ML20086D602
| ML20086D602 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Vogtle  |
| Issue date: | 12/31/1990 |
| From: | WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC COMPANY, DIV OF CBS CORP. |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20086D586 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9111260169 | |
| Download: ML20086D602 (22) | |
Text
_-
1990 v,.,,,,,,,,,,,.,e-.-,-
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Savannah River Site Environmental Report Summary Pamphlet c
Questions Answered in this Pamphlet Where is the Savannah River Site ?...............................
2, 3 What facilities were operated there in 1990?.......................... 3 How large were the radiation doses in the vicinity of SRS?.......... 4,5,16 How much radioactivity enters the air and water from SRS operations?...
6, 7 How are we exposed to those radioactive materials ?.................
8, 9 Does the site comply with standards ?............................ 5,10 V.?:at othcr projects are conductod at SRS bosidec wacpans work
- 17 More questions and answers.................................
18,19 Westingliouse Savannah River Company Savannah River Site Alkon, SC 29808 9111260160 911126 PDK ADOCK 03000424 PDa
M
.Y 1990 Savannah River Site Environmental Report Pummary Pamphlet This pamphlet is a bdef summary of the impacts of the Savannah River Site (SRS) operations during 1990 on the offsite environment and the public. A complete two-volume report
- contains more detailed information on this topic as well as describing SRS operations, the environmental surveillance program, detailed monitoring neults, environmental compliance acuvities, environmental management, and research programs.
The two-volmne report is widely distributed to government officials,'U.S. Congressmen, universities, other DOE facilities, environmental and civic groups, the media, and other interested individuals. Copies of the report are placed in public reading rooms and are available from:
Environmental Monitoring Section Westinghouse Savannah River Company P. O. Box 616 Aiken,SC 29802
'Iblephone:(803) 725-5869 or 3363 For many people, this pamphlet will contain enough information to answer their questions. Others will want to read the mom complete wport.
- Sanannah River Site Environm, ntal Report for 1990, Eeport Number WSEC-1M-91 28, %1umen 1 and 2.
Prepared for the U. S. Department of Energy Under Control Contract No. De-AC09-89SR18035
Major Highlights at a Glance The SRS publishes the Environmental Report each year to communicate the findings of the env;mnmental monitoring and researth programs to the public and government agencies. This pa:nphlet is intended to summarize important envimnmental activities at the Savannah River Site in 1990. For more detailed information or data, please refer to the Savannah River Site Environmental Report for 1990 (WSRC 1M-9128). 'Ibp highlights and issues from 1990 include the following items:
In 1990, over 40,000 samples ofenvironmental material were collected for radiological and nonradiological analyses. The largest radiation doses to the surrounding population were from the radionuclide " tritium," which was released to air and water from SRS operations.
Because of SRS releases, tritium concentrations measured near the site in air, rainwater, Savannah River water, milk from local dairies and downriver d-inking water were higher than background levels.
The maximum radiation dose to individuals offsite was estimated to be 0.16 millirem from atmospheric releases of radioactivity, and 0.17 milli-rem from liquid releases of radioactivity. These values were no greater than 2% of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) radiation protec-tion standards.
There was one accidental release of tritium to air on February 7, when 100 curies were released from a K-Area stack. The maximum radiation dose offsite was calculated to be 0.003 millirem (mrem). The background dose normally received by individuals in this area fmm natural sourres ofradi-ation is 315 mrem.
SRS issued a detailed report on the impact of routine ar'd accidental releases of tritium from 1954 to 1988 on the environment (WSRC-RP-90-424-1). A copy of this report can be obtained through SRS (see page 19). Comparable studies ofiodine, uranium, plutonium, and cesium are underway.
Currently, SRS investigating porsible causes for higher concentrations of mercury found in fish caught ondte, compared to those taken from the Sa-vannah River. Mercury concentraJons have been higher in onsite fish since 1989.
In response to concerns expressed by the Georg.a Department of Natural Resources (GDNR) over concentrations of radionuclides in fish collected from the Savannah River, the Savannah River Site is working with the GDNR to resolve technical issues regarding sam pling and analyses of fish from the river and the resultant dose calculations.
1990 Summary Pamphlet The Site The Savannah River Site (SRS)is a Department of Energy complex which occupies approximately 300 square miles along the Savannah River, principally in Aiken and Barnwell counties of South Carolina. The primary function of SRS is to produce plutonium, tritium, and other special nuclear materials for national defense, for other government uses, and for some civilian purposes. The Westinghouse Savannah River Company (WSRC)has managed and operated the site since April 1,1989.
The SRS is located in a rural area with the countryside forested with pine, sweet gum, maple, birch, oak, and hickory. The area provides a habitat for more than 50 species of mammals,100 species of reptiles and amphibians, and 200 species of birdn, including some endangerod and threatened species.
The Savannah River flow s along the southwestern border ofSRS with five major streams on SRS feedingit. These streams are not used as commercial sources of water, but they do receive effluents from various onsite operations. The Savannah River is used as a drinking water supply for approximately 65,000 persons downriver in Port Wentworth, Georgia, and in Beaufort and Jasper counties of South Camlina.
NORTHCAROUN5
- O Charlotte h
\\
/
Greenville
\\
__N
~
N SOUTH CAROUNA O Ceaumbia
[
O Atlanta 1
/
O Aiken Augusta i
SRS O Macon j
GEORGIA Charleston gn y, 100 MI 150 M1 ATLANTIC OCEAN
[
Savannah
~~~~~ s
/
Figure 1. Location of the Savannah River Site relative to surrounding population centers 2
Savannah Plver Site
_ _ -____ - _-_ a
1990 Summary Pamphlet The Areas The SRS is divided into six mqior operational areas (Figure 2).
Heactor Areas - There are five nuclear production reactors located on SRS, one in each of five areas called K, L, P, C, and R areas. None of the reactors were operating in 1990; but the Final Environmen tal Impact Statement for the continued operation of P, K, and L Reactors was approved by the Department of Energy on November 29,1990.
Reactor Materials Area - This area produces fuel for the reactors, and has a treatment facility for nidioactive liquid wastes. This area was in full operation in 1990.
Separations Areas Products I
produced in the reactors are separated chemically in the F
)
and H areas. Both areas oper-f ated all year. The
- canyon" 8
- y processingfacilityin F Area ran only15% of theyearand the one 5
b e
h[ m'
)
~
in H Area was not operated at
)
[\\ I all.
J s
- ~,,, m 7
s m
Waste Management Areas -
a h
=
~
Wastes generated fmm onsite 7
E./3
~
f
\\
operations are stored or tmated J
f AE y
J& /] # [
here. The areas were in full op.
eration. The newly constructed 4,
/
lI;g" \\= f
% /~
Defense Waste Processing Fa-q cility conducted startup tests without radioactivity from Sep-j "f
.)
6
]\\
A (/
4*
y tember to December.
+
Heavy Water Reprocessing N
Area - This facility repmcesses
-?. \\> 'N (l
heavy water used to moderate
/'
and cool the site's reactors. The M
3 heavy water facility operated 1--.
N
~g' 20% of the year. The coal-fired
'/
powerplant and supportlabora-
~
cean.
tories operated all year.
4-
/'
W Administration Area - The
't
? 4 -*1*-
Department of Energy office for m
the site, the Savannah River pg _ {m""'*"
Ecology Laboratory (SREL)and yg _ yy _ _. -
the Savannah River Laboratory
% =n (SRL) are located here.
Figure 2. The Savannah River Site and its major areas Savannah River Site 3
1990 Summary Pamphlet Radiation Doses Received by the Public l
from SRS Operations in 1990 Radiation Doses All people are exposed to sources ofionizing radiation in their everyday lives.
These sources include cosmic radiation and naturally occurring radioactive materials in the environment. Exposures from these sources vary depending upon the individual's location and lifestyle. A person living in this region of the country receives an annual radiation dose from natural sources of 315 mrem (Figure 3). Medical and other sources of radiation exposure average an Radiation Dose-When the body absorbs radiation energy, additional 64 mrem per year.
tia person whois exposedis said to have receiveda radiation dose, in this Radioactive materials are produced in many of the operations at SRS. Some of pamphlet the doses are given these radioactive materials are released into the air and water, and add to the in units ofmrem (1/f 000 of a radiation doses normally received by the people living in the area, The table on h{
the next page lists the radiation doses to the hypothetical individual who is exp sed t themaximum concentrations ofradioactivitym food,aur,and water.
equ/valentis a convenient unit which a#ows different types of The doses are compared to the radiation protection standards set by federal radiation as wellas doses to 1aw.
\\
ditfotentparts of the body to be expressed on the same basis, Medical x-rays in terms of potentialhea.% risk.
40 mgem Radon Nuclear medicine 200 mrom 14 mrem (4%)
i 11.5% l Consumer products 10 mrem (3%)
Other (<1%))
- $Ny E
SM$l 10% lja $g y
39 mrem 53 %
wp ydjg k?
Cosmic 33 mrem Terrestrial 43 mrem Figure 3. Average radiation doses to an Individual from various sources 4
Savannah PIver Site a
1990 Summary Pamphlet Table 1 Comparison of Calculated Maximum Doses from 1990 SRS Releases with Applicable Standards and Natural Background Radiation Exposure Maximum Dose Applicable
% of
% of Natural Pathway from SRS Releases Standard Standard
Background
Airbome effluents 0.16 mrem 10 mrem 1.6 0.05 Drinking water 0.08 mrem 4 mrom 2.0 0.03 Fish consumption (L125tuem 0.04 All pathways 0.36 mrom 100 mrom 0.36 0.11 Federal Radiation Protection Standards For protection of the public, federal authorities have set limits on the amount of radiation that the public can receive from facilities such as SBS. The radiation standards for protection of the public in the vicinity of SRS am outlined in a document called DOE Order 5400.5. This DOE Order includes regulations
- Federal auttwities have set established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EI%) on the radiation limits on the amount otradation doses from atmospheric releases and from drinking water. These regulations th8f th* Pelic can receiw imm state that the dose to an individual shall not exceed 10 mrem in a year for facilities such as SRS.*
releases of radioactivity to the air, and 4 mrem per year from releases of radioactivity to drinking wa ter. The maxim um limit for all types ofexposures is 100 mrem per year. These limits are over and above normal background radiation levels. Table 1 shows that maximum doses from SRS operations in 1990 were no more than 2% of the standards.
Savannah River Site 5
1 1990 Summary Pamphlet Releases of RadionucIldes to the Environment Because the SRS is a nuclear facility, an important concern for impact assessment is the amount of radionuclides released to the environment.
Atoms that spontaneously Although many different radionuclides are released from the SRS facilities change bytadioactive decay during a particular year, a relatively small number of them are important are calledradionuclides.
contributors to the radiation dose to people near the SRS.
These can be man-made or occur in nature. or both.
The most important, radionuclides released during 1986-1990 are listed in Table 2 with their half lives. The half-life is the time it takes for one-halfof the original material to decay away. The balf-lives cover a large range. Two important nuclides, tritium and cesium-137, have halflives of more than 10 Curle--A unft of measure used years. Most of the noble gases released (like argon-41) decay more rapidly.
to express the amount of radioactfw materialpresent. It The quantity or amount of these radionuclides is expressed as
- activity." The mea m n be Iatoms activity of a radionuclide is measured in units of curies (Ci),
ct:mont that decay each second. One curie (abbreviated
%I")is 37 billion atoms Table 2 anderg&g radoactim deca /
Most important Radlonuclides,in Terms of Offsite Dose to People, c ch second. Concentrations of Released from the SRS Between 1986 and 1990 radionuclides measwedin the cndronment are very small.
Radlonuclide Half life The unit usedin thispamphlet Tritium 12.4 years Ibr environmentalmeaswo-ments is the picoeurie.
Carbon-14 5,730 years (abbredated *pCi"), which is 1-tri//lonth of a Cl.
lodine-129 15.7 million years Argon-41 1.83 f.ours Cesium 137 30.2 years Plutonium-238 87.7 years Plutonium-239 24,100 years Plutonium-240 G,570 years i
Savannah River Site 6
1990 Summ~ry P?mphlet Figures 4 and 5 show the amounts of several of the most important radionuclides released to air and water during the past five years. There were no reactors operating during the last two years. This is why the release of radionuclides called " noble gases * (like argon 41) was less. When the reactors are operating, the noble gases cause about 25% of the dose to a member of the public from releases to air. Tritium has been the most important radionuclide in terms of dose to the public.
O 1,000,000 0.02 Tritium
' ' ' 'O. ~ ' "'- O O
z c:
100,000 t
Noble Gases m
o 0.01 $
3 E
10,000 h
- .a +
w O
o 5
g u----------u......,,,,,,,,,,.....u',,.*.
E Plutonium 5-s 1,000 O
1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 Year Figure 4 Releases of tritium, noble gases, and plutonium to the alt between 1986 and 1990 100,000 10 4--
e O-n Tritium e
O O
1 B
B O
~~'O 10,000 3
O'N Ceslum-137 e
=S 0'1 8
5
%\\s M
E 1,000 3
N v-E N
0.01 4
'g O
100 O.001 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 Year Figure 5 Releases of tritium and coslum 137 to the Savannah River between 1986 and 1990 Savannah River Site 7
1
1990 Summary Pamphlet Monitoring in the Environment Radiological Environmental monitoring is done at SRS to show that releases of material from the site do not exceed the radiation pretection guidelines, and that the facility can control releases to the air and water adequately. Thousands of samples are collected and analyzed each year. Materials monitored include:
air e
vegetation groundwater rainwater drinking water Savannah River water e
milk soil and sediments a
other foods e
fish and wildlife e
SRS streams and basins These samples are collected in defined ways from onsite, at the site perimeter, and atlocations up to 100 miles from SRS.The samples are analyzed for specific radionuclides. Measurements of envimnmental gamma radiation are also made at numerous onsite and offsite locations.
An environmental monitoring program has been maintained continuously in the SRS region since 1951. Public reports have been published since 1959.
During 1990, technicians at SRS performed over 105,000 analyses on mom than 26,000 samples.
Nonradiological Monitoring is Required for Compilance.
s l
Radioactivityis not the only concern y","*7.v Meny a w ww.y*,, d"" '""
of the environmental monitoring program. In 1990, approximately c4=rmam=
C,","Z""f*""i" ",*,,,,
20,000 analyses were performed on r=..p====*=mer=i*-n== u over 7,000 environmental samples to measure the levels of certain
'"gC,.Zg7ots) chemicals, such as metals and o
muaar
,w
.w,.nons.aw.ni.
pesticides. The materials sampled gg P""nmjs in the nonradiological program and====v. hr =*h.=nsaw melude:
ww en syw.s.t b.petrmed.
mu Wr groundwater
____ ~ --- -------
Savannah River sediment e
E,,,,,,
SRS streams /outfalls 1
immsii k
IlllillE fish Monitoring Responds to Public Concerns m d.wn =,=,.m.p.one b...n. pan.de-e In addition to laboratory analyses, l
-i*.=am m-n w =,
<====. = u.ac=.
I j.
s f A *,'n.7.. %, D *d,"o7 %
d water and air quality measure-
<=ao=== = n==sa-s=
nude = ** =* r-n=n m u ments are routinely made in the contamene n ew
=d are m.y en*anm-n we many y..
field.
8 Savannsh River Site k
1990 Summary PCmphlet l
Transport of Radionuclides in the Environment Radionuclides released from SRS can be carried through difTerent parts of the environment before they reach people. People can be exposal directly to these external sources of radiation, or the radioactive materials ca s be inhaled or ingesteu. For example, tritium is released to air, carried by the wind, deposited on grass, and eaten by cows.The tritium eaten by the cows enters the milk that the cow produces. When people drink the milk, the tritium enters the human body and contributes to the radiation dose for that person. This sequence is called an "exposum pathway" and can be illustrated by a sequence of" steps":
air-> grass-> cow- > milk -> person r
Many of the steps in these pathways must ATMOSPHERIC V
be sampled in a comprehensive monitoring prugram. However, many of the radioactive and nonradioactive materials released from SRS exist in such low concentrations RELEASES after they are dispersed in the environm ent that they are not measurable. One solution g
THE PUBLIC to this situation is to use mathematical models to predict what the concentrations E
of these materials would be. Figure 8 shows E
how models can be used to calculate concen-trations that are too srmall to measure. In g
l some cases, it is difficult to tell if a radionuclide in the environment comes Om from the SRS or from other sources such as
/-
worldwide fallout.
TERRES-AQUATIC The next sections of this pamphlet present TRIAL some of the results of the environmental monitoring of various pathways conducted Figure 7 by SRS during 1990.
Movement of redlonuclides from the points of release to the public wwew
%g Mathematical modol ptedh: tion
=
{ Measurement with uncertainty bara Levels of environmental contarrunaten
\\
Cc g
are frequently too low to be detected by convennonal montonng technques.
Figure 8 Marnematicai modois can extend Comparisons between g
g s s estimates below detection limits.
mathemptlcal models of y
s O
radionucIlde movement g
and actual measurements M
'() s_ ' " -b oetection umit g
DISTANCE FROM POINT OF RELEASE Savannah River Site 9
1990 Summsty P rnphlet Air Pathways Radiological Monitoring Radionuclides in air in the vicinity of SRS can come from natural sources of The DOE Concentration Guide la that concentration of a radioactivity, from worldwide fallout, or from atmospheric releases from radionuclide, h air or water, that -
Operations at SRS. There is an extensive network of air monitoring stations wouldproduce a radiation dos, around SRS to determine the concentrations of radioactive materials in the air, of f 00 mrom to a person The total external, or envimamental gamma radiation in the area is monitored exposed a# year, by special radiation detectors called dosimeters.
The SRS air monitoring network consists of four onsite monitoring stations,14 Units of Volume - A ml#iliter stations on the site boundary,12 stations at approximately 25 miles from SRS, (mL)is 1-thousandth of a liter. A and t'our at approximately 100 miles (Savannah and Macon, GA ; Columbia and 72 otnce soft drink contains s Greenville, SC). Some of the monitored radionuclides include tdtium, mt. Some Ithe concenta# ens plutonium, strontium, and cesium-137. In addition, environmental gamma
- PamA a
[
radiation in airla measured with dosimeters at 454 locations c.i and around the b u /t, o,p Figure 9 is an example of the SRS.
use of these units.
Tritium is the only monitored radionuclide from SRS thatis routinely detected in offsite air. The highest amount of tritium in air measured onsite was less than 5% of the DOE Concentration Guide for tritium in air. Concentrations of tritium in air and rainwater da:reased with increasing distance fmm the site.
Figure 9showe theclosecorelation v
of tritimn concentrations mea-N,
=
sured in air, water vapor, and rain 2#
at various distances from the site, 1#
Thetritium measuredin aironsite t
50 was about 50 t:mes higher than 20 20 that measured 100 miles away.
C"'*"
Plutonium - Concentrations of w[rv N
lP utonium in air on the SRS were (pcumL) gh_
10 times higher than concentra-
- =. -
i tions of plutonium measured at o.s
+-
-~
offsite locations. These higher in rain (pcumt) 02 o.1 concentrations onsite reflect re-m leases of plutonium from site o.05 p
facilities. Nevertheless, average om levels of plutonium in onsite air om were less than a tenth of a percent 3
3 3
of the DOE concentration guide.
f l
1 1
li Cesium and Strontium - Ce-I E
E sium-137 and strontium were b
h occasionally detected in air at onsite locations, but none offsite.
Figure 9. Measured concentrations of tritium in air, water vapor, and rain at Allotherman-made radionuclides different distances f rom the SRS. U.S. background values oIH-Sintain, measured were below levels that could be
. by the EPA in the first quarter of f 990, were less than 0.4 pCi'mL measured.
10 Savannah River Site
1990 Summa:y Pamphlet Concentrations in Milk and Food Milk samples are collected from five dairies within a 25-mile radius of SRS and from locally produced milk supplies of a major distributor in the area. The samples are analyzed for tritium, cesium 137, iodine-131, and strontium-90.
Tritium measured in milk imm these local dairies is due to SRS releases, but levels of tritium in milk (Figure 10)have declined since 1988 with the decline in the amount of tritium released to the air from SRS.
Other radionuclides such as strontium were not detectable in milk samples in Eighty-sevenPercent(87%) of the 1990. Cesium-137 was detected in some samples, but the cesium comes from totaldose from SRSteleases to alt aras due to the radionuclide tritium.
worldwide fallout. Other food products are collected from 14 locations within six counties surTounding SRS. A detailed report of tritium in the SRS Tritium concentrationsin milk sam-envirunment (WSRC-RP-90-4241) showed a decrease m tritaum concentra-ples collected around SRS reflect tions in food with increasing distance from the site.
changes in the amounts released toair. Thebackgroundconcentra-Air Pathway Doses tion of H-3 in milk from a major distributor in the SRS area aver-The maximum radiation dose was calculated for an individual who would be aged o.06pci0nt in f 990.
exposed for a year to the highest concentrations of radionuclides measured in air at the site boundary. The maximum radiation dose was 0.16 mrem from all pathways resulting from releases to air. The average individual dose at the site perimeter was calculated to be 0.07 mrem. The main pathways of exposure were inhalation (61%), consumption of vegetation (27%), and drinking milk (8%).
6 300 4
mi i
V 5
250 Tritium Tritium oxm Concentretion 4
i 200 - nelseeed to the in Milk Atmosphere (pCurnL) 1984-1990 3
150 (kC0 Figure 10 m mum Measured concentrations Av.rego of tritium in milk 2
100 1
- 50 0
0 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 l
Nonradiological Air Monitoring In addition to monitoring radioactivity in air, SRS monitors the air quality in the area, and measures nonradioactive materials discharged from the site.
Five air monitoring stations around the site monitor the quality of the air at SRS by measuring ozone, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, particulates, and other pollutants. Ambient air quality remained within the air quality standards set by Georgia and South Crnlina. Releases of nonradioactive l
pollutants from the five coal-fired power plants and six process stacks were l
within the standards during 1990.
Savannah River S!te 11
1990 Summary Pamphlet Surface Water Pathways Radiological Monitoring Radioactive materials can be mieased from SRS directly into the onsite atmams, or contaminated water can move from waste areas and seepage basina Seepage basins are excava#ons that rece/w waste water. DiAes to into site streams. Over 80% of the radionuclides micayed from SRS to surface pt; vent omr#ow or surface runoff water in 1990 came from these seepage basins.
may be induded in the design of seepage basins.
Water samples were taken from the Savannah River at six locations, upriver, adjacent to, and downriver from SRS. Stmams on the SRS were continuously sampled at 37 locations.
The awrage tritium concentration The major radionuclide released to the Savannah River from SRS was tritium.
measured /n surface waters by th*
In 1990, most of the tritium was released from the Efiluent Treatment Facility U.S.
Enviroomsofal Protec#on (ETF) to Upper Three Runs Creek (see Figum 2). The ETF removes all
[p" [*
radioactive and nonradioactive contaminants, except tdtium, from pmcess y
cf'1*'ut*
This wlue agrees with the tritium concentration measured upriwr of SRS.
Because of these tritium releases onsite, tritium measund in the Savannah River just downriver from the SRS, was about 10 times higher than concentrations of tritium measured at "backgmund' locations, upriver from SRS. However, none of the 325 measurements of tritium in Savannah River water in 1990 exceeded the EPA drinking water standard.
In addition to tritium, low levels of N
cesium.137, strontium-89 and.90, Y,"
)
and plutonium were also measumd 4 emd in the Savannah River. All concen-
~~ '
trations would produce a dose which is below the EPA drinking water Sou standard of 4 mrem per year.
gp jg At Beaufort-Jasper, SC and Port GEORM Wentworth, GA, wateris taken from 2
the Savannah River for public drink.
h ing water supplies (Figure 11). At these downriver locations, the aver-8,, u.
Jasper age tritium concentrations, in 1990 wate' were about seven times higher than background levels of tritium (Figure K
12), but well below EPA drinking water standards.The North Augusta
>gg%,
c treatment plant is upriver from SRS and is unaffected by SRS liquid p,
TeleaSes. ConcentratJonS of tritium Water Treattuent 3
Plant m offsite well8 that are used for drinking water were less than at the o
io 20 so y
downriver water treatment plants.
Figure 11.
Water treatment plants downriver from SRS 12 Savsnnah River Site
1990 Summ~ry Pamphlet 100 5 Average concentration 50 O Maximum Concentration
.a Doses from Drinking Water
~ EPA Dnnking Water Standard (20 pCi/mL)~~~~~~~~~~~"""~~~~~'~["'~
j E0 o
The maximum radiation due from O
drinking water from a public water 3n g
supply was 0.08 miem for water from the Port Wentworth treatment
- n s
0.3 pCi/mi U.S. surface water background plant About 85% of this dw was due to tritium.
C ist quarter 1990 p--
I"-
r..
2 _i co Doses from Other Surface Water Pathways g
3 0'5 For some radionuclides, consump-2 y
y tion of fish is more important than 3;
~
0.2 Lt
~
drinking water in terms of dose to 0.1 Raw 1 FinisE aw ani aw inished-pepple. See "Other Pathways
- on q
~
~
page 15.
North Augusta Beaufort Jasper Port Wentworth Water treatment plant Figure 12. Trltlum concentrations at water treatment plants in 1990 Nonradiological Monitoring Surface water is monitored for nonradioactive contaminants at onsite stmams, in f 900, concentrationsina totalof at three Savannah Riverlocations, and at the ends of drains or pipes that carry 16 samples from 12 outfalls i
exceededthe NPDESlimits. The liqu d discharges to streams. These discharge points, called outfalls, am contaminants and rminber of out-monitored for chemicals, temperature, and bacteria, and must comply with falls were: oilandgrease (3), t tal EPA regulations under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System l'
(NPDES). In 1990, 6810 analyses were performed on samples fmm 76 outfalls [
j, ga chemicals (2),
at SRS. Sixteen measurements, from 12 different outfalls, wem not in bacteria (f), and biochemical compliance with the NPDES limits.
oxygen demand (f).
Overall water quality in the Savannah River has not changed significantly from previous years, although cha nges in some algae populations indica te that the water quality downriver of SRS may be declining. Tha river is monitored for 23 herbicides and organic chemicals at two riverlocations and,in 1990, none
,.. changes in some algae of these were detected. Since 1951, the Academy of Natural Sciences of popurations indicate that etw warwr Philadelphia has studied algae, insect, and fish populations in the Savannah quality do nrimr of SRS may be River to meacure any effxt of SRS discharges. The numbers and different declining.-
kinds ofinsects and fish were the same upriver and downriver of SRS in 1990.
Savannah River Site 13
1 1990 Summary Pamphlet Groundwater Pathways As of 1990, the site's groundwater Groundwater, or subsurface water, is the main pathway for radioactive and remediation program had removed nonradioactive contaminants to migrate from solid waste sites or liquid cpproximately236,000lb o/mlatile seepage basins at SRS to offsite streams and rivers. Over the years these basins have received wastes such as chemicals, burned waste residues, coal b
ga oundwafer ne:th A andMareas. Th/sprogram pile runofi, and radioact2ve materiala from various locations onsite. Almost all began in 1963.
of the radioactivity detected in groundwater is due to tritium: however, nonradioactive contaminants vary according to the waste site being monitored.
Researchers use wells to sample the j
f groundwater near waste sites to deter-r; mine the presence and extent ofcontam-yg s
ination of the groundwater near SRS. In a25na-1990, tests were done for several
~
hundred radioactive and nonradioac-l M A,=, &
tive chemicals from 1,100 monitoring s
- " \\
wells at 85 locations. The second volume
\\
of the Savannah River Site Environ-l p.. = % m..rt.,
t.u.mi men +al Report is devoted entirely to i*
UlMN6b"'
results of the groundwater monitoring s
O 1
pmgram. Although federal drinking d,
' y r
wa ter standards do not apply to ground.
E M. G L, * * ?. b,,.:./,
E.u%y., h water monitoring wells, monitoring re-f/
sults are compared to these standards f
because they are a convenient reference.
')
The burial area for radioactive wastes is one SRS site that has contributed tri-
/
9 tium to the gmundwater. Two contami-DE.
u t,. 79.
. id,4Came s nated groundwater areas, or plumes, 11 %
,d,..
} W "'~" "
have been migrating from the burial
~
t tus area southwest toward Four Mile
{
/
Creek, and northwest toward Upper
/
l Three Runs Creek. In 1990, the tritium N ** \\
j measured in some of the wells in these ctoncia h
areas exceeded drinking water stan-
)
dards by 275,000 times. A similar plume f v latile organic chemicals is pmsent
,1c.w wecos
/
m groundwater beneath A and M Areas
. wcauno co...
- oun, o mia ce""*^""
J
/)
onsite, with maximum concentrations d
/
exceeding standards by 22,800 times.
gA {
E,, ',,,
4 1
\\hy m
The SRS is trying to prevent the deterio-sc^d t= us)
'\\
'55""'
ration of grotmdwater quality by mini-mizing the release of contaminants whenever possible. In some cases, re-Figure 13.
Groundwater monitoring has identified localized m val and cleanup of existing contami-and area groundwater contamination on SRS.
nation is underway (see sidebar).
14 Savannah River Site
l 1990 Summ'ry Pamphlet Other Pathways Beca use SRS provides refuge for wildlife, researchers collect and analyze many kinds of animals on and around the site. The consumption of some species provides a pathway for exposure of the public to pollutants.
Radiological Contmlled hunts for deer and wild hogs are held each year on the SRS.
Individual deer are monitored in the ficld before being releawd to the htinter.
On average, the concentration of cesium-137 (the most important radionuclide) is higher in deer than in hogs. A person consuming 64 pounds (29 kg) of venison containing the maximum level of cesium-137 measured in deer in 1990 would receive a dose of 27 mrem. Results of a special survey conducted in 1989-90 indicate that the majority of the cesitan-137 measured in the deer in 1990 came from worldwide fallout. For that reason, doses from consumption of deer and hogs are not included in the doses from SRS operations.
Samples of fish, crabs and oysters, turtles, ducks, and turkeys were also analyzed for radioactivity. The highest concentration of cesium 137 in ducks was five times less than that measured in deer. Cesium 137 also concentrates in fish and shellfish. The maximum calculated radiation dose from consump-tion ofradionuclidesin fish and shellfish (0.12 mmm)was 50% greater than the maximum done from drinking water. Average concentrations of eesium 137 in fish upriver, adjacent, and downriver from SRS were very similar in 1990 (see Figure 14).
Ceslum-137 in fish from the Savannah River Nonradiological l
08 E Above SRS The Food and Drug Administration I
a Adjacentto SRS (FDA)has established a guideline of 3
o3
/
1 O Below sRS 0.5 pg Hg/g as a recommended maxi-g l
'7 mum concentration of mercury in 7
f A
fish for consumption by humans. In e
1990, a total of 248 fish from SRS
.E streams and ponds, the Savannah l
03 River, and offsite lakes were col-8 a.
lected and analyzed for menury.
Y, O
o2 Since 1989, concentrations of mercu-
[
ry in fish collected at all onsite 2
c locations have been higher than those in fish collected from the Sa-vannah River, indicating a possible o0 A
onsite source of mercury. The SRS 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 streams are not opem for public Figure 14. Cesium-137 in fish from the Savannah River I
Savannah River Sit
- 15 l
1990 Summary Pamph?!
Nonroutine Releases In 1990, there was one nonroutine miease of 100 Ci of tritium to air and two nonmutine relear,es of tritium to water. In addition, excessive rainfall and flooding caused a waste trench to fill with water containing tritium, cesium 137 Radiadon doses from aockfe. ;
and atrontium-90. Approximately 8 million gallons ofwater haye becn removed releases are included in the total from the tanch in preparation for covering the boxes doses calculated for 1990.
If a nonrout.ine release of radioactivity occun, SRS begins a special sampling and analysis program to confirm that a release occurred and to determine if increased amounts of radioactivity were released to the environment.
Radiation doses frum these nonroutine or accidental releases are included i.;
the total doses.
l Doses Received by the Whole Population The total dose to the whole population thatlives within 50 miles of the center of SRS is called the
- collective dose." This dose is measured in
- person-rem
- and is Nco880#W do88 808POPula6an/s obtained by adding all the doses to individuals living in the 50-mile circle. In Jhe sumofa#tho doses fobdMduals 1990, the total dose to a population of about 555,000 persons was about 12
[
h thatgroup. This quan6tyis some' person-mm' l
6mes called the population dose.
l Atmospheric mieases were estimated to cause about 9.6 person mm. Releases to streams resulted in an additional 2.4 pemon-reta, primarily from drinking water. Tritium was the most important radionuclide for both types of releases.
No health effects such as cancer or genetic effects am predicted from radiation doses of this size. Recently revised estimates of risk from radiation exposum were used in the cvaluation.
l Environmental Compliance L
1 l
j A top priority at SRS involves bringi ng the site into compliance with all federal and state environmental regulations, including U.S. Department of Energy Orders that apply to the site. In 1990, no hazardous substances were released from the site that required reporting under CERCLA, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act.
DOE received an NPDES permit allowing discharges from K Reactor, providing a cooling tower is completed and operational by December 31,1992.
16 Savannah River Sito
1990 Summ ry P mphlet Twenty appraisals, or formal evaluations of environmental programs, were conducted in 1990 focusing on compliance-related issues. These appraisals included a DOE " Tiger Team
- assest.nent, an EPA audit, and an inspection of waste sites by the Natural Resources Defen e Council.
The tiger team identified 100 findings related to:
the waste management program, e
quality assurance activities, monitoring of radioactive releases, and e
state water pollution control requirements.
e e
in response to these findings, WSRC prepared an action plan which identified 218 tasks required to correct these deficiencies. Seventy of these tasks were completed at the end of 1990.
Environmental Research Projects Environmental research projects at the site cover a variety of disciplines.
Groups participating in research pmjects include the Savannah River Laboratory (SRL), the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory (SREL), and the U.
S. Forest Service Savannah River Forest Station (SRFS). Studies emphasized in 1990 wen:
activities to meet permit or envimnmental e
impact statement requirements fate and effects of pollutants from SRS e
environmental dosimetry atmospheric and aqueous effluent studies e
atmospheric and stream transport studies e
e emergency response chemical speciation e
radionuclide cycling e
endangered and threatened species biodiversity e
biological communities in natural and e
disturbed wetlands timber management e
wildlife management e
reforestation e
secondary road management e
fire management e
Savannah River Stte 37
1990 Dummery Pamphlet,
Questions About SRS and Environmental Monitoring I live near the SRS. How large could my radiation dose have been in 19907 The maximmn calculated offsite radiation dose from SRS operations in 1990 was 0.16 mrem for micases to air and 0.17 mrem for mieases to water.
Radiation doses resulting from accidental nicases of radioactive materials that occurmd during the year were included in these total doses. It is possible, but not likely, that a single individual could have received the maximum dose fmm both types of releases. This total is about one-thousandth of the average annual dose fmm all other sources that is rewived by individuals living near the SRS.
Are there laws and regulat'ons that limit the amount of radioactive materials and chemicals that SRS discharges?
Yes. Activities at SRS must cotaply with all applicable regulations that have resulted from legislation such as the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) for the management of hazardous waste. Also applicable are the Safe Drinking Water Act, the 'Ibric Substances Contml Act, the Nuclear Waste Policy Act, the Low Level Radioactive Waste Policy Act, the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
SRS is requimd to maintain radiation doses within the limits specified in DOE Order 5400.5, Chapter 2. These standards are based on recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection, an internationally recognized organization that establishes basic principles of radiation safety.
The DOE Order incorporates EPA regulations, which limit radiation doses to the public from airborne releases to 10 mrem per year and the dose from drinking water to 4 mrem per year.
Is it safe to eat vegetables grown in our garden?
Yes. Farm products like vegetables are collected and analyzed each year from 14 loca tions within the six counties surrounding SRS. Collards are collected as background or control samples fmm Columbia, SC. Of the farm products sampled, collants have the highest concentration of tritium. However, the dose from tritium in collards is very small. For a person consuming 140 pounds of I
collards per year, the resulting radiation dose from tritium would be less than l
0.01 mrem. Naturally occurring radioactive potassium in the collards would contribute a much higher dose (about 7 mrem).
18 Savannah River Sito
(
1990 Summary P*mphlle flow can we be sure the monitoring is conducted properly?
The SRS has a quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) program to ensure that the monitoring and measurement results are reliable. State and federal guidelines as well as Westinghouse Savannah River Company (WSRC) quality control requirements are incorporated into the WSRC QA/QC program.
The subcontractor laboratories that provide services for SRS must have an established QA/QC programs and m ust participate in interlaboratory compari-sons and onsite evaluations and audits.
The South Carolina Department of licalth and Environmental Control also conducts monthly inspections and collects samples at the wastewater discharge points for comparison with SRS sampling wsults.
An Environmental Advisory Committee meets quarterly to review SRS environmental programs and to make recommendations. The committee consists of six consultants who are nationally recognized experts in their respective fields of biology, ecology, hydmgeology, and health physics.
Ilow can I keep up-io-date about what is going on at SRS7 In 1990, SRS began publishing a newsletter, the Environmental Bulletin, to notify the public ofopportunities to become involved in environmental cleanup or compliance activities conducted at the SRS. For information, contact:
Ms. Becky Craft or Mr. Mark Musolf Department of Energy-Westinghouse Savannah Savannah River Operations Office River Company Office of External Affairs Environmental Outreach 803 725-2889 803-642-4057 In addition, the EPA and the South Carolina Department of IIealth and Environmental Control call for public involvement activities when a change is made to one of the operating or construction permits at SRS. The original permit and proposed modifications can be reviewed at county publiclibraries in A
Allendale and Barnwell and at the DOE Public Reading Room at the library of the University of South Carolina-Aiken.
)
Savannah River Site jg
1990 Summary Pamphlet 1
20 Savannah River Site