[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 247 (Monday, December 27, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77228-77230]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-28201]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology

DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR

Geological Survey

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Food and Drug Administration

[Docket No. OAR-2004-0096; FRL-7851-8]


Multi-Agency Radiological Laboratory Analytical Protocols Manual

AGENCIES: Department of Defense; Department of Energy; Department of 
Homeland Security; Environmental Protection Agency; Nuclear Regulatory 
Commission; National Institute of Standards and Technology, Commerce; 
United States Geological Survey, Interior; and Food and Drug 
Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The participating agencies are announcing the availability of 
the ``Multi-Agency Radiological Laboratory Analytical Protocols'' 
(MARLAP) Manual. The MARLAP Manual provides guidance for the planning, 
implementation, and assessment phases of projects that require the 
laboratory analysis of radionuclides. MARLAP's basic goal is to provide 
guidance for project planners, managers, and laboratory personnel to 
ensure that radioanalytical laboratory data will meet a project's or a 
program's data requirements. The manual offers a framework for a 
performance-based approach to achieving data requirements that is both 
scientifically rigorous and flexible enough to be applied to diverse 
projects and programs. This framework will promote national consistency 
in the generation of radioanalytical data of known quality that are 
appropriate for its intended use. Examples of radiological data 
collection activities that MARLAP supports include: site 
characterization, site cleanup and compliance demonstration, 
decommissioning of nuclear facilities, emergency response, remedial and 
removal actions, decontamination activities, effluent monitoring of 
licensed facilities, environmental site monitoring, background studies, 
and waste management activities. The MARLAP Manual, now finalized, is a 
multi-agency consensus document. The agencies previously sought public 
comment in order to receive feedback from the widest range of 
interested parties and to ensure that all information relevant to 
developing the document was received and addressed to the extent 
possible. The interagency MARLAP work group reviewed all public 
comments received as well as comments from a concurrent, independent 
technical peer review. Suggested changes were incorporated, where 
appropriate, in response to those comments.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the draft and the final MARLAP Manual, along with 
public and technical peer review comments received, may be examined or 
copied for a fee at the EPA Public Reading Room, Room B102, EPA West 
Building, 1301 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20004. The room 
is open to the public on all Federal Government work days from 8:30 
a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
    Printed and CD-ROM versions of MARLAP (NTIS PB2004-105421) may be 
purchased from the National Technical Information Service (NTIS). NTIS 
may be accessed online at http://www.ntis.gov. The NTIS Sales Desk can 
be reached between 8:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through 
Friday, at 1-800-553-6847; TDD (hearing impaired only) at 703-487-4639 
between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday; or 
fax at 703-605-6900.
    The manual is also available through the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/radiation/marlap or http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/nuregs/staff/sr1576/. The NRC document number is NUREG-
1576, and the EPA document number is EPA 402-B-04-001A-C (in three 
volumes).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: EPA: John Griggs, U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, Office of Radiation and Indoor Air, NAREL, 540 South 
Morris Avenue, Montgomery, AL 36115-2601, (334) 270-3450, 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e582978c828296cb8f8a8d8ba5809584cb828a93"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c8afbaa1afafbbe6a2a7a0a688adb8a9e6afa7be">[email protected]</span></a>; Eric Reynolds, U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency, Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation 
(5204G), 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.,

[[Page 77229]]

Washington, DC 20460, (703) 603-9928, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#314354485f5e5d55421f54435852715441501f565e47"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="512334283f3e3d35227f34233832113421307f363e27">[email protected]</span></a>. DoD/Air 
Force: Dale Thomas, Detachment 1, Human Systems Center/OEBA, 2402 E. 
Drive, Brooks AFB, TX 78235-5114, (210) 536-5816, 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4a2e2b262f643e2225272b390a283825252139642b2c64272326"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="8eeaefe2eba0fae6e1e3effdceecfce1e1e5fda0efe8a0e3e7e2">[email protected]</span></a>. DoD/Army: Ronald Swatski, U.S. Army Center 
for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine, Attn: MCHB-TS-LRD, 5158 
Blackhawk Road APG, MD 21010-5403, (410) 436-3983, 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5e2c31303f323a702d293f2a2d35371e3f333b3a3a703f2c332770333732"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6f1d00010e030b411c180e1b1c04062f0e020a0b0b410e1d021641020603">[email protected]</span></a>. DoD/Navy: Commander William Adams, Navy 
Sea Systems Command, SEA 04N, 1333 Isaac Hull Ave., SE., Washington, DC 
20376-4120, (202) 781-2414, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#135277727e604459537d72656076723d7d72656a3d7e7a7f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d392b7b2bea0849993bdb2a5a0b6b2fdbdb2a5aafdbebabf">[email protected]</span></a>. Army Corps of 
Engineers: Jan Dunker, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, (Attn: CENWO-HX-
C), 12565 West Center Road, Omaha, NE 68144-3869, (402) 697-2566, 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#cca6ada2e2bbe2a8b9a2a7a9be8cb9bfadafa9e2adbea1b5e2a1a5a0"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="97fdf6f9b9e0b9f3e2f9fcf2e5d7e2e4f6f4f2b9f6e5faeeb9fafefb">[email protected]</span></a>. DHS: Carl V. Gogolak, U.S. Department of 
Homeland Security, Environmental Measurements Laboratory, 201 Varick 
Street, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10014, (212) 620-3635, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#3350455473565e5f1d575c561d545c45"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="8be8fdeccbeee6e7a5efe4eea5ece4fd">[email protected]</span></a>. 
DOE: Mary Verwolf, U.S. Department of Energy, National Analytical 
Management Program, MS4149, 850 Energy Drive, Idaho Falls, ID 83402, 
(208) 526-7001, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#0f796a7d786063626c4f666b216b606a21686079"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="cfb9aabdb8a0a3a2ac8fa6abe1aba0aae1a8a0b9">[email protected]</span></a>; Emile Boulos, U.S. Department of 
Energy, Office of Air, Water and Radiation Policy and Guidance (EH-41), 
Room 3G-089, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585, (202) 
586-1306, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b8ddd5d1d4dd96dad7cdd4d7cbf8ddd096dcd7dd96dfd7ce"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="12777f7b7e773c707d677e7d6152777a3c767d773c757d64">[email protected]</span></a>. NRC: Rateb (Boby) Abu Eid, U.S. 
Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Mail Stop T-7J8, Washington, DC 20555, 
(301) 415-5811, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b3d1d2d6f3ddc1d09dd4dcc5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="0c6e6d694c627e6f226b637a">[email protected]</span></a>. NIST: Kenneth Inn, National Institute of 
Standards and Technology, Building 245, Room C114, MS 8462, 
Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8462, (301) 975-5541, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#81eae4efefe4f5e9afe8efefc1efe8f2f5afe6eef7"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="8fe4eae1e1eafbe7a1e6e1e1cfe1e6fcfba1e8e0f9">[email protected]</span></a>. 
USGS: Ann Mullin, U.S. Geological Survey, National Water Quality 
Laboratory, PO Box 25046, Denver Federal Center, Bldg. 95 Ent E3, Mail 
Stop 407, Denver, CO 80225-0046, (303) 236-3480, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#294841445c45454047695c5a4e5a074e465f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a0c1c8cdd5ccccc9cee0d5d3c7d38ec7cfd6">[email protected]</span></a>. 
FDA: Edmond Baratta, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Winchester 
Engineering and Analytical Center, 109 Holton Street, Winchester, MA 
01890, (781) 729-5700 (x728), <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#2c494841434248024e4d5e4d58584d6c4a484d024b435a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3c595851535258125e5d4e5d48485d7c5a585d125b534a">[email protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The MARLAP Manual provides guidance for the 
planning, implementation, and assessment phases of those projects that 
require the laboratory analysis of radionuclides. This guidance is 
intended for project planners, managers, and laboratory personnel. 
MARLAP was developed collaboratively over the past eight years by the 
technical staffs of eight Federal agencies. State participation in the 
development of the manual involved contributions from representatives 
from the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the State of California. 
Contractors of the DOE, EPA, and NRC, and members of the public, have 
been present during the open meetings of the MARLAP work group and were 
provided opportunities for input.
    MARLAP is organized into two parts. Part I, intended primarily for 
project planners and managers, provides the basic framework of the 
directed planning process as it applies to projects requiring 
radioanalytical data for decision making. Part II is intended primarily 
for laboratory personnel. Seven appendices provide complementary 
information and additional details on specific topics.
    Because of its length, the printed version of MARLAP is bound in 
three volumes. Volume I (Chapters 1 through 9 and Appendices A through 
E) contains Part I. Part II is split between Volumes II and III. Volume 
II (Chapters 10 through 17 and Appendix F) covers most of the 
activities performed at radioanalytical laboratories, from field and 
sampling issues that affect laboratory measurements through waste 
management. Volume III (Chapters 18 through 20 and Appendix G) covers 
laboratory quality control, measurement uncertainty and detection and 
quantification capability. Each volume includes a table of contents, 
list of acronyms and abbreviations, and a complete glossary of terms.
    The MARLAP Manual benefitted from extensive internal, public, and 
technical peer reviews. Before the publication of the draft version for 
public comment, the participating agencies conducted internal reviews. 
These internal review comments were addressed before public comments 
were requested. The public review was a necessary and important step in 
the development of the final multi-agency consensus document. The 
document also received formal technical peer review under the auspices 
of the EPA Science Advisory Board (SAB). SAB's comments and EPA's 
responses are available at http://www.epa.gov/science1/fiscal03.htm.
    In addition to commenting on individual chapters and appendices, 
reviewers were requested to address the following questions while 
reviewing the MARLAP Manual:
    (1) Is the performance-based approach for the planning, 
implementation, and assessment phases of projects technically sound, 
and is the approach reasonable in terms of ease of implementation by 
project managers and laboratories? Does the approach effectively link 
the three phases of a project, and is the guidance on quality control 
appropriate and supportive of a performance-based approach?
    (2) Is the guidance on laboratory operations in Part II technically 
accurate and useful?
    (3) Are the concepts covered under measurement statistics, 
specifically measurement uncertainty and detection and quantification 
capability, presented accurately and appropriately?
    (4) Is the information understandable and presented in a logical 
sequence? How can the presentation of material be modified to improve 
the manual?
    The participating agencies continue to solicit comments arising 
from review and use of the final MARLAP Manual. Comments will be 
reviewed periodically by the participating agencies, resolved as 
appropriate, and incorporated into future revisions of the manual. 
Members of the public are invited to submit written comments to: U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), Air and 
Radiation Docket and Information Center, Docket No. OAR-2004-0096, MC 
6102T, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20460. Comments may 
be submitted electronically at http://www.epa.gov/radiation/marlap.

Compliance With the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act 
of 1996 (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.)

    NRC has determined that this action is not a major rule and has 
verified this determination with the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget.


[[Page 77230]]


    For the Department of Defense, dated this 10th day of December, 
2004.
Alex A. Beehler,
Assistant Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Environment, Safety and 
Occupational Health).
    For the Department of Energy, dated this 17th day of August, 
2004.
Andy Lawrence, Deputy
Assistant Secretary for Environment.
    For the Department of Homeland Security, dated this 11th day of 
August, 2004.
Bert M. Coursey,
Director, Office of Standards, DHS/S&T Directorate.
    For the Environmental Protection Agency, dated this 11th day of 
August, 2004.
Elizabeth Cotsworth,
Director, Office of Radiation and Indoor Air.
    For the National Institute of Standards and Technology, dated 
this 6th day of August, 2004.
Lisa R. Karam,
Chief, Ionizing Radiation Division.
    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, dated this 6th day of 
August, 2004.
John T. Greeves,
Director, Division of Waste Management and Environmental Protection, 
Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards.
    For the U.S. Geological Survey, dated this 16th day of August, 
2004.
Robert M. Hirsch,
Associate Director for Water, U.S. Geological Survey.
    For the Food and Drug Administration, dated this 29th day of 
September, 2004.
Thomas S. Savage,
Acting Director, Division of Field Science, Office of Regulatory 
Affairs.
[FR Doc. 04-28201 Filed 12-23-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P


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