Dose Modeling and DCGL Development

Our engineers are experts in radiological dose modeling and Derived Concentration Guideline Level (DCGL). By analyzing detailed site information with our unique software, we are able to provide DCGLs that are protective of human health yet sensitive to the enormous expense of nominal environmental cleanup.

MACTEC’s approach to DCGL is innovative. Rather than conventional methods of applying surface concentration limits to subsurface soils, our process includes subsurface dose modeling that meets NRC regulations.

The process also establishes a rigorous set of evaluation metrics (with analogs to MARSSIM) that can be used to demonstrate compliance. It thus provides a more realistic radiation-exposure scenario, allowing for elevated concentrations in subsurface soil relative to surface soil.

Another benefit is that the technical basis for this methodology can be applied to a variety of sites with residual radioactivity in subsurface soils.

Given the costly nature of soil survey, excavation, and disposal as low-level radioactive waste, MACTEC’s process for deriving and demonstrating compliance with subsurface soil DCGL delivers significant cost savings over conventional methods.