Modification dose assessment program at Duke Power Company

Duke Power Company has developed a program of dose assessment for modifications to nuclear facilities incorporating design, construction, and nuclear operations concerns to minimize both the dose from implementing plant modifications and the long-term dose from operations after modifications have been installed. The program emphasizes early awareness of radiological implications of proposed changes/additions and the communication of these concerns to all groups involved. This allows unified planning to achieve as-low-as-reasonably-achievable (ALARA) dose levels throughout all phases of design, implementation, and operation. Typically, ALARA emphasis in design is directed toward reducing operation and maintenance doses. This is the result of working in a plant under construction mode for many years. The dose assessment program adds emphasis to implementation exposure as an important part of total ALARA design