Executive Summary

Third 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-129

Idaho National Laboratory Offsite Environmental Surveillance Program Report:
Third Quarter 2009
March 2010

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 third 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 third 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, July 1 through September 30, 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
Lettuce sampling

Table E-1. Summary of Results for the Third 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 or monthly data in the third quarter. Gross alpha concentrations were statistically higher at Distant locations than Boundary locations during two weeks of the 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	Americium-241 was detected on one composite from a distant location just above the detection limit and within the range normally found.
	Charcoal Cartridge	Iodine-131	No detections of ¹³¹I were made during the third quarter.
Atmospheric Moisture	Liquid	Tritium	A total of 25 samples were collected. Twelve 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. 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.
Lettuce	Vegetation	Gamma-emitting radionuclides, ⁹⁰Sr	Ten lettuce samples were collected. No manmade gamma-emitting radionuclides were found in any sample. Strontium-90 was detected in four samples at levels consistent with fallout from weapons testing.

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Third Quarter 2009
INL Quarterly Site Environmental Report
Return to Index