ML19260A174

Nonroutine 7-Day Environ Rept 76-43/4O:on 761030,monthly Milk Sample Collected at Location TM-M-7B3 Exceeded Control Station Value by 10 Times.Caused by Fallout from Chinese Atmospheric Weapons Test of Sept 1976

ML19260A174
Person / Time
Site:	Three Mile Island
Issue date:	11/15/1976
From:	METROPOLITAN EDISON CO.
To:
Shared Package
ML19260A173	List: ML19260A172 ML19260A174
References
NUDOCS 7911010722
Download: ML19260A174 (2)

Text

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Metropolitan Edison Cc=pany Three Mile Island Nuclear Statien Unit 1 (TMI-1)

Docket No. 50-289 Operating License No. DPR-50 "carcutine Seven-Lay Enviren=antal RuporL 76-h3/h0 Descrittien Of Measured Level A =cnthly milk sample collected at the location TM-M-733 has a reported level of 46 m h.5 pCi/L I-131. The centrol station TM-M-2G1 sampled on the same date (10/30/76) had a concentratien of 3.2 2 0.3 pCi/L of I-131. Results frc=

cther ss=pling locations were as follows:

TM-M-lhC1 1.9 1 0.2 pCi/L TM-M-h31 2.2 0.2 pCi/L TM-M-531 0.h ! .08 pCi/L Possible Cause It is generally kncvn that the fallout levels frc= the Chinese at=cspheric weapons test of Septe=ber, 1976, were especially high in the east central Pennsylvania area. In addition to this , it was deternined that the farm at 733 was utilizing farming practices not utilized by other farms in the area, which would tend to exacerbate the situation. Specifically:

1) All vater supplies for cattle, including the trough supplied by well water and a stream in the pasture, are cut-of-doors and not covered.

2) Silage for cattle feed was harvested after the date(s) of highest fallout levels.

3) The silage is fed to the cattle en a "last in - first cut" basis .

b) The silage harvested was of sufficient quantity to supply the cattle through the date of the subject milk sample.

5) The cattle are in pasture 2h hcurs/ day although grass conditiens preclude their obtaining a majority of their food intake frc= this source.

Analysis of Measured Level It is believed that this I-131 which was noted in the milk samples was not attributable to station operations in that:

1) All of the milk camples for this sampling period had I-131 levels at eight to sixty times the normal values. ( All previous samples for 1976 had less than the minimum detectable level cf 10.05 pCi/L. )

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2) The total anount of airborne I-131 pctentially released by TMI-1 during Cetoter va: 365 9 uC1. This is an extremely ccnservative value in that no credit is taken for effluent charcoal filters.

Using a conservative X/Q of 1 x 10-0 c. bout 366 pCi could potentially have deposited on the environs of TMI. If all of it (which is inconceivable) had been incorporated into the milk from this dairy farm, this wculd yield a concentration of 0.013 pCi/L. This value is less than the Lower Limit of Detection.

Corrective Acticn Since the I-131 levels in milk which are the subject of thic report cannot be attributed to TMI-1 operations , corrective action is not feasible and none vill be taken. Met-Ed vill continue to sample and analyse in accordance with the Environ = ental Technical Specifications. It should also be noted that the total output of milk from this farm is utilized in the manufacture of milk chocolate and any I-131 present vill have decayed prior to its consumption.

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