05000333/LER-1980-091-04, /04T-0:on 801211,during Normal Operation,As Result of Environ Radiological Monitoring,Radioactive I-131 Was Detected in Milk.Apparently Caused by Atmospheric Weapons Test Conducted by China on 801016

/04T-0:on 801211,during Normal Operation,As Result of Environ Radiological Monitoring,Radioactive I-131 Was Detected in Milk.Apparently Caused by Atmospheric Weapons Test Conducted by China on 801016

ML19340D470
Person / Time
Site:	FitzPatrick
Issue date:	12/23/1980
From:	POWER AUTHORITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (NEW YORK
To:	NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I)
Shared Package
ML19340D463	List: 05000333/LER-1980-091, Forwards LER 80-091/04T-0 05000333/LER-1980-091-04, /04T-0:on 801211,during Normal Operation,As Result of Environ Radiological Monitoring,Radioactive I-131 Was Detected in Milk.Apparently Caused by Atmospheric Weapons Test Conducted by China on 801016
References
LER-80-091-04T, LER-80-91-4T, NUDOCS 8012300638
Download: ML19340D470 (4)

LER-1980-091, /04T-0:on 801211,during Normal Operation,As Result of Environ Radiological Monitoring,Radioactive I-131 Was Detected in Milk.Apparently Caused by Atmospheric Weapons Test Conducted by China on 801016

Event date:
Report date:
3331980091R04 - NRC Website

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U. S. NUCLE AR REGULATORY COMMISSION 4 NRC FORM 366 (7 77F a

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'l O ! Il Durine normal operation. as a result of Environmental I

l c j a } l Radioloalcal k>n i tor i no. rad i oa ct i ve I-131 was detected I

. l o 1.i l l in milk. The source of I-131 is believed to be the result I

lO isi l of an atmospheric nuclear weapons test conducted on 10/16/80 l

l o is l l by the People's Republic of China.

1-131 concentrations were f

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p POWER AUTHORITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK JAMES A. FIT" PATRICK NUCLEAR POWER PLANT DOC}r NO. 50-333 i

A MACHMENT TO LER 8 0-091/0,4T-0 Page 1 of 3 The following Environmental Radiological Monitoring Sample is an anomalous measurement based on criteria outlined in the James A. FitzPatrick' Nuclear Power Plant Technical Specifications, Appendix B Paragraph 5.6.2.b:

Milk Samples, I-131 pCi/1 I

Sample Location Sample Dates 1980 10/6

• 10/27 **

11/3

• 11/26 **

12/1

• 16

< 0.198

< 0. 211

< 0. 3 51

< 0. 372

< 0.297 4

< 0.152

< 0.196 0.367!0.16 < 0. 258

< 0.272 14

< 0. 270

< 0.189 0.335!0.14 < 0.267

< 0.267 25

< 0. 211

< 0. 343

<0.732 5.4010.54 8.8:0.88 12

< 0.206

< 0. 227

< 0. 280

< 0.295

< 0. 251 2

13

< 0.196

< 0. 200 1.41!O.27

< 0.306

< 0.277 1

(Control) l

• Regular Sample

• • Special Sanple 1 See 1979 James A. Fit: Patrick Nuclear Power Plant Radiological Environmental Surveillance Report 2

Sample location is 18 miles SSW of the site The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation collected milk samples during this time period. The results of these collections are as follows:

l DEC MILK SAMPLES I-131 pCi/l Samole Dates 1980 1

Location 11/2 11/26 25 10.011.0 8.521.1 The activity level of I-131 in the 11/26/80 and 12/1/80' sample at location 25 are greater than 10 times the control station value for the same sample period which is the basis for this report.

As noted, positive concentrations of I-131 were detected in the 11/3/80, 11/26/80 and the 12/1/80 samples.

In the 11/3/80 samples I-131 was detected in three of the six locations with the control station (13) having the highest concentration with a level of 1.41 pCi/1.

In the' following weeks (11/26/80, 12/1/80) I-131 was detected at only one farm, location 25.

In addition to JAF/NMP samples the NYSDEC also collected milk samples from location 25 on 11/12/80 and 11/25/80 with results of 10.0 pCi/1 and 8.5 pCi/1 respectively.

~

i POWER AUTHORITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK JAMES A. FITZPATRICK NUCLEAR POWER PLANT DOCKET NO. 50-333 ATTACHMENT TO LER 80-091/04T-0 Page of The source of the measured I-131 was from an atmospheric bomb l

detonated on 10/16/80 by People's Republic of China.

The resulting fallout from this detonation was expected to pass over the Eastern United States on 10/21/80. The fact that I-131 was detected in the control sample on 11/3/80 strongly suggests that the expected fallout was the source of the radioactive material detected in recent milk samples. The fact that positive levels of I-131 were detected in the milk samples collected on 11/26/80 and 12/1/80 at sample location 25 (on-site) and not at the other milk sample locations can be contributed to a difference in farming practices.

Based on communications with the owners of the farms sampled, it was determined that the dairy herds were taken off pasture on approximately November 1, 1980. The exception was sample location 25.

According to the owner, his cow (milk herd is comprised of 1 cow) was left to feed on pasture as long as possible for economic reasons, which was until shortly after December 1, 1980. At the other locations, cows were fed stored feed indoors and were allowed to exercise 3-4 hours per day outside. At these locations there were very small amounts of accessible pasture grass available, therefore, pasture feeding was very limited during the exercise period.

An investigation was undertaken to further evaluate the suspected source of the I-131 in the milk samples. Plant operating parameters, environmental factors, related data and effluent calculations were scrutinized. The results of this investigation-further indicated that the I-131 in the milk samples was the direct result of fallout from nuclear weapons test.

November 3, 1980 milk samples showed that positive levels were detected at locations southeast and southwest of the site Meteorlogical data between 10/26/80 and 11/3/80 was reviewed showing that during this time period winds were from a southerly and north"- :erly direction. Analysis of air radiciodine samples around the site, b '

onsite and offsite showed no detectable I131.

Further, a review ot Mile Point Unit 1 and the James A. FitzPatrick Plant Stack and Vent Effluent Data showed no effluent release rates that could accou.it for the detectable levels found in the milk samples (based on preliminary data generated using the USNRC Regulatory Guide 1.109 Rev. 1) at any of the milk sample locations. A review of meteorological data with respect to the 11/26/80 and 12/1/80 samples for location 25 showed that wind i

roses with a potential for depositing material from the site effluents existed less than 20% of the time (11/17/80 - 12/1/80).

Two additional factors are important in determining the_ source of the I-131 in the milk samples.

Positive levels of I-131 in milk were detected by three other nuclear power plants located in the northeast.

These plants were the Salem Nuclear Power Plant, Peach Bottom Nuclear-i Power Plant and the Susquehanna Nuclear Power Plant.

It should be noted

~.

i POhTR AU"'HORIY OF THE STATE OF NEW YCRK JA'ES A. TITZFATRICK I."JCLEAR POhTR PLAST DOCKET NO. 50-333 1

1 A'" TACH"ENT TO LER 80-091/04T-0 Page 3 of 3

that the Susquehanna plant is not yet in cermercial operation. The fact I-131 was detected by other utilities in the northeast indicates that there was a wide area of fallout deposition as a direct result of the nuclear weapons test. The final iten which indicates the presence of nuclear test fallout is the result of high sensitivity gan=a spectral analysis of air particulate samples collected during the milk sarple period (on-site 10/27 to 12/1, off-site 10/28 to 12/2).

'"he results of i

these analyses showed positive identification of the following radionuclides at both the on-site and off-site air monitoring locations (composite sa. ples) :

i Isotope Half-Life

'h Neodymiun - 147 11 days Cerium - 144 284 days Cerium - 141 32 days j

Iodine - 131 8 days Ruthenium - 103*

39 days Earium - 140 13 days i

Zirconium - 95 64 days Niobiun - 95 4 days Lanthanum - 140 40 hours4.62963e-4 days <br />0.0111 hours <br />6.613757e-5 weeks <br />1.522e-5 months <br /> 7

• detected only in the off-site composite-The array of radionuclides identified in the air particulate composites could be considered a " fingerprint" of nuclear atomospheric test fallout, as all these nuclides are fission products with relatively short half-lives and are not routinely identified in plant effluents.

The presence of these " fallout" nuclides add additional support to the observation that the source of the Iodine-131 in recent JAF/m!P nilk sample is a direct result of atmospheric fallout frc= a nuclear device detonated on 10/16/80 by the People's Republic of China.

As a corrective action, additional milk samples were collected on 12/12/80 and 12/15/80.

Preliminary results for the 12/12/80 samples indicate that 'll results are less than the lower levels of detection

(<LLD) for I a 31.

Results for the 12/15/80 samples are not yet available.

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