Innovative characterization, monitoring and sensor technologies for environmental radioactivity at USDOE sites

Abstract

The mission of the U. S. Department of Energy Office of EnvironmentalManagement (EM) is to clean up its contaminated sites from the past productionof nuclear weapons. Within EM, the Office of Science and Technology (OST)is responsible for providing a full range of science and technology resourcesneeded to support resolution of EM cleanup and long-term environmental stewardshipproblems. This responsibility includes implementation of a technology developmentpathway from basic research to development, demonstration, and deploymentof scientific and technological solutions needed by DOE sites. One OST Programis the Characterization, Monitoring, and Sensor Technology Crosscutting Program(CMST-CP), which aims to provide innovative technologies (i.e., faster, better,cheaper, and/or safer) for environmental characterization and monitoring.This paper describes several technologies that CMST-CP has supported for developmentwith significant benefits realized or projected over the baseline characterizationand monitoring practices. Examples of these technologies include mapping ofsubsurface radioactivity using Cone Penetrometer and drilling techniques;a Rapid Liquid Sampler for Sr, Ra, Tc, and Cs using 3M Empore™ Rad Disks;Long-Range Alpha Detectors; a Compact High Resolution Spectrometer; BetaScint™for determination of Sr in soil; Laser-Induced Fluorescence Imaging techniquesfor mapping U on surfaces; the Environmental Measurements While Drilling System;and the Expedited Site Characterization methodology.