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.