Environmental and ground-water surveillance of the Hanford Site and surrounding region is conducted to demonstrate compliance with environmental regulations, confirm adherence to DOE environmental protection policies, support DOE environmental management decisions, and provide information to the public. Surveillance is conducted as an independent program under DOE Orders 5400.1, "General Environmental Protection Program," and 5400.5, "Radiation Protection of the Public and Environment," and the guidance in Environmental Regulatory Guide for Radiological Effluent Monitoring and Environmental Surveillance (DOE 1991). The objectives, criteria, design, and description of the program are summarized below and provided in detail in the Environmental Monitoring Plan (DOE 1991c).
Ground-water surveillance is designed to meet the ground-water monitoring program objectives stated in DOE Order 5400.1 and described in DOE (1991). The objectives, rationale and design criteria for monitoring radiological and chemical contaminants in ground water are summarized in this section. Ground-water surveillance at Hanford is an integral part of the Hanford Site Ground-Water Protection Management Program (DOE 1994g) but is conducted independently of the operating contractor's programs. A brief description of the program is included below and provided in detail in the Hanford Site Ground-Water Protection Management Plan (DOE 1994g).
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