Radiological survey of exposed shorelines and islands of the Columbia River between Vernita and the Snake River confluence
This document describes a radiological survey which was performed to evaluate the magnitude and distribution of radioactive contamination on the exposed shorelines of the Columbia River along and downstream of the Hanford Site. The area encompassed by the survey includes the low-lying exposed land on both sides of the river from the uppermost point of production reactor discharge into the river at 100-B Area to the confluence of the Snake and Columbia Rivers, almost 60 miles downstream of the starting point. External exposure rate measurements were made at nearly 30,000 locations during the survey - accounting for approximately 60% of the land in the study area. Measurable radioactive contamination, resulting from past Hanford operations was found to be present on the shorelines of the Columbia River along the study area. The absence of short-lived radionuclides in the shore sediments and the presence of contamination several meters above recent maximum river levels indicate that the material was deposited some years ago.
- Research Organization:
- Battelle Pacific Northwest Labs., Richland, WA (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC06-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 5101488
- Report Number(s):
- PNL-3127; TRN: 80-016208
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Investigation of groundwater seepage on the Hanford shoreline of the Columbia River
Snake River Fall Chinook Salmon Life History Investigations, Annual Report 2007.
Related Subjects
COLUMBIA RIVER
CONTAMINATION
RADIATION MONITORING
DOSE RATES
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
HANFORD RESERVATION
PARTICLES
RADIOACTIVE EFFLUENTS
RADIOACTIVITY
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
SHORES
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
DATA
DISTRIBUTION
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
INFORMATION
MASS TRANSFER
MONITORING
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NUMERICAL DATA
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RIVERS
STREAMS
SURFACE WATERS
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
WASTES
520302* - Environment
Aquatic- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- Aquatic Ecosystems & Food Chains- (-1987)
510302 - Environment
Terrestrial- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- Terrestrial Ecosystems & Food Chains- (-1987)