Status of Idaho National Laboratory

Technical Basis Document

Peter A. Darnell, CHP, RRPT

NIOSH

Division of Compensation Analysis and Support

July 29, 2014

Idaho Falls, Idaho
Background

 Technical Basis Document (TBD) last updated 

in 2010

 SC&A review of Idaho National Laboratory 

(INL) TBD found 38 issues

 23 issues have been closed
March 2014 Work Group Meeting

 10 issues closed during the June 2010 WG 

meeting (3, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 22, 25, 37, and 

38)

 In March 2014 NIOSH and the Work Group 

agreed to close 13 issues (4, 8, 14, 17, 18, 20, 

26, 29, 30, 32, 33, 35 and 36) 

 NIOSH issued 5 white papers

 9 NIOSH action items developed
NIOSH White Papers

 Investigation of:

 Need for external dose correction factors for 

angular dependence and exposure geometry 

(Issue 19)

 Potential for missed extremity dose (Issue 24)

 Assessment of the routine airborne releases 

at INL (Issue 1)
NIOSH White Papers (cont.)

 Investigation of:

 Hot Particles at INL (Issues 9 and 23)

 Airborne releases associated with Aircraft 

Nuclear Propulsion Program (Issue 2)
NIOSH Activities

 Between June 2010 and May 2014 NIOSH has 

completed 5 data capture efforts

• A 6th data capture effort was completed in 

conjunction with the INL WG and SC&A in June 

2014

• 36 interviews were conducted during the 6th site 

visit
NIOSH Activities (cont.)

 September 2014 site visit

• 3 interviews planned

• Technical document reviews

• RWMC and Chemical Plant actinide exposures 

 October 2014 site visit

• Interviews/document review in planning stages
NIOSH Action Items

 Issue Internal Dosimetry Coworker Model

 Describe why an External Dosimetry Coworker Model 

is not required

 Issue white paper: Investigation of the NTA Film 

Dosimeter Limits of Detection Being Used for INL 

Dose Reconstruction

 Photon Spectrum Split (Issue 21). Expand on energy 

group split rationale
NIOSH Action Items (cont.)

 Hot Particles (Issues 9 & 23). Investigate and 

report on whether hot particle incident reports 

found their way into claimant files

 Take the lead in developing areas of interest and 

questions for possible worker interviews e.g., 

Unmonitored Neutron Exposures (Issue 34)

 Describe path forward to address the 7 remaining 

open items 
 High-Risk Jobs (Internal Exposure); Calibration of 

Internal Dosimetry Analytical and Monitoring 

Equipment (Issues 5 & 6)

 SL-1 Accident Dose (Issue 15)

 Completeness and Quality of INL Beta/Gamma 

Dosimetry and Record Keeping Programs (Issue 

16)

NIOSH Action Items (cont.)
NIOSH Action Items (cont.)

 Minimum Reporting Level, Beta-Gamma (Issue 27) 

 Minimum Reporting Level; Neutron (Issue 28) 

 Completeness and Quality of INL Neutron 

Dosimetry and Record Keeping Programs (Issue 

31)

 High Risk Jobs – neutron exposures (Issue 34)
Revision of Site Profiles

 Site Profiles will be updated once the issues 

identified by SC&A have been resolved and the 

coworker models are complete

 Program Evaluation Report (PER) will be 

completed, as necessary, after the site profiles 

are updated

 Based on the results of the PER, NIOSH will send 

a list of claims to DOL that will require rework

 Timeline