[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 74 (Friday, April 16, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20651-20652]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-8634]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION


Review and Status of Surface and Volumetric Survey Design and 
Analysis Using Spatial Analysis and Decision Assistance (SADA) Methods; 
Public Workshop

AGENCY: Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice of workshop.

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SUMMARY: The NRC will hold a public workshop in Rockville, Maryland, to 
provide the NRC staff and the public with an overview of progress on 
the development of a new computational tool for use in the evaluation 
of sites with subsurface contamination. Spatial Analysis and Decision 
Assistance (SADA) is a freeware software program that is being 
supported jointly by several Federal Agencies. SADA utilizes automated 
surveying designs and analytical tools to enhance the demonstration of 
compliance with criteria for volumetric contaminants and to test and 
evaluate alternative survey designs. Distributions and total 
contaminant inventories are sometimes required to assist in determining 
risk and/or compliance.
    Presenters at the workshop will provide information on federally-
sponsored survey design and analytical approaches under development for 
volumetric assessments. The emphasis

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of the workshop will focus on the Multi-Agency Radiation Survey & Site 
Investigation Manual (MARSSIM) evolution into Geostatistical and 
Bayesian approaches to surficial and, in particular, volumetric 
contamination characterization and analysis. This information will be 
useful to the NRC in developing realistic guidance for implementations 
requiring sub-surface or volumetric knowledge. All interested licensees 
and members of the public are invited to attend this workshop.

DATES: The workshop will be held on May 4th and 5th, 2004 from 8 a.m. 
to about 5 p.m. Registration is requested at http://www.tiem.utk.edu/-sada/ to help plan for security issues and determine how many CD copies 
of the Beta SADA software will have to be prepared for distribution.

ADDRESSES: The public workshop will be held in the NRC auditorium at 
Two White Flint North, 11545 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Designated Federal Official: Cheryl A. 
Trottier (301) 415-6232. General Information: George E. Powers, Office 
of Nuclear Regulatory Research, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 
Washington, DC 20555, telephone (301) 415-6212, fax (301) 415-5385, e-
mail: [email protected]. The workshop program can be viewed at http://www.tiem.utk.edu/-sada/.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This workshop is one of a series of 
interactions with the Agreement States, licensees, and the public to 
inform and gather suggestions and ideas for improving performance based 
protocols for conducting surveys that must consider volumetric 
geometries. Techniques that apply Bayesian and geostatistical methods 
are showing promise in reducing the resources required to evaluate 
volumetric contamination while increasing the accuracy and precision of 
the results. Therefore, the NRC staff is considering expanding and 
extending the performance guidance for conducting volumetric surveys by 
applying statistics such as Bayesian and geostatistical analysis that 
may be more appropriate for use in assessments. The workshop will 
include brief formal presentations by invited speakers from DOE 
national laboratories, EPA and other Federal Agencies. These 
presentations will address survey techniques that can be applied up to 
the initiation of volumetric sampling and analysis. Question and answer 
periods will be provided.
    Visitor parking around the NRC building is limited; however, the 
workshop site is located adjacent to the White Flint Station on the 
Metro Red Line. Seating for the public will be on a first-come, first-
served basis.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland this 12th day of April, 2004.

    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Cheryl A. Trottier,
Chief, Radiation Protection and Health Effects Branch, Division of 
Regulatory Applications, Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research.
[FR Doc. 04-8634 Filed 4-15-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P