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Title: Radioactive effluents in Savannah River. Summary report for 1990

Abstract

During 1990, low-level radiometric studies of the Savannah River continued to distinguish between effluent contributions from Plant Vogtle and the Savannah River Site. Measurements of these radioactive effluents are of mutual interest to both institutions, as they can address disturbing trends before they become health and legal concerns. The Environmental Technology Section (ETS) has conducted radiometric studies of Plant Vogtle since late 1986, prior to its startup. The plant has two 1100 MWe pressurized water reactors developed by Westinghouse. Unit 1 started commercial operations in June 1987, and Unit 2 began in May 1989. During powered operations, ETS has routinely detected neutron-activated isotopes in controlled releases but all activities have been several orders of magnitude below the DOE guide values. In 1990, processing improvements for Vogtle effluents have yielded even lower activities in the river. The Vogtle release data and the ETS measurements have tracked well over the past four years.

Authors:
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Westinghouse Savannah River Co., Aiken, SC (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
10172327
Report Number(s):
WSRC-TR-91-647
ON: DE92019344
DOE Contract Number:
AC09-89SR18035
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: 27 Nov 1991
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; 11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS; SAVANNAH RIVER; RADIATION MONITORING; SAVANNAH RIVER PLANT; RADIOACTIVE EFFLUENTS; PROGRESS REPORT; SAMPLING; NAI DETECTORS; 540330; 053002; RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS MONITORING AND TRANSPORT

Citation Formats

Winn, W.G. Radioactive effluents in Savannah River. Summary report for 1990. United States: N. p., 1991. Web. doi:10.2172/10172327.
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Winn, W.G. Radioactive effluents in Savannah River. Summary report for 1990. United States. doi:10.2172/10172327.
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Winn, W.G. Wed . "Radioactive effluents in Savannah River. Summary report for 1990". United States. doi:10.2172/10172327. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/10172327.
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@article{osti_10172327,
title = {Radioactive effluents in Savannah River. Summary report for 1990},
author = {Winn, W.G.},
abstractNote = {During 1990, low-level radiometric studies of the Savannah River continued to distinguish between effluent contributions from Plant Vogtle and the Savannah River Site. Measurements of these radioactive effluents are of mutual interest to both institutions, as they can address disturbing trends before they become health and legal concerns. The Environmental Technology Section (ETS) has conducted radiometric studies of Plant Vogtle since late 1986, prior to its startup. The plant has two 1100 MWe pressurized water reactors developed by Westinghouse. Unit 1 started commercial operations in June 1987, and Unit 2 began in May 1989. During powered operations, ETS has routinely detected neutron-activated isotopes in controlled releases but all activities have been several orders of magnitude below the DOE guide values. In 1990, processing improvements for Vogtle effluents have yielded even lower activities in the river. The Vogtle release data and the ETS measurements have tracked well over the past four years.},
doi = {10.2172/10172327},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Nov 27 00:00:00 EST 1991},
month = {Wed Nov 27 00:00:00 EST 1991}
}
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Technical Report:
View Technical Report (1.44 MB)
DOI:  10.2172/10172327
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  • During 1992, the radioactive effluents in the Savannah River were less than those observed in 1991. Vogtle reported no significant releases in 1992, and in earlier years Vogtle improvements in pre-processing their releases had already effected a decreasing trend in release levels. Their effluents continue to be dominated by {sup 58}Co, which had a maximum concentration of only 0.068 pCi/L, which is just 1/3 of the maximum observed in 1991. Many of the other man-made radionuclides observed in earlier years have now decreased to where some are not even detected, and no new radionuclides were detected in the 1992 Vogtlemore » effluents. In addition to {sup 58}Co, low levels of {sup 60}Co were frequently observed, but only traces of {sup 54}Mn and {sup 95}Nb were observed. Contrary to earlier years no {sup 51}Cr, {sup 57}Co, {sup 59}Fe, or {sup 95}Zr were seen in 1992. Tritium and {sup 137}Cs were also monitored, but their levels generally remain consistent with known SRS sources. The maximum tritium observed near Vogtle was 2 pCi,/mL. The maximum downstream tritium was higher (3.8 pCi/mL), primarily due to the tritium release from K-Reactor in December 1991; however, the levels had abated significantly prior to collection of the tritium samples of the present study. In addition to natural sources, the general levels in the Savannah River are due to routine releases from the effluent treatment facility and seepage basin migration into plant streams that flow into the river.« less

  • During 1996, the radioactive effluents in the Savannah River were generally comparable to (or lower than) those observed during the earlier years of these studies, being orders of magnitude below DOE and EPA/CFR guide levels. Relative to SRS and Plant Vogtle, the upstream site at Shell Bluff and the downstream side at Highway 301 Bridge are the only resin sampler sites still in service. Vogtle associated activities were largest during June to August, and they are dominated by {sup 60}Co as was the case in 1995. In earlier years, Vogtle effluents had been dominated by {sub 58}Co. The maximum observedmore » {sub 58}Co and {sub 60}Co were 52 fCi/L and 162 fCi/L; however, values an order of magnitude greater are projected just downstream of Plant Vogtle, as noted earlier. In addition to {sub 58}Co and {sub 60}Co, Vogtle activities for {sub 54}Mn was correlated. SRS associated gamma activities were for {sub 137}Cs, which were observed at levels consistent with known SRS sources. In 1996, an isotope-specific resin was used for cesium collection, and this resulted in a maximum observed {sub 137}Cs of 85 fCi/L at Highway 301 Bridge. The standard resin yielded a maximum of 54 fCi/L, which is comparable to the 1995 result. Although the isotopic-specific resin generally yielded the higher {sub 137}Cs concentration, the larger of the two resin values was adopted for conservatism.« less

  • During 1995, the radioactive effluents in the Savannah River were generally lower but comparable to those observed during the earlier years of these studies, being orders of magnitude below DOE and EPA/CFR guide levels. Vogtle has only one notable effluent release in 1995. In earlier year, Vogtle effluents had been dominated by {sub 58}Co; however, in 1995 {sub 60}Co exhibited the overall maximum at 1.31 pCi/L, which is almost three times larger than the previous {sub 60}Co maximum of 0.49 pCi/L observed in 1988. By comparison, the {sub 58}Co maximum was 0.46 pCi/L, which was lower than its maxima inmore » earlier years. In addition to {sub 58}Co and {sub 60}Co, Vogtle activities of {sub 54}Mn, {sub 57}Co, {sub 95}Nb, and {sub 95}Zr were observed. The above activities were observed from samples just downstream of Vogtle, but these samples were discontinued in October due to funding priorities. In addition, {sub 137}Cs was detected, but its levels are consistent with known SRS sources. The maximum for {sub 137}Cs was 49 fCi/L at Highway 301 Bridge.« less

  • During 1991, low-level radiometric studies of the Savannah River continued to distinguish between effluent contributions from Plant Vogtle and the Savannah River Site. Measurements of these radioactive effluents are of mutual interest to both institutions, as they can address disturbing trends before they become health and legal concerns. During 1991, the radioactive effluents in the Savannah River were somewhat less than those observed in 1990. This decreasing trend has followed Vogtle improvements in pre-processing their liquid effluents. These effluents continue to be dominated by {sup 58}Co, which had a maximum concentration of only 0.21 pCi/L, which is an order ofmore » magnitude lower than the maximum observed in 1990. Many of the other man-made radionuclides observed in 1987--1990 have now decreased to where some are not even detected, and no new radionuclides were detected in the 1991 Vogtle effluents.« less

  • During 1993-1994, low-level radiometric studies of the Savannah River continued to distinguish between effluent contributions from Plant Vogtle and the Savannah River Site. Measurements of these radioactive effluents are of mutual interest to both institutions, as they can address abnormal trends before they become health and legal concerns. The Environmental Technology Section (ETS) has conducted radiometric studies of Plant Vogtle since late 1986, prior to its startup. The plant has two 1100 MWe pressurized water reactors developed by Westinghouse, Unit 1 started commercial operations in June 1987, and Unit 2 began in May 1989. During powered operations, ETS has routinelymore » detected neutron-activated isotopes in controlled releases but all activities have been orders of magnitude below the DOE guide values and EPA/CFR levels. In 1993-1994, Vogtle effluents continued to contribute low activities to the river. The Vogtle release data and the ETS measurements have tracked well over the past eight years.« less