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RADIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT
SECTION
Jenny Goodman, Supervisor
GENERAL INFORMATION
The Radiological Assessment Section
is involved in several different radiation protection issues.
Currently, staff are working on projects covering areas as diverse
as radiologically contaminated site cleanups, low-level radioactive
waste , revising the Radiation Protection Code, radionuclides
in sewage sludge, and radionuclides in drinking water.
CONTAMINATED SITE CLEANUPS
Although not directly responsible for cleanup
of radiologically contaminated sites in NJ, the section does
provide technical assistance to other divisions within the
Department of Environmental Protection, such as Site Remediation,
during the cleanup process. Often a site is contaminated with
both non-radiological as well as radiological contaminants,
hence there is a need to work closely with these other organizations.
The section provides technical review of documents such as
sampling and analysis plans, remedial investigation/feasibility
studies, and records of decision.
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The Radiological Assessment
Section has finalized N.J.A.C. 7:28-12, "Soil
Remediation Standards for Radioactive Materials".
The rule was adopted in the New Jersey Register on August
7, 2000. Soil remediation standards are presented for
the Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials and are
based on a variation in natural background, as per the
legislative direction in the Brownfield
and Contaminated Site Remediation Act.
The soil standards are presented as a function of vertical
extent of the residual radionuclide and feet of uncontaminated
surface soil. A spreadsheet
has been developed to implement the Soil Remediation Standards
for Radioactive Materials. The intent of the spreadsheet
is to assist Responsible Parties and Bureau of Environmental
Radiation staff in determining compliance as well as quickly
developing alternative standards based on site uses or
conditions that may restrict certain pathways. Also available
for download is the update to the DEP Sampling
Manual that provides guidance
to be used in demonstrating compliance with the proposed
rule. |
If you have questions regarding
this subject, contact Jenny
Goodman.
RADIONUCLIDES IN DRINKING WATER
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Sampling of public and private wells that
draw water from southern New Jersey's Kirkwood-Cohansey
aquifer has shown elevated levels of naturally occurring
radioactivity. More recently, with implementation of
the new US EPA drinking water standards, the Highlands
region of New Jersey has been found to contain elevated
levels of naturally occurring uranium and radon in drinking
water. RAS staff provides technical support to the Bureau
of Safe Drinking Water regarding the removal of radium,
uranium and radon from groundwater. For more information
on this issue, please visit http://www.state.nj.us/dep/rpp/radwater.htm
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Large
Scale Ion Exchange System
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RADIONUCLIDES IN SEWAGE SLUDGE
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Sludge
being land applied.
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Removing radium from groundwater
can result in discharges of wastewater containing concentrated
levels of radium to sewage treatment plants. As such,
the RAS undertook a baseline survey of radium concentrations
in sewage sludge at treatment plants in southern New Jersey.
This is being done concurrently with a national survey
conducted by the Sewage Sludge Subcommittee of the Interagency
Steering Committee on Radiation Standards (ISCORS). The
results of the national survey are available on the ISCORS
web site. A RAS staff member
is a member of the ISCORS Sewage Sludge Subcommittee.
The DEP is awaiting a dose modeling report and recommendations
to treatment works operators. |
COMPREHENSIVE RULE REVISIONS
Section staff are in the process of
revising and updating Chapter 28 (Radiation Protection Programs)
of N.J.A.C. Title 7 - Department of Environmental Protection
to be consistent with federal regulations. An update on licensing
of naturally occurring radioactive materials is also planned.
Please see the Notice
of Rule Proposal (May 04').
LOW-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTE
Section staff monitor the disposal options
available. Please visit : http://www.nj.gov/dep/rpp/llrw
SCIENCE TEACHER WORKSHOPS
Section staff conduct summer workshops
for science teachers.
Please visit: http://www.nj.gov/dep/rpp/llrw/teacher.htm
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
For additional information on the areas of work
the Radiological Assessment Section is involved with, visit
some of these other sites on the WWW. Please read this Disclaimer
before visiting these sites.
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