Health Physics Questions and Answers - Question 104

Question 104: 10 CFR 20.1302 provides two options for demonstrating compliance with the annual dose limit, in 10 CFR 20.1301, for members of the public. How does 10 CFR 20.1302 (b) (2), the second option, provide demonstration of compliance with the annual dose limit for members of the public who are in a controlled area?

Answer: It doesn't. This second option applies to members of the public in unrestricted areas and a controlled area is not an unrestricted area. However, it would be acceptable to demonstrate compliance with the annual dose limit for members of the public in a controlled area [10 CFR 20.1301 (a) and (b)] by applying the effluent concentration criteria of 10 CFR 20.1302 (b) (2) (i) and the external dose criterion of 10 CFR 20.1302 (b) (2) (ii) to the controlled area, rather than to the unrestricted area.

(References: 10 CFR 20.1003, 10 CFR 20.1302).