Applied Health Physics Annual Report for 1963 Page: 2

                                
2

2.0   ENVIRONS MONITORING
2.1 Introduction
The Health Physics Division monitors for air-borne radioactivity in
the East Tennessee area by the use of three separate monitoring networks.
The local air monitoring (LAM) network consists of twenty-two stations
which are positioned in relation to ORNL operational activities (Figs. 1
and 2); the perimeter air monitoring (PAM) network consists of seven
stations which are located on the perimeter of the AEC controlled area
(Fig. 3); and the remote air monitoring (RAM) network consists of seven
stations which are located outside the AEC controlled area at distances of
from 12 to 75 miles from ORNL (Fig. 4). The monitoring networks provide
for the collection of (1) air-borne radioactivity by air filtration tech-
niques, (2) radioparticulate fall-out material by impingement on gummed
paper trays, and (3) rain water for measurement of fall-out occurring as
rain-out. The filter data are representative of radioparticulate matter
which might be considered respirable; the gummed paper data are representa-
tive of radioparticulate fall-out; and the rain water data provide informa-
tion on the soluble and insoluble fractions of the radioactive content of
fall-out material.1
Low level radioactive liquid wastes originating from ORNL operations
are discharged, after preliminary treatment, to the White Oak Creek which
is a small tributary of the Clinch River. Liquid waste releases are con-
trolled so that the resulting average radioactive concentrations in the
Clinch River comply with maximum permissible concentrations established
for populations in the neighborhood of an atomic energy installation as
recommended by the National Committee on Radiation Protection (NCRP) and
the Federal Radiation Council (FRC).
The radioactive content of the White Oak Creek discharge is determined
at White Oak Dam (Fig. 5) which is the last control point along the stream
prior to entry of White Oak Creek waters into Clinch River waters. Water
samples are collected at a number of locations along the Clinch River, begin-
ning at a point above the entry of wastes into the river via White Oak Creek
and ending at Center's Ferry (near Kingston, Tennessee) about 16 miles down-
stream from the confluence of White Oak Creek and the Clinch River. Water
samples are analyzed for gross radioactivity and for certain specified long-
lived radionuclides. Using the maximum permissible concentration values
for drinking water, (MPC)w, for each isotope as recommended by NCRP, a
weighted average (MPC)w for the mixture of radionuclides is calculated on
the basis of the isotopic distribution in the water. The average concen-
trations of gross activity are used for control purposes.
Raw milk samples are collected at ten sampling stations located within
a radius of 50 miles from ORNL. Samples are taken on a weekly basis from
A detailed discussion concerning techniques used in processing air and
water samples for environmental monitoring purposes is given in ORNL-2601.