An aerial radiological survey of the Pilgrim Station Nuclear Power Plant and surrounding area, Plymouth, Massachusetts

Technical Report · Sun Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1997

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/2138· OSTI ID:2138

Proctor, A E ^[1]

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1. Bechtel Nevada, Remote Sensing Laboratory

Terrestrial radioactivity surrounding the Pilgrim Station Nuclear Power Plant was measured using aerial radiolog- ical survey techniques. The purpose of this survey was to document exposure rates near the plant and to identify unexpected, man-made radiation sources within the survey area. The surveyed area included land areas within a three-mile radius of the plant site. Data were acquired using an airborne detection system that employs sodium iodide, thallium-activated detectors. Exposure rate and photopeak counts were computed from these data and plotted on aerial photographs of the survey area. Several ground-based exposure measurements were made for comparison with the,aerial survey results. Exposure rates in areas surrounding the plant site varied from 6 to 10 microroentgens per hour, with exposure rates below 6 microroentgens per hour occurring over bogs and marshy areas. Man-made radiation was found to be higher than background levels at the plant site. Radation due to nitrogen-1 6, which is produced in the steam cycle of a boiling-water reactor, was the primaty source of activity found at the plant site. Cesium-137 activity at levels slightly above those expected from natural fallout was found at isolated locations inland from the plant site. No other detectable sources of man-made radioactivity were found.

• Research Organization: Remote Sensing Laboratory (RSL), Las Vegas, NV
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Defense Programs (DP)
• DOE Contract Number: AC08-96NV11718
• OSTI ID: 2138
• Report Number(s): DOE/NV/11718--023; ON: DE00002138
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
Aerial Surveying
Nuclear Power Plants
Pilgrim-1 Reactor
Radiation Detectors
Radiation Monitoring
aerial surveys
nuclear power plants
radiation detectors