The Past, Present, and Future of the NATC’s Public Radiation Safety Research Program

1. The Past, Present, and Future of the NATC’s Public Radiation Safety Research Program Jason T. Harris David W. Miller, Ph.D. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign/NATC Dept. of Nuclear, Plasma and Radiological Engineering

2. Background • The North American Technical Center (NATC) was established in 1995 by U.S., Canadian and Mexican utility radiation managers • Located in the Department of Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering at the University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign) • David W. Miller, Ph.D. – NATC Regional Director • Host utility is D.C.Cook, American Electric Power, Bridgman, Michigan

3. Background (cont.) • Original purpose was to manage, analyze data, and disseminate information for the ISOE (Information System on Occupational Exposure) Databases • The ISOE program was created by the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency in 1992 and subsequently co-sponsored by the IAEA for non-NEA Member countries • ISOE is a data collection and communications network for nuclear electric utilities and national regulatory agencies. • The objective of the program (and that of NATC) is: to provide a worldwide dose reduction information exchange network to reduce occupational exposure at nuclear power plants

4. Participation in ISOE • Nuclear Power Plants: • in operation • in cold-shutdown or • some phase of decommissioning • TOTAL • End of 2000 • 397 • 53 • 450 72 utilities from 27 countries In 2000: Russian Federation joined ISOE with 14 reactors Plus 26 national regulatory authorities

5. ISOE Data Collection and Communication ISOE Database on Microsoft ACCESS including Data Input Software • All Participating • Nuclear Power • Plants • Full use of data base • Input/correct NPP data Distributed twice a year on CD-ROM Update ISOE Data in the database (twice a year) Updated specific NPP data (using export module) Transfer of collected data Relevant Technical Center collects data from all associated NPPs European Technical Center collects data from all other Technical Centers

6. ISOE Products World’s largest database on occupational exposure data in nuclear power plants ISOE Database Annual Reports Yearly overview of the achievements of the ISOE Program Information Sheets • Detailed studies and analyses of the ISOE Databases • Information on current issues in operational radiation protection International ISOE Workshops on Occupational Exposure Management in Nuclear Power Plants (ALARA) Alternating in Europe and in North America International ALARA Symposium Workshops and Topical meetings

7. NATC Public Radiation Research Program • Public Radiation Safety Research Program officially started in 1995 when the NRC asked the NATC to take over the task of collecting and tabulating US NPP effluent data (formerly BNL). • The NATC has been designated as the lead scientific organization to collect, tabulate, analyze, and distribute the US effluent database • This role began in 1998 starting with the 1994 effluent data.

8. NATC Public Radiation Research Program Goals • Developed by NATC staff with technical support from US NRC, US EPA and US DOE staff. 1. Development of US gaseous and liquid effluent database for use by US NPP, US NRC, CEPN (France) and UNSCEAR (UN-Austria) 2. Expanded trend analysis and discussion in annual US effluent reports since 1994 to assist the US industry and regulatory bodies on benchmarking efforts 3. Establishment of a North American Effluent web site 4. Establishment of a North American Expert Group 5. Development of a standardized electronic data entry form for licensee use

9. Effluent Databases • Effluent data has been collected from the NRC directly, utilities, and the NRC public reading room (ADAMS –post 1998) • The data is entered into an EXCEL spreadsheet, and unit conversions are performed (both imperial and SI units) • Data is broken up by unit and site totals • The data is then normalized by using the annual electrical energy generated(also kept as raw data) • Current studies now include sister plant comparisons, dose evaluations (CED), and country comparisons

10. Effluent Database

11. Effluent DatabaseTotal Normalized Releases

12. Effluent DatabaseTotal Releases (Country)

13. Effluent DatabaseTotal Releases (Country)

14. Effluent DatabaseTotal Releases (Country)

15. Effluent DatabaseAverage Releases (Country)

16. Effluent DatabaseSister Plant Comparisons • Sister Plant Comparisons for all release categories (1994-2000) including normalized and dose information

17. Effluent DatabaseCollective Effective Dose • UNSCEAR Dose estimate methodology used • Dose Coefficients assigned to release categories (collective dose per unit release) • Represents model site w/representative environmental conditions • Uses average population densities • NATC is currently incorporating other regulatory and industry dose methodologies and codes

18. Effluent Databases • Two organizations that use the NATC databases • UNSCEAR and CEPN

19. Websites • NATC • http://hps.ne.uiuc.edu • www.natcisoe.org • ISOE, International ALARA Symposium, ALARA studies, and information sheets • http://hps.ne.uiuc.edu/natcenviro • Public Radiation Safety Research Program, effluent databases, effluent reports (separate site coming soon) • www.rets-remp.org • Home of RETS-REMP Workshop

20. Effluent Expert Group • NATC staff (David Miller and Jason Harris) • Utility Representatives • Ken Sejkora (Pilgrim NGS) • Sam Kuo (D.C. Cook NP) • Daryl Dick (SONGS) • Academic advisors • Dr. Herman Cember (Purdue University) • Dr. Tom Gesell (Idaho State University) -invited • Dr. Bernd Kahn (Georgia Tech.) - invited

21. Electronic Form • Under development • Seeking ideas, support from regulatory bodies and licensees • Must iron our reporting differences between the different plants • Access database forms? (ISOE format) • Major goal of expert group • Timeframe?

22. Future Studies • Electronic Form • Solid Waste database (for NPPs - designed same way as effluents) • Evaluating other sources of man-made radiation releases (nuclear fuel cycle, research reactors, etc.) • Addressing individual needs of NPPs (comparisons, failed fuel, power uprates) • Polish dose studies (utilize industry codes) • Current Homeland security issues (environmental monitoring, whole body counters, distribution of radiological instruments –civil defense meters)

23. Future Home of the NATC Public Radiation Safety Research Program • Purdue University (Sept. 2002) • School of Health Sciences (Health Physics)

24. Summary • NATC Public Radiation Safety Research Program • Developed US gaseous and liquid effluent databases for use by US NPP, US NRC, CEPN (France) and UNSCEAR (UN-Austria) • Performing trend analyses of NPP effluents since 1994 to assist the US industry and regulatory bodies in benchmarking efforts • North American Effluent web site • North American Expert Group • Currently developing a standardized electronic data entry form for licensee use • Homeland security • Many other relevant studies planned. Tell us what is important to you!! As an industry sponsored scientific organization, we are here to help

25. For More Information David Miller DWMPhD@aol.com or dwmiller2@aep.com Jason Harris JasTHarris@aol.com Phone (217) 333-1098 Fax (217) 333-2906 hps.ne.uiuc.edu

26. THANK YOU!!Questions?