The Decommissioning Section performs technical reviews of decontamination and decommissioning (D&D) activities for radioactive materials licensees in accordance with appropriate state and federal criteria. Typical reviews include the evaluation of financial assurance mechanisms required for decommissioning, site characterization plans and reports, health and safety plans for decommissioning activities, decommissioning plans and final status survey reports. For example, the Decommissioning Section and DEP SW Regional Office staff recently performed the oversight of the D&D of the Flannery Building.
The Decommissioning Section performs on-site reviews and inspections of D&D activities for occupational, public, and environmental radiation protection concerns. These activities include performing confirmatory surveys and sampling to ensure the cleanup levels established for the site have been met.
The Decommissioning Section acts as the primary interface with federal agencies [e.g. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)] that deal with radiological cleanup of sites in Pennsylvania. This includes attending and participating in a variety of public and technical meetings with these agencies.
The Decommissioning Section participates in NRC inspections of Pennsylvania Decommissioning Sites. The Decommissioning Section will become the primary regulator for most of the NRC sites upon attainment of NRC Agreement State status.
The Decommissioning Section assists other programs in performing dose assessments for radioactive waste disposal in Pennsylvania solid waste management facilities.