSIM Implementation Software
The COMPASS software was designed to facilitate the use of MARSSIM and guide the user into making informed decisions in designing final status surveys. COMPASS also simplifies the application of statistical tests by performing the calculations and providing prospective power curves that help determine what level of confidence the user is willing to accept for a particular number of measurements or samples for a survey unit. After performing the final status survey, COMPASS assesses the data for comparison to the release criteria.
Available for Windows operating systems, COMPASS is available for download:
- Version 1.1 (15.9 MB .exe file)
Planning data generated and stored in COMPASS v1.0 will not be available from COMPASS v1.1 unless re-entered into the newer version. Review the Read Me file for system requirements, installation instructions, and features of the software.
- Version 1.0 (5 MB .exe file)
Presentations and Reports
The following documents and presentations are useful ORAU-developed MARSSIM references. They are available as PDF files. To view them, you will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader, which can be downloaded free from the Adobe Web site.
Advantages and Lessons Learned Using GPS-Enabled Gamma Scanning for the Characterization Survey of a Large Thorium/Uranium Site
T. Vitkus and
E. Bailey. Health Physics Society Mid-Year Meeting, Knoxville, Tenn.; Jan. 24, 2007.
MARSSIM Overview II (3 MB)
E. Abelquist. MARSSIM Technical Seminar Series; Sept. 29, 2006.
MARSSIM Overview I
E. Abelquist. MARSSIM Technical Seminar Series; Sept. 15, 2006.
Advanced MARSSIM Topics
E. Abelquist. Health Physics Society Annual Meeting, Providence, R.I.; June 2006.
Field Instrumentation and Final Status Surveys
E. Abelquist. Delaware Valley Society for Radiation Safety MARSSIM Workshop; March 19, 2004.
Lessons Learned During Implementation of MARSSIM from an Independent Verification Perspective
E. Abelquist. Health Physics Society Annual Conference, San Diego, Calif.; July 24, 2003
MARSSIM Implementation at University and Medical Research Facilities
E. Abelquist. Health Physics Society meeting, Tampa, Fla.; June 18, 2002.
MARSSIM Update: Expanded Scope, Implementation Tools, Examples.
Abelquist, E. Continuing Education Lecture, 2002 Joint Topical Meeting of the Health Physics Society; Feb. 19, 2002.
Independent Verification of MARSSIM Final Status Surveys
E. Abelquist. EPRI Decommissioning Workshop, Big Rock Point, Mich.; Oct. 24, 2001.
Decommissioning Health Physics: A Handbook for MARSSIM Users (available for online ordering through CRC Press)
E. Ablequist. Institute of Physics, Bristol, United Kingdom; July 2001.
MARSSIM Final Status Survey Design for Multiple Radionuclides in Class 1 Survey Units: Determining the Need for Additional Soil Samples Based on Scan MDC
E. Abelquist. Health Physics Society Annual Conference, Cleveland, Ohio; June 13, 2001.
Comparison of Final Status Survey Design Using MARSSIM Approach and the Former NUREG/CR-5849 Guidance at a Power Reactor Facility
Abelquist, E. 44th Annual Meeting of the Health Physics Society, Philadelphia, Pa.; June 29, 1999.
Surface Activity Assessment Using the Sign Test
Abelquist, E. Presented at MARSSIM Workgroup meeting; April 15, 1999.
Final Status Survey Using MARSSIM Methodologies at the Cushing Refinery Site.
Abelquist, E. (ORISE #97-1138); July 1997.
Environmental Implementation Guide for Radiological Survey Procedures
U.S. Department of Energy. Washington, D.C.; February 1997.
