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| This page provides the latest news on the
Multi-Agency Radiation Survey and Site Investigation Manual (MARSSIM) and its
implementation. Section members are encouraged to share their MARSSIM implementation
experiences. The MARSSIM software, COMPASS version 1.0, was finalized on February 22, 2001. The software can be downloaded from the ORAU/ESSAP webpage, just click on the picture below. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) sponsored development of the COMPASS (Computerization of the MARSSIM for Planning and Assessing Site Surveys) computer code for facilitating statistical calculations in planning of final status surveys using MARSSIM and NRC guidance in support of the decommissioning license termination rule (10 CFR Part 20, Subpart E). The COMPASS code was developed by the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) - Environmental Survey and Site Assessment Program, the prime contractor used by NRC for independent verification of site decommissioning. For those looking for an alternate quick and accurate calculation of statistical sample sizes and corresponding power curves, please check out Dr. Carl Gogolak's software using the following link: Interested in downloading the MARSSIM manual? It's only a few clicks away on the EPA web page: www.epa.gov/radiation/marssim MARSSIM is not just for Feds anymore! Check out New Jersey's draft guidance for radiological assessments (Chapter 12) of soil using MARSSIM. This guidance supports their rulemaking effort: "Soil Remediation Standards for Radioactive Materials" In fact, if you think they're not serious about MARSSIM - check out their MARSSIM Mantra! For those interested in a 10-page overview of the MARSSIM process, check out Ken Duvall's piece on the MARSSIM Framework. Ken provides a clear explanation of the power curve. MARSSIM Implementation Examples MARSSIM Implementation Examples During the development of MARSSIM, a field test was performed in October 1996 to demonstrate the feasibility of implementing the MARSSIM methodology at a thorium site. You can check out this (pdf 1275 kB) report: Final Status Survey Using MARSSIM Survey Methodologies at the Cushing Refinery Site One question that has come up time and again with the development of MARSSIM is how well does it compare to previous survey design guidance. Download the limited comparison study in PowerPoint between MARSSIM and NUREG/CR-5849 survey designs (pdf 100 kB) at the Fort St. Vrain power reactor decommissioning. A recent development with the implementation of MARSSIM is the flexibility in the survey design for building surface activity measurements. A presentation was made to the MARSSIM work group on April 16, 1999 proposing that the Sign test be considered for surface activity assessments. The MARSSIM workgroup recognized that the problem of using the WRS test for multiple surfaces is real, but stated that this issue would not be decided at that time. Check out the PowerPoint slides on using Sign test in place of WRS test for surface activity assessments (pdf 31 kB). Please submit your MARSSIM experiences for posting on this web page!
New Jersey's MARSSIM Mantra (to be chanted twice a day): MARSSIM IS A DOCUMENT MARSSIM IS A PROCESS MARSSIM IS A DECISION FRAMEWORK MARSSIM IS FUN, FUN, FUN! WE LOVE MARSSIM WE LOVE STATISTICS WE LOVE TO DEFINE THE LOWER BOUND OF THE GRAY REGION WE LOVE TO DO THE WILCOXON RANK SUM TEST WE WANT TO GO BEYOND THE CRITICAL LEVEL THE NULL HYPOTHESIS STATES NONE OF US WILL UNDERSTAND MARSSIM EVER WE WILL REJECT THE NULL HYPOTHESIS Not to be outdone, here's a little ditty from Joe Darman, who has obviously been contemplating the application of MARSSIM at Maine Yankee. It goes to the tune of the "Green Acres" theme song. Go ahead and try it - no one's listening!
Web page keeper: Duane R. Quayle |
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