Environmental measurements and monitoring programs around reactors: pre- operational, operational, and for accidents

A general overview is given of the requirements for environmental monitoring programs around nuclear power reactors. The emphasis is on radiological measurements in three types of environmental measurement situations: pre-operational; operational; and during accidents and accidental releases. The goals of the various programs are outlined, along with the relevant regulations. Discussions of the sampling part of each program are included, along with some comments on the choice, deployment, and use of instrumentation. Other sources must be consulted for detailed discussions of instruments and analytical techniques. The goal is to give some insight into the complexities of environmental monitoring programs. The difficulties involved in establishing a viable program should not be thought of as insurmountable: on the contrary, many skilled personnel are easily capable of carrying out these aampling and measuring programs, including the occurrence of unexpected demands from time to time. (auth