DTRA / NTPR - Standard Operating Procedures Manual 

RA04 – Internal RDA Reviews 

Revision No.: 2.0 

Date: April 30, 2021 

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DEFENSE THREAT REDUCTION AGENCY

NUCLEAR TEST PERSONNEL REVIEW PROGRAM

RADIATION DOSE ASSESSMENT

STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE

RA04 – Internal RDA Reviews 

Revision 2.0 

Cleared for Release 

Key to SOP ID Codes 

RA (Radiation Assessment - SOP) 

ED (External Dose - Standard Methods) 

ID (Internal Dose - Standard Methods) 

UA (Uncertainty Analysis - Standard Methods)
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RA04 – Internal RDA Reviews

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Date: April 30, 2021

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Revision Control

Revision Revision Description Revision Date Authorization 

Official

1.0 Original 10/31/2007 Paul K. Blake

1.1 - Attachment 1: Updated technical/CHP review checklist form. 

- Minor editorial changes.

03/31/2008 Paul K. Blake

1.3 - There was no Revision 1.2.

- Renumbered and renamed; minor editorial changes.

01/31/2010 Paul K. Blake

2.0 - Updated NTPR Program SOPs.

- Internal review checklists: revision dates inserted.

- Revised references to the NTPR Policy and Guidance Manual 

(DTRA, 2007) with citing specific program SOPs.

- Minor editorial changes.

04/30/2021 James D. Franks
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RA04 – Internal RDA Reviews

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Date: April 30, 2021

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Table of Contents

Table of Contents............................................................................................................................ 3

1. Purpose/Summary............................................................................................................... 4

2. Scope................................................................................................................................... 4

3. Responsibilities................................................................................................................... 4

4. Definitions........................................................................................................................... 5

5. Procedure: Detailed Activity/Task Description.................................................................. 5

5.1 Technical Review.................................................................................................... 5

5.2 CHP Review............................................................................................................ 6

5.3 Management Review .............................................................................................. 6

5.4 Revisions Following External Reviews.................................................................. 7

6. Data and Records Management .......................................................................................... 7

7. Quality Control and Quality Assurance.............................................................................. 7

7.1 Technical Reviews and Standard Methods Updates............................................... 8

7.2 Management Reviews and Standard Procedures and Methods Updates................ 8

8. Referenced SOPs and Standard Methods from this Manual............................................... 8

9. References........................................................................................................................... 8

Attachment 1. Technical/CHP Review Checklist for NTPR Radiation Dose Assessments........... 9

Attachment 2. RDA Internal Tracking and Quality Assurance Checklist.................................... 12
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RA04 – Internal RDA Reviews

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Date: April 30, 2021

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Standard Operating Procedure

RA04 – Internal RDA Reviews

1. Purpose/Summary

This standard operating procedure (SOP) provides the detailed activities and tasks 

required to conduct internal reviews of radiation dose assessments (RDA) for Nuclear 

Test Personnel Review (NTPR) Program participants (generally veterans). These reviews 

are an essential element of the NTPR quality assurance and quality control process

guaranteeing that assessments are carried out according to the standard operating 

procedures and standard methods described elsewhere in this procedures manual. 

This SOP is written for qualified radiation dose analysts who perform detailed quality 

control of radiation dose assessments, and for managers who oversee the entire dose 

assessment process to assure conformance with procedures, methods, quality standards of 

assessment products, and established NTPR policies and guidelines.

2. Scope

This SOP applies to all radiation dose assessments prepared according to SOP RA01. It 

stipulates a multi-layered quality control and quality assurance process that guarantees 

the application of approved standard procedures and methods, and all documented data

and information. It assures that all aspects of radiation dose calculations are addressed to 

satisfy the requirements of Title 32, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 218, 

Guidance for the Determination and Reporting of Nuclear Radiation Dose for DoD 

Participants in the Atmospheric Nuclear Test Program (DoD, 2020), DTRA’s NTPR 

Program Quality Assurance SOP (DTRA, 2021) and DTRA’s NTPR Program Support 

and Management SOP (DTRA, 2020). The review process specified in this SOP assures 

that radiation dose assessments provide full consideration of benefit of the doubt as 

implemented in response to DTRA’s guidance for assuring consistency with Department 

of Veterans Affairs (38 CFR 3.102) requirements (VA, 2020).

3. Responsibilities 

Internal reviews are carried out by peer reviewers from the radiation dose assessment 

team and managers. Analysts perform technical reviews to verify all aspects of the 

assessment and check for errors. Analysts are qualified technical staff experienced in 

carrying out similar assessments and trained in all procedures and methods relevant to the 

cases that they review. Certified Health Physicists (CHP) are responsible for reviewing 

the soundness and correctness of the radiation exposure scenarios and dose results. They 

provide a second layer of error checking for complex cases and cases for which new dose 

calculation tools are developed. Finally, RDA process managers are in charge of the final 

internal management review to assure compliance and uniformity across all assessments. 
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4. Definitions

CHP Certified Health Physicist.

SPARE A document with detailed information on an NTPR participant’s activity 

scenario during involvement in the U.S. atmospheric nuclear testing 

program or occupation of Japan.

5. Procedure: Detailed Activity/Task Description

A dose assessment accomplishes the analyses needed to estimate all relevant radiation 

dose components. The final product of the dose assessment is the RDA Report, 

supporting calculation worksheets, and additional analyst notes. 

The primary dose assessment analyst prepares estimates of the doses for all identified 

exposure scenario elements derived from the SPARE as supplemented by any comments 

from the participant. The analyst uses appropriate calculation methods to estimate the 

doses and corresponding uncertainties. The analyst then prepares a first draft of the RDA 

Report, which provides a description of the participant's activities, radiation 

environments encountered, assumptions, and resulting doses and upper bounds (using 

estimates of uncertainties). Once the first draft is prepared, an iterative review comment

and revision process is performed as described below. 

5.1 Technical Review

The technical review is conducted by one or more dose reconstruction analysts other than 

the primary analyst. More than one reviewer is needed when specialized expertise is 

required for complex cases or specific parts, for example for cases where the veteran 

participated in several test series (operations). Technical reviewers can be consulted by 

the primary analyst for advice and assistance during the development of the draft RDA

Report. 

The primary analyst provides the first draft of the RDA Report with the complete case 

file (request, SPARE, documentation, dose calculation worksheets, notes, and other 

information) to a qualified dose reconstruction analyst (or analysts) for a thorough review 

of the facts of the case, and a detailed technical review for accuracy, correctness, and 

conformance with NTPR dose assessment procedures, methods and requirements. The 

technical reviewer uses the Technical/CHP Review Checklist for NTPR Radiation Dose 

Assessments (Attachment 1) to guide the review and to record the results. 

The primary analyst reviews all comments, carries out discussions with the reviewer(s) as 

needed, resolves all comments satisfactorily, and prepares a revised draft RDA Report.
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5.2 CHP Review

The CHP review is performed by a member of the dose assessment team who is a 

Certified Health Physicist (CHP). After addressing the comments of the technical 

reviewer(s), the primary analyst submits the revised draft RDA Report to a CHP on staff 

for a thorough professional review. CHP reviewers can be consulted by the primary 

analyst for advice and assistance during the development of the draft RDA Report. 

The CHP reviews the soundness and correctness of the radiation exposure scenarios and 

dose results. The CHP also provides a second technical review layer by double-checking 

for errors, particularly for complex cases and cases for which new dose calculation tools 

are developed. The CHP uses the Technical/CHP Review Checklist for NTPR Radiation 

Dose Assessments (Attachment 1) to guide the review and to record the results. 

The primary analyst reviews the comments, makes appropriate revisions, and receives 

final CHP approval. A revised draft RDA Report is then submitted for management 

review and approval. 

Note: in certain cases, usually for simple RDA cases, the technical and CHP reviews 

maybe combined and performed by a CHP. 

5.3 Management Review

The management review is performed by the dose assessment contractor Program 

Manager or designee who oversees the dose assessment team. After addressing the 

comments of the CHP reviewer and obtaining approval, the primary analyst submits a 

revised draft RDA Report to the dose assessment manager for the final internal 

management review. The management reviewer can be consulted by the primary analyst 

for guidance on process and program compliance issues during the development of and 

revision of the draft RDA Report. 

The dose assessment contractor’s Program Manager or designee reviews the revised draft 

RDA Report and supporting documentation to determine that it addresses the 

requirements of the case, fully considers the participant’s comments, conforms to DTRA 

NTPR guidance, and is complete. The management reviewer appraises the overall 

soundness of the dose assessment and exposure scenarios, and evaluates the entire 

assessment for conformance with procedures, methods, quality standards, and established 

NTPR policies and guidelines. The management reviewer also checks for consistency and 

uniformity across all assessments. 

The primary analyst reviews all comments and suggestions of the management reviewer, 

resolves all comments satisfactorily, and prepares a final RDA Report for out-processing 

and submission to DTRA for review, approval and sign out. 
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Date: April 30, 2021

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5.4 Revisions Following External Reviews

DTRA selectively or routinely conducts external reviews or audits of RDA cases. As 

directed by DTRA, the dose assessment team will address specific comments formulated 

by the external reviewer. 

External reviews are performed according to the DTRA NTPR- Program Quality 

Assurance SOP (DTRA, 2021). The dose assessment contractor team revises the RDA 

Report and supporting calculations in response to significant comments emanating from 

the external review. When revisions affect the estimated doses and upper-bound

estimates, a second CHP review is carried out. The revised RDA Report then undergoes a 

second management review. Once all additional comments are addressed and 

incorporated, a final RDA Report is re-submitted to DTRA for approval and sign-out. 

For the purpose of this procedure, external reviews are conducted by qualified radiation 

dose analysts who are not part of the dose assessment contractor team. Significant 

comments are those that impact major elements of information provided in the RDA 

Report, and those that materially affect the dose calculation results in a manner that is not 

already built-in the uncertainty calculations. 

6. Data and Records Management 

A Technical/CHP Review Checklist for NTPR Radiation Dose Assessments (Attachment 

1) is completed by each technical or CHP reviewer. The checklist helps the reviewer to 

account for all elements that require to be checked. The completed reviewer checklists 

are included in the case file. 

In addition, each step of the RDA development and internal review process is tracked and 

recorded in the NTPR Dose Assessment Internal Tracking and Quality Assurance 

Checklist (Attachment 2). Reviewers document the completion of each review by 

inserting the date of the review and affixing their initials. A copy of the checklist is 

transmitted to the Enterprise Manager with the completed file. Another copy is kept in 

the case file. 

Official copies of final RDA Reports, supporting dose calculations, and supporting 

information are maintained by the Enterprise Manager according to the DTRA NTPR 

Program Support and Management SOP (DTRA, 2020). 

7. Quality Control and Quality Assurance

The internal review process is based on both technical and process requirements. 

Technical review requirements are guided by the science behind radiation dose 

assessments. The management review requirements are essentially driven by the NTPR 

standard operating procedures and methods included in this manual, which in turn are 

based on regulatory and legal provisions. 

This procedure assures that RDA reports are prepared and reviewed according to the 

most up-to-date program requirements published in revisions of the DTRA NTPR 
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Program Support and Management SOP (DTRA, 2020) and mirrored in revisions of this 

Standard Procedures Manual and the DTRA NTPR Program Quality Assurance SOP

(DTRA, 2021). 

7.1 Technical Reviews and Standard Methods Updates

As new methods, techniques, and supporting data are adopted, the standard methods 

found in this manual will be updated to reflect such changes. As trained analysts, 

technical reviewers stay abreast of new approaches and are fully involved in 

implementing new scientific and technical methods. When changes in technical methods 

are adopted, dose assessment analysts are informed of and trained in the proper use and 

review of radiation dose assessments as affected by the newly approved methodologies. 

7.2 Management Reviews and Standard Procedures and Methods Updates

Management review of radiation dose assessments are essentially performed to check for 

conformance to the NTPR programmatic and regulatory requirements. Management 

reviewers are immediately informed of updates of the NTPR standard procedures and 

methods reflecting any changes adopted by DTRA in any aspects of the dose assessment 

process. Changes affecting dose assessments are incorporated in revisions of the 

appropriate standard procedures and methods included in this manual. Dose assessment 

analysts immediately review pertinent changes, and are trained in the implementation of 

any amendments to the standard procedures and methods affected by the updated 

guidelines. 

8. Referenced SOPs and Standard Methods from this Manual

(1) SOP RA01 - Radiation Dose Assessment for Cases Requiring Detailed Analysis

9. References

DoD (Department of Defense), 2020. “Guidance for the Determination and Reporting of Nuclear 

Radiation Dose for DoD Participants in the Atmospheric Nuclear Test Program (1945-

1962).” Title 32, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 218. Washington, DC. July 1.

DTRA (Defense Threat Reduction Agency), 2020. DTRA NTPR Program Support and 

Management SOP (Rev. 6). Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Fort Belvoir, VA. 

October 30.

DTRA (Defense Threat Reduction Agency), 2021. DTRA NTPR Program Quality Assurance 

SOP (Rev. 5). Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Fort Belvoir, VA. February 26.

VA (Department of Veterans Affairs), 2020. Reasonable Doubt. Title 38, Code of Federal 

Regulations, Part 3.102. July 1.
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Date: April 30, 2021

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Attachment 1.

Technical/CHP Review Checklist for NTPR

Radiation Dose Assessments

A copy of the “Technical/CHP Review Checklist for NTPR Radiation Dose Assessments” is 

provided starting on the next page. 
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RA04 – Internal RDA Reviews

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Date: April 30, 2021

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Technical/CHP Review Checklist for NTPR Radiation Dose Assessments

Participant's Name: Operation(s): 

Primary Analyst(s): RDA Draft Date: 

Reviewer: Type: Select one Date:

1. Information in the Request Cover Letter

Disease/Target Organ

Additional comments 

2. Information in SPARE

Veteran’s recollections and response comments relative to scenario

General activity scenario (verify with case file information if needed)

Adequate discussions (e.g., hours/day of various activities, etc.)

Note any unusual features of scenario (e.g., multiple operations or unusual activities that 

involve potential for exposure)

Note veteran’s checkmark and signature date

3. Radiation Dose Assessment Report

General items

Consistency of RDA with SPARE (e.g., veteran’s name, scenario, details)

Veteran’s comments addressed.

Verify that RDA contains adequate description of exposure pathways and sufficient 

explanations of “Scientific Principles and Studies” (if not in SPARE), or provide 

appropriate references

References are cited correctly, and are complete

Doses are summed and tabulated correctly and reported in accordance with DTRA 

guidelines

Upper-bound doses are calculated correctly (e.g., proper assumptions and methodology 

for dependence/independence of doses and use of quadrature methodology) and reported 

properly (e.g., doses accrued in different operations are reported separately in the up-front 

summary table).

Note any typos or other errors (e.g. veteran’s name, service number, service, rank, grade, 

etc.)

External Dose Assessment

Film badge data - are readings and periods of coverage cited and used correctly; are film 

evaluations done and reasonable assumptions incorporated for damaged and missing 

badges

Check accuracy of partial and summed doses (per calculation files)

Check that non-generic exposures are reasonably assessed 
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Internal Dose Assessment

Correct dose quantity calculated for appropriate organ/tissue per disease or as requested

All appropriate exposure pathways are included

Parameter values are correctly cited and used in calculation files

Basis is stated for each non-standard assumption or parameter value

Verify that magnitude of doses is reasonable

Skin Dose Assessment

Parameter values are correctly cited and used in calculation files

Non-standard exposure pathways are reasonably assessed 

Magnitude of surface-deposited beta dose is reasonable, based on associated gamma 

doses

Appropriate and correct assessment of dermal contamination doses

4. Calculation files

Check for accuracy of doses as derived (e.g., Mathcad, Excel, Mathematica, XRD, 

FBDOSE2), especially for use of proper parameter values

Calculations are organized and explained so that they can be followed during 

reviews/audits.

5. Additional Comments:

Rev. 01/2010
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Attachment 2.

RDA Internal Tracking and Quality Assurance Checklist

A model copy of the NTPR Dose Assessment Internal Tracking and Quality Assurance Checklist 

is provided on the next page.
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Date: April 30, 2021

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Nuclear Test Personnel Review Dose Assessment

RDA Internal Tracking and Quality Assurance Checklist

Participant's Name: Operation(s): 

Primary Analyst(s): Case Completion Date: 

ACTION COMPLETION

DATE

PERFORMED 

BY

Pre-Assessment

Full RDA request received from DTRA (or NTPR Prime 

Contractor)

Case Tracking Tool updated

Dose Assessment Development

First draft RDA Report

Technical review

CHP review

Management Review

RDA Report package sent to DTRA 

Review external QA comments, if received

Revise RDA Report to address external QA comments

2

nd technical review

2

nd CHP review (if dose calculations or methodology are 

affected)

2

nd Management review

Revised RDA Report package sent to DTRA

Post-Assessment (Closeout)

Case Tracking Tools updated

Note: Review completion dates reflect when closure is reached between the primary analyst and the 

reviewer; may involve several iterations. 

Comments:

Rev. 04/2021