ML20207E213
| ML20207E213 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 05/05/1986 |
| From: | Weiss B NRC |
| To: | Blackman T COMMONWEALTH EDISON CO. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20207D960 | List: |
| References | |
| FOIA-86-335 NUDOCS 8701020101 | |
| Download: ML20207E213 (62) | |
Text
{{#Wiki_filter:- T ; NRC'DPERATIONS ^ ENTER
~
SEND TO '
/erry gcf gn on , GCd
/
fck - 312 /L9 S -agy6 V 6iT 3;1lL99 ag37 FROM' ' (der n;e (j)e gs , NRC [ 6 /g6
~
D ATE ' . TIME f%w-/ \ ( NO. OF PAGES INCLUDING COVER PAGE ' l g;g&*:'"; W^ -e'earba ,
e,
- n. -
SCENARIO WORK GROUP DESIGN PARAMETERS
- Duration of Exercise
** Number of Days
** Duty Hours or Continuous
** Real Time or Scenario Time
** Portion of Time Involving Evaluation of Licensee & State
** Break in Time (Skip Days)
** Time Related Objectives _
- Time to Major Release (Constraints or Preferences)
- Source Term Parameters ,
** Required Doses Offsite
** Required Deposition Offsite -
** Nuclide Distribution
** Ldng-lived Nuclides
** Special Deposition Patterns
** Food and Milk Contamination
- Meteorological Parameters
** Special Conditions
** Canned vs Real Weather
- Special Requirements
** State and Local Agencies
** Federal Agencies
- Involvement of Other Non-Government Agencies
** American Red Cross
** INPO
** AIF -
** Others
- Preparatory Drills and Exercises
** Tabletop Exercise
** Practice or Dry-Run
,
- Communications
** Actually Available on Day of Exercise
** Preposition Special. Communications Equipment
** Make Special Arrangements Prior to Exercise
- Prepositioning Exercise Players
** Guidance
- Control Organization
- Evaluation Organization
- Major Scenario Work Group Milestones
/ A-h4V /b
- c->-, - - , . , . - - - ,,,,_-,n--.,--.,--- --,-_,_,,--_--,.--,-,,r- ,.-,-,-.m- -
---.,,--.-n---n,,----- - - -
- n. .. -
. ? ,
's
- Use of FEMA contractor by Scenetrio Work Group
** Budget considerations Scenario Work Group Meeting Schedule l
8 e s e e* t FoI a-%-3ss e/ 2. 1
.. u r-. . .. - - . ,. . . . - . . . . . . . . _ _ , ,
', f, s -
, ,.3 .
^ [, ., O 9 0
TALKING POINTS. - CHERNORYL NUCLEAR ACCIDENT April 30, 1986' . < o Late Friday, April 25, or early Saturday, April 26, a serious accident occurred at the Chernobyl' nuclear facility near Kiev in the Soviet Union. As.a result of:an apparent loss of reactor:ccolant, the facility experienced a core-meltdown, explosion and fire. Causes of the accident are e not known. l o The explosion and resulting fire released a plume of radioactive materials to the atmosphere. So long as the '
.- reactor core. fire continues, radioactive gases will be given ,
i
. off. .
o The facility involved is a graphite-moderated,, boiling-water-cooled, pressure-tube unit. It is one of four such units at Chernobyl. To our knowledge, only this one ! unit, known as Unit 44, is involved in the accident. o The initial plume traveled in a northwest direction
~
j toward Scandanavia. Predictions now suggest it will move in j an eastward direction. Radiation levels above However, normal background these l have been detected in Scandanavian countries. levels pose no significant risk to human health or the e nvironment. o The U.S. government has made an offer of technical assistance to the Soviets. This good faith offer was made i out of genuine concern for the health and safety of the Soviet people. The Soviet government responded April 30 that no
~
foreign assistance is needed. o we have also requested specific information on the accident. To date, we have not received e full response to that request. This is also a matter of great concern to the United States. o The radiation plume emitted as a result of the Chernobyl accident will disperse over time throughout the Northern Hemisphere. Eventually, some radioactive contamination will reach the United States. However, based on the limited information we now have, there is no reason to believe that levels reaching this country will pose any significant risk Please see the accompanying I to human health or the environment. fact sheet on radiation health effects for basic information on exposure. l Ym - %-ug cs
..I .. ..
. .R q y'
o It is v'rye unlikely that any significant amount,s of
,P radiation from the accident will reach the U.S. during the few days. The Environmental Protection Agency's l- next Environmental Radiation Ambient Monitoring.' System -- ERAMS *-
is conductir.pdaily sampling throughout the nation. In addition to ambient air, the system also monitors r'adiation a . levels in drinking water, surface water, and milk. o The White House has established an interagency task force to monitor the health, safety and environmental consequences a of the Chernobyl accident. The task force is chaired by Lee ~ Thomas, Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection-Agency. Members represent the following federal agencies: EPA, DOE, NRC, NOAA, HHE, USDA, DOD, DOT ands others. On a daily basis, the' task force compiles, evaluates,' and widely distributes current technical information on the.Charnobyl accident and its environmental and health consequences.
+. .
3 , i !. h k i
't ,
s t
- 4 g
J3 b
- s. .
.g s
, i ., t N
- t; i
> r e
* % 4
< f i
,s , <. ,
M, . 4' 6
. .\
> .m, .
l 4.
, q m
M. t 3 i . I - 4 I , 1 1 90lh-96-335 C5
+
-\,"#.t - - _ - _ _ -
- , W' . ' ., o q May 2, 1986 Enclosed is the full EPA f act sheet from yesterday which ' includes the backup material which was not faxed to you yesterday.
,s*
e Ken Peckins >se <a
u . q 8 r .
.9 From: 0.C0 HEN (EPA 1704) Posted: Mon 5-May-86 14:35 EDT Sys 63 (138)
Subject:
Update on Soviet Nuclear Accident Fact Sheet /Chernobyl-5/5 SOVIET NUCLEAR ACCIDENT FOR RELEASE: 2:00 P.M., MONDAY, MAY 5, 1986 A_ TASK _ FORCE _ REPORT CONTACT: DAVE C0 HEN (202) 382-4355 Radiation data from air monitoring networks in the United
- States and Canada continue to show no increases over normal background levels. For the United States, analyses of samples received at the Easterr. Environmental Radiation Facility on May 4 cover 12 samples collected on May 3, 7 samples collected on May 2, 3 samples collected on May 1, 2 samples collected on April 30, and one sample each collected on April 29, April 28, April 24, and April 21. Canadian data cover results from 24 stations collected May 1.
Radioactivity released into the atmosphere as a consequence of the nuclear power incident in the Soviet Union has now reached the area of Japan. Early readings of radioactive contamination taken in Japan of rainwater and locally grown vegetables indicate little or no health hazard. To the extent that the early Japanese. findings are predictive of any possible radioactive contamination in the U.S., federal officials continue to believe there will be no public health risk here. Further updates on the situation will be provided as additional information becomes available. Wind speeds at jet stream levels (about 30,000 feet) have been moving air rapidly west to east across the Pacific Ocean and the United States at speeds of over 100 mph. Small amounts of radioactivity that mixed upward to these levels from the Chernobyl nuclear accident have already been detected by aircraft flying off the northwest U.S. coast. Therefore, patches of activity are now moving across North America at high altitudes. The most likely source of early detection near the ground will be in rainwater, particularly from thunderstorms reaching altitudes of 20,000 to 30,000 feet or more. As of this time, it is believed that concentrations in rainwater will be low. Activity at lower altitudes is being transported less rapidly and will probably move into the U.S. during subsequent days. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has increased its frequency of analysis for all precipitation samples to daily and for milk samples to twice per week. l (more) I j t . .i t
^ ^ "
. . . . . - . . . T -...::: 2 _ . . .
5/ .
. l The advisory against travel to Kiev and adjacent areas remains in effect. Precise information on radiation levels resulting from the Chernobyl Soviet nuclear power plant incident remains unavailable at this time. The nature of this incident suggests that increased levels of radiation might exist in surrounding areas, causing the greatest potential public health risk in those areas closest to the
, incident. The U.S. Public Health Service is making interim guidance available for U.S. citizens who may be traveling to these areas.
This guidance will be reviewed and updated as further information becomes available and communicated to the media and to public ' l health officials throughout the nation.
- 1. Americans living or traveling in or around the affected region may wish to take the following precautions to minimize exposure to radiation:
o Avoid drinking fresh milk or eating other dairy products; o Eat processed foods when possible and wash or peel fresh produce; o When possible, drink bottled water and other bottled beverages instead of local water.
- 2. For U.S. citizens who have visited affected areas recently and have departed from them on or after April 26, 1986, routine medical screening procedures are not recomended.
If you have concerns, information and answers to specific questions may be obtained from your state radiation control program or your physician.
- 3. For U.S. citizens who are planning travel to these areas in the near future, carefully monitor press reports of this situation so that you have the most up-to-date infonnation before making a firm travel comitment.
We have sent technical experts to Moscow and Warsaw. They arrived over the weekend. They are there in a technical capacity to evaluate the health environment at our missions. An EPA radiation specialist arrived in Poland Saturday to make measurements of radioactivity at the U.S. embassy in Warsaw. Values were low, perhaps three times normal background. Q g g-% 3fb$~ C.f
1
~
..~ .
i l l The U.S. government welcomes the news that the Soviets have invited International Atomic Energy Agency Director Hans Blix and two of his associates to Moscow in connection with the Chernobyl incident. It is hoped that this indicates that the Soviets are now willing to make available the important information the world community requires to safeguard international health and safety. The Task Force is receiving information it has requested on radiation readings in air, water and food from many foreign countries. As this information is analyzed, new travel advisories will be issued as needed. Also, to the best of our knowledge * (given the continuing lack of data from the Soviets), the situation at the plant appears to remain stable with damage at reactor four only. We will continue to monitor the situation and will update it in the event of major changes. For A-86 -33r /c4
w , b e From: S.MEYERS (EPA 6600) Posted: Tue 6-May-86 11:50 EDT Sys 63 (69)
Subject:
Contact Information for Soviet Accident Please distribute the following contact information to all appropriate Federal and State Personnel appropriate 36 Key Agency Contact Information for Sovi~et Accident KEY AGENCY CONTACTS FOR SOVIET ACCIDENT IN0UIRIES For inquiries relating to specific areas, please use the following contacts: Reactors or Reactor Accidents: Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Joe Fouchard Phone (301) 492-7771 Magnifax (301) 492-7921 Rapicom (301) 492-8185 Verification (301)492-7355 Department of Energy (D0E) Gail Bradshaw Phone (301) 252-5806 Magnifax (301) 252-5100 Public Health Related Questions: Department of Health and Human Services (Foreign and Domestic)
- Shirley Barth' Phone (202) 472-5663 Magnifax (202) 755-2893, 755-2894 Verification (202) 245-6277 International Travel Information Department of State and Travel Advisories: Office of Consular Affairs Phone (202) 647-5225 (No facsimile or electronic mail)
Federal Response Activities: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Dave Cohen Phone (202) 382-5589 Dialcom EPA 1704 Panafax MV3000 (202) 382-7884 Rapicom 3300 (202) 382-7883 DEX 4100 (202)382-7869 Fo/ A-SG-33Ff C F
3; '
,s
~
, S.
1 t-c Agriculture and Agriculture Department of Agriculture Products:
. John McClung(202) 447-8005 Phone :
Dialcom AGR-011 (computer system 57) Facsimile (202) 447-5340 i May .5, 1986 Disposition: Fo r +-s'-33r/C.5~
7:
\
s 5 6 4 Document Name:
. EPA.006 Requestor's ID:
, JACKSONK Author's Name:
Document Coments: l r i I l l l
From: 0.C0 HEN -(EPA 1704) Posted: Tue 6-May-86 12:19 EDT Sys 63 (7)
Subject:
Task Force Report on Soviet Nuclear Accident 5/6/86 TODAY'S TASK FORCE REPORT WILL BE AVAILABLE BETWEEN 2:30 and 3:00 PM. Dave Cohen EPA Press Division 9 E Fo t h-96 33F C6 F
- W
- ._.. , -._ , .. . - .- . - - - _ - -_ . _ - .-- - .-+,._ .--. , .
I gg 'D From: D. COHEN (EPA 1704) Posted: Tue 6-May-86 15:13 EDT Sys 63 (222)
Subject:
Task Force Report on Soviet Nuclear Accident Chernobyl Fact Sheet-5/6 SOVIET NUCLEAR ACCIDENT FOR RELEASE: TUESDAY, MAY 6, 1986 A_ TASK _, FORCE _ REPORT CONTACT: DAVECOHEN(202)382-4355 Pacific Northwest Laboratories in Richland, Washington, has reported the first increase in radiation at ground level in the United States. A rainwater sample collected on May 5 at 4:30 p.m. PDT measured 500 pCi/l of I-131. This value is believed accurate within a factor of two. This level poses no danger to residents in the area. The radiation dose to an individual drinking one liter of rainwater at this level would be less than one percent of-the average annual background radiation dose, and is comparable to less than half the radiation dose received from a single chest x-ray. (A single chest x-ray gives an individual 2.5 mrem, whole-body equivalent). If an individual comes in physical contact with such rainwater the radiation dose is even lower. Iodine 131 had a half-life of 8.1 days. This means that after a week the radioactivity is reduced by a factor of two. To date, all other radiation measurements at ground level in the United States and Canada continue to show no increases above normal background levels. The monitoring networks in the United States and Canada are capable of measuring radiation levels much lower than those which would pose any danger to the public. Under the EPA monitoring system excessive levels would be detected within hours. Obtaining exact readings for lower levels requires a more time consuming procedure. For the United States, data on air particulate samples analyzed May 5 cover 11 samples collected May 4, 8 samples collected May 3, 9 samples collected May 2, 12 samples collected May 1, and an additional 60 samples collected on various dates in April. The Canadian data are based on 3 samples collected May 5 (in the Ontario area), 7 samples collected May 4, 9 samples collected May 3, and 23 samples collected May 2. The EPA monitoring network is continuing to collect air particulates and rainwater daily and milk twice per week. In addition, the NRC has requested all comnercial power plants to report any unusually high environmental readings, and DOE National Laboratories are sampling. The Canadian network is now sampling precipitation and milk weekly; the first results are expected on May 12. pp g g, g 535 C 7
~
s V t - 1;2
m- . l (more) Air containing patches of radioactivity from the Chernobyl nuclear accident will continue to move across the'U.S. today and tomorrow at upper levels (20,000 to 30,000 feet) with most of the contaminated air over Alaska and in the western and north central U.S. . Rainwater, particularly from the rain storms in the western and upper midwestern U.S., is likely to contain radioactivity. Air at lower altitudes (up to 10,000 feet) in the western Pacific where radioactivity was detected over the weekend is moving northeast towards southwestern Alaska. Air at middle altitudes in the western Pacific where radioactivity was detected will move southward and eastward towards the central Pacific during the next several days. The Task Force's best estimate of the events leading to the release of radioactivity at Chernobyl continues to be the loss of collant for the number four reactor, followed by the production of hydrogen which then led to the chemical explosion. This was followed by the fire within the graphite core.- The core may still be smoldering and there may be continuing releases of radiation. This possible chain of events is consistent with the most recent Soviet description of some of the events surrounding the accident. Yesterday's Task Force Report contained interim guidance for U.S. citizens living in or traveling to areas affected by the reactor accident. This guidance remains in effect; no additional guidance has been issued. Levels of radiation in this country are not expected to cause-any problems relating to consumption of domestic products. Food and drug items from affected countries which were produced subsequent to the April 25-26 nuclear accident are not expected to arrive in large quantities in the U.S. for several weeks. The Task Force agencies are taking steps to insure that the quality of these products will meet health standards. The Food and Drug Administration issued recommended protective action guides in 1982 on the level of radioactive contamination in food at which action should be taken by public health officials to avoid any radioactive dose that would occur from future ingestion of contaminated food. The teams at our missions in Moscow, Warsaw and Bucharest continue to take readings. Initial assessments of these readings continue to suggest no significant health concerns at this time. Data from the teams' raadings are being subjected to complete
~
evaluation, the conclusions of which should be available soon. Members of the team in Moscow traveled to our mission in > 9dm _ s4-33r /'c7
Leningrad last night and should be providing data from their initial readings soon. Additionally, a team went to Cracow last night and should be going to Poznan, another of our consulates in Poland today. (more) Until more comprehensive data on radiation levels in Poland are available, the State Department is continuing to recommend for the time being that women of child-bearing age and children put off their travel. Preliminary data at points measured to date indicate radiation levels are low and pose no hazard to health. l { l ( (-otk-% -335 lq -
- - - - - - ,,,,v. --- -
F From: D. COHEN (EPA 1704) Posted: Tue 6-May-86 15:13 EDT Sys 63 (222)
Subject:
Task Force Report on Soviet Nuclear Accident Chernobyl Fact Sheet-5/6 SOVIET NUCLEAR ACCIDENT FOR RELEASE: TUESDAY, MAY 6, 1986 A_ TASK _ FORCE _ REPORT CONTACT: DAVE COHEN (202) 382-4355 Pacific Northwest Laboratories in Richland, Washington, has reported the first increase in radiation at ground level in the United States. A rainwater sample collected on May 5 at 4:30 p.m. PDT measured 500 pCi/l of I-131. This value is believed accurate within a factor of two. This level poses no danger to residents in the area. The radiation dose to an individual drinking one liter of rainwater at this level would be less than one percent of the average annual background radiation dose, and is comparable to less than half the radiation dose received from a single chest x-ray. (A single chest x-ray gives an individual 2.5 mrem, whole-body equivalent). If an individual comes in physical contact with such rainwater the radiation dose is even lower. Iodine 131 had a half-life of 8.1 days. This means that after a week the radioactivity is reduced by a factor of two. To date, all other radiation measurements at ground level in the United States and Canada continue to show no increases above normal background levels. The monitoring networks in the
- United States and Canada are capable of measuring radiation levels much lower than those which would pose any danger to the public. Under the EPA monitoring system excessive levels would be detected within hours. Obtaining exact readings for lower levels requires a more time consuming procedure.
l For the United States, data on air particulate samples ! analyzed May 5 cover 11 samples collected May 4, 8 samples collected May 3, 9 samples collected May 2,12 samples collected May 1, and an additional 60 samples collected on various dates . in April. The Canadian data are based on 3 samples collected May 5 (in the Ontario area), 7 samples collected May 4, 9 samples collected May 3, and 23 samples collected May 2. The EPA monitoring network is continuing to collect air i particulates and rainwater daily and milk twice per week. In ! addition, the NRC has requested all commercial power plants to ( report any unusually high environmental readings, and DOE National Laboratories are sampling. The Canadian network is i now sampling precipitation and milk weekly; the first results l are expected on May 12. g f 4 4 .-3 3 3 G v.' - g : [
^
f (more) Air containing patches of radioactivity from the Chernobyl nuclear accident will continue to move across the'U.S. today and tomorrow at upper levels (20,000 to 30,000 feet) with most of the contaminated air over Alaska and in the western and north central U.S. Rainwater, particularly from the rain storms in the western and upper midwestern U.S., is likely to contain radioactivity. Air at lower altitudes (up to 10,000 feet) in the western Pacific where radioactivity was detected over the weekend is moving northeast towards southwestern Alaska. Air at middle a'titudes in the western Pacific where radioactivity was detect will move southward and eastward towards the central Pacific during the next several days. The Task Force's best estimate of the events leading to the release of radioactivity at Chernobyl continues to be the loss of collant for the number four reactor, followed by the production of hydrogen which then led to the chemical explosion. This was followed by the fire within the graphite core. The core may still be smoldering and there may be continuing releases of radiation. This possible chain of events is consistent with the most recent Soviet description of some of the events surrounding the accident. t Yesterday's Task Force Report contained interim guidance 4 for U.S. citizens living in or traveling to areas affected by the reactor accident. This guidance remains in effect; no additional guidance has been issued. Levels of radiation in this country are not expected to cause any problems relating to consumption of domestic products. Food and drug items from affected countries which were produced subsequent to the April 25-26 nuclear accident are not expected to arrive in large quantities in the U.S. for several weeks. The Task Force agencies are taking steps to insure that the quality of these products will meet health standards. The Food and Drug Administration issued recommended protective action guides in 1982 on the level of radioactive contamination in food at which action should be taken by public health officials to avoid any radioactive dose that would occur from future ingestion of contaminated food. The teams at our missions in Moscow, Warsaw and Bucharest continue to take readings. Initial assessments of these readings - continue to suggest no significant health concerns at this time. Data from the teams' readings are being subjected to complete evaluation, the conclusions of which should be available soon. Members of the team in Moscow traveled to our mission in
- FoI A-%-335 C '7
1 I Leningrad last night and should be providing data from their initial readings soon. Additionally, a team went to Cracow last night and should be going to Poznan, another of our consulates in Poland today. (more) Until more comprehensive data on radiation levels in Poland are available, the State Department is continuing to recommend for the time being that women of child-bearing age and children put off their travel. Preliminary data at points measured to date indicate radiation levels are low and pose no hazard to health. I f fD l A"hb"N8 C'
I From: S.MEYERS (EPA 6600) Posted: Wed 7-May-86 12:50 EDT Sys 63 (68)
Subject:
Revised Key Agency Contact Irformation for Soviet Accident Please share the following updated phone contact information with all interested parties / Agencies. Thank you. Sheldon Meyers36 Key Agency Conts
&_ Infonnation for Soviet Accid KEY AGENCY CONTACTS FOR SOVIET ACCIDENT INOUIRIES For inquiries relating to specific areas, please use the following contacts:
Reactors or Reactor Accidents: Nuclear Regulatory' Commission (NRC) Joe Fouchard Phone (301) 492-7771 Magnifax (301) 492-7921 Rapicom (301) 492-8185 Verification (301) 492-7355 Department of Energy (DOE) Gail Bradshaw Phone (301) 252-5806 Magnifax (301) 252-5100
.Public Health Related Questions: Department of Health and Human Services (Foreign and Domestic) Shirley Barth Phone (202) 472-5663 Magnifax (202) 755-2893, 755-2894 Verification (202) 245-6277 International Travel Information Department of State and Travel Advisories: Office of Consular Affairs Phone (202) 647-7310 (No facsiliile or electronic mail)
Federal Response Activities: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Dave Cohen Phone (202) 382-4355 Dialcom EPA 1704 Panafax MV3000 (202) 382-7884 Rapicom 3300 (202) 382-7883 DEX 4100 (202) 382-7869 FoI A-8c -34/cB s
]~
l Agriculture and Agricultural Department of Agriculture Products: 1 John McClung(202) 447-8005 Phone : Dialcom AGR-011 (computer system 57) ! Facsimile (202) 447-5340 May 7, 1986 l Fo/A-E ~5'3r c 8
n g a ( , (O-0707-/1) l _ From: D. COHEN (EPA 1704) Posted: Wed 7-May-86 14:33 EDT Sys 63 (169)
Subject:
russian accident task force report for may7 One rainwater sample collected in Olympia, Washington, on May 5 showed 170 pC1/1 of iodine-131. This value is approximately one third as high.as the value in rainwater collected at Richland, Washington, reported yesterday. As stated in yesterday's report, iodine-131 at these concentrations poses no danger to area residents. As a precautionary measure, the State of Oregon has issued an advisory that people who nonnally use rainwater as their sole source of drinking water should not drink rainwater at this time. Nineteen other samples of rainwater from various locations in the United States analyzed on May 5 and 6 showed no increase in radiation levels above normal background.
'All the latest air particulate samples in the United States and Canada show no increase in radiation levels above normal background. For the United States, this includes 44 samples collected May 5, 27 samples collected May 4, 22 samples collected May 3, 3 samples collected May 2, 5 samples collected May 1, and 5 samples collected on various dates in April. For Canada, it includes 3 samples collected May 6, 20 samples collected May 5, 22 samples collected May 4, 22 samples collected May 3, 27 samples. collected May 2, and 27 samples collected May 1.
Canadian authorities have reported the detection of elevated levels of radionuclides in a shipment of vegetables which arrived in Vancouver on May 5 from Italy. Canadian officials have ordered this shipment destroyed. The Canadian government has issued an alert to their Customs officials to hold all shipments of fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs of European origin and to notify the health protection branch of shipments of any other fresh foods or food ingredients. The U.S. is continuing its program of inspecting imported foods. Patches of contaminated air continue to move across the U.S. from the west to the northeast at upper levels (above about 20,000 feet). Air flowing across the Pacific Ocean also contains patches of radioactivity and continues to be monitored by aircraft off the west coast. Radioactivity detected by aircraft t Monday night at about 20,000 feet in the Gulf of Alaska has moved toward the east, crossing southeastern Alaska. Yesterday's flights along the west coast 3 ~ of North America reported very low or no radioactivity. If additional radioactivity moves into the Gulf of Alaska or off the northwest coast of the U.S., it will be carried southeast into a large storm system in the western U.S. Rainwater from high-reaching rainstorms in the west and in New England may contain detectable radioactivity from the Chernobyl accident. 4 Voi h-% 1!3 Y Ce
i s .
.-L None of the data available to the Federal Aviation Administration about the Chernobyl accident provides any concern for any flights of any U.S. carriers anywhere in the world. The only area the FAA would be potentially concerned about is flight in the vicinity of the reactor site near Kiev at altitudes below 20,000 feet. Flight above 20,000 feet at this location near Kiev or other flights at any altitude anywhere in the world is not expected to present any public health or safety problems due to radiation contamination which : night exist as a result of the accident. There is no reason for special flight precautions. No further notifications on this subject are planned at this time.
In 1982, the Food and Drug Administration established what are known as recomended protective action guides for public health officials dealing with contaminated human food or animal feeds. 1"ese guides can be used to determine whether levels of radiation encountered in lood after a radiological incident require any preventive measures to protect public health. These guides for five different radionuclides (Iodine 131, Cesium 134, Cesium 137, Strontium 90, and Strontium 89) in three types o' concentrations (initial deposits, foliage concentration, and peak milk levels) offer a basis to compare readings of these radionuclides in rainwater and milk samples that may be found as a result of radiation contamination from the Chernobyl incident. FDA protective action guides are designed for the most sensitive elements of the population (pregnant women and infants) and are used primarily for relatively short-term radiological incidents such as the current situation. The guides are established well beneath any onset of health effects. It should be noted that the FDA's guides are more conservative (i.e., more protective) than those established by others, e.g., the European Comon Market and Sweden, , and become even more protective when they are applied cumulatively across all isotopes under the regulation. The following table lists the FDA response levels for the recommended protective action guides: Iodine 131 Cesium 134 Cesium 137 Strontium 90 Strontium 89 Initial 130,000 2,000,000 3,000,000 500,000 8,000,000 (- Deposits i (Rainwater) [picocuries , per sguare 4 meterj Forage 50,000 800,000 1,300,000 180,000 3,000,000 Concentration (ongrass,etc.)
- [picocuries per kilogram] j To t h- SG,-s%s lC9
t 6 . Peak Milk 15,000 150,000 240,000 9,000 140,000 Levels [picocuries per liter] As an example, the Iodine 131 measurement in the rainwater sample taken in Portland, Oregon on May 6 (630 picocuries/ liter) would equate to less than 1,500 picocuries per square meter since the amount of rainfall was quite small. This level of 1,500 picocuries per square meter is approximately 1 percent of the FDA guide of 130,000 for initial deposits (rainwater) and may roughly equate to less than 1 percent of peak milk levels. The Task Force reiterates their earlier advisory that the levels of radio-activity expected to reach the ground in the U.S. are considered to be no health threat and recommends against the taking of potassium iodide (KI) to minimize the uptake of radiotodine. Based on the fact that no harmful levels of radioactivity are expected to reach the continental United States, it is highly unlikely that potassium iodide (KI) will be needed to minimize the uptake of radioactive iodine from the iussian nuclear power plant accident. KI, although relatively harmless, has been associated with certain allergic reactions; thus, since the use of KI is not without some risk to the population, the U.S. Public Health Service recommends against taking KI as a precautionary measure. Federal authorities do not believe there is any reason for concern at this time about the safety of either our domestic food or drug supplies. Nor should there be concern over imported products already in the United States or on their way to the United States at the time of the nuclear accident in the Soviet Union.
# # I i
Fa t A -Br.-33s c1
i f y . Document Name: EPA.010 Requestor's ID: JACKSONK Author's Name: Document Coments: i l l I l 1 l l l
mm_.- . w .
,a . ,,
SEPA Soviet Nuclear Accident FOR RELEASE: THURSDAY, MAY 8, 1986 A Task Force Report CONTACT: DAVE COHEN (202) 382-435 The EPA moni orino network is continuing to collect air particulate and rainwater samples daily. We have now received the first data shoding traces of radioactivity from Chernobyl in the air at ground level in the United States. The Environmental Radiation Ambient Monitoring System (ERAMS) station in Cheyenne, Wyoming reported 0.012 pCi/m 3 of iodine-131 in the air sample collected May 6. The Denver, Colorado station reported 0.0057 pCi/m 3 of iodine-131 and 0.0002 pCi/m 3 of cesium-134. These levels are barely detectable and represent no danger to area residents. All other air particulate samples show no increase in radiation levels above normal background levels. The results include one sample collected on May 7, 41 samples on May 6, 14 samples on May 5, 5 sanples on May 4, and 17 samples on earlier dates. The Department of Energy has reported that one air * , particulate sample collected in Richland, Washington on May 5 and three samples collected in Richland on May 6 showed iodine-131 levels between 0.00 3 pCi/m 3 and 0.015 pCi/m 3, In addition'to the two rainwater samples from Olympia and l Richland, Washington reported in previous Task Force Reports, iodine-131 has been detected in five additional rainwater samples (two collected at ERAMS stations on May 6 - 6.7 pCi/l at Bismark, North Dakota, and 47 pCi/l in a second sample from Olympia, Washington; three from DOE facilities - 62 pCi/l at Idaho Falls, Idaho on May 6 and 45 pCi/l and 50 pCi/l in two additional samples at Richland, Washington on May 5 and 6). l Iodine-131 was not detected in rainwater collected at the following ERAMS stations and collection dates: May 6 - Madison, Wisconsin; May 5 - Syracuse, New York; Miami, Florida; , Montpelier, Vermont; Concord, New Hampshire; Bismark, North l Dakota; May 3 - Berkeley, California; May 2 - Painesville, Ohio; I Nashville, Tennessee; Syracuse, New York; May 1 - Toledo, Ohio; i Austin, Texas; Little Rock, Arkansas; April 30 - Chicago, l Illinois; Montpelier, Vermont; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; and ) April 29 - Middletown, Pennsylvania. l (more)
. Fo f A -$( -3 W d /o ..:a
g .. ~ s e- Canadian officials report slightly elevated radiation levels in air samples from towns and cities in southern Canada collected May 5 and 6. One rainwater sample collected in Ottawa
.May 7 contained 1647 pCi/l_of iodine-131, 51 pCi/l of cesium-137, and 38 pCi/l of ruthenium-103.
Patches of contaminated air from the Chernobyl nuclear accident were detected by aircraft yesterday, May 7, at middle altitudes (about 10,000 to 12,000 feet) along the northwest U.S. coast to southeastern Alaska. Similar patches have been flowing across the Pacific Ocean for the past several days. Those at the higher altitudes have moved across the U.S. from the west to the northeast, as evidenced by reports of radioactivity in rainwater in the United States attributed to high-reaching ra i ns to rms . Radioactivity entering the west coast will be carried into the southwestern U.S. It will then be carried northward through 'the midwestern U.S. where especially intense rains are expected. Both this midwestern U.S. region and the low pressure system over the upper-middle Plains States are likely to have contaminated rainwater and ground level air. The lastest information available on the reactor is that the number four unit continues to show signs of smoldering. As the Task Force has noted, stabilizing a reactor by bringing it to a " cold shutdown" carries inherent risks and the situation there will continue to be monitored by the Task Force. We have no confirmation of reports in Pravda and the Western media about tunneling or about hot materials at the base of the reactor. These reports are plausible and we have no basis to dismiss them. However, the exact circumstances are still unclear. The question has been raised whether American citizens touring Europe for several weeks following the Soviet accident should seek medical screening procedures from United States military hospital facilities there. The Public Health Service does not recommend such screening on a routine basis. Rather, upon return, if they have concerns, travelers should obtain information and answers to their specific questions by contacting their State Radiation Control Program (located either in their State Health Department or State Environmental Protection Agency) er from their physician. Travelers are urged to keep in contact with the United States Embassies to assure themselves they have the most up to date public health guidance for that part of Europe. In the Task Force Report of May 5, 1986, interim guidance was provided to Americans living or traveling in or around the affected region regarding precautions to minimize exposure to radiation. (more) pa sc-ns clo
Based on more recent information, it should be re-emphasized that persons in or around the affected region should avoid drinking fresh milk or eating other dairy products, particularly soft cheeses. In lieu of fresh milk, the following should be used; canned milk, powdered products. milk, commercial infant formula, or imported f resh dairy In addition, Americans in these areas (especially pregnant women and young children, due to their possibly higher sensitivities to radiation) should contact the local U.S. Embassy for more specific information available from local governments. Both the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service and the Food and Drug Administration have in place routine procedures which allow them to properly monitor these kinds of products being imported from all toreign countries. Working closely with U.S. Customs Bureau officials, i nspectors of both agencies either routinely review the customs records for all commercial shipments of food products offered for entry or directly examine each shipment. Based on this action, decisions are made whether to detain and further test the products prior to release into U.S. commerce. Following the Soviet nuclear power accident, both agencies have expanded and raised the priority of their monitoring of food products from the affected countries. Copies of documents associated with these initiatives can be obtained directly from the public affairs office of each agency. Briefly, letters and assignments issued to date provide for:
- Increased monitoring and analysis of fresh fruits and vegetables, fresh fish and selected dairy products as they are offered for entry; and
- Notification to countries exporting meat and poultry products to the United States of special procedures for monitoring prior to shipment.
If products from any one country present a concern to either agency, those products will automatically be detained and analyzed before release. Preliminary plots showing estimates of the adult thyroid dose, the whole-body dose and the surface deposition due to the release of iodine-131 and cesium-137 f rom the Chernobyl power plant accident have been released by the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory. These initial estimates provide a prediction of the spatial distri-bution of the emissions over a six-day period following the event. At this time, there is some uncertainty about the quantity of I-131 and Cs-137 that was actually released as well as the thermal energy that was involved in the release. The Livermore estimates are (more) hl A-5--33F C IO
- _,_,m - _ _ _ . _ - - - - - - -
based on predicted activity being injected at heights below 2,000-meters. U.S. However, aircraft measurements over Europe, Japan and the reveal activities at much higher altitudes, and these measure-nents have been nl'cluded in the Interagency Task Force's forecasts which are supplied by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Questions on the preliminary Livermore calculations should be directed to Dr. Joseph Knox at the Livermore Laboratory, 415-422-1818. The preliminary plots, which are being supplied for informational purposes the EPA Press Office, only, are available to reporters only from room 311 Wes t Towe r , 4 01' M S t . S.W., Washington, D.C. 20460; 202-382-4355. Initial radioactivity measurements from data supplied by American embassies abroad are available today. This information summarizes air, through May 5, 1986. water, and forage data for the period April 28 The sources of the data are considered to be reputable health protection organizations in the host countries. Though the data are considered to be of reasonable quality, they
- are listed as received through the embassies and'have not been subjected to quality assurance by EPA's Office of Radiation Programs.
The listing includes data from the following countries: , Austria Hungary Norway Belgium Italy Spain Czechoslovakia Japan Sweden Finland Korea West Germany France Netherlands . Yugoslavia Data from additional coutries and more current readings are being processed and are expected to be available soon. Copies of the country-by-country embassy data summary are available from the EPA press office. (202) 382-4355. Questions may be directed to Chris Rice, phone t t t S . Qot A-%-335 C Io
----n , - - ,
. . , _Z . . .. . . . _ _ _ _ . . _ - . . _ l
.- Q 3 l l
From: D. COHEN (EPA 1704) Posted: Thu 8-May-86 15:02 EDT Sys 63 (213)
Subject:
Task Force Report on Soviet Nuclear Accident S0VIET NUCLEAR ACCIDENT FOR RELEASE: THURSDAY, MAY 8, 1986 , A_ TASK _ FORCE _ REPORT CONTACT: DAVE COHEN (202) 382-4355 The EPA monitoring network is continuing to collect air particulate and rainwater samples daily. We have now received the first data showing traces of radioactivity from Chernobyl in the air at ground level in the United States. The Environmental Radiation Ambient Monitoring. System (ERAMS) station in Cheyenne, Wyoming reported 0.012 pCi/m 3 of iodine-131 in the air sample collected May 6. The Denver, Colorado station reported 0.0057 pCi/m 3 of iodine-131 and 0.0002 pCi/m 3 of cesium-134. These levels are barely detectable and represent no danger to area residents. All other air particulate samples show no increase in radiation levels above nonnal background levels. The results include one sample collected on May 7, 41 samples on May 6, 14 samples on May 5, 5 samples on May 4, and 17 samples on earlier dates. The Department of Energy has reported that one air particulate sample collected in Richland, Washington on May 5 and three samples collected in Richland on May 6 showed iodine-131 levels between 0.003 pCi/m 3 and 0.015 pCi/m 3. In addition to the two rainwater samples from Olympia and Richland, Washington reported in previous Task Force Reports, iodine-131 has been detected in five additional rainwater samples (two collected at ERAMS stations on May 6 - 6.7 pCi/1 at Bismark, North Dakota, and 47 pCi/1 in a second sample from Olympia, Washington; three from DOE facilities - 62 pCi/1 at Idaho Falls, Idaho on May 6 and 45 pCi/1 and 50 pCi/l in two additional samples at Richland, Washington on May 5 a,nd 6). Iodine-131 was not detected in rainwater collected at the following ERAMS stations and collection dates: May 6 - Madison, Wisconsin; May 5 - Syracuse, New York: Miami, Florida; Montpelier, Vennont; Concord, New Hampshire; Rismark, North Dakota; May 3 - Berkeley, California; May 2 - Painesville, Ohio; Nashville, Tennessee; Syracuse, New York; May 1 - Toledo, Ohio; Austin, Texas; Little Rock, Arkansas; April 30 - Chicago, Illinois; Montpelier, Vermont; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; and April 29 - Middletown, Pennsylvania. (more) F / A-84-335 C (o 3ii~d 7 .
_7.. . . . _ . Canadian officials report slightly elevated radiation levels in air samples from towns and cities in southern Canada collected May 5 and 6. One rainwater sample collected in Ottawa May 7 contained 1647 pCi/1 of iodine-131, 51' pCi/1 of cesium-137, and 38 pCi/1'of ruthenium-103. Patches of contaminated air from the Chernobyl nuclear accident were detected by aircraft yesterday, May 7, at middle, altitudes (about 10,000 to 12,000 feet) along the northwest U.S. coast to southeastern Alaska. Similar patches have been flowing across the Pacific Ocean for the past several days. Those at i the higher altitudes have moved across the U.S. from the west to. i the northeast, as evidenced by reports of radioactivity in rainwater in the United States attributed to high-reaching rainstorms. . Radioactivity entering the west coast will be carried into the southwestern U.S. It will then be carried northward through the midwestern U.S. where especially intense rains are expected. 090th this midwestern U.S. region and the low pressure system over the upper-middle Plains States are likely to have contaminated rainwater and ground level air. The lastest information available on the reactor is that . the number four unit continues to show signs of smoldering. 'As the Task Force has noted, stabilizing a reactor by bringing it to a " cold shutdown" carries inherent risks and the situation , there will continue to be monitored by the Task Force. We have 1 no confirmation of' reports in Pravda and the Western media about tunneling or about hot materials at the base of the reactor. , These reports are plausible and we have no basis to dismiss them. However, the exact circumstances are still unclear. The question has been raised whether American citizens touring Europe for several weeks following the Soviet accident should seek medical screening procedures from United States military hospital j facilities there. , The Public Health Service does not reconnend such screening
- 1. on a routine basis. Rather, upon return, if they have concerns, travelers should obtain information and answers to their specific qudstions by contacting their State Radiation Control Program
, (located either in their State Health Department or State ! Environmental Protection Agency) or from their physician. Travelers are urged to keep in contact with the United States Embassies to assure themselves they have the most up to date public health guidance for that part of Europe.
- In the Task Force Report of May 5, 1986, interim guidance was provided to Americans living or traveling in or around the affected /
, Fo I A-IM-335 /d. lo
6
,. m S region regarding precautions to minimize exposure to radiation.
1 (more) l Based on more recent information, it should be re-emphasized that persons in or around:the affected region should avoid drinking fresh milk or eating other dairy products, particularly soft cheeses. In lieu of fresh milk, the following should be used; canned milk, powdered milk, commercial infant formula, or imported fresh dairy products. In addition, Americans in these areas (especially pregnant women and young children, due to their possibly higher sensitivities to radiation) should contact the local U.S. Embassy for more specific information available from local governments. Both the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service and the Food and Drug Administration have in place routine procedures which allow them to properly monitor these kinds of products being imported from all foreign countries. Working closely with U.S. Customs Bureau officials, inspectors of both agencies either routinely review the customs records for all commercial shipments of food products offered for entry or directly examine each shipment. Based on this action, decisions are made whether to detain and further test the products prior to release into U.S. CongnerCe. Following the Soviet nuclear power accident, both agencies have expanded and raised the priority of their monitoring of food products from the affected countries. Copies of documents
. associated with these initiatives can be obtained directly from the public affairs office of each agency. Briefly, letters and assig:nents issued to date provide for:
'60 Increased monitoring and analysis of fresh fruits and vegetables, fresh fish and selected dairy products as they are offered for entry; and
'60 Notification to countries exporting meat and poultry products to the United States of special procedures j for monitoring prior to shipment.
t If products from any one country present a concern to either agency, those products will automatically be detained and analyzed before release. Preliminary plots showing estimates of the adult thyroid dose, the whole-body dose and the surface deposition due to the release of iodine-131 and cesium-137 from the Chernobyl power plant accident have been released by the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory. These initial estimates provide a prediction of the spatial distri-bution of the emissions over a six-day period following the event. At this time, there is some uncertainty about the quantity of I-131 and Cs-137 that was actually released as well as the thennal energy that was involved in the release. The Livermore estimates are j:~-oI A- @6-%f IO \
.g. _
,e .__ _
., $, , , 7 y ,., , ._ .-
e 'l .s / O
,e q' , ,
vi '3 'd q \\ , j - ,
,i h g) i j ,
-) 4 4 ' )' ,
.', s a,
'\p t >i% !
3 r (more)
. )
yn
.g f y, l 1 '
. s s
/ , .
S'? J , based on predicted activity being injected'at heights below 2,000 \ ' meters. #owever, aircraft measurements over Europe, Japan and.the t t' U.SL.reveil activities at much'Mgher altitudes, and these measure-mer.ts have been included in the Interagency Task Force's ~ forecasts which are. supplied by the National Oceanic?and Atmospheric j Administration. , Questions on the prelimin'ary Livermore calculations shoula'be' fifrected' to Dr. Joseph Knois at the Livermore Laborat'ory, 415-422-1818.i- The preliminary' plots, which are being supplied for I 4 informational purposes only, are available to reporters only from ,? the EPA Press Office, room 311' West Tower, 401 M St. S.W., Washington, D.C. 20460; 202-382-4355. ; Initial radioactivity measurements from data supplied by I-American embassies abroad are available today. This information sunnarizes air, water, and: forage data for the period April' 28 through May 5,1986. The sources of the data are considered to be reputable health protection organizations in the host countries. Though the data are consi<iered to be of reasonable quality, they are listed as re'ceived throuch the embassies and.have not been subjected to quality assurance by EPA's Office of Radistion Programs. The listing includes data from'the following countries: , 4 Austria Hungary Norway Belgium Italy Spain Czechoslovakia Japan ' Sweden Finland Korea West Germany France Netherlands Yugoslavia ' s Data from additional'coutries and more current readings are being processed and,are expected to be available soon. Copies of the i country-by-country embassy data summary are available from the ' EPA press office. , Questions may be directed to Chris Rice, ' ' phon'e (202) 382-4355. 4- . " 11 , 3 l- I g ; ;h
# # # s i 4
- q, t .
l 9 a t I 1 I
'l-q
! i . ,
, 4 i s .
-L f-ot 4-E-335 C lo
% \
l: ,
4 ^
/
From: D. COHEN (EPA 1704) Posted: Mon 12-May-86 13:56 EDT Sys 63 (222)
Subject:
- Soviet Nuclear Accident Task Force Report Chernobyl Fact Sheet /5-12 SOVIET NUCLEAR ACCIDENT
-FOR RELEASE: MONDAY, MAY 12, 1986 A_ TASK _ FORCE _ REPORT CONTACT: DAVE COHEN (202) 382-4355 Attached is a listing of air particulate, precipitation and milk samples processed by EPA's Environmental Radiation Ambient Monitoring System (ERAMS) through late Sunday, May 11, 1986.
Analyses of milk samples collected May 6, 8 and 9 in nine cities show no radioactivity detected. Only two air samples showed traces of iodine-131. Spokane, Washington had 0.074 pCi/l and Phoenix, Arizona had 0.0023 pCi/1. Both samples were collected May 9. Precipitation samples collected May 9 and 10 in Salt Lake City, Utah; Jacksonville, Florida; Santa Fe, New Mexico; Albany, New York; and Cheyenne, Wyoming contained radioactivity from the Chernobyl accident. Values of iodine-131 ranged from 17 to 360 pCi/1. The L rainwater sample from Santa Fe also contained low concentrations of ruthenium-103 (28 pct /1) and cesium-137 (18 pCi/1). All measurements on the attached lists, other than those cited above, show no increases above normal background. I In summary, we continue to see low levels of radioactivity from l Chernobyl (principally iodine-131) in precipitation samples in various l locations across the country. Trace concentrations are occasionally detected in air samples.
~ Iodine-131 has a half-life of eight days. Since it is now 16 days since the accident, three-fourths of the iodine-131 initially released has now decayed, leaving only one-fourth still radioactive.
The Food and Drug Administration has detected some very low traces of iodine-131 on a few imported food shipments from Europe. These traces present no public health hazard. In general, the Task Force has no reason to dispute the information being provided through the International Atomic Energy Agency. We are still unable, however, to confirm that all smoldering at the number four reactor has been extinguished. We also believe that there has been no melting of radioactive material through the flooring in the number four reactor. [plA"Ob"3 W !C//
- m. n
L r Air Samples 11-MAY-86 18:20 Gross Beta Act Sampling Station Date Started Date Removed (pci/m**3) Gamma Emitter
-------------- (pci/m**3)
Lab Field MONTPELIER, VT : 5/ 7/86 5/ 8/86 0.01 10 --- SPOKANE, WA 5/ 8/86 5/ 9/86 0.26 10 I-131 0.074 +/- 5% PHOENIX, AZ 5/ 8/86 5/ 9/86 0.67 10 I-131 0.0023 +/- 23% HONOLULU, HI 5/ 8/86 , 5/ 9/86 0.02 NA --- CHICAGO, IL 5/ 8/86 5/ 9/86 0.02 10 --- LYNCHBURG, VA 5/ S/86 5/ 9/86 0.04 10 --- EL PASO, TX 5/ 8/86 5/ 9/86 0.25 -10 --- PIERRE, SD 5/ 8/86 5/ 9/86 0.03 10 --- HARRISBURG, PA 5/ 8/86 5/ 9/86 0.03 10 --- PORTLAND, OR 5/ 9/86 5/ 9/86 0.11 10 --- OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 5/ 8/86 5/ 9/86 0.05 10 --- ALBANY, NY 5/ 8/86 5/ 9/86 0.02 10 --- HARTFORD, CT 5/ 8/86 5/ 9/86 0.03 10 --- SANTA FE, NM 5/ 8/86 5/ 9/86 0.13 10 --- CHEYENNE, WY 5/ 8/86 5/ 9/86 0.07 10 --- NIAGARA FALLS, NY 5/ 8/86 5/ 9/86 0.03 10 --- DENVER, CO 5/ 8/86 5/ 9/86 0.22- 10 --- ANCHORAGE, AK 5/ 8/86 5/ 9/86 0.05 10 --- AUSTIN, TX 5/ 8/86 5/ 9/86 0.05 10 --- PORTLAND, OR. 5/ 8/86 5/ 9/86 0.03 10 --- HONOLULU, HI 5/ 9/86 5/10/86 0.06 NA --- JACKSONVILLE, FL 5/ 9/86 5/10/86- 0.02 10 --- WILMINGTON, NC 5/ 9/86 5/10/86 0.19 NA --- HARRISBURG, PA 5/ 9/86 5/10/86 0.27 10 --- SALT LAKE CITY, UT 5/ 9/86 5/10/86 0.20 10 --- CHICAGO, IL 5/ 9/86 5/10/86 0.09 10 --- MINNEAPOLIS, MN 5/ 9/86 5/10/86 0.12 10 --- NASHVILLE, TN 5/ 9/86 5/10/86 0.25 10 --- AUSTIN, TX 5/ 9/86 5/10/86 0,08 10 --- CHARLOTTE, NC 5/ 9/86 5/10/86 0.08 10 --- EL PASO, TX 5/ 9/86 5/10/86 0.60 10 --- BERKELEY, CA 5/ 9/86 5/10/86 0.29 10 --- BISMARCK, ND 5/ 9/86 5/10/86 0.06 10 --- INDIANAPOLIS, IN 5/'9/86 5/10/86 0.21 ~10 ND = Not Detected
- NA = Not Available
* = Gamma Results Previously Reported s
& t h-96-3'ss-lc y m i
. <~ .s' Precipation Data 5/11/86 Activity Station Date Collected pCi/l pC1/m**2 Columbia, SC 5/9 ND ND Little Rock, AR 5/9 ND ND Topeka, KS ; 5/9 ND ND Austin, TX -
5/8 ND NO Harrisburg, PA 5/9 ND ND Middletown, PA 5/9 ND ND Minneapolis, MN 5/10 ND ND Montpelier, VT 5/8 ND ND Montpelier, VT 5/9 ND ND Honolulu, MI 5/10 ND ND Salt Lake City, UT 5/10 I-131 17 +/. 66% 149 +/- 66% Jacksonville, FL 5/10 I-131 30 +/ 46% 46 +/ 46% Pierre, SD 5/10 ND ND Santa FE, NM (snow) 5/9 I-131 200 +/- 31% 610 +/- 31% Austin, TX 5/10 ND ND Albany, NY 5/9 I-131 94 +/- 33% 120 +/. 33% Austin, TX 5/9 ND ND Cheyenne, WY 5/9 I-131 230 +/- 54% 450 +/- 54% Oklahoma City, OK 5/9 ND ND Santa Fe, NM (rain) 5/9 Ru-103 28 +/- 32% I-131 360 +/- 10% 430 +/- 10% Cs-137 18 +/- 44% ND = Not Detected Fo/ A-sc. 33r eff . . o .u
s s V Milk Data 5/11/86
- Activity Station Date Collected pC1/1 Trenton, NJ 5/6 ND Trenton, NJ 5/8 ND Manchester, NH 5/9 ND Austin, TX 5/9 ND Spokane, WA 5/8 ND Fort Worth, TX 5/9 ND Detroit, MI 5/9 ND Providence, RI 5/9 ND Pittsburg, PA 5/8 ND Indianapolis, IN 5/9 ND ND = Not Detected l'
J' l l Volk-66-b35 c j,
,,9 o sy a
Y
/
From: 0.00 HEN (EPA 1704) Posted: Wed 14-May-86 14:45 EDT Sys 63 (441)
Subject:
Task Force Report on Soviet Nuclear Accident Chernobyl Fact Sheet 5/14 SOVIET NUCLEAR ACCIDENT A_ TASK _ FORCE _ REPORT CONTACT: DAVEC0 HEN (202)382-4355 The EPA national monitoring network's air particulate and precipitation data continue to show radioactivity from the Chernobyl acc.ident at various locations in the United States. While no milk samples submitted to the EPA laboratorysin Montgomery, Alabama for analysis have to date shown detectable levels of radio-activity, some detectable activity has been reported in raw milk samples analyzed by state laboratories. None of the dectections thus far reported at the state level poses any health threat. Today's air particulate data show traces'of iodine-131 at six locations: Olympia, Washington; Boise, Idaho; Jacksonville, Florida; El Paso, Texas; Charlotte, North Carolina; and Los Angeles, California. The concentrations range from 0.16 pCi/m3 to 1.6 pCi/m3 . Extremely low concentrations, too low to quantify, of other radionuclides (ruthenium-103, ruthenium-106, cesium-134, cesium-136, cesium-137, iodine-132, barium-140, and lanthanum-140) were also detected at these six locations. Precipitation from 14 locations contained iodine-131 in concen-trations ranging from 35 pCi/l to 6620 pCi/1. The highest iodine-131 deposition level seen was 12,300 pCi/m2 in Montpelier, Vennont, for a sample collected May 11. This level is less than ten percent of the deposition level at which the Food and Drug Administratfor: recomends protective action to prevent consumption of milk with excessive iodine-131. Approximately two-thirds of the'most recent set of precipitation samples contained iodine-131. This indicates that iodine-131 has now . b,ecome widely dispersed and i,s likely to be present in any rainwater samples collected for at least the next few days. Based on the levels of radiation seen abroad and in rainwater and air samples taken in the U.S. this past week, the Task Force believes that levels of radiation from the Chernobyl accident are not expected to pose any significant threat to human health or the environment in this country. . l FatA 355- Cl'
4
. Recent information indicates that smoke is no longer being observed' coming from reactor number four at Chernobyl. Remedial activities continue at that reactor.
The Interagency Task Force will continue to issue daily reports at about 2:00 EDT each day throughout this week and next. Task Force agencies will continue to report pertinent information in these updates. Persons returning from foreign travel or persens in the U.S. who have health-related questions on the Chernobyl nuclear accident should direct their inquiries to their state and local radiological health program offices. The 1986 Directory of State Radiological Health Programs is available from the EPA Press Office, Room 311, West Tower, 401 M Street, SW, Washington, DC 20460; phone (202) 382-4355. State and local health agencies have been receiving updated infonnation from the Task Force. These agencies should direct their questions relating to the Chernobyl accident to the Food and Drug Administration's Division of Federal / State Relations at phone (301) 443-3360. Inquiries relating to the Chernobyl accident on the following subjects should be directed to the persons indicated below: Imported Meat & Poultry Pat Stolfa (USDA) (202) 447-3473 All Other Imported Foods Dave Duarte (FDA) (301) 443-3285 Foreign Travel U.S. Department of State (202) 647-5225 Domestic Radiation Monitoring Bill Gunter (EPA) (703) 557-7390 Attached is a listing of all detected levels of radiation within the U.S. from the Chernobyl accident. The sample types include air particulate samples expressed in picoeuries (a trillionth of a curie) per cubic meter of air (pCi/m3); rainwater concentration samples expressed in picocuries per liter of rainwater (pCi/1); or rainwater deposition samples which relate the concentration and the amount of rainfall to a square meter of ground, expressed in picocuries per squaremeter(pCi/m2). FoI A- sr nr c /t
May 14, 1986 CHERNORYL FEDERAL RESPONSE DATA INFORMATION SHEET Country Location Sample Type Col Date Nuclide Activity Units i USA AL, Montgomery Rain 5/11 1-131 73 pCi/l ! AL, Montgomery Deposition 5/11 I-131 51 pCi/m 2 AL, Montgomery Rain 5/12 .I-131 58 pCi/1 i AL, Montgomery Deposition 5/12 I-131 78 pCi/m 2 ' I USA AK, Dutch Harbor Rain 5/9 I-131 470 pCi/1 l AK, Kodiak Rain 5/9 I-131 200 pCi/1 AK, Anchorage Air Particulate 5/9-10 I-131 0.18 pCi/m 3 AK, Anchorage Rain 5/11 1-131 370 pCi/1 ) USA AZ, Phoenix Air Particulate 5/8-9 I-131 0.0023 pCi/m 3
- AZ, Phoenix ? Air Particulate 5/7-8 I-131 0.091 pCi/m 3 A7, Phoenix Air Particulate 5/7-8 Cs-134 0.015 pCi/m 3 AZ, Phoenix Air Particulate 5/7-8 Cs-137 0.028 pCi/m 3 USA CO, Denver Air Particulate 5/5-6 I-131 0.006 pCi/m 3
. CO, Denver Air Particulate 5/5-6 Cs-134 0.0002 pCi/m 3 l USA FL, Jackson Air Particulate 5/10-11 I-131 0.55 pC1/m 3 USA ID, Boise Rain 5/7 I-131 36 pCi/1 ID, Boise Deposition 5/7 I-131 340 pCi/m 2 ID, Boise Rain 5/10 I-131 900 pCi/1 ID, Boise Deposition ,. 5/10 1-131 9000 pCi/m 2 ID, Boise Rain , 5/11 1-131 1680 pCi/l i ID, Boise Deposition 5/11 I-131 6730 pCi/m 2 Rain I-131 l 10. Boise 5/12 1150 pC1/1 l ID, Boise Deposition 5/12 I-131 2300 pCi/m 2 ! USA ID, Idaho Falls Rain 5/6 I-131 78 pCi/1 l ID, Idaho Falls Deposition 5/6 I-131 25 pCi/m 2
- ID, Idaho Falls Rain 5/7 I-131 66 pCi/1
- ID, Idaho Falls Deposition 5/7 I-131 120 pCi/m 2 l ID, Idaho Falls Rain 5/8 I-131 120 pCi/l
! C /2 l
2 CHERN0BYL FEDERAL RESPONSE DATA INFORMATION SHEET Country Location Sample Type Col Date Nuclide Activity Units USA ID, Idaho Falls Deposition 5/8 I-131 440 pCi/m 2 ID, Idaho Falls Rain 5/9 I-131 27 pCi/l ID, Idaho Falls Deposition 5/9 I-131 110 pCi/m 2 USA IL, Chicago Air Particulate 5/6-7 I-131 0.0018 pCi/m 3 IL, Chicago Rain 5/12 I-131 47 pCi/l IL, Chicago Deposition 5/12 I-131 190 pCi/m 2 USA LA, New Orleans Rain 5/12 I-131 30 pCi/l LA, New Orleans Deposition 5/12 I-131 100 pCi/m 2 USA NC, Charlotte Air Particulate 5/10-11 I-131 0.16 pCi/m 3 i USA ND, Bismarck Rain 5/12 I-131 560 pCi/l ND,-Bismarck Deposition 5/12 I-131 590 pCi/m 2 USA ME, Augusta Rain 5/8 I-131 72 pCi/1 ME, Augusta Deposition 5/8 I-131 430 pCi/m 2 ME, Augusta Rain 5/9 I-131 89 pCi/l ME, Augusta Deposition 5/9 I-131 210 pCi/m 2 USA MI, Lansing Rain 5/7 I-131 40 pCi/l MI, Lansing Deposition 5/7 I-131 54 pCi/m 2 USA MN, Minneapolis Rain ,. 5/11 I-131 7.9 pCi/l MN, Minneapolis Deposition 5/11 I-131 310 pCi/m 2 USA MS, Jackson Rain 5/12 I-131 35 pCi/l MS, Jackson Deposition 5/12 I-131 840 pCi/m 2 1 l l C /2
3 CHERNOBYL FEDERAL RESPONSE DATA INFORMATION SHEET Country Location Sample Type Col Date Nuclide Activity Units USA MT, Helena Rain 5/8 I-131 27 pCi/l , MT, Helena Deposition 5/8 I-131 220 pCi/m 2
- MT, Helena Rain 5/7 I-131 36 pCi/l MT, Helena Deposition 5/9 I-131 140 pCi/m 2
- MT, Helena Air Particulate 5/9-10 I-131 0.65 pCi/m 3
! USA ND, Bismarck Rain 5/6 I-131 6.7 pCi/1 { ND, Bismarck Deposition 5/6 I-131 13.4 pCi/m 2 l ND, Bismarck Rain 5/12 I-131 560 pCi/l j ND, Bismarck Deposition 5/12 I-131 590 pCi/m 2 ! USA NE, Lincoln Rain 5/10 I-131 630 pC1/1 NE, Lincoln i Deposition 5/10 1-131 1250 pCi/m 3 USA NE, Scot'ts Bluff Rain 5/10 I-131 82 pCi/l NE Scotts Bluff Deposition 5/10 I-131 164 pCi/m 2 ! USA NH, Concord Rain 5/8 I-131 63 pCi/l ! NH, Concord Deposition 5/8 I-131 70 pCi/m 2 NH, Concord Rain 5/9 I-131 33 pCi/l
. NH, Concord Deposition 5/9 I-131 99 pCi/m 2 USA NV, las Vegas Rain 5/7 I-131 500 pCi/l NV, Las Vegas Air Particulate 5/6-7 I-131 0.23 pCi/m 3 NV, Las Vegas Air Particulate 5/7-8 I-131 0.09 pCi/m 3
, NV, Las Vegas Air Particula'te 5/8-9 I-131 0.29 pCi/m 3 . NV, las Vegas Rain 5/7 I-131 530 pC1/1 NV, Las Vegas Deposition 5/7 I-131 180 pCi/m 2 USA NV, Mt. Charleston Snow 5/7 I-131 75 pCi/l I 9 l C/t
4 CHERNOBYL FEDERAL RESPONSE DATA INFORMATION SHEET ', Country Location Sample Type Col Date Nuclide Activity Units USA NY, Albany Rain 5/7 I-131' 36 pC1/1
- NY, Albany Rain 5/7 I-131 90 pCi/l l NY, Albany Depasition 5/7 I-131 60 uCi/m 2 NY, Albany Deposition 5/7 I-131 80 pCi/m 2 USA NY, New York Rain 5/9 I-131 100 pCi/l NY, New York Deposition 5/9 I-131 100 pCi/m 2 USA NY, Yaphank Air Particulate 5/9-10 I-131 0.0093 pCi/m 3
) USA OH, Painesville Rain 5/7 I-131 11 1/1 gCi/m 2 OH, Paineuille , Deposition 5/7 I-131 530 USA OR, Portland Rain 5/5 I-131 46 pCi/1 OR, Portland Deposition 5/5 I-131 452 pCi/m 2 OR, Portland Rain 5/8 I-131 240 pCi/1 OR, Portland Deposition 5/8 I-131 210 pCi/m 2 OR, Portland Air Particulate 5/8-9 I-131 0.0026 pCi/m 3 4 USA PA, Harrisburg Air Particulate 5/10-11 I-131 0.0079 pCi/m 3 USA TN, Nashville Rain 5/11 I-131 87 pCi/1 I TN, Nashville Deposition 5/11 I-131 20 pCi/m 2 USA TX, El Paso Air Particulate 5/9-10 1-131 0.31 pCi/m 3 TX, El Paso Air Particulate 5/9-10 Ba-140 0.021 pCi/m 3 TX, El Paso Air Particulate 5/9-10 Cs-137 0.059 pCi/m 3 TX, El Paso Air Particulate 5/10-11 I-131 0.44 pCi/m 3 I l l
/ cit l -
I i
o 5 - CHERNOBYL FEDERAL RESPONSE DATA INFORMATION SHEET Country Location Sample Type Col Date Nuclide Activity Units USA UT, Salt Lake City Rain 5/8 I-131 36 pCi/l UT, Salt Lake City Deposition 5/8 I-131 700 pCi/m 2 . UT, Salt Lake City Rain 5/9 I-131 21 pCi/l UT, Salt Lake City Deposition 5/9 I-131 380 pCi/m 2 UT, Salt Lake City Air Particulate 5/10-11 I-131 0.65 pCi/m 3 UT, Salt Lake City Rain 5/11 I-131 2330 pCf/1 UT, Salt Lake City Rain 5/11 I-131 1400 pCi/m 2 USA VT, Montpelier Rain 5/7 1-131 120 pCi/l VT, Montpelier Deposition 5/7 I-131 480 pCi/m 2 VT, Montpelier Air Particulate 5/7-8 I-131 0.0039 pCi/m 3 VT, Montpelier Rain 5/11 1-131 1660 pCi/l VT, Montpelier Deposition 5/11 I-131 12300 pCi/m 2 VT, Montpelier Rain 5/12 I-131 870 pCi/1 VT, Montpelier Deposition 5/12 I-131 1740 pCi/m 2 USA WA, Olympia Rain 5/6 I-131 47 pCi/l WA, Olympia Deposition 5/6 I-131 47 pCi/m 2 WA, Olympia Rain 5/8 I-131 270 pCi/l . WA, Olympia Deposition 5/8 I-131 190 pCi/m 2 WA, Olympia Air Particulate 5/9-10 I-131 0.37 pCi/m 3 WA, Olympia Rain 5/11 I-131 1220 pCi/l i WA, Olympia Deposition 5/11 1-131 300 pCi/m 2 i WA, Olympia Rain 5/12 I-131 960 pCi/l WA, Olympia Deposition . 5/12 I-131 1900 pCi/m 2 -
' USA WA, Richland Rain 5/5 I-131 45 pCi/l WA, Richland Rain 5/5 I-131 170 pCi/l WA, Richland Rain 5/6 1-131 50 pCi/l WA, Richland Rain 5/6 I-131 500* pCi/l WA, Richland Air Particulate 5/5 I-131 0.003 pCi/m 3 I
! C /2 i
6 , CHERNOBYL FEDERAL RESPONSE DATA INFORMATION SHEET Country Location Sample Type Col Date Nuclide Activity Units USA WA, Richland Air Particulate 5/6 I-131 0.015 pCi/m 3 WA, Richland Air Particulate S/6 I-131 0.015 pCi/m 3 WA, Richland Air Particulate 5/6 I-131 0.009 pCi/m 3 USA WA, Spokane Air Particulate 5/8-9 1-131 0.074 pCi/m 3 WA, Spokane Rain 5/12 I-131 6620 pCi/l WA, Spokane Deposition 5/12 I-131 6090 pCi/m 2 USA WY, Cheyenne Air Particulate 5/5-6 I-131 0.012 pCi/m 3
*Some evaporation Fo( A -Sr:-n5 d t.
aa v~ g ~ g-attacnment w no-u
"' ' 2 " '
z '
. GEPA faviet Nuclea:
Accident JOR RELEASE: 2:00 P.M., THURSDAY, MAY 1, 1986 A Task Force Report CONTACT: DAVE COHEN (202) 382-4355
- On Tuesday ~, the Environmental Protection Agency, which increased maintains its aanpling thefrequency nat' ion's radiation monitoring for airborne network,,
radioactivity to, daily. Results obtained thus far show no increase in radioactivity above nornal background levels. The Canadian air nonitoring network has also Results there show no increased its sampling frecuency to daily. increase in radioactivity. The air nass containing the radioactivity from the initial Chernobyl nuclear event is now widaly dispersed throughout northern Europe and Polar regions. Portlans of radioactivity offto the northwest norwegian coast yesterday morning shool.1 continue disperse with possible novement toward the east in the next several days. Other portions of the radioactive air mass may nove eastward through the Soviet Union and through the Polar regions over the coning week. The Soviets have reported they have snothered the fire. From We our information.it is not clear whether the fire is out or not. also cannot confirn news reports of danage at a second reactor, hat the second hot spot seen in the L;NO3AT photos is not a reactor.
- The U.S. Government has offered to provide technical assistance to the Soviet Government to deal with the accident.
On Wednesday afternoon, a senior Soviet official from their Enbassy in Washington delivered a note to the Department of State expressina appreciation for our offer of assistance and stating that for the tine being, assistance is not needed. At the present tine, the U.S. Government has no data on radiation levelA or contanination levels at any location within the Soviet Union. ue also have no firn information concernin<j the nunhet of casualties from the accident. (more) F / ^ ec-33r g Pl
[] D
- y. n The Department of State is not advising against travel to the
~
Soviet Union, Scandinavia and Eastern Europe. As a -result of the nuclear accident, the State Department has issued a travel advisory recommending against travel to Kiev and adjacent areas. We are largely dependent on the Soviets for information on conditions within the USSR and we are doing everything possible to obtain relevant information from Soviet authorities. Americans planning travel to the Soviet Union and adjacent countries should carefully monitor press reports on this rapidly changing situation to make as fully inf ormed a decision as possible with respect to their travel
,- plans. They should bear in mind that many of these countries have reported ~incr'essed levels o,f radiation in the environment.
.The State Department Office of Legislative Af f air's has -
commented that customary international law requires the Soviet Union to notify other States / Countries of the possibility of transboundary effects of the incident and to furnish them *with
- the information necessary to address those effects.
The White House has established an Interagency Task Force to coordinate the Government's response to the nuclear reactor accident in Chernobyl. The Task Force is under the direction of Lee M. Thomas, Administrator of the Environmental Protection 1 Agency, with representatives f rom the White House, Department of l State, EPA, Department of Energy, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, National Oceanic and Atmosph3ric Administration, U.S. Air Force, Department of Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration, Federal , Emergency Management Agency, Department of Interior, Federal i Aviation Administration, the U.S. Public Health Service, and other agencies. I e i I s - 1. i
" W "W
//
i .
' Attachment 2
- e' ' IN 86-32 May 2, 1986 TALKING POINTS. '
CHERNORYL NUCLEAR ACCIDEET' April 30, 1986' . o Late Friday, April 25, or early. Saturday, April 26, a serious accident occurred an theAs Chernobyl~ a result of:an nuclear f acility apparent near Kiev in the Soviet Uni 0n.the facility experienced a core-loss of reactor coolant, me ltdown, explosion, and fire. Causes of the accident are not known. o The explosion and re sulting fire released So longa asplume the of radioactive materials to tha a tmosphere. reactor core, fire con off. . 6 o The f acility involved is a graphite-moderated, <It is one of four boiling-water-cooled, pressure-tube unit.To our knowledge, only this one such units at Chernobyl. unit, known as Unit 84, is involved in the accident. o The initial plume traveled in a northwest direction it will move in Predictions now suggest toward Scandanavia. Radiation levels above normal background an eastward direction. However, these have levelsbeenpose detected no significant in Scandanavian risk countries.to human health o environment. o The U.S~. government has made an of f er of technical This good faith offer was made i t
! assistance to the Soviets.out of genuine concern for the health and s people. The Soviet government responded April 30 that no
~
foreign assistance is needed. o We have also requested specific received information a full response on the to accident. To date, we have not that request. This is also a matter of great concern to the United States. the Chernobyl o The radiation plume emitted as a result throughout theofNorthern accident will disperse over time contamination will Hemisphere. Eventually, some radioactive However, based on the limited reach the United States. there is no reason to believe that information we now have, risk levels reaching this country will pose anyPlease significantthe see accompanying
. to human health or the environment. information fact sheet on radiation health effects for basic on exposure.
I Y k kf-33y g
0 o
~
- m. N.
L f o It is v'ery* unlikely that any significant amounts i o the , radiation from the Theaccident will reach Environmental the U.S. Pr6tection dur ng Agency's next few days. AMS "- Environmental Radiation Ambient Monitoring .~ System In - ER is conducting daily sampling throughout the nation. 'diation addition to ambient air, the system also monitors ra levels in drinking water, surface water, and milk. k o The White House has established an interagency tas ces force to monitor the health, safety and environmental i d by Lee consequen of the Chernobyl accident. The task force is cha re tion-Thomas, Administrator of the DOT U.S.andEnvironmental others. On a Protec Agency. idely EPA, DOE, NRC, NOAA, HHS, USDA, DOD, daily basi,s,
- the task force compiles, evaluates, a its environmental and health consequences.
i s accident and d 1 l l w t r Po/4 g6-33g- __ r/
p , Attachment 3 IN 86-31 May 2, 1986 Fact Sheet-Chernobyl SOVIET NUCLEAR ACCIDENT FOR RELEASE: 2:00 P.M., FRIDAY, MAY 2, 1986 CONTACT: DAVE C0 HEN (202) 382-4355 Radiation monitoring networks in the United States and Canada are continuing to analyze for airborne radioactivity daily. No. increases in radioactivity above normal background levels have been detected in either country. Canadian officials intend to increase the sampling frequency of their milk , monitoring network, which consists of 16 stations near population centers in southern Canada, to weekly beginning next week. It is believed that air containing radioactivity now covers much of Europe and a large part of the Soviet Union. The distribu-tion of radioactivity is likely to be patchy. Air containing radioactivity detected by aircraft at 5000 feet about 400 miles west of northern Norway is believed to have moved westward and now appears to be heading south or southeastward perhaps to return to western Europe. There is no independent confirmation of the radio-activity in the air moving eastward across Asia. (A weather map should be attached to today's Task Force Report. If you do not have a copy, it can be picked up in the EPA press office, room 311, West Tower, 401 M St. , S.W. (202) 382-4355. ) Environmental monitoring data have been provided by the Swedish government for the Stockholm area for April 28-30. Extrapolations of those data suggest that radiation exposure levels at the Chernobyl site would have been in a range from 20 rem to hundreds of rem whole-body for the two-day period over which most of the radiation release probably took place. Radiation doses for the thyroid gland have been estimated to be in a range from 200 rem to thousands of rem for the same period. These doses are sufficient to produce severe physical trauma including death. It should be emphasized that these are estimates subject to considerable uncertainty. The U.S. has as yet no information from the Soviet Union as to actual radiation levels experienced at the accident site. A O %5" f/
,n---
m s
.g.
The Soviets have reported they have smothered the fire. We still cannot confirm that the reactor fire in unit 4 has been extinguished. There is evidence that the reactor or associated equipment continues to smolder. We also cannot confirm news reports of damage at a second reactor, but the second hot spot seen in the LANDSAT photos is not a reactor. Based on the fact that no harmful levels of radioactivity are expected to reach the continental United States, it is highly unlikely that potassium iodide (KI) will be needed to minimize the uptake of radioactive iodine from the Russian nuclear power plant accident. KI, although relatively harmless, has been associated with certain allergic reactions; thus, since the use of KI is not without some risk to the population, the U.S. Public Health Service recommends against taking KI as a precautionary measure. Federal authorities do not believe there is any reason for concern at this time about the safety of either our domestic food or drug supplies. Nor should there be concern over imported products already in the United States or on their way to the United States at the time of the nuclear accident in the Soviet Union. The State Department is continuing efforts to obtain relevant information from Soviet authorities on the nuclear accident and the potential health dangers that might be posed to individuals in the Soviet Union and adjacent countries. State has noted, for example, recent statements issued by Polish authorities concerning public health precautionary measures. The State Department is seeking more information from all the governments in the region. The U.S. is sending experts to potentially affected areas for medical consultation and to provide relevant expertise on which to make appropriate recommendations with regard to the health of American citizens. With the limited data at hand, the Departments of State and Health and Human Services have issued an advisory against travel to Kiev and adjacent areas. To minimize possible exposure to radioactive contamination, we also suggest that those in Eastern Europe avoid milk and other dairy products. In addition, State is recnmmending that women of child-bearing age and children should not travel to Poland until the situation is clarified. The State Department is receiving reports from our European embassies, based on their discussions with local officials, as to the impact of the accident and local reactions to it. We are still not receiving the necessary technical information from the Soviets on the details of the accident. P/ A-S'mr /
s O h ' The White House has established an Interagency Task Force to coordinate the Government's response to the nuclear reactor accident in Chernobyl. The Task Force.is under the direction of Lee M. Thomas, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, with representatives from the White House, Department of
. State, EPA, Department of Energy, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Air Force, Department of Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Interior, Federal Aviation Administration, the U.S. Public Health Service, and other agencies.
PLEASE NOTE: THE EPA PRESS OFFICE WILL BE OPEN OVER THE WEEKEND FOR UPDATING. HOURS WILL BE FROM 10am TO 2PM. 202-382-4355. Fo / A-sc-33r F/
._-__,-m__ , _ . . . _
m -- Attachment 4
/ IN 86-31 May 2, 1986 LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED IE INFORMATION NOTICES Information . Date of Notice No. Subject Issue Issued to 86-31 Unauthorized Transfer and 5/6/86 All power reactor Loss of Control cf facilities holding Industrial Nuclea: Gauges an OL or a CP 86-30 Design Limitations of 4/29/86 All power reacto'r Gaseous Effluent Monitoring facilities holding Systems an OL or a CP 86-29 Effects of Changing Valve 4/25/86 All power reactor Motor-Operator Switch facilities holding Settings an OL or a CP 86-28 4/28/86 86-27 Access Control at Nuclear 4/21/86 All power reactor Facilities facilities holding an OL or CP, research and nonpower reactor facilities, and fuel fabrication & pro-cessing facilities 86-26 Potential Problems In 4/17/86 All power reactor Generators Manufactured By facilities holding Electrical Products an OL or CP Incorporated 86-25 Traceability And Material 4/11/86 All power reactor Control Of Material And facilities holding Equipment, Particularly an OL or CP Fasteners 86-24 Respirator Users Notice: 4/11/86 All power reactor Increased Inspection Frequency facilities holding For Certain Self-Contained an OL or CP; research Breathing Apparatus Air and test reactor Cylinders facilities; fuel cycle licensees and Priority 1 material licensees 86-23 Excessive Skin Exposures Due 4/9/86 All power reactor '
To Contamination With Hot facilities holding 4 Particles an OL or CP OL = Operating License CP = Construction Permit Fo I A - 84:r435 F/
4 4* SSINS No.: 6835 IN 86-33
. UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555 May 6, 1986 IE INFORMATION NOTICE NO. 86-33: INFORMATION FOR LICENSEE REGARDING THE CHERNOBYL NUCLEAR PLANT ACCIDENT Addressees:
Fuel cycle licensees and Priority 1 material licensees.
Purpose:
The purpose of this notice is to provide background information only and requires no action on the part of recipients. The reference background information relates to the Chernobyl nuclear plant accident and is contained in the enclosed copy of Information Notice No. 86-32 sent to NRC nuclear power plant licensees on May 2, 1986. Discussion: As indicated by the enclosed information, radioactive material from the Chernobyl accident is expected to be detected in the continental United States through EPA environmental surveillance, perhaps as assisted by Department of Energy facilities and NRC-licensed nuclear power reactor sites. The level of activity in the United States is expected to be low and should have little, if any, impact on licensee monitoring programs. As stated in the enclosed notice, any anomalous detection of radioactive material should be evaluated in accordance with your license to assure that any detected materials are properly identified as to source (i.e. , licensed activities or the Chernobyl Event). If you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact the Regional Administrator of the appropriate NRC regional office, or this office. J
#.-EtFard L. Jo an, Director Division of Emergency Preparedness and Engineering Response Office of Inspection and Enforcement Technical
Contact:
L. Rouse, NMSS 427-4205 . Attachments: A 4 F 2._
- l. Information Notice 86-32
- 2. List of Recently Issued IE Information Notices l s? F:d fm sed h p~n +an, ,
0,$1A) 9u l
/m p)yt j og OSOS m, ...e
0' JRIO6ITY ATTENTION REQUESTED - SSINS No.: 6835 IN 86-32 UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Attachment 1 0FFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT IN 86-33 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555 May 6. T.986 Page 1 of 9 May 2, 1986 IE INFORMATION NOTICE NO. 86-32: REQUEST FOR COLLECTION OF LICE'NSEE RADI0 ACTIVITY MEASUREMENTS ATTRIBUTED TO THE CHERNOBYL NUCLEAR PLANT ACCIDENT Addressees: All nuclear power reactor facility licensees holding an operating license (OL) or construction permit (CP).
Purpose:
The purpose of this information notice is to update licensees of the recent Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident and to request voluntary reporting of any licensee environmental radioactivity measurement data probably caused by that event. In order to enhance the Federal and state monitoring programs, all nuclear power reactor facilities with on going environmental monitoring programs are requested to consider the NRC request to report confirmed anomalous environmental radioac-tivity measurements probably caused by radioactive material released in the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the U.S.S.R. It is requested that recipients review the attached information and provide the environmental data discussed herein. Description of Circumstances: Information issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) concerning the recent reactor accident in Chernobyl, USSR is contained in Attachments 1, 2 and 3. In the week following the accident at Chernobyl, elevated levels of radioactivity have been detected in air, rainwater, soil and food in many European countries. The radionuclides that have been detected in air in these countries include: I-131, Cs-137, Cs-134, Te-132, Ru-103, Ho-99, Np-239, and Nb-95. Although estimates of plume arrival time and location of entry into the cont.inental United States are highly uncertain at this time, the plume may arrive in the Pacific Northwest United States during May 7-10, 1986. a Discussion: It appears likely that radioactive material from the Chernobyl accident may arrive within the continental U.S. In concentrations that are readily detectable. In order to enhance nationwide environmental surveillance, the EPA (and some states) have increased the airborne monitoring sampling f requencies to be better able to detect any traces of the plume. In order to supplement and reinforce this state and federal nationwide surveillance program, the NRC licensees (as 4 /,fy J /) y y a
'~
f ) j' ;i I ( & i /
, , ,. ' Page 2 of g IN 86-32
- M:y 2, 1986 Page 2 of 2 part of their routine Environmental Monitoring Program (EMP)] are requested to voluntarily provide the following information:
- 1. Report to the NRC any anomalous environmental radiation or radioactivity measurement that can be rea onably assumed to have resulted from the Chernobyl accident. These confirmed measurement results from the licensee's routine EMP should be telephonically reported to the NRC Operations Center (301-951-0550) within 24 hours of determining that material from the accident has been measured. (Environment air sampling probably is the most sensitive and thus most likely means of detecting the airborne materials. Some other less-sensitive potential means of detection may include personnel whole body counting equipment).
The reporting format should provide for: .
- 1. Sample date(s) and approximate locations (s).
- 2. Medium or pathway (e.g. , air particulate, air charcoal, milk).
- 3. Type of analysis (e.g., gross beta, iodine-131, other gamma emitter).
- 4. Statistical data (mean, range, number of samples).
Any data provided by NRC licensees will be shared with appropriate federal agencies. The NRC as part a combined Interagency Task Force is providing daily technical information reports to the Institute for Nuclear Power Operations (INPO). This updated technical information is available to member utilities through INP0's Nuclear Network system. Because the sensitivity and broad scope of existing licensee programs, augmentation of the NRC licensee EMPs is not necessary. Any anomalous detection of radioactive material should be evaluated in accordance with facility license, technical specifications and applicable regulations to assure that the detected materials are properly identified as to source (e.g., either plant operations or the Chernobyl Event). We appreciate your cooperation with us on this matter. If you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact the Regional Administrator of the appropriate NRC regional office, or this office. ad . ordan, Director Divisi n of Emergency Preparedness and E gineering Response Office of Inspection and Enforcement Technical Contacts: James E. Wigginton, IE (301) 492-4967 Roger L. Pedersen, IE (301) 492-9425 Attachments:
- 1. EPA Task Force Report (May 1,1986)
- 2. Talking Points (April 30, 1986)
- 3. Fact Sheet (May 2,1986)
- 4. List of Recently Issued IE Information Notices g _gr.-33r F 2-
}
" * ',' e~
Attactwnent if4 db-J4
. SEPA faviet NucleEJ/ *
~~
Accident
'.
- P EOR FFTFASE: 2 : 00 P.M. , THURSDAY, MAY 1, 1986 A Task Force Report CONTACT: DAVE COHEN (202) 382-4355 On Tuesday, the Environmental Protection Agency, which increased maintains the nat' ion's for radiation monitoring airborne radioactivity network,'to, daily. Results its sanplina frequency o_btained thus far show no increase in radioactivity above no rnal background levels. The Canadian air nonitoring network has also increased its sampling frecuency to daily. Results there show no increase in radioactivity.
The air mass containing the radioactivity from the initial Chernobyl nuclear event is now widely dispersed throughout northern Europe and Polar regions. Parti.m of radioactivity off the northwest norwegian coast yesterday norning shnol.1 continue to disperse with possible novement toward the east in the next several days. Other portions of the radioactive air nass may nove eastward through the Soviet Union and through the Polar regions over the coning week. The Soviets have reported they have snothered the fire. From We our information.it is not clear whether the fire is also cannot confirn nawA reports of da. mage at a second reactor, but out or not. the second hot spot seen in the LAND 3AT photos is not a reactor. The U.S. Governnent has offered to provide technical > assistance to the Soviet Government to deal with the accident. On Wednesday afternoon, a senior Soviet official from their Endassy in Washinoton delivered a note to the Department of State expressina appreciation for nor offer of assistance and j stating that for the time being, assistance is not needed. l l At the present tine, the U.S. "ooernment has no data on radiation level 4 or contanination levels at any location within l the Soviet Union, ue also have no firn information concerni+J the number of casualties from the accident. (more) 1 pm -96 435- F2-
. z) :>
.s
- Page 4 of 2 _
~. ,:,.
The Department of State is not ad ** sing against travel to the Soviet Union, Scandinavia and Eastern Europe. As a -result of the nuclear accident, the State Department has issued a travel advisory recommending against travel to Kiev and adjacent areas. We are largely dependent on the Soviets for information on conditions within the USSR and we are doing everything possible to obtain relevant information from Soviet authorities. Americans planning travel to the Soviet Union and adjacent countries should carefully monitor press reports on this rapidly changing situation to make as fully informed a decision as possible with respect to their travel
- plans. They 'should bear in mind that many of these countries have reported' increased levels o,f radiation in the environment.
.The State Department Of fice of Legislative Af f air's has commented that customary international law requires the Soviet Union to notify other States / Countries of the possibility of transboundary effects of the incident and to furnish them with - -
the information necessary to address those ef fects. The White House has established an Interagency Task Force ' to coordinate the Government's response to the nuclear reactor accident in Chernobyl. The Task Force is under the direction of Lee M. Thomas, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, with representatives from the White House, Department of State, EPA, Department of Energy, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, i National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Air Force, Department of Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Interior, Federal Aviation Administration, the U.S. Public Health Service, and i other agencies. 4 4 i "O QoIk-9(a'd35~ fL
Attactment 2
. , ^ IN 86-32 . ' Hay 2,1986 TALKING POINTS.
Page 5 of ~ CHE,RNORYL NUCLEAR' ACCIDENT April 30, 1986 s o Late Friday, April 25, or early. Saturday, April 26, a ~
] serious accident' occurred at theAs Chernobyl a result ofnuclear : an apparent f acility l
near Kiev in the Soviet Union.the facility experienced a core loss of reactor coolant, me ltd own , explosion, and fire. Causes of the accident are not known. o The explosion and res.ulting fire released So longaas plume the of radioactive materials to the atmosphere. reactor core. fire continue off. . o The facility involved ist a graphite-moderated It is one,of , four boiling-water-cooled, pressure-tube unit.To our knowledge, only this one such unit, known units atasChernobyl. Unit 84, is involved in the accident. o The initial plume traveled' in a northwest direction Predictions now suggest it ,will move in toward Scandanavia. Radiation levels above normal background an eastward direction. However, these , have levels been pose no detected significant in Scandanavian countries. risk to human e nvironment. , I. o The U.S. government has made an of f er of technical This good f aith of fer was made assistance out of genuine to the concern Soviets. for the health and saf ety of theno Soviet ' people. The Soviet government respo,nded April 30 that foreign assistance is needed. l o We have also requested specific received information a full response on the to accident. To date, we is have not also a matter of great concern to the that request. This United States, of the Chernobyl o The radiation plume emitted as a result the North'ern accident Hemisphere. will disperse over time throughoutEventually, some radioact However, based on the limited f reach the United inf ormation we nowStates. have, there is no reason to believe that risk levels reaching this country will pose any significantPlease see the accompany i to human health or the environment. information fact sheet on radiation health effects for basic , l ' on exposure. , s 1 i l
-~~ wum-- . . ,- . . , , - - - - - . - - - - y w,,,-w,,,__y...,,,,,~w,, --_.m.p-. , , _ . , .- , , . we,,,,e, e mm m .
O # .
. -. Page 6 of o It is v'ery unlikely that any significant amount,s of radiation from the Theaccident Environmental will reach Protection the Agency's U.S. during the next few days. - ER AMS *-
Environmental Radiation Ambient Monitoring ; System In is conducting daily sampling throughout the nation. 'diation addition to ambient air, the system also monitors ra levels in drinking water, surf ace water, and milk. k o The White House has established an interagency tas s force to monitor the health, safety and environmental d by Lee consequence of the Chernobyl accident. The task force is chaire i Thomas, Administrator of the theU.S. following Environmental Protect on-federal agencies: Agency. Members represent On a EPA, DOE, NRC, NOAA, HHS, USDA, DOD, DOT and others. idely bl daily basis, the task force compiles, evaluates, and wd its environmental and health consequences. i accident and i O t 9
. *l e
W
q).
. 4 \
i ! i Page 7 of
. s. $
s, s\
'# 'Attacnment 3- l 5 '
IN 86-31 - 5 n ,j i May 2, 1986 s ; 1 . Fact Sheet-Chernobyl F 't t i , S0VIET NUCLEAR 1 ACCIDENT } .! t s yj
- FOR RELEASE: 2:00 P.M.2, FRIDAY, MAY 2,'1986
< 'l s a
> 1 '. ,. .
i s y CONTACT: DAVE COHEN (202) 382-4355
\
Radiation monitoring networks .in ttw United States and t Canada are con'tinuing to analyze for airborne radioactivity daily. No incrdases in radioactivity above normal background . levels have bee'n detected in'either country. Canadian officials intend to increase the sartplin'g frequency of their milk i ,'
' monitorinej network, which, consists of 16 stations near populatten(cent <trs in southern Canada, to weekly 'beginning ,
nextweek.!t . 1 ' i t t' , I f i It is believed that air containing radioactivity now covers # , mach of Europe and a large part of the Soviet Union. The distribu-tion of radioactivity is likely to be patchy. Air containing radioactivity detycted by aircraf tLat 5000 feet about 400 miles west of northern Norway is believed to have moved westward and now, appears to b'e heaci.ng south or southeastward perhaps to return to western Europn. There is no independeht confirmation o'f the radio-activity in,the air moving eastward across Asia. (A weahrer map should be attached to today's, Task Force Report. If you do not 'have a copy, it can be picked up in the EPA press of fice, room 311, Westi - Tower, 401 M St. , 5.W. (202) 382-4355. ) c, s; . Environmental monitoring data have been pro /ided by'the Swedish governmert for the Stockholm area for April 28-30. Extrapolations s of those data suggest that radiation exposure levels at the thernobyl site would have been in a range' from 20 rem to hundreds of rent whole-body for the two-day period over which most of the radiation release probably took place. Radiation doses for the thyroid gland have been estimated to be in a' range from 200 rem to thousands of rem for the same period. These doses are s'ufficient to produce severe physical trauma including do th. It should be emphasized that these are estimates subject to considerable uncertainty. The U.S. has as yet no information from the Soviet Union as to actual radiation levels experienced at the accident site. I r
,I k b
/
.m ^
Page 8 of 9 The Soviets hate reported they have smothered the fire. We still cannot confirm that the reactor fire in unit 4 has been extinguished. There is evidence triat the reactor or associated equipment continues to smolder. We also cannot confirm news reports of damage at a second reactor, but the second hot spot seen in the LANDSAT photos is not a reactor. Based on the fact that no harmful levels of radioactivity are expected to reach the continental United States, it is highly unlikely that potassium iodide (KI) will be needed to minimize the uptake of radioactive iodine from the Russian nuclear power plant accident. KI, although relatively harmless, has been associated with certain allergic reactions; thus, since the use of KI is not without some risk to the population, the U.S. Public Health Service recommends against taking KI as a precautionary measuce. Federal authorities do not believe there is any reason for concern at this time about the safety of either our domestic food or drug supplies. Nor should there be concern over imported products already in the United States or on their way to the United States at the time of the nuclear accident in the Soviet Union. The State Department is continuing efforts to obtain relevant information from Soviet authorities on the nuclear accident and the potential health dangers that might be posed to individuals in the Soviet Union and adjacent countries. State has noted, for example, recent statements issued by Polish authorities concerning public health precautionary measures. The State Department is seeking more information from all the governments in the region. The U.S. is sending experts to potentially affected areas for medical consultation and to provide relevant expertise on which to make appropriate recommendations with regard to the health of An.erican citizens. With the limited data at hand, the Departments of State and Health and Human Services have issued an advisory against travel to Kiev and adjacent areas. To minimize possible exposure to radioactive contaminatir.n, we also suggest that those in Eastern Europe avoid milk and other dairy products. In addition, State is recommending that women of child-bearing age and children
~
should not travel to Poland until the situation is clarified. The State Department is receiving reports from our European embassies, based on their discussions with local officials, as to l the impact of the accident and local reactions to it. We are still not receiving the necessary technical information from the Soviets on the details of the accident. W / A-4 -3'46~ F 2. i l I
s, ' Page 9 of 9 The White House has established an Interagency Task Force to coordinate the Government's response to the nuclear reactor accident in Chernobyl. The Task Force is under the direction of Lee M. Thomas, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, with representatives from the White House, Department of State, EPA, Department of Energy, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Air Force, Department of Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Interior, Federal Aviation Administration, the U.S. Public Health Service, and other agencies. s PLEASE NOTE: THE EPA PRESS OFFICE WILL BE OPEN OVER THE WEEKEND FOR UPDATING. HOURS WILL BE FROM 10am TO 2PM. 202-382-4355. Vo i A-s'-3v FL
I' .
. ~. '
Attachment 2 IN 86-33 May.6, 1986 LIST OF RECENTLY ISSUED IE INFORMATION NOTICES Information Date of Notice No. Subject Issue Issued to 86-32 Request For Collection Of 5/2/86 All power reactor Licensee 23dioactivity facilities holding Measurements Attributed To an OL or CP The Chernobyl Nuclear Plant Accident 86-31 Unauthorized Transfer and 5/6/86 All power reactor Loss of Control of facilities holding Industrial Nuclear Gauges an OL or a CP 86-30 Design Limitations of 4/29/86 All power reactor Gaseous Effluent Monitoring facilities holding Systems an OL cr a CP 86-29 Effects of Changing Valve 4/25/86 All power reactor Motor-Operator Switch facilities holding Settings an OL or a CP 86-28 4/28/86 86-27 Access Control at Nuclear 4/21/86 All power reactor Facilities facilities holding an OL or CP, research and nonpower reactor facilities, and fuel fabrication & pro-cessing facilities 86-26 Potential Problems In 4/17/86 All power reactor Generators Manufactured By facilities holding Electrical Products an OL or CP Incorporated 86-25 Traceability And Material 4/11/86 All power reactor Control Of Material And facilities holding Equipment, Particularly an OL or CP Fasteners OL = Operating License CP = Construction Permit FoI A-6(:, 335 9 2
9 l COMMUNICATION WITH NRC LICENSEES On May 2, IE issued IN 86-32 which provided all power reactor licensees with background information about the Chernobyl accident. The IN also requested that they immediately report to the NRC Operations Center any elevated levels of radioactivity that they detect from their monitoring programs and the NRC would then inform EPA of these results. The notice also cautioned licensees that any anomolous detection of radioactive material should be carefully evaluated to assure that any detected materials are properly identified as to source, i.e., licensed activities , or the Chernobyl event. This IN was also provided to INPO for immediate dissemination on their electronic information network. On May 5, INPO was provided with a short statement to be put on their electronic network which indicated that radioactive materials had arrived off the west coast and that it would be most likely detected by sampling of rainwater. - On May 6, IE issued IN 86-33 to all fuel cycle licensees and large radioactive material users. This IN enclosed IN 86-32. Although the IN did not specifically request reports from these licensees, the intent was to inform them of the situation and the mechanism for reporting anomolous data, if appropriate. All EPA daily press releases have been provided to both INPO and AIF for distribution to power reactor licensees. I 1 e 1 [ b Mb3[ [} l
- , 2;
.i Y? .
r,
'RIORITY ATTENTION REQUESTED SSINS No.: 6835
IN 86-32 UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555 May 2, 1986 IE INFORMATION NOTICE NO. 86-32: REQUEST FOR COLLECTION OF LICENSEE RADI0 ACTIVITY MEASUREMENTS ATTRIBUTED TO THE CHERNOBYL NUCLEAR PLANT ACCIDENT Addressees:
All nuclear power reactor facility licensees holding an operating license (OL) -- or construction permit (CP).
Purpose:
The purpose of this information notice is to update licensees of the recent Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident and to request voluntary reporting of any licensee environmental radioactivity measurement data probably caused by that event. In order to enhance the Federal and state monitoring programs, all nuclear power reactor facilities with on going environmental monitoring programs are requested to consider the NRC request to report confirmed anomalous environmental radioac-tivity measurements probably caused by radioactive material released in the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the U.S.S.R. It is requested that recipients review the attached information and provide the environmental data discussed herein. Description of Circumstances: Information issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) concerning the recent reactor accident in Chernobyl, USSR is contained in Attachments 1, 2 and 3.. In the week following the accident at Chernobyl, elevated levels of radioactivity have been detected in air, rainwater, soil and food in many European countries. The radionuclides that have been detected in air in these countries include: l I-131, Cs-137, Cs-134, Te-132, Ru-103, Mo-99, Np-239, and Nb-95. Although estimates of plume arrival time and location of entry into the continental United States are highly uncertain at this time, the plume may arrive in the Pacific Northwest United States during May 7-10, 1986.
~
Discussion: It appears lik.ely that radioactive material from the Chernobyl accident may arrive withia the continental U.S. in concentrations that are readily detectable. In order ts enhance nationwide environmental surveillance, the EPA (and some states) aave increased the airborne monitoring sampling frequencies to be better able to detect any traces of the plume. In order to supplement and reinforce this state and federal nationwide surveillance program, the NRC licensees [as l, -
$ $ h *NOY fl l
l ,.,i n
9 .
- y. .
A " IN 86-32
]
-{^ May 2, 1986 ,
Page 2 of 2 ! l part of their routine Environmental Monitoring Program (EMP)] are requested to voluntarily provide the following information: l
- 1. Report to the NRC any anomalous environmental radiation or radioactivity measurement that can be reasonably assumed to have resulted from the Chernobyl accident. These confirmed measurement results from the licensee's routine EMP should be telephonically reported to the NRC' Operations Center (301-951-0550).within 24 hours of determining that material from the accident has been measured. (E'nvironment air sampling probably is the most sensitive and thus most likely means of detecting the airborne materials. Some other less-sensitive potential means of detection may include personnel whole body counting equipment).
The reporting format should provide for:
- 1. Sample date(s) and approximate locations (s).
- 2. Medium or pathway (e.g. , air particulate, air charcoal, milk).
- 3. Type of analysis (e.g., gross beta, iodine-131, other gamma emitter). t
- 4. Statistical data (mean, range, number of samples).
Any data provided by NRC licensees will be shared with appropriate federal agencies. The NRC as part a combined Interagency Task Force is providing daily technical information reports to the Institute for Nuclear Power Operations (INP0). This updated technical information is available to member utilities through INP0's Nuclear Network system. Because the sensitivity and broad scope of existing licensee programs, augmentation of the NRC licensee EMPs is not necessary. Any anomalous detection of radioactive material should be evaluated in accordance with facility license, technical specifications and applicable regulations to assure that the detected materials are properly identified as to source (e.g. , either plant operations or the Chernobyl Event). We appreciate your cooperacion with us on this matter. If you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact the Regional Administrator of the appropriate NRC regional office, or this office. ad . ordan, Director Divisi n of Emergency Preparedness and E gineering Response Office of Inspection and Enforcement Technical Contacts: James E. Wigginton, IE (301) 492-4967 Roger L. Pedersen, IE l (301) 492-9425 Attachments: ,
- 1. EPA Task Force Report (May 1,1986) l 2. Talking Points (April 30, 1986)
- 3. Fact Sheet (May 2, 1986) l 4. List of Recently Issued IE Information Notices Qa t A 66 M FJ
- }}