ASTM E2420-15(2021)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: E2420 − 15 (Reapproved 2021)
Standard Guide for
Post-Deactivation Surveillance and Maintenance of
Radiologically Contaminated Facilities
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2420; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope Assessments to Support Unrestricted Release from Fur-
ther Regulatory Controls
1.1 This guide outlines a method for developing a Surveil-
lance and Maintenance (S&M) plan for inactive nuclear 2.2 Nuclear Regulatory Commission Documents:
facilities. It describes the steps and activities necessary to NUREG-1576 Multi-Agency Radiological Laboratory Ana-
prevent loss or release of radioactive or hazardous materials, lytical Protocols (MARLAP)
and to minimize physical risks between the deactivation phase NUREG-1575 Multi-Agency Radiation Survey and Site In-
and the start of facility decontamination and decommissioning vestigation Manual (MARSSIM), Revision 1, August
(D&D). 2000
NUREG-1575-Supplement 1 Multi-Agency Radiation Sur-
1.2 The primary concerns for S&M are related to (1) animal
vey and Assessment of Materials and Equipment Manual
intrusion, (2) structural integrity degradation, (3) water in-
(MARSAME)
leakage, (4) contamination migration, (5) unauthorized person-
nel entry, and (6) theft/intrusion. This document is intended to
3. Terminology
serve as a guide only, and is not intended to modify existing
regulations.
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 deactivation—to remove a facility from service. De-
1.3 This international standard was developed in accor-
activation means the facility is placed in a safe and stable
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
condition.
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
3.1.2 decommission—to remove a nuclear facility safely
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
from service and reduce residual radioactivity and other
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
hazardousmaterialstolevelsthatpermitreleaseoftheproperty
or facility for unrestricted use and termination of any appli-
2. Referenced Documents
cable license(s).
2.1 ASTM Standards:
3.1.3 decontamination—those activities employed to reduce
E1167 Guide for Radiation Protection Program for Decom-
the levels of radioactive and hazardous contamination in or on
missioning Operations
structures, equipment, and materials.
E1819 Guide for Environmental Monitoring Plans for De-
3.1.4 nuclear facility—a facility whose operations involve
commissioning of Nuclear Facilities
(or involved) radioactive materials in such form or quantity
E1892 Guide for Preparing Characterization Plans for De-
that radiological controls are (or were) required to protect
commissioning Nuclear Facilities
employees, the environment, or the general public.
E1893 Guide for Selection and Use of Portable Radiological
3.1.4.1 Discussion—Includedarefacilitiesthatare(orwere)
Survey Instruments for Performing In Situ Radiological
used to produce, process, use, or store radioactive materials.
Some examples are nuclear reactors (power, test, or research),
fuel fabrication plants, fuel reprocessing plants, uranium/
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E10 on Nuclear
thorium mills, Uranium Hexaflouride (UF-6) production and
Technology and Applicationsand is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
E10.03 on Radiological Protection for Decontamination and Decommissioning of
enrichment plants, research laboratories using radioactive
Nuclear Facilities and Components.
materials, chemical processing facilities, and radioactive waste
Current edition approved Feb. 1, 2021. Published February 2021. Originally
disposal sites.
approved in 2005. Last previous edition approved in 2015 as E2420-15. DOI:
10.1520/E2420-15R21.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on Available from U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), One White Flint
the ASTM website. North, 11555 Rockville Pk., Rockville, MD 20852-2738, http://www.nrc.gov.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
E2420 − 15 (2021)
3.1.5 standby—a condition in which a nuclear facility has and can assist in recommending activities to ready the facility
beendeactivated,butinsuchawaythatitcouldberestartedfor for S&M. Thus, developing the plan should be a cooperative
its original purpose. effort between the deactivation organization and the owner, or
3.1.5.1 Discussion—Critical systems are maintained in organization responsible for the facility.
working order with regularly scheduled maintenance activities
5.5 An attempt should be made to include all identified
performed. Surveillance and Maintenance (S&M) require-
stakeholders in the decision-making process for the facility.
ments for facilities placed in standby are much more demand-
This should include not only S&M actions while the facility is
ing than for those which are deactivated for planned decom-
shut down, but end point decisions with respect to the long
missioning. Operations procedures are usually maintained for
term status and final state of the facility.
facilities placed in standby.
3.1.6 S&M—the act of performing periodic inspections, and
6. Prerequisites
related maintenance activities on facilities which have been
6.1 TheS&Mplancoversthatportionofthelifeofafacility
deactivated and are awaiting the start of decommissioning.
between deactivation and decommissioning. Prerequisites are
those activities which must be performed during deactivation.
4. Significance and Use
6.2 Prior to preparing the S&M plan, the facility must be
4.1 The purpose of this guide is to provide the user
deactivated and a detailed characterization performed to iden-
information and guidance for preparation of a plan for the
tify the actual physical, radiological, chemical, and hazardous
surveillance and maintenance of nuclear facilities that have
material hazards. Guidance for planning and executing char-
been deactivated and are awaiting D&D.
acterization operations are provided in Guide E1892 for
4.1.1 This document provides guidance for performing
developing the plan and Guide E1893 and the NRC NUREGS
S&M in a way that will ensure worker and public safety, while
fortheMARSSIM,MARLAP,andMARSAMEdocumentsfor
also addressing stakeholder requirements.
measurement protocols.
4.1.2 Use of this guide helps standardize the basic require-
ments for S&M of nuclear facilities.
6.3 All radiation safety and Occupational Safety and Health
Administration(OSHA)requirementsapplicabletoperforming
4.2 Use of this guide helps ensure that the S&M plan
S&M work in the facility must be identified and hazards
addresses the significant activities and actions necessary to
mitigated as necessary.
maintainthesefacilitiesinasafeandstableconditionuntilthey
can be decommissioned.
6.4 Prior to implementation of the S&M plan, any facility
modificationsnecessarytosupporttheplanmustbecompleted.
5. Key Elements in S&M Planning
Thismayincludeinitialdecontaminationforhazardmitigation.
5.1 One of the key elements of post-deactivation S&M
6.5 Identify all applicable regulations and regulatory au-
planning is determining the end point condition of the facility
thorities associated with the facilities. Discussions with appro-
so that S&M activities can be established to support those
priate regulators should be conducted early in the development
conditions. While performing end point planning, a review of
of the plan.
all possible endpoints for the facility should be made. Deci-
sions made at the initial determination of the deactivated 6.6 Performance criteria associated with S&M activities
facility may, at a much later date, be changed. Thus a review should be identified and established prior to preparing the plan.
and analysis of various re-determinations of the facility end Examples of performance criteria include: length of the S&M
point, and the accompanying actions and data needs could period, estimated contaminant stability, intrusion areas, etc.
prove very useful at some time in the future of the facility.The The condition of the facility during the S&M phase should be
S&M plan specifies the surveillance, inspection, and mainte- specified and described.
nance of the facility in the deactivated state and should specify
the locations, frequency, and manner in which they will be
7. Typical S&M Plan Contents
conducted. NOTE 1—The contents of an S&M plan will vary in scope and content
from project to project. It should be tailored to fit the requirements of the
5.2 Part of S&M planning is deciding which spaces must
individual project or facility and be commensurate with the hazards
remain accessible and which equipment must be maintained
present. The following are brief descriptions of the contents or sections of
operable during post deactivation and D&D activities. This a typical S&M plan.
may be necessary to meet commitments to stakeholders and
7.1 Introduction—Describe the deactivated condition of the
should be agreed upon by the organization that will perform
facility and list the buildings that are the subject of the S&M
S&M activities. The post-deactivation condition of the facility
plan. Provide a sketch or photograph to indicate the scope of
will determine S&M requirements.
the facility. Indicate any unusual situations, such as portions of
a building that may remain operational. State the overall
5.3 To avoid incompatibilities between end-point require-
ments and S&M costs, it is important that the S&M plan be objectives of the intended S&M. Indicate proximity to neigh-
boring businesses, structures, transportation (trains, roadways,
written early in deactivation planning of the facility.
airports) and waterways.
5.4 Another important reason for early preparation of the
S&Mplanisthatpeoplewhohaveoperatedandmaintainedthe 7.2 Purpose—State the specific objectives of the facility
facilityhaveconsiderableknowledgeinthepastfacilityhistory surveillance and maintenance phase. Objectives can relate to
E2420 − 15 (2021)
contaminationcontrol,physicalsecurity,hazardisolation,pres- tent with good health physics practices such as those outlined
ervation of economic assets, and others. The planned level of inGuideE1893.Whileaddressingfacilityradiologicalcontrols
effort to conduct S&M should also be stated. it is important to document the level of decontamination that
was performed during facility shutdown, and any requirements
7.3 Background—A background section is appropriate if
upon which the decon levels were based.
this information might affect the S&M plan, that is, the safety
7.5.5 Hazardous Material Protection—In addition to
classification of the facility. It is acceptable to reference other
radioactivity,manynuclearfacilitiesalsocontainothertypesof
documents to provide background information.
hazardous materials. These include a broad spectrum of
7.4 Regulatory Compliance—Describe how regulations ap-
chemicals,organicsolvents,heavymetals,asbestos,PCBs,and
plicable to the specific facility configuration and conditions as
other materials.These hazardous materials should be identified
well as any special agreements with the State or other
and provisions for dealing with them included in the S&M
regulatory bodies are to be addressed during S&M. All
plan, and the S&M or existing Health and Safety Plan (HASP).
applicable rules, regulations, permit, or licenses should be
Many of these hazardous materials are regulated by govern-
noted in the S&M plan.
ment laws such as RCRA(Resource Conservation and Recov-
ery Act) and TSCA (Toxic Substances Control Act), and as
7.5 Description of Surveillance and Maintenance
such require special provisions for their handling, storage, or
Activities—This section should address eight key areas of
disposal. This section of the S&M plan should carefully
surveillance and maintenance necessary to maintain deacti-
address implementing all applicable hazardous materials rules,
vated facilities. This is the main part of the S&M plan and is
likely to be the most extensive. regulations, permits, and licenses.
7.5.1 Facility Operations—This section should address all 7.5.6 Health and Safety and Emergency Response—Health
equipment or systems that must remain operational during
andSafetyandEmergencyresponseissuesshouldbeaddressed
S&M, such as heating and ventilation, fire suppression, and in the S&M plan. This can be done by either preparing a
alarm systems. It must comply with Conduct of Operations
section covering these topics in the S&M plan itself, or, by
procedures at the site if applicable. preparing a stand alone Health and Safety and Emergency
Response plan which supplements and supports the S&M plan.
7.5.2 Facility Maintenance—All activities necessary to
The goal is to provide guidance on avoiding accidents or
maintain the facility in a safe and stable condition should be
incidents associated with S&M activities. The physical integ-
identified and the required maintenance tasks documented in
rity of the buildings, all safety concerns, and existing radio-
the plan. Particular attention should be given to items such as
logical conditions should be addressed in the S&M plan. An
roof repairs, window and door condition, HVAC operation,
inspection and hazard assessment of the facility should be
freeze and fire protection, animal and water intrusion, etc.
made and updated periodically, or as determined by conditions
7.5.3 Quality Assurance (QA)—The S&M plan should de-
at the facility. This should address fire, industrial, criticality,
fine the level of QA involvement during the project. This may
chemical, toxicological, and biological safety as appropriate. If
range from nonexistent up to the level required during facility
anEmergencyResponseplandoesnotexistforthefacility,one
operations. A QA plan is normally applied in situations where
should be developed. These plans are required by regulation
parts of the facility must be maintained in operating condition.
and should address personnel response to emergencies at the
The level and type of hazard associated with the S&M
facility.
activities should be con
...