ML20210E149
| ML20210E149 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 06/09/1992 |
| From: | Joseph Austin NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| To: | Federline M, Lohaus P, Surmeier J NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| References | |
| REF-WM-3 NUDOCS 9206180372 | |
| Download: ML20210E149 (3) | |
Text
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g 0 9 1991 MEMORANDUM FOR:
Those on Attached List FROM:
John H. Austin, Chief' Decommissioning and Regulatory Issues Branch Division of low-level Waste Management and Decommissioning, NMSS
SUBJECT:
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY COMPUTER CODES (CAP 88-PC AND COMPDOSE) FOR ASSESSING PUBLIC DOSES FROM RADIONUCLIDES VIA AIRBORNE PATHWAYS I am providing you with copies and user documentation for two dose assessment codes, CAP 88-PC, version 1.0 and COMPDOSE, for use in personal computer environments.
These codes were developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to estimate doses from radionuclides via air emissions. These codes may be useful to NRC staff in assessing the significance of routine air emissions of radionuclides from licensed facilities.
The CAP 88-PC program allows the user to perform a fairly comprehensive assessment of dose and risk from radionuclides via air emissions from elevated stacks or uniform area sources, to collective populations and maximally-exposed individuals. CAP 88-PC uses a modified Gaussian plume to estimate disparsion of radionuclides released from one or more sources.
The code calculates dose in terms of effective dose equivalent using the methodology in International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) Publication Number 26.
Risk factors are based on a lifetime risk factor of 4 x 10" fatal cancers per rem. An important limitation in CAP 88-PC is that it is intended for evaluating low-level, chronic releases and cannot be used for either short-term or high-level radionuclide intakes. Additional limitations in the CAP 88-PC program are that it models all sources as if located at the same point, and treats area sources as having uniform and constant radionuclide concentrations. The code also cannot model variations in radionuclide concentrations due to complex terrain.
EPA has approved CAP 88-PC for Department-of Energy facilities to use in demonstrating compliance with the NESHAPS.
The COMPDOSE code is based on COMPLY, a code approved by EPA for use by the regulated community in demonstrating compliance with 40 CFR 61.
COMPDOSE estimates the effective dose equivalent to an individual residing near a point of radionuclide release to the air.
Like CAF88-PC, COMPDOSE uses a modified Gaussian plume air dispersion model.
COMPDOSE is based on National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurement's (NCRP's) screening models in its Commentary No. 3, EPA's Federal Guidance Report No.11, and DOE's " External Dese-Rate Conversion Factors fcr Calculation of Dose to the Public," (DOE /EH-
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CAP 88-PC differs from COMPDOSE in that CAP 88-PC estimates risk in addition to dose, and assesses collective dose to a population in addition to individual dose.
We would appreciate hearing your views and comments on the mechanics and operation of the codes, as well as their broader applicability for NRC programs. Please direct any questions and comments to Meg Harvey of my staff at (301) 504-2522.
//
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John H. Austin, Chief Decommissioning and Regulatory issues Branch Division of low-Level Waste Management and Decommissioning, NMSS
Enclosure:
As stated DISTRIBUTION:
LLDR r/f LLWM r/f MHarvey MWeber JAustin TCJohnson WBrach RBangart AColli, EPA
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Subject:
1RANSMITTAL OF EPA CODES
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6 DATE: (;/4 /92 : b/ /92: f/1/92:
OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
- EPAC0 del.MEM
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-_______________________.m__
092
- Multiple Addresses:
Memorandum Dated:
Paul Lohaus, LLWB/LLWM John-Surmeier,LLUR/LLWM Margaret Federline, HLWM Fred-Combs, IMNS-
- William Morris, RES
- Jay Cunnhingham, NRR Denny Ross, AE0Di Vandy Miller, OSPL Richard W. Cooper, DRSS/RI
~ J._ Philip Stohr, DRSS/RII Charles Norelius, DRSS/RIII Leonard Joe Callan, DRSS/RIV Ross A. Scarano, DRSS/RV E
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