SITE INFORMATION AND CORRESPONDENCE

Home Browse Search

LLNL flivftimeato/6owww#1 y Letter Tdmdry 2003 • The highest median concentration of tritium for Reclamation Plant (LWRP) is monitored continuously. If samples collected at any air monitoring station in the any significant releases of radioactivity, metals, or high or Livermore Valley was 0.0002% of the federal guideline. low pH water are detected, the wastewater is redirected to an LLNL sewer diversion system before it leaves the SPECIFIC MONITORING ACTIVITIES LLNL site. It is then treated and disposed of appropriately. Air Monitoring for Plutonium,Tritium,and Other Water Monitoring for Radionuclides and Other Radionuclides Contaminants Air is monitored at various locations on the Livermore site In 2001, the maximum tritium activity measured in and Site 300, throughout the Livermore Valley, and in the on- and off-site drinking water was less than 0.2% of the Tracy area. Concentrations of all monitored radionuclides regulatory maximum contaminant level (MCL). Gross and beryllium at all locations were well below levels that alpha and gross beta radioactivity measurements were would endanger the environment or public health. also well below regulatory levels of concern. For example, the highest median concentration of pluto- In the Livermore Valley, no monitored radioactive or inor- nium for all sampling locations at both the Livermore site ganic nonradioactive constituent was found to exceed and Site 300 was 0.0048% of the federal standard. primary drinking water MCLs in any off-site well. In on- site wells, chromium and nitrates have been detected Air Effluent Monitoring for Tritium and Radioactive above the primary MCL, but these constituents have not Particulates migrated off site at levels above the primary MCLs. Throughout 2001, LLNL operated 77 samplers at seven facilities to measure any radioactivity in effluent air gener- The shallow groundwater beneath Site 300 contains ated by Laboratory operations. Radionuclide emissions volatile organic compounds (VOCs), tritium, nitrate, from all monitored facilities remain very low. Freon, perchlorate, and depleted uranium. These present no current health risks because the shallow groundwater Nonradioactive Air Pollutants is not used as a source of water supply. Emissions of nonradioactive hazardous and toxic air pollutants from Laboratory operations in 2001 were low. Soil and Sediment Monitoring for Plutonium and For example, total nitrogen oxide emission from the Other Radionuclides Livermore site was approximately 52 kilograms per day. In 2001, as in past years, most of the analyses of on-site This is about 0.07% of the amount released daily from soil samples did not detect any nonradiological contami- all sources in the Bay Area. Nineteen kilograms of nants labeled as "constituents of concern." A few reactive organic compounds were emitted per day. This analyses detected either trace amounts of contaminants is approximately 0.01% of the total Bay Area emission or naturally occurring background concentrations. of that pollutant. Radiological results were unchanged from very low levels of previous years. Elevated concentrations of depleted Approximately 90 kilograms per day of criteria air pollu- uranium were found near two Site 300 firing tables. tants (including nitrogen oxides, volatile organics, sulfur oxides, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and lead) All soil samples taken in the City of Livermore's Big Trees are emitted from the Livermore site and about 2.5 kilo- Park in 1998 yielded results well below levels of regula- grams per day are emitted from Site 300. These releases tory concern. A May 2002 report by LLNL confirmed the from the LLNL sites are less than one tenth of one percent analytical process and results of no threat to human of the total daily emissions in the entire Bay Area. health. The document presented a thorough analyses of the sampling data. It demonstrated that the "sewage Wastewater Monitoring for Radioactivity and sludge" hypothesis is well supported by the data. Other Hazardous Materials The Livermore site discharges almost 900,000 liters of The January 2000 Agency for Toxic Substances and wastewater daily to the City of Livermore sewer system Disease Registry (ATSDR) report found that the most (approximately 4.0% of the total flow to the system). The credible source of the plutonium in the park is from sewage flow from LLNL to the Livermore Water sewage sludge applied when planting ornamental trees