Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

As low as is reasonably achievable (ALARA) studies relative to the NWTS program

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5201695· OSTI ID:5201695

The history of development of the as-low-as-is-reasonably achievable (ALARA) concept and ALARA criteria for radiation exposures as applied to both off-site (environmental) and on-site (occupational) exposures at nuclear power plants are reviewed. The current status of activities within the various federal agencies directed toward developing ALARA criteria for other areas of the nuclear fuel cycle is presented. Based on the historical development, the present activities, and on discussions with numerous people involved in this area, the future development of ALARA criteria and implications for the National Waste Terminal Storage (NWTS) Program is forecast. Environmental ALARA criteria which relate to minimizing radiation to the surrounding populaltion are discussed along with current occupational ALARA criteria and quidelines for risk-benefit assessments that are under development and recommendations to assure that evolving ALARA concepts are periodically brought up to date and that such concepts be made available to those subcontractors who have responsibility for design and operation of a repository. An annotated bibliography of some 83 sources giving information on ALARA criteria and its application is included. (JRD)

Research Organization:
NUS Corp., Rockville, MD (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-26
OSTI ID:
5201695
Report Number(s):
Y/OWI/SUB-77/42509
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English