Criteria for release of property and materials from DOE sites

Establishment of criteria for the release of materials is necessary for the decommissioning of nuclear installations. US Department of Energy (DOE) procedures require that property and materials be surveyed to determine both mass and surface contamination prior to release from DOE control. Authorized release limits are developed on a case-by-case basis. Doses to members of the public must be within authorized limits, and the resultant exposures must be as low as is reasonably achievable (ALARA).