Aerial Radiological Survey of the Beaver Valley Power Station and the Surrounding211 Areas

摘要

An aerial radiological survey of the Beaver Valley Power Station was conducted211u001eduring September 18 to 21, 1998, and encompassed a 53.1-square-kilometer area. 211u001eThe survey was conducted by the U. S. Department of Energy's Remote Sensing 211u001eLaboratory, located in Las Vegas, Nevada, and maintained and operated by Bechel 211u001eNevada. The purpose of the survey was to measure and map the general exposure-211u001erate levels that existed within the survey area and to define the areas of man-211u001emade radionuclide activity. The inferred exposure rates were generally uniform 211u001eand typical of the natural background radiation, which varied from less than 5 to 211u001e12 microroentgens per hour. Enhanced exposure rates, not attributable to natural 211u001ebackground, and activity from man-made radionuclides were detected over the power 211u001estation. The detected man-made radionuclide activity was due to the presence of 211u001ecobalt-60, which is a nuclear activation product, and cesium-137, which is a long-211u001elived fission product. The detected man-made radionuclides were generally 211u001econsistent with those expected from routine plant operations. Areas outside of 211u001ethe power station boundaries were found to be free of any detectable man-made 211u001eradionuclides. A series of ground-based, pressurized ionization chamber exposure-211u001erate measurements were acquired at four locations within the survey boundaries. 211u001eThe results of these measurements were compared and found to be within 5 to 30 211u001epercent of the corresponding 1998 inferred aerail eexposure-rate data.