U.S. EPA Office of Radiation and Indoor Air (ORIA) - Regulatory, Analytical and Evaluation Support Services for Radiation Protection Programs

Trinity has since 1996 supported ORIA in a wide range of activities, including emergency response, rulemaking, audits and inspections, risk assessment, and modeling.

As part of our emergency response support, Trinity assisted in the preparation of training courses and tabletop exercises for ORIA�s Radiological Emergency Response Team and on scene coordinators, as well as initial exercise preparation support to EPA�s Center for Radiological Emergency Preparedness, Prevention and Response. This work evolved over the course of the contract to support the design of EPA�s �Falling Star� exercise and design and implementation of the �Ruby Slipper� full-field exercise held at Ft. Leavenworth, KS.

Trinity has supported ORIA�s oversight of the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) and development of radiation standards for Yucca Mountain. Trinity has prepared a number of technical support and background information documents on intended EPA decisions for WIPP activities such as acceptance of DOE's submittals on WIPP Recertification and RH waste characterization. Trinity supported EPA's DOE oversight activities by providing ASME NQA auditors and technical inspectors for dozens of EPA WIPP waste characterization audits and inspections performed under NQA-1, 2, and 3. Trinity's staff have performed these assessments at most of the DOE facilities and laboratories across the United States

In addition to supporting ORIA�s involvement in regulating radioactive waste, Trinity has also assisted ORIA in a number of other activities. For example Trinity has

• Updated and Maintained CAP88-PC and related software to demonstrate compliance with 40 CFR Part 61; personal computer software used for calculating dose and risk from annual average releases of radionuclides to the air;
• provided training on Agency standards such as MARSSIMM and MARSAME
• Developed field responder training videos for the Federal Radiological Monitoring and Assistance Center
• Modeled exposure to workers in waste treatment, storage, and disposal facilities in support of EPA�s Low Activity Rule;
• Provided on-site support of a joint pilot program between EPA and U.S. Customs to monitor shipments into the Port of New Orleans;
• Assisted the Interagency Steering Committee on Radiation Standards group in developing risk-based guidelines for radioactive materials in sewage sludge;
• Reviewed and edited Diffuse Emissions Source guidance documentation;
• Researched and compiled relevant data compilation on sealed sources, orphan sources, radioactive scrap metal recycling;
• Assembled and assessed references on technically enhanced naturally occurring radioactive material;
• Reviewed petitions for alternative uses of phosphogypsum;
• Supported ORIA�s analysis of Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act listings;
• Supported ORIA�s analysis of major stack emissions at DOE facilities; and
• Supported the evaluation of alternatives to use of various sealed sources.

With respect to contaminated site support and technology assessment, Trinity has provided support to ORIA's programs for assessment of contaminated sites by providing treatment technology fact sheet preparation, National Priority List site analysis, technical bulletin preparation, documentation of preliminary remediation goals, and analysis of background radiation and development of guidance for radiologically contaminated Superfund sites. Trinity has also managed/performed several activities that mandated database usage including Geographic Information System program support, Substance Registry System support, and Environmental Radiation Ambient Monitoring System web/database support.

For more information about EPA ORIA and its programs visit EPA's radiation web site