Department of Energy Washington, D.C. 20545 April 25, 1978 V/ADM Robert R. Monroe Director Defense Nuclear Agency Washington, D. C. 20305 Dear Admiral Monroe: Earlier this month we discussed the Department of Energy policy regarding medical followup for those individuals exposed to radiation as a consequence of nuclear weapons testing. This letter confirms that discussion, The present DOM puldelines for radtation exposure are published in Manual Chapter 0524, Standards for Radiation Protection, most recently updated on March 30, 1977. The overall philosophy is for operations to be conducted in a manner to assure that radiation exposure to individuals and population groups is limited to the lowest levels practicable. As applied to the Nevada Test Site, MC 0524 requires that onsite exposures be limited to 3.0 rem/quarter and 5.0 rem/year and offsite exposures be less than 170 mrem/year for uncontrolled populations and 500 mrem/year for controlled populations. These are consistent with the standards set and published by the Environmental Protection Agency. Under present policy, adopted by the Nevada Operations Office of the Department of Energy in October 1971, ne ort o Greater than 50% of a lung burden. o Greater than 10% of an organ (other than lung) or body burden. o Open wounds containing radioactive contamination or a radioactive foreign body. 9 Reeatved axposure to excernal radiation which exceeds the criteria in Manual Chapter 0524.