View source for Radiological and Environmental Sciences Laboratory

{{Organization
|OrganizationName=Radiological and Environmental Sciences Laboratory
|OrganizationType=Research and Development Agencies (Sub-organization)
|Mission=RESL supports the U.S. Department of Energy’s environmental cleanup by ensuring accurate, reliable radiological and environmental sample data for protection and compliance.
|ParentOrganization=Department of Energy
|TopOrganization=Department of Energy
|CreationLegislation=Part of DOE since 1949, no specific legislation for RESL alone
|Budget=Part of DOE Idaho Operations Office budget, not specified individually.
|OrganizationExecutive=Director
|Services=Radiological measurement quality assurance; Environmental sample analysis; Technical assistance for environmental monitoring; Laboratory proficiency testing
|HeadquartersLocation=43.50472, -112.0394
|HeadquartersAddress=Idaho National Laboratory, 1955 N Fremont Ave, Idaho Falls, ID 83415, USA
|Website=No dedicated website; information under DOE Idaho Operations Office at https://www.energy.gov/id
}}
The '''Radiological and Environmental Sciences Laboratory''' (RESL) is a government-owned and government-operated laboratory operated by the [[United States Department of Energy]] [[Idaho]] Operations Office. It reports directly to the DOE-ID Assistant Manager for Technical Programs and Operations, and is located at the IRC in [[Idaho Falls, Idaho|Idaho Falls]], Idaho. RESL and its predecessor organizations have been part of the DOE-ID since 1949.

RESL provides an unbiased technical component to DOE oversight of contractor operations at DOE facilities and sites. As a reference [[laboratory]], it conducts cost-effective measurement [[Quality control|quality assurance programs]] that help assure that key DOE missions are completed in a safe and environmentally responsible manner.{{citation needed|date=August 2014}} By assuring the quality and stability of key laboratory measurement systems throughout DOE, and by providing expert technical assistance to improve those systems and programs, it assures the reliability of data on which decisions are based. As a result, customers and stakeholders have greater confidence that those programs protect workers, the public, and the environment. {{citation needed|date=August 2014}}

RESL's core scientific capabilities are in [[analytical chemistry]] and radiation calibrations and [[Ionizing radiation#measurement|measurements]]. The RESL staff includes professional chemists, physicists, health physicists, engineers, computer programmers, and technicians, many of whom have advanced degrees. Their professional involvement includes participating in professional society activities, acting as reviewers and participating on working groups and committees for organizations such as the American Society for Testing and Materials, the [[Health Physics Society]], the [[American Chemical Society]], the Council on Ionizing Radiation Measurements and Standards, the [[American Water Works Association]], the [[American National Standards Institute]], and the [[International Organization for Standardization]].

Constructed in 1951, the original RESL facility was demolished in 2018, and a "behemoth midcentury radiation detector" weighing 55 tons and located in the structure was "salvaged for modern use because of its invaluably rare material composition".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://inl.gov/history-of-inl/idaho-site-artifact-proves-invaluable-for-modern-radiation-safety/|title=Idaho Site Historical artifact proves invaluable for modern radiation safety|first=INL Media|last=Relations|date=February 16, 2021}}</ref>

==References==
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==External links==
*[http://www.id.energy.gov/resl/ Radiological and Environmental Sciences Laboratory]
*[http://www.hps.org/ hps.org]

{{U.S. National Labs}}

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[[Category:United States Department of Energy national laboratories]]
[[Category:Research institutes in Idaho]]


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