DRAFT
Contents
Approved by John Cummings
Revised 7/21
59.1 Policy
59.2 Scope
59.3 Applicability
59.4 Exceptions
59.5 Roles and Responsibilities
59.6 Definitions
59.7 Required Work Processes
- Work Process A. General Requirements and Flowchart
- Work Process B. Map of Restricted Area Where Trees May Not Be Removed
59.8 Source Requirements
59.9 Reference Documents
Note:
🚩🚩 Denotes a new section
🚩 Denotes the beginning of changed text within a section
🛑 Denotes the end of changed text within a section
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59.1 Policy
Only trees in which tritium concentrations are indistinguishable from regional background levels may be removed from the Berkeley Lab site. Additionally, all trees within the designated tritium restricted area (see Work Process B) must be authorized by ESG personnel prior to cutting, chipping, relocating within and/or removing from the designated area.
The Vegetation Sampling and Management Program at Berkeley Lab ensures that tritium-contaminated trees (either potentially or confirmed to have tritium concentrations above regional background) are not removed from the Berkeley Lab site.
59.2 Scope
This policy applies to trees that:
- May contain tritium at very low, but measurable, levels
- The tritium restricted area, which includes the area near the former National Tritium Labeling Facility (Building 75) and
- Are within the Berkeley Lab site boundaries
The restricted area surrounding Building 75 on the Berkeley Lab site where tritium levels in trees exceed the regional background is shown in Work Process B.
59.3 Applicability
Berkeley Lab employees, visitors, affiliates, and subcontractors who cut down or trim trees on the Berkeley Lab site
59.4 Exceptions
If analytical results show tritium concentrations are indistinguishable from regional background in a tree within the designated tritium restricted area, then that tree may be removed from the Berkeley Lab site (Department of Energy (DOE) Berkeley Site Office, 1999).
59.5 Roles and Responsibilities
Role |
Responsibilities |
Supervisors |
|
Employees |
|
Environmental Services Group |
|
59.6 Definitions
Term | Definition |
Environmental monitoring | The collection and analysis of environmental samples or direct measurements of environmental media. Environmental monitoring consists of three major activities: effluent monitoring, environmental surveillance, and meteorological monitoring. |
Regional background | Tritium levels in trees in the region beyond the influence of Berkeley Lab activities, which may be less than the lowest activity the analytical laboratory can detect |
Restricted area | An area surrounding Building 75 where tritium levels in trees may exceed the regional background (where tree removal is restricted), and where tritium sampling is required in order to remove trees. |
Tritium-contaminated trees | Trees with tritium at levels that can be detected by laboratory analysis |
Unauthorized tree removal | Removing trees or wood chips from the restricted area without obtaining confirmation from ESG that tritium levels in the trees are indistinguishable from regional background levels. |
59.7 Required Work Processes
Work Process A. General Requirements and Flowchart
The following flowchart guides Facilities Division and subcontractor personnel in determining how to manage trees in the tritium-contaminated area at Berkeley Lab:
Work Process B. Map of Restricted Area Where Trees May Not Be Removed
To prevent unauthorized tree removal, use the map (below) to determine whether trees are in the potentially contaminated (pink-shaded) area. If still unsure, contact the Environmental Services Group at ext. 7616.
59.8 Source Requirements
- Department of Energy, Radiation Protection of the Public and the Environment, DOE Order 458.1 (September 15, 2020)
- Environmental Services Group, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Assessing Tritium in Trees Slated for Removal on LBNL Property, ESG Procedure 270 (most recent)
Other Driving Requirements
- Nolan, Richard H. “Tree and Vegetation Management Program,” memo from DOE Berkeley Site Office to David McGraw, EH&S Division Director, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (April 5, 1999)
59.9 Reference Documents
Document number | Title | Type |
ESG Procedure 270 | Assessing Tritium in Trees Slated for Removal on LBNL Property | Procedure |
ESG Procedure 266 | Soil and Vegetation Sampling for the Environmental Radiological Protection Program | Procedure |
LBL-27170 | Site Environmental Report (most recent) | Report |
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