BDAC News and Events

This feature provides updates on news and events concerning the BDAC and DOE's activities in the area of guidance and requirements for protection of biota against ionizing radiation. Related news and events available from other agencies and organizations may also be posted here. Questions or comments concerning information posted here can be provided using the "Feedback" link at the top of this page.

4/19/06 • New Version of the RESRAD-BIOTA Code Now Available!

Released March 31, 2006, a new version of RESRAD-BIOTA is now available for public use. Version 1.2 of the code incorporates many improvements and advanced features to the original version first released in 2003. These advancements were made in response to national and international end-user feedback and suggestions, and lessons-learned from continued implementation of the DOE graded approach to biota dose evaluation. The code is available at no cost. Simply click on the "RESRAD-BIOTA" button on the left and follow instructions for downloading the code. A DOE RESRAD-BIOTA Fact Sheet providing an overview of code features and applications is also available for downloading at this location.

1/3/05 • Guidance on Evaluating Impacts to Biota Included in DOE's NEPA EIS Preparation Guidance

DOE's recently updated "Recommendations for the Preparation of Environmental Assessments and Environmental Impact Statements (Second Edition; December 2004)" revises the 1993 version of the "Green Book" and provides updated advice on what should be included in these NEPA documents. The revision includes a new section on how to address and evaluate potential physical, chemical, or radiological stressors to biota. Recommendations concerning exposure pathways, dose and risk assessment, and dose rate guidelines are provided. DOE's Graded Approach to Biota Dose Evaluation (DOE-STD-1153-2002) is referenced for further guidance on biota dose evaluation and for examples of representative species that could serve as indicators of radiological impacts in NEPA assessments. The NEPA document can be downloaded from the DOE NEPA Web Site at www.eh.doe.gov/nepa.

10/28/03 • RESRAD-BIOTA Code Version 1.0 Now Available for DOE and General Use

Effective September 30, 2003, the DOE RESRAD-BIOTA code (Version 1.0) is now available for general use as a companion tool for implementing the DOE Graded Approach to Biota Dose Evaluation (DOE-STD-1153-2002). The code serves as DOE's "next generation" biota dose evaluation tool, duplicates the screening BCGs and analysis capabilities of the Graded Approach evaluation framework, and also provides many advanced analysis features along with graphics, report generation, and data import/export features. The code is available at no cost. To download the code, click on the "RESRAD-BIOTA" button from this web site.

6/23/03 • Pilot Project Testing the Application of the DOE Graded Approach as a Monitoring Tool for Long-Term Stewardship Sites Completed

The final report, "Implementation and Validation of a DOE Standardized Screening Method for Evaluating Radiation Impacts to Biota at Long-Term Stewardship Sites," is now available and can be accessed from this web site under the "Resources" button.

12/13/02 • DOE Participates in ICRP Task Group on Protection of the Environment and Provides Comments on Task Group Report

The Department of Energy (DOE) served as a corresponding member to the ICRP Task Group on Radiation Protection of the Environment. DOE comments on the ICRP's proposed approach to radiation protection of biota includes the recommendation to include screening methods within a tiered or phased approach to biota dose evaluation. A copy of the ICRP Report, and DOE's comments on the Report, can be downloaded from this web site under the "resources" button.

5/11/01 • DOE to Receive National Association of Environmental Professionals Award for Work on Protection of the Environment from Effects of Radiation

DOE's Office of Environmental Policy and Guidance (EH-41), Office of Environment (EH-4), was notified by the National Association of Environmental Professionals (NAEP) that DOE''s "Graded Approach for Evaluating Radiation Doses to Aquatic and Terrestrial Biota" has been selected for a National Environmental Excellence Award. DOE''s approach, developed by EH-41 through the Department''s Biota Dose Assessment Committee, is responsive to growing regulatory and stakeholder interest in the protection of ecological resources from the effects of radiation. To this end, it provides standardized, cost-effective methods for demonstrating compliance with DOE and internationally-recommended dose limits for biota, and for conducting ecological screening assessments of radiological impact at contaminated sites. The NAEP''s National Environmental Excellence Awards competition recognizes projects and programs that serve as models of excellence and stand out as significant contributions in the environmental professions. The award will be presented to DOE at the NAEP Conference to be held in Arlington, VA, June 24-28, 2001.

3/8/01 • IAEA Report on Protection of the Environment

The International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) Summary Report of the "Specialists' Meeting on Protection of the Environment from the Effects of Ionizing Radiation: International Perspectives (January 2001)" is now available and can be downloaded from this web site. Click on the "Resources" button to preview the list of available documents and select "IAEA Summary Report." The Report summarizes the results of the IAEA meeting (held August 29, 2000 - September 1, 2000 in Vienna, Austria) regarding: use of biota effects data for setting biota dose limits; approaches for modeling doses and demonstrating compliance with biota dose limits; ethical dimensions as a basis for protection of biota from effects of ionizing radiation; and concepts for the development of a radiation protection framework for the environment.

10/5/00 • Recent Activities of Biota Dose Assessment Committee

Recent activities of the Biota Dose Assessment Committee (BDAC), to include participation in an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Specialists meeting on protection of the environment from effects of ionizing radiation, are highlighted in the September issue of the DOE Technical Standards "Forum" newsletter.

7/20/00 • DOE Technical Standard for Evaluating Doses to Biota Now Available

The DOE Technical Standard, "A Graded Approach for Evaluating Radiation Doses to Aquatic and Terrestrial Biota (Project ENVR-0011)" is now available for DOE use, and for distribution to the public. The document, and a companion electronic calculational tool (the RAD-BCG Calculator), can be downloaded from this web site by clicking on the "Technical Standard" button on the main button bar. Contact Stephen Domotor, DOE, for further information.

6/19/00 • Session on Evaluating Radiation Doses to Ecological Receptors to be held at SETAC 21st Annual Meeting

A session on "Evaluating Radiation Doses to Ecological Receptors" will be held at the 21st Annual Meeting of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC). The meeting will be held at the Nashville Convention Center, Nashville TN, from November 12-16, 2000. Several papers which highlight the graded approach for evaluating radiation doses to aquatic and terrestrial biota (developed by DOE-EH-412 and DOE's Biota Dose Assessment Committee) will be featured, along with other national and internationally-submitted papers. Refer to the SETAC web site to view a copy of the abstract for this session, or for more information on the meeting. Contact Dan Jones (ORNL, session co-chair) for specific information.

6/19/00 • Progress and Path Forward for DOE Technical Standard on Evaluating Radiation Doses to Biota

Progress and a path forward for the DOE Technical Standard, "A Graded Approach for Evaluating Radiation Doses to Aquatic and Terrestrial Biota", is reported in the latest issue of the DOE Technical Standards "Forum" newsletter.

3/16/00 • Progress and Path Forward for DOE Technical Standard on Evaluating Radiation Doses to Biota

Progress and a path forward for the DOE Technical Standard, "A Graded Approach for Evaluating Radiation Doses to Aquatic and Terrestrial Biota", is reported in the latest issue of the DOE Technical Standards "Forum" newsletter.