SOIL SAMPLING PROCEDURE
DOE/ERSP PROCEDURE NO. 4
APPROVED:
L

DATE DRAFTED: 18 August 1977

1 March 1978 by Don R. Martin (ERSP Manager)

Purpose

To establish a standard soil sampling procedure to confirm the 241 am concentration and to determine the
TRU-to-Am

ratio) to support

the in situ van measurements and to provide effective guidance for

exploratory soil sampling intended to examine selected areas for profile radioactivity information.

IL

General

A.

The in situ van measurements program requires that representative surface samples be

analyzed using wet chemistry techniques. The number and location of the sampled areas must
satisfy the statistical requirements of the program, and the sampling design must be of a

standard repeatable pattern oriented in a random manner.

Known or suspected burial areas, and possible SGZ areas, require subsurface investigation.
Since no two situations will be alike, procedures will be developed on a case-by-case basis.

However, guidance for acceptable approaches and practices will be discussed.

Il.

Responsibility

A.

The DOE Technical Advisor will select the 4-hectare parcels and the grid location within each
parcel for surface sampling.
The ERSP Manager, with the assistance of the Technical Advisor and the Eberline Laboratory

Manager, will develop procedures on a case-by-case basis for subsurface soil sampling after
the ERSP Manager has coordinated the need for profile information with the JTG.

The Eberline Laboratory Manager will train and supervise personnel designated as soil samplers.
The Eberline Laboratory Manager will provide containers for collecting soil samples, will

receive and analyze the samples, will furnish analytical data to the Statistician, and will store

samples by their approved identification numbers in the sample library.

instructions are reserved for the ERSP Manager.
IV.

Further disposal

Surface Soil Samples

The criteria listed below apply when soil samples are taken from the surface to support in situ van
operations after a grid of measurement locations has been established.
A,

One location in every 4-hectare parcel of land will be soil sampled. However, no island will be

B.

The selection of a location to be sampled will be based on visual inspection, in situ survey, and
portable instrument (FIDLER or PG-2) survey. The location must be visually typical of the
parcel and must not contain a "hot spot" of radiation near the 60 keV energy level. It should

sampled in less than four locations.

be close to the center of the parcel.

A-4-1

Select target paragraph3