The United States Department of Energy (DOE) continually seeks safer, more cost-effective, and better performing technologies for decontamination and decommissioning (D&D) of nuclear facilities. The Deactivation and Decommissioning Focus Area (DDFA) of the DOE National Energy and Technology Laboratory (NETL) sponsors Large Scale Demonstration and Deployment Projects (LSDDPs) which are conducted at various DOE sites. The Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL) is one of the DOE sites for demonstration of these new and improved technologies. The INEEL needs statement defines specific needs or problems for their D&D program. One of the needs identified at the INEEL was for new or improved site characterization technologies. A variety of in-situ site characterization technologies have been demonstrated through the INEEL LSDDP. These technologies provide a safer means of characterization, improved documentation, real-time information, improved D&D schedules, and reduction in costs and radiation exposures to workers. These technologies have provided vast improvements to the D&D site characterizations. Some of these technologies include: The Global Positioning Radiometric Scanner System for large-area, surface gamma radiation surveys; Remote underwater characterization system; Identifying heavy metals in painted surfaces and determining the alloy composition in metallic material; In-Situ Object Counting System for free release; Real-time radiological data acquisition with the Surveillance and Measurement's sodium iodide detector; Electromagnetic radiography to locate contaminated soils. Historically, site characterization has been a slow, costly, and tedious process. However, through these demonstrations, new technologies have provided more accurate data, real-time information, and enhanced site characterization documentation. In addition, a safer work environment has been established as a result of decreasing the worker's time (exposure) in contaminated areas. Furthermore, D&D schedules are shortened considerably. This results in a tremendous cost saving to the D&D program.
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