Third Quarter 2007
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-110
Idaho National Laboratory Offsite Environmental
Surveillance Program Report:
Third Quarter 2007
February 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
|
None of the radionuclides detected in any of the samples collected during the third quarter of 2007 could not 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 2007 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, 2007. All sample types (media) and the sampling schedule followed during 2007 are listed in Appendix A. Specifically, this report contains the results for the following:
|
Media |
Sample Type |
Analysis |
Results |
|
Air |
Filters |
Gross alpha, gross beta |
No statistical differences between Boundary and Distant location gross alpha monthly and quarterly data were noted for the third quarter. A few weekly differences were noted but these do not appear to be the result of INL releases. 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 |
Cesium-137 was not found. Americium-241, Plutonium-238 and Plutonium-239/240 were not detected in any sample. Strontium-90 was detected in one composite at a level far below the DOE DCG and within the range of historical measurements. |
|
|
Charcoal Cartridge |
Iodine-131 |
No detections of 131I were made during the third quarter. |
|
Atmospheric Moisture |
Liquid |
Tritium |
A total of 24 samples were collected. Twenty-one of these samples had tritium results greater than the 3s uncertainty. Concentrations were consistent with those reported across the region and with previous results. |
|
Precipitation |
Liquid |
Tritium |
Six samples were collected. All of the results were greater than the 3s uncertainty. No sample result exceeded the DCG for tritium in air. |
|
Milk |
Liquid |
Iodine-131, gamma-emitting radionuclides |
Thirty-six samples, including two duplicates were collected. No manmade gamma-emitting radionuclides or iodine-131 were detected in any sample. |
|
Lettuce |
Solid |
Gamma-emitting radionuclides, 90Sr |
Six samples were collected. No man-made gamma-emitting radionuclides were detected. Strontium-90 was detected in four samples at levels consistent with historical measurements and can be attributed to residual 90Sr from past nuclear weapons testing. |
|
Wheat |
Solid |
Gamma-emitting radionuclides, 90Sr |
Eleven samples were collected. No man-made radionuclides were detected in any sample. |
|
Game Animals |
Tissue |
Iodine-131, gamma emitting radionuclides |
Cesium-137 was detected in the one game animal available for sampling during the third quarter. The result was well within historical measurements. |
Third Quarter 2007
INL Quarterly Site Environmental Report
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