Applications of RESRAD family of computer codes to sites contaminated with radioactive residues.

The RESIL4D family of computer codes was developed to provide a scientifically defensible answer to the question ''How clean is clean?'' and to provide useful tools for evaluating human health risk at sites contaminated with radioactive residues. The RESRAD codes include (1) RESRAD for soil contaminated with radionuclides; (2) RESRAD-BUILD for buildings contaminated with radionuclides; (3) RESRAD-CHEM for soil contaminated with hazardous chemicals; (4) RESRAD-BASELINE for baseline risk assessment with measured media concentrations of both radionuclides and chemicals; (5) RESRAD-ECORISK for ecological risk assessment; (6) RESRAD-RECYCLE for recycle and reuse of radiologically contaminated metals and equipment; and (7) RESRAD-OFFSITE for off-site receptor radiological dose assessment. Four of these seven codes (RESRAD, RESRAD-BUILD, RESRAD-RECYCLE, and RESRAD-OFFSITE) also have uncertainty analysis capabilities that allow the user to input distributions of parameters. RESRAD has been widely used in the United States and abroad and approved by many federal and state agencies. Experience has shown that the RESRAD codes are useful tools for evaluating sites contaminated with radioactive residues. The use of RESRAD codes has resulted in significant savings in cleanup cost. Analysis of 19 site-specific uranium guidelines is discussed in the paper

User's manual for RESRAD version 6.

This manual provides information on the design and application of the RESidual RADioactivity (RESRAD) code. It describes the basic models and parameters used in the RESRAD code to calculate doses and risks from residual radioactive materials and the procedures for applying these models to calculate operational guidelines for soil contamination. RESRAD has undergone many improvements to make it more realistic in terms of the models used in the code and the parameters used as defaults. Version 6 contains a total of 145 radionuclides (92 principal and 53 associated radionuclides), and the cutoff half-life for associated radionuclides has been reduced to 1 month. Other major improvements to the RESRAD code include its ability to run uncertainty analyses, additional options for graphical and text output, a better dose conversion factor editor, updated databases, a better groundwater transport model for long decay chains, an external ground radiation pathway model, an inhalation area factor model, time-integration of dose and risk, and a better graphical user interface. In addition, RESRAD has been benchmarked against other codes in the environmental assessment and site cleanup arena, and RESRAD models have been verified and validated

Development of an open platform system for environmental pathway analysis.

Most existing computer codes for environmental pathway modeling have been developed to satisfy a specific objective (e.g., perform analyses to demonstrate regulatory compliance). These codes were written in various computer languages and software environments over time and often are not mutually compatible. In recent years, largely driven by advancements in industrial software development, a new concept based on ''modularization'' has emerged. This approach entails the development of common ''modules,'' or components, that can be shared by and used in different applications that have certain common needs. For instance, an air dispersion model can be written as a common component to be shared by several different applications, each with the need to model air dispersion of some material release. When this concept is fully developed, modeling applications would become an exercise of selecting, integrating, and applying a consistent combination of appropriate pre-existing modules for a specific problem. Although modularization holds promising advantages over the traditional approach, a number of issues do exist. These issues must be fully addressed and resolved before the approach can be accepted as a new paradigm for environmental modeling. This paper discusses these issues and provides recommendations and a course of actions for future development

A simplified model to estimate radiological doses from incineration of radioactive waste

A simplified calculational model permits a rapid yet realistic estimate of small, but potential radiological doses to onsite workers and the offsite public as a result of transportation, handling, storage, incineration, and maintenance of waste containing trace amount of radioactive materials which is to be processed at a treatment, storage, and disposal (TSD) facility. The model was developed on the basis of previous detailed studies of eight TSD facilities and builds in the essential features of a TSD facility. The model would provide an understanding of the potential human exposure associated with the radioactive contents in the chemical wastes

OpenLink : a flexible integration system for environmental risk analysis and management.

Most existing computer codes for modeling environmental pathways were developed to satisfy a specific objective (e.g., perform analyses to demonstrate regulatory compliance). Over time, the codes have been written in various computer languages and software environments that are often not compatible with each other. In recent years, largely driven by advances in industrial software, a new concept for software development based on modularization has emerged. This approach entails the development of common modules or components that can be shared by and used in different applications that have certain common needs. Although modularization promises advantages over the traditional approach, a number of issues must be fully addressed and resolved before the approach can be accepted as a new paradigm for environmental modeling. This paper discusses these issues, provides demonstrations of open integration techniques, and provides recommendations and a course of action for future development

Issues related to estimating potential radiological doses from treatment, storage, and disposal facilities handling waste containing trace amounts of radioactive material

A simplified calculational model has been developed to permit a rapid, yet realistic, estimate of potential radiological doses to on-site workers and the off-site public from waste-handling operations at a treatment, storage, and disposal (TSD) facility. The waste-handling operations include transport, handling, storage, incineration, and landfilling of waste containing trace amounts of radioactive materials. The main objective of the model is to provide a radiological assessment methodology that can be used in a waste clearance strategy that addresses US Department of Energy mixed-waste moratorium issues. The model was developed on the basis of previous detailed studies of eight TSD facilities and incorporates the essential features of such a facility. The model provides a simplified physical concept of the potential human exposure associated with the radioactive contents of the chemical wastes. Issues pertaining to the development of the model, as well as application and future use, are discussed. Specifically, these issues include physical model approximations, isotope selection, waste-handling operations, and selection of input parameters. Also, pathway and isotope selection criteria are discussed relative to the previous TSD sites studied. This model is being considered for additional development as a waste clearance strategy tool