2011 PLAN FOR ENVIRONMENTAL RADIATION SURVEILLANCE NORTH CAROLINA

Transcription

1 PLAN FOR ENVIRONMENTAL RADIATION SURVEILLANCE IN NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES Division of Environmental Health Radiation Protection Section 385 Barrett Drive Raleigh, North Carolina Telephone: (99)57-44

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page No. INTRODUCTION Purpose of Plan Present Objectives of Program PLAN FOR ENVIRONMENTAL RADIATION SURVEILLANCE Summary Statewide Surveillance Nuclear Facility Surveillance Special Projects

3 Introduction The (January through December) Environmental Radiation Surveillance Program will continue monitoring the radioactivity levels in the North Carolina environment. The purpose of this plan and the program s objectives are included in this brief introduction. Purpose of Plan The purpose of this plan is to present the environmental radiological sampling program in North Carolina for the period between January and December. We are continuing with a calendar year plan, since most of the facilities use calendar year planning and radon projects start at the beginning of the year. This plan will assist the program s sample collection staff in scheduling their sampling frequencies and time of sampling. Program staff document information concerning procedures used in the field and the State Laboratory of Public Health, such as field sampling, sampling preparation, counting equipment operation and data analyses. This information is available by contacting the environmental group in the Radioactive Materials Branch (RAM) of the Radiation Protection Section (RPS) in the Division of Environmental Health. For more information about the section, please visit the RPS Web site at Present Objectives The program s basic objectives is to monitor for potential releases of radioactivity from the three nuclear power plants operating in North Carolina, which have a combined total of five reactors, and one operating nuclear plant in South Carolina. The section also monitors one nuclear fuel (uranium) fabrication plant operating in North Carolina. (See map on page 8.) This environmental monitoring program plan is also intended to help the section meet its obligations required by NC General Statue 4E 9(a)(6). Due to limited resources, RPS is currently providing an independent review of the more extensive environmental surveillance programs maintained by the nuclear facilities themselves based upon data obtained through implementation of this environmental monitoring plan. To facilitate this objective, S splitsampling is used for this checking. If the split sample results from the laboratory of the nuclear facility agree with third party radioanalytic laboratory results, it is assumed that all of the results of the nuclear facility surveillance programs are reliable for analysis. The program s staff analyzes monitoring reports from these facilities for accuracy and to ensure that any anomalous results are investigated. Another objective has been, and continues to be, the statewide monitoring of radiation levels in the interest of environmental public health. This effort has assumed new importance as a result of homeland security concerns. Radiation levels monitored include radon, radium and uranium in drinking water; indoor radon in structures; and fallout due to past atmospheric nuclear weapons testing. In addition, RPS monitors environmental radioactivity to address questions dealing with statewide natural ambient radiation levels, radiation exposure due to inactive low-level radioactive waste burial sites and low-level radioactive waste incinerators, and naturally-occurring radioactive materials (NORM) from various industrial processes such as phosphate mining. Based upon the environmental radiation surveillance results in the past few years, the radiation levels for nuclear facility samples, as well as for statewide routine samples, are generally quite low and fluctuate around naturally occurring background levels. The low levels encountered are still of concern because of possible long-term hereditary effects due to genetic mutations and a possible increase in the incidence of diseases such as cancer. In the upcoming year, the section s staff will continue to review all available monitoring data around all of these major nuclear facilities and analyze the radiological impact on the environment due to the operation of these facilities.

4 In the event of a nuclear emergency, the section would be responsible for determining the area and intensity of radioactive contamination. The staff would use nuclear instruments in the mobile laboratory for field sample measurements, run dose projection computer programs to estimate the severity of radioactive contamination around the emergency site, and use specialized sensors to detect radioactivity on the ground. Since the 9- terrorist attack, the RPS has been involved in several anti-terrorism activities with other government agencies. Environmental data obtained from the environmental radiological monitoring program will help in the event of an emergency or terrorist attack in determining the extent of radiation contamination (if any) and to provide a framework for decisions made to protect the health and safety of the public. The section will continue to use the Global Positioning System technology to improve its monitoring capability.. The staff continues their work to update the emergency maps around the state s nuclear power plants in coordination with the states nuclear utilities. This year, the Radiation Protection Section will continue a ground water split sampling project from several new wells next to a stabilization pond on the Brunswick Nuclear Plant site. These wells are in contact with shallow, intermediate, and deep aquifers. This project is planned for a semiannual basis. Additionally, the Radiation Protection Section reviews facility sampling plans and results for fixed nuclear facilities. Finally, the section reviews and evaluates analysis results for filtration media used by community water systems to remove NORM from public water supplies. These filtration media are tested before being discarded to prevent adding radioactive material to waste disposal sites that are unqualified to receive low level radioactive waste.

5 PLAN FOR ENVIRONMENTAL RADIATION SURVEILLANCE The table below shows a summary of the planned surveillance program, including both nuclear facility and statewide surveillance, for the period between January and December. Shown below are the total numbers of samples to be taken of any particular environmental media in one year either on a statewide (routine) basis or around a particular nuclear facility on a random and routine basis. Note: For budgetary reasons, RPS has put the following sampling programs on indefinite hiatus since 9 : PCS Phosphate Mine in Aurora, NC, Pulstar Research Reactor at NC State University in Raleigh, NC, and the B- 5 Bomber Crash Site in Faro, NC. The decision to halt these programs was made to allow the Radiation Protection Section to focus on environmental surveillance at fixed nuclear facilities and statewide ambient monitoring sites. SUMMARY OF N. C. ENVIRONMENTAL RADIATION SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM (January - December ) Routine BR GNF MG CT SH Total Year Air Particulate Air Iodine Milk 84 8 Finished Water 8 8 Raw Surface Water Groundwater Precipitation Sewage Effluent Sediment Shellfish or Fish 4 4 Soil 4 4 Vegetation or Food TLD Total for Year Abbreviations: BR - Brunswick Steam Electric Plant (Progress Energy) GNF - Global Nuclear Uranium Fuel Facility MG - McGuire Nuclear Station (Duke) CT - Catawba Nuclear Power Plant (Duke) SH - Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant (Progress Energy) 3

6 NORTH CAROLINA ENVIRONMENTAL RADIATION SURVEILLANCE NETWORK A M R F F M E R F E A P F M A 6 R F R F E F M P A R R F 8 M A Air Suspended Particulate E Sewage Treatment Effluent F Finished Water M Milk P Precipitation R Raw Surface Water S Shellfish S 3 R F P S Global Nuclear Fuels (formerly GE) Pulstar (NCSU)* 3 Brunswick Nuclear Plant (Progress Energy) 4 McGuire Nuclear Station(Duke Energy) 5 Catawba Nuclear Station (Duke Emergy) 6 Harris Nuclear Plant (Progress Energy) 7 PCS Phosphate Aurora, NC* 8 B-5 Crash Site Faro, NC* *Discontinued Sites

7 Statewide Surveillance The program for statewide sampling is presented in maps and tables within this report. The maps show the approximate location of each sampling point and the type of sample taken. Tables identify the planned dates on which these samples will be taken. Previously, RPS received and analyzed air samples collected at Division of Air Quality air filter sample sites. This split sampling partnership with the Division of Air Quality has been discontinued as of due to budgetary concerns. For the year, periodic environmental sampling will continue around facilities with the potential for radioactive release. The sampling programs around inactive burial sites at Duke University, North Carolina State University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have been discontinued due to source removal or treatment and clean-up being conducted at these sites. However, all of these facilities are required to maintain a very limited monitoring program of sampling at least once a year, and sample results are to be submitted to the section for review. The section also has the option to perform independent sample collection as needed. 5

8 AIR PARTICULATE SAMPLING SCHEDULE (4-hr High Volume Sampling) Wednesday Code No. Location: County/City of Month Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. -AP-5 Burke/Morganton st AP- Currituck/Currituck st AP- Stanly/Albemarle st AP-6 Wake/Raleigh I st AP-6 Wake/Raleigh II Continued Low Volume Sampling Weekly (as control station for SHNPP) PRECIPITATION SAMPLING SCHEDULE Wednesday Code No. Location: County/City of Month Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. 6-PP- Mecklenburg/Charlotte st PP-8 New Hanover/Wilmington nd PP-6 Wake/Raleigh 3rd MILK SAMPLING SCHEDULE Code No. Processor Location: County/City Thursday of Month Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. -MS- Buncombe/Asheville st MS-5 Craven/New Bern nd MS-4 Davidson/Highpoint 3rd MS-6 Wake/Raleigh 4th MS-6 Macon/Otto nd MS-4 Orange/Hillsborough nd MS-7 Sampson/Spiveys Corner nd SEWAGE TREATMENT SAMPLING SCHEDULE Code No. Location: County/City Thursday of Month Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. 3-SE- Durham/Durham st SE- Mecklenburg/Charlotte 3rd SE-6 Wake/Raleigh 4th

9 RAW SURFACE WATER SAMPLING SCHEDULE Wednesday Code No. Location: County/City of Month Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. 34-SW-8 Forsyth/Winston-Salem nd SW-5 Harnett/Lillington 4th SW-7 Johnston/Smithfield st SW-5 Montgomery/Mt. Gilead nd SW-8 New Hanover/Wilmington 3rd SW-3 Pitt/Greenville st SW-6 Wake/Raleigh 4th FINISHED WATER SAMPLING SCHEDULE Wednesday Code No. Location: County/City of Month Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. -FW-8 Buncombe/Asheville st FW-5 Forsyth/Winston-Salem nd FW-7 Halifax/Roanoke Rapids 3rd FW-5 Harnett/Lillington 4th FW-8 Johnston/Smithfield st FW-3 Mecklenburg/Charlotte nd FW-6 New Hanover/Wilmington 3rd FW-3 Pitt/Greenville st FW-6 Wake/Raleigh 4th SHELLFISH SAMPLING SCHEDULE Wednesday Code No. Location: County/City of Month Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. 6-SL-5 Carteret/Morehead City 3rd

10 Nuclear Facility Surveillance This year, operational surveillance will continue around Brunswick Nuclear Power Plant, William B. McGuire Nuclear Station, Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant, and Global Nuclear Fuels Uranium Fuel Fabrication Plant. A smaller air particulate monitoring and TLD surveillance program around Catawba Nuclear Power Plant on the North Carolina/South Carolina border will also continue. As of January,, RPS will change site location numbers for some of the sample locations in the split sample program at Shearon Harris Nuclear Plant and Brunswick Nuclear Plant. Wherever possible, split sampling locations for air, water, milk, food crops and fish will have identical site numbers for state and utility locations, as is the case at the McGuire Nuclear Station. The Table on page 9 shows the types of samples, number of locations for each type, collection frequency and the nature of analysis performed upon each type sample. Maps are also given which display the locations at which split samples are taken and the type of sample at each location., Global Nuclear Fuels (formerly GE) Pulstar (NCSU) DISCONTINUED 3 Brunswick Nuclear Plant (Progress Energy) 4 McGuire Nuclear Station (Duke Energy) 5 Catawba Nuclear Station (Duke Emergy) 6 Harris Nuclear Plant (Progress Energy) 8

11 ENVIRONMENTAL RADIATION SURVEILLANCE OF NUCLEAR FACILITIES IN NORTH CAROLINA (Sample Locations, Collection Frequency and Types of Analysis) TYPES OF ANALYSIS Facility and Description Type of Sample Number of Split Sample Locations Number of Independent Sample Locations Collection Frequency γ I s o t o p i c G r o s s α G r o s s β Sr H-3 A m b i e n t γ U L o w L e v e l I Brunswick Nuclear Power Plant Located in Brunswick County. Two 8 MW reactors (GE's BWR). Air Particulate Air Radioiodine SW SW GW Sediment Fish Vegetation TLD 6** 37 W W M Y a h h c f b b William B. McGuire Nuclear Station Located in Mecklenburg County. Two,8 MW reactors (Westinghouse PWR). Air Particulate Air Radioiodine Milk SW SW Sediment Fish Vegetation Veg(Food Crop) TLD GW W W M M Q A; Y a g h h j j j j j f b b b d Global Nuclear Fuels Uranium Fuel Fabrication Plant Located in New Hanover County. Air Particulate SW GW Soil Vegetation Sediment TLD,,3 3 5 W M,Q Q, Y a k k m n m Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant Located in Wake County. One 9 MW reactor (Westinghouse PWR). Air Particulate Air Radioiodine Milk SW SW GW Sediment Fish Vegetation TLD, W W M B-W,M Q Q Y a g h h c j j j Catawba Nuclear Power Plant Located in Lake Wylie, S.C.. Two,53 MW reactors (Westinghouse PWR). Air Particulate TLD **Includes stabilization pond site monitoring projects, to be monitored semiannually in. 5 W Y a f 9

12 KEY TO SAMPLE CHART a = b = c = d = e = analysis performed on composite of all sites monthly using detectors as note "e". Sr-89 and Sr-9 analysis performed if Cs-37 > pci/l Gamma isotopic if gross beta > 5 pci/l If beta > pci/g (dry) Gamma analysis of 47 mm filter composites using the intrinsic HPGe detector; Iodine charcoal cartridges are gamma analyzed using the HpGe detector also. f = Sr-9 performed if Cs-37 >. pci/m 3 g = h = i = Milk isotopes: More than 7 isotopes in the Ge(Li) library Water isotopes: More than 7 isotopes including K-4, Cr-5, Mn-54, Co-6, Zn-65, Zr-95, Ru- 6, I-3, Cs-34, Cs-37, Ba/La-4, Ce-44, Ra-6 Total uranium if gross alpha > 5 pci/l j = Soil and Sediment isotopes: More than 7 isotopes including K-4, Mn-54, Co-6, Zn-65, Zr- 95, Ru-6, I-3, Cs-34, Ba-4, Ce-44, Ra-6, Th-3 k = m = n = = Alpha spectroscopy uranium if gross alpha > 5 pci/l Alpha spectroscopy uranium if gross alpha > 5 pci/g (dry) Alpha spectroscopy uranium if gross alpha >.3 pci/g (wet) Indicated analysis will be performed Abbreviations: M = Monthly Q = Quarterly A = Annually W = Weekly GW = Groundwater = Semi-Annually SW = Surface Water B-M = Bi-Monthly (every two weeks)

13 Site Maps for North Carolina Facilities/

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