Second Quarter 2008
INL Quarterly Site Environmental Report
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S.M. Stoller Corporation
Environmental Surveillance, Education and Research Program
ISSN NUMBER 1089-5469
STOLLER-ESER-116
Idaho National Laboratory Offsite Environmental
Surveillance Program Report:
Second Quarter
November 2008
Contributors:
Marilyn Case, Russ Mitchell
Program conducted for the U.S. Department of Energy, Idaho Operations Office
Under Contract DE-AC07-06ID14680
By the S. M. Stoller Corporation,
Environmental Surveillance, Education and Research Program
Douglas K. Halford, Program Manager
120 Technology Drive, Idaho Falls, Idaho 83402
www.stoller-eser.com
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None of the radionuclides detected in any of the samples collected during the second quarter of 2008 could be directly linked with INL Site activities. Levels of detected radionuclides were no different than values measured at other locations across the United States or were consistent with levels measured historically at the INL Site. All detected radionuclide concentrations were well below guidelines set by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and regulatory standards established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for protection of the public. |
This report for the second quarter of 2008 contains results from the Environmental Surveillance, Education and Research (ESER) Program’s monitoring of the Department of Energy’s Idaho National Laboratory (INL) Site’s offsite environment, April 1 through June 30, 2008. All sample types (media) and the sampling schedule followed during 2008 are listed in Appendix A. Specifically, this report contains the results for the following:
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Media |
Sample Type |
Analysis |
Results |
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Air |
Filters |
Gross alpha, gross beta |
There were no statistical differences between Boundary and Distant location gross alpha or gross beta quarterly or monthly data in the second quarter. A couple of statistical differences were noted in weekly results but these appeared to result from natural variability in the data. No result exceeded the DCG for gross alpha or gross beta activity in air. |
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Gamma-emitting radionuclides, select actinides (241Am, 238Pu, and 239,240 Pu), 90Sr |
No Cesium-137 was found above the detection level. Four composites had detectable concentrations of 239/240Pu within the range of historical concentrations. One composite from an onsite location had 241Am near the upper end of concentrations from the past few years. |
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Charcoal Cartridge |
Iodine-131 |
No detections of 131I were made during the second quarter. |
|
Atmospheric Moisture |
Liquid |
Tritium |
A total of 18 samples were collected. Only one of these samples had a tritium result greater than the 3s uncertainty. No sample result exceeded the DCG for tritium in air. |
|
Precipitation |
Liquid |
Tritium |
Eleven samples were collected. Four of the results were greater than the 3s uncertainty. Concentrations were consistent with those reported across the region and with previous results. |
|
Milk |
Liquid |
Iodine-131, gamma-emitting radionuclides, 90Sr, tritium |
Thirty-two samples, including two duplicates, were collected. No Iodine-131 or other manmade gamma-emitting radionuclides were detected in any sample. Both 90Sr and tritium were detected in two samples at levels consistent with previous measurements. |
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Game Animals |
Tissue |
Iodine-131, gamma emitting radionuclides |
No manmade gamma-emitting radionuclides were detected in the one game animal available for sampling during the second quarter. |
|
Environmental Radiation |
TLD |
Ambient ionizing radiation |
Values were consistent with expected exposures given the altitude and location of the TLDs. There were no statistical differences between Boundary and Distant location results. |
Second Quarter 2008
INL Quarterly Site Environmental Report
Return to Index