Executive Summary

First Quarter 2009
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-121

Idaho National Laboratory Offsite Environmental Surveillance Program Report:
First Quarter 2009
August 2009

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

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

None of the radionuclides detected in samples collected during the first quarter of 2009 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 first quarter of 2009 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, January 1 through March 31, 2009. All sample types (media) and the sampling schedule followed during 2009 are listed in Appendix A. Specifically, this report contains the results for the following:

Air sampling, including particulate air filters, charcoal cartridges and atmospheric moisture
Precipitation sampling
Milk sampling
Game animal sampling

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Table E-1. Summary of results for the first quarter of 2009.

Media	Sample Type	Analysis	Results
Air	Filters	Gross alpha, gross beta	There were no statistical differences in gross alpha or gross beta quarterly, monthly or weekly data in the first quarter. No result exceeded the DCG for gross alpha or gross beta activity in air.
		Gamma-emitting radionuclides, select actinides (²⁴¹Am, ²³⁸Pu, and ^239,240 Pu), ⁹⁰Sr	Strontium-90 was detected on a composite from a boundary location at a concentration within the range of those found previously.
	Charcoal Cartridge	Iodine-131	No detections of ¹³¹I were made during the first quarter.
Atmospheric Moisture	Liquid	Tritium	A total of seven samples were collected. Six 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	Thirteen samples were collected. Seven of the results were greater than the 3s uncertainty. The concentration was consistent with those reported across the region and with previous results.
Milk	Liquid	Iodine-131, gamma-emitting radionuclides	Thirty-one samples, including two duplicates, were collected. No Iodine-131 or other manmade gamma-emitting radionuclides were detected in any sample.
Large Game Animals	Tissue	Iodine-131, gamma-emitting radionuclides	One animal (a mule deer) was sampled. No Iodine-131 or other manmade gamma-emitting radionuclides were detected in any tissues.

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First Quarter 2009
INL Quarterly Site Environmental Report
Return to Index