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What is MARSSIM?

The Multi-Agency Radiation Surveys and Site Investigation Manual (MARSSIM) provides detailed guidance for planning, implementing, and evaluating environmental and facility radiological surveys conducted to demonstrate compliance with a dose- or risk-based regulation. MARSSIM focuses on the demonstration of compliance during the final status survey following scoping, characterization, and any necessary remedial actions.

Which federal agencies developed MARSSIM?

The Departments of Defense and Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission were the primary developers. Many individuals and other organizations also contributed to its development.

more information

Complete list of contributors:
Acknowledgements

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How was MARSSIM developed?

MARSSIM was developed collaboratively over a four-year period, by a multi-agency workgroup. Members of the workgroup represented the four federal agencies that have primary responsibility for controlling radioactive materials.

During MARSSIM's development, the workgroup sought comment from federal and state agencies and the public. Their goals were to involve the widest possible range of shareholders and to ensure receipt of all relevant information. In addition, the manual underwent extensive scientific and peer review.

more information Science Advisory Board Report on draft MARSSIM, 1997
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How can I contact workgroup members?

See Contacting the Workgroup.

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How can I obtain a copy?

You can download a free electronic copy or purchase a hard copy. For instructions, see Obtain a Copy of MARSSIM.

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How does MARSSIM affect me?

Who uses MARSSIM?

MARSSIM users include federal agencies such as the Departments of Defense and Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. MARSSIM users also include states, site owners, contractors, and the public.

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Am I required to use MARSSIM?

MARSSIM is guidance, not a requirement. However, it is a multi-agency consensus document, and each of the developing federal agencies endorse its use. Most state regulatory programs have also adopted MARSSIM.

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Is there flexibility in applying MARSSIM guidance?

MARSSIM's developers purposely built in flexibility by relying on a performance-based approach, systematic planning, and the Data Quality Objectives process. As a result, users can develop a tailored survey process rather than rigidly adhering to a single prescriptive method.

more information Chapter 2: Overview of the Survey and Site Investigation Process.
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Is MARSSIM cost-effective?

Results-to-date indicate that the MARSSIM process requires fewer measurements than other methods, thus saving time and money. Other methods may over- or underestimate the necessary number of measurements or may not account for decision errors.

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Is MARSSIM easy-to-use?

MARSSIM is efficient, practical, and easy to implement in the field.

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What other benefits does MARSSIM offer?

The MARSSIM process is technically defensible over a broad range of situations. Its performance-based approach generally involves more planning and less re-work than other methods.

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How does MARSSIM fit into existing programs?

Does MARSSIM work with existing regulatory cleanup programs?

MARSSIM is flexible enough to use with many existing statutory programs, such as CERCLA, RCRA, FUSRAP, BRAC, and State programs. Its comprehensive guidance addresses all phases of the surface soil survey process for demonstrating compliance with dose- or risk-based requirements: planning, conducting, evaluating, and documenting.

EPA, NRC, DOD, DOE, and most state regulatory programs have adopted MARSSIM and accept its use in their regulatory program. However, you may need to consult with your program office, regulator, or agency representative about applying MARSSIM to specific situations.

more information Appendix C: Regulations and Requirements Associated with Radiation Surveys and Site Investigations
  Appendix F: The Relationship between the Radiation Survey and Site Investigation Process, The CERCLA Removal or Remediation Process, and the RCRA Corrective Action Process
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What do I do about conflicts between MARSSIM and existing guidance documents?

MARSSIM itself is guidance. In some cases, it supercedes existing guidance. Talk to your regulator or program office.

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How does MARSSIM work?

What is the MARSSIM process?

MARSSIM provides a statistical method for obtaining survey data and comparing them, on a pass-fail basis, to a release criterion or DCGL (Derived Concentration Guidline Level).

more information Chapter 4: Preliminary Survey Considerations
  Chapter 5: Survey Planning and Design
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Why does MARSSIM use statistics?

MARSSIM provides a process for collecting, organizing, and interpreting data and for making decisions about populations of data from samples. Statistics are useful for inferring population characteristics from a set of samples. Statistics also facilitate decision-making in conditions of uncertainty.

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What statistical tests does MARSSIM use?

MARSSIM recommends nonparametric statistical tests, such as the Wilcoxon Rank Sum Test and Sign Test, to evaluate environmental data. However, it describes a wide variety of statistical tests designed for specific situations. When the underlying assumptions for these tests can be verified, they may be preferable to MARSSIM's generic tests .

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What is the relationship between exposure pathway models and MARSSIM?

You use exposure pathway models to obtain site-specific release criteria, such as the DCGL. This is outside the scope of MARSSIM.

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Can I use MARSSIM for other types of site surveys?

Yes. You can use MARSSIM to demonstrate compliance with dose- or risk-based requirements for scoping, characterization, and remedial action surveys.

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What guidance does MARSSIM provide on specific phases and aspects of site surveys?

Specific guidance in MARSSIM:

Data Quality Objectives Process

MARSSIM describes how to plan systematically and how to make planning decisions during the seven steps of the DQO process.

more information Chapter 2:Overview of the Radiation Survey and Site Investigation Process (Section 2.3.1)
  Appendix D:The Planning Phase of the Data Life Cycle
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Historical Site Assessments

Chapter 3, Historical Site Assessment, provides guidance for obtaining site information and prior survey data (operations records) for input to the final status survey.

more information Chapter 3: Historical Site Assessment
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Survey Planning and Design

Chapter 5, Survey Planning and Design, identifies items needed for planning.

more information Chapter 5:Survey Planning and Design
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Field Survey Methods and Instrumentation

MARSSIM provides guidance on sampling, direct measurements and scanning in Chapter 6, Field Measurement Methods and Instrumentation. It provides a descriptive instrumentation list in Appendix H, Description of Field Survey and Laboratory Analysis Equipment.

more information Chapter 6: Field Measurement Methods and Instrumentation
  Appendix H: Description of Field Survey and Laboratory Analysis Equipment
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Interpretation of Survey Results

MARSSIM provides guidance on Data Quality Assessment, data interpretation and statistical tests in Chapter 8, Interpretation of Survey Results.

more information Chapter 8: Interpretation of Survey Results
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QA/QC

MARSSIM provides guidance on developing Quality Assurance Project Plans and performance-based Quality Control requirements in Chapter 9, Quality Assurance and Quality Control.

more information Chapter 9: Quality Assurance and Quality Control
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Am I required to implement/use MARSSIM?
No, MARSSIM is guidance, not a requirement.

Do I have to follow the process outlined in MARSSIM? Are any deviations allowed?
The performance-based approach used to develop MARSSIM, the systematic planning process used in MARSSIM, and the data quality objective (DQO) process foster flexibility rather than rigid compliance to one method.

Are there any alternatives to the MARSSIM process?
Yes, many alternatives are mentioned in MARSSIM. The DQO process is utilized to determine the appropriate method(s). The process may indicate MARSSIM, or some alternate method, as the best choice.

Who are the MARSSIM users?
Federal agencies such as DOD, DOE, EPA, and NRC, states, site owners, contractors, the public, etc.

How do the costs associated with the MARSSIM compare with other currently available alternatives?
Under most circumstances, following the MARSSIM process will require fewer measurements or samples, thereby saving time and money. Other methods may either overestimate or underestimate the number of measurements or samples needed to demonstrate compliance or may not take decision errors into account.

What are the benefits to using MARSSIM over currently available methods? What is the value of the MARSSIM in comparison with other currently available alternatives?
MARSSIM provides a technically defensible process over a broad range of situations. Results to date indicate that the MARSSIM process requires fewer measurements than other methods for demonstrating compliance for radiological sites. The MARSSIM also provides a performance-based approach and has a strong focus on planning. The MARSSIM generally involves more planning and less re-work than other currently available methods.

Is the MARSSIM technically accurate?
Yes, the MARSSIM underwent extensive scientific and peer reviews prior to finalization. The methods are technically accurate and applicable over a large range of situations.

Does the MARSSIM provide a practical and implementable approach to performing radiation surveys and site investigations?
The MARSSIM has been shown to be practical and implementable in field application. The MARSSIM provides technically defensible and efficient methods to demonstrate compliance with radiological criteria.

Is there an overall plan or timetable for implementation of MARSSIM?
Each agency has committed to timely implementation. The NRC has identified dates (for example, after 8/20/98, all new D&D plans must be compliant with their dose-based radiological criteria for decommissioning regulations). Training is being conducted to familiarize users with the guidance in MARSSIM.

How does MARSSIM relate to existing guidance on scoping, characterization, or remedial action surveys?
MARSSIM does not provide extensive guidance on scoping, characterization, or remedial action surveys, but it does document approaches to these surveys as they relate to the Final Status Survey (FSS). The guidance presented in MARSSIM on these pre-release surveys is primarily focused on providing input to planning the FSS.

How is MARSSIM related to CERCLA or RCRA cleanup, FUSRAP, BRAC, and State requirements?
MARSSIM is a decision framework to release sites under any of these programs. The MARSSIM survey process could be used for obtaining data in any of these programs. Appendix C and F of MARSSIM discuss how MARSSIM fits in with regulatory and other programs.

What is the relationship between RESRAD or RESRAD-BUILD and MARSSIM?
These software tools are used to obtain site-specific release criteria (e.g., derived concentration guideline levels or DCGLs). Their purpose is to translate between a dose or risk to an activity per unit concentration or an activity per unit. Identifying the DCGL and the method of translation are outside the scope of MARSSIM.

What are the specific methods for demonstrating compliance?
The user uses a statistics-based methodology for obtaining and then comparing survey data to the DCGLs (pass/fail). Specific details on the MARSSIM methodology are outlined in the Manual (either by discussing them or referencing them).

Why does MARSSIM use statistics?
The science of statistics is the mathematics of the collection, organization, and interpretation of numerical data. It is especially used to analyze population characteristics by inference from sampling. Since MARSSIM is all about collecting, organizing, and interpreting data and taking sample sets to make decisions about populations of data, MARSSIM uses statistics. Statistics also provide a set of tools used to facilitate making decisions when conditions of uncertainty prevail.

What statistical tests are utilized for demonstrating compliance?
Many tests can be used and are discussed. For example, MARSSIM presents nonparametric tests (e.g., Wilcoxon ranked sum test, sign test) and discusses parametric tests for distributions based on the assumption of normality.

What guidance is provided by MARSSIM on conducting historical site assessments?
How to obtain site information and prior survey data (i.e., operations records) for input to the FSS.

What guidance is provided by MARSSIM on DQO?
MARSSIM describes the DQO process (seven steps) on how to systematically plan and make planning decisions.

What guidance is provided by MARSSIM on field survey methods and instruments?
MARSSIM provides an Instrument list and guidance on sampling, direct measurements, and scanning.

What guidance is provided by MARSSIM on survey planning and design?
It identifies items needed for planning. Chapter 5 of the manual covers this topic in detail.

What guidance is provided by MARSSIM on interpreting survey results?
Guidance is given on data quality assessment, data interpretation, and statistical tests. Chapter 8 of the manual covers this topic.

What guidance is provided by MARSSIM on QA/QC?
Guidance is given on quality assurance project plan (QAPP) development and performance-based QC requirements.

What do I do about conflicts between MARSSIM and existing guidance documents?
The MARSSIM is guidance. In some cases, MARSSIM would supercede existing guidance. Talk to your regulator or program office.

Does MARSSIM work with existing agency statutory programs that use release criteria (e.g., a concentration per 100 square meters in outdoor areas or per 1 square meter in indoor areas), such as those based on Reg Guide 1.86 and DOE Order 5400.5?
There are existing guidance documents for demonstrating compliance for such programs, such as NUREG/CR-5849 and the draft DOE Environmental Implementation Guide for Radiological Survey Procedures. MARSSIM was written for dose-based and risk-based regulations. However, other parts of MARSSIM, such as those on conducting a historical site assessment or determining minimum detectable concentrations, can still be used. There may be problems in using MARSSIM with some existing programs. You may not be able to use all of the guidance in MARSSIM now. Much of the guidance can be implemented now (e.g., plan, implement, assess, decide; QA and QC). Specific applications of MARSSIM guidance may require consultation with your program office, regulator, or agency representative.

Who were the Federal agency participants involved in the development of MARSSIM?
The participants (Work Group) are identified in the “Acknowledgments” in the front of the manual.

How can I determine if anyone from my site was involved in the development and/or peer review of MARSSIM?
Contact your program office, regulator, or agency representative for specific information.

Who is the MARSSIM point of contact for each of the four agencies?
The agency points of contact are identified in the “Acknowledgments” section in the front of the manual. They are also listed at the MARSSIM Federal Register Notice available at the Internet site at www.epa.gov/radiation/marssim.

How do I get a copy of MARSSIM?
Contact the Government Printing Office (GPO) for copies or access the EPA web site [www.epa.gov/radiation/marssim] for download. Instructions are on the MARSSIM web site.

 

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General Questions
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Obtain MARSSIM

General Questions
Definitions
Training
Obtain MARSSIM

General Questions Definitions Training Obtain MARSSIM

MARSSIM (Multi-Agency Radiation Survey and Site Investigation Manual )  Website © 2006 NukeWorker.com