BDAC Focus Area

• • • BDAC Workgroup Members • • •

Welcome to the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Biota Dose Assessment Committee (BDAC) Web site! There is increasing interest in protection of the environment against ionizing radiation. The BDAC has been assisting DOE in developing a DOE Technical Standard that provides a graded approach for evaluating radiation doses to aquatic and terrestrial biota. The DOE Technical Standard provides a cost-effective, easy to implement methodology that can be used for demonstrating compliance with DOE dose limits, and with findings of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) regarding doses, below which deleterious effects on populations of aquatic and terrestrial organisms have not been observed. The DOE Technical Standard can also be used for assessing ecological effects of radiological impact when conducting eco-risk assessments.

Purpose of the Web Site

This Web site was designed to provide a central access point to support the needs of BDAC members and to provide the public with BDAC-related information, activities, and available products concerning biota dose evaluation methods, radio-ecological research, and standards. News and information from other national and international agencies and organizations involved in biota dose activities and issues are also reported here, as available.

Specifically, this Web site provides a forum for:

• keeping current, communicating, and exchanging information on biota dose limits, methods, and protection frameworks;
   
• obtaining DOE and other guidance and methods for evaluating doses to biota, and in the design and review of site-specific biota dose assessments, and
   
• sharing information, issues, and lessons learned regarding biota dose evaluation activities.

Overview of BDAC

The BDAC is a topical committee established through the DOE Technical Standards Program with broad representation (DOE headquarters and field programs; national laboratories; private sector; academia; and invited guests from other federal and international organizations). The BDAC is sponsored and chaired by the DOE Office of Nuclear Safety and Environmental Assistance (HS-22). The BDAC is also multi-disciplinary, and brings together the expertise in health physics, ecology, radioecology, environmental monitoring, and risk assessment needed to:

• assist DOE in conceiving, developing, and promoting technical standards and guidance in assessing radiation doses to aquatic and terrestrial biota and
   
• serve as a major forum within DOE for obtaining technical assistance, discussing technical issues, and sharing lessons learned regarding biota dose standards and assessment methods.

BDAC objectives include:

• serving as the DOE focal point for biota dose issues;
   
• assisting, consistent with DOE needs, in national or international biota dose assessment technical standards development;
   
• sharing information and lessons learned from DOE site-specific biota dose assessments; and
   
• serving as a technical resource and advisory group for DOE Program and Operations Offices in the design and review of site-specific biota dose assessments.

Additional details on purpose, scope and objectives are provided in the BDAC Charter .

Please contact Stephen Domotor (DOE HS-22; BDAC chairperson) for more information on BDAC activities or the DOE Technical Standard for evaluating radiation dose to aquatic and terrestrial biota. Need assistance or have questions?

Drop us a line via the "Feedback form.