ABSTRACT
Environments that frequently require radiological sampling, direct measurements, and/or scanning include those associated with uranium mine sites, nuclear weapons production facilities, nuclear reactors, radioactive waste storage and disposal facilities, and areas in the vicinity of nuclear accidents. When designing a sampling program for an environmental study, the goal should be to collect data of sufficient quality and quantity to resolve all of the decisions that need to be made to complete the entire study. Since substantial cost is incurred with the mobilization and demobilization of a field sampling team, every effort should be made to perform all of the required sampling and analysis under one mobilization. An essential component to designing a defensible sampling program is scoping. Scoping involves the review and evaluation of all applicable historical documents, records, data sets, maps, diagrams, and photographs related to process operations, spills and releases, waste handling and disposal practices, and previous environmental investigations.
