ML19350D664

LER 81-013/04T-0:on 810430,rept Received from Yankee Atomic Lab Re High Concentration of Co-60 in Irish Moss Sample Taken on 810218.Probably Caused by Fallout from Recent Atmospheric Weapons Tests

ML19350D664
Person / Time
Site:	Pilgrim
Issue date:	05/08/1981
From:	Mcloughlin M BOSTON EDISON CO.
To:	NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I)
Shared Package
ML19350D626	List: ML19350D625 ML19350D664
References
LER-81-013-04T, LER-81-13-4T, NUDOCS 8105180314
Download: ML19350D664 (3)

Text

NRC PORM 334 U.S. NUCLEAR RE2ULATORY COMMISSION mm - LICENSEE EVENT REPORT

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EVENT DESCRIPTION AND PROBA8LE CONSEQUENCES h l o # 21 I On April 30, 1981, Boston Edison received a report from Yankee Atomic Laboratory l g o ,3 ; ; indicating a concentration of Co-60 (440 I 11pCi/kg) in an Irish Moss sample taken l io i,i l from Pilgrim Station discharge canal outfall area on February 18, 1981. 1his con- l 10 i s i I centration is in excess of 10 timea the measured concentration at the station in I lo is l l E111sville (28.2 I 5.3pci/kg). Refer to attachment for details . I 1o 17 l l l 10 l81 l

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,, g a ; l The analyses reports indicate that the source of activity is not due to the operatiop t , ,, , ; of Pilgrim Station but is most likely due to fallout from recent atmospheric weaponst

,, ,7, g tests. However, assuming that the source was Pilgrim Station, the annual dose to ant i,,3i l individual would be only 0.0023 mrem to the total body (child), and 0.018 mrem to l g,i4, l the maximum exposed organ (GI-LLI, Adult) .See Attachmen for further details. l

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BOSTON EDISON COMPANY PILGRIM NUCLEAR POWER STATION 7

DOCKET NO. 50-293 Attachment to LER 81-013/04T-0 ANOMALOUS MEASUREMENT REPORT On April 30, 1981 Boston Edison received the control station analyses report for Irish Moss from the* Yankee Atomic Environmental Laboratory. A comparison to the other sample stations indicated that a reportable concen-tration of Co-60 (440 I 11pci/kg) existed in an Irish Moss sample taken from the Pilgrim Station discharge canal outfall area on February 18, 1981.

This concentration la in excess of 10 times the measured concentration at the control station in E111sv111e (28.2 5.3 pCi/kg). u He, wever, the control station sample analysis showed that there were de-tactable quantities of the following nuclidea: .

Nuclide E111sv111e (Control) Rocky Point _ (discharge canal' pCi/kg pCi/kg Ce-144 116

• 20 43

• 10 Ce-141 91.8 I 7.4 43.913.5 Be-7 121 1 30 77 1 22 Ru-103 33.8 2 4.7 24.3 3.5 Zr-95 62.4 2 8.4 29.0 2 5.9 AcTh -228 47 1 14 1 2 15 Co-60 28.2 2 5,3 440 t 11 E-40 7810 2-150 5960 2 120 As can be seen, there are several nuclides (e.g., Ce-144) with a higher concentration at the control station than was detected in the sample taken from the discharge canal outfall area. This indicates that there is an add-itional source of these isotopes present which significantly contributes to these concentrations and is not due to the operation of Pilgrim Station. This source is undoubtly fallout frem recent atmospheric weapons tests.

Even if it were assumed that the activity was due only to Pilgrim Station, fue to processing and market dilution it is extremely unlikely that any indiv-idual would consume any material with the measured concentration of.Co-60.

However, even if a person were to directly consume this algae at the seafood consumption rates given in Regulatory Guide 1.109, the annual desa to that

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s PAGE No individual would be only 0.0023 mrom to the total body (child) and 0.018 mrem to the maximum exposed organ (GI-LLI, Adult).

It is concluded that there is no risk to public health and safety, as the abova calculated doses are extremely small when compared to the natural back-ground dese. rata in this area of about 80 mrem /yr.

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