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Prepared fearthe U. S. Department of F.nerRyunder contract Iqo. DE-AC09-B9SR18035 DI,STRIBUTION OF THIS DOCUMENT IS UNLIMITED pip imeul_oe_lly left blank. TOC-4 mIJ_,n Concentrations and Dosesin Air 5-22 Concentrations in Groundwater 5-22 Concentrations and Dosesin OffsiteSurfaceand PotableWaters 5-22 Summary of Dosime_ic Impac'ts 5-..24 References for Chapter 5 5-25 Appendix A-Physical, Chemical and Biological Properties of Iodine A-1 Ph_ical Properties A-1 Chemicaland Biological Properties A-1 Propertiesin NuclearReactorAccidents A-2 References for AppendixA A-3 Appendix B-Environmental Samp;ing and Analysis B-1 RoutineSiteOperatingConditions B-1 Air B-1 Rain B-1 Milk S-2 Groundwater B-2 SurfaceWater B-2 F._uent Outfdb I_rom I'rocm Arm B-3 SiteSm_m Ssvsnn_ Rivet' Other Environmental Media B-3 Emergency Response Conditions B-3 WeatherInforrnalJon andDisplaySystem B-3 RadiolosJcal Assistance ProsramLabcwatory B-3 Trackin8Radioactive Atmospheric Contaminants Laboratc_ B-4 FieldSampleCollectionTeams 8-4 Bibliography i mmi_n TOC-5 pap intentionallyleft blank.

On May 2, 1974, 479,000 Ci of tritium gas was released from a Savannah River Plant exhaust stack to the atmosphere over a period of about four minutes. The release resulted from a metallurgical failure of a process valve in a tritium processing facility. Light winds of 4 to 6 mph carried the tritium in a northeasterly direction. Calculations indicate it passed out to sea from the southern half of the North Carolina coast about 36 hours after the release. Measurements of tritium offplant indicated that less than 1% of the tritium was in the oxide form. A maximum potential dose to a person (from inhalation and skin absorption) at the puff centerline on the plant boundary was calculated to be 0.14 mrem, less than 1% of the annual dose received from natural radioactivity. The population dose was calculated to be,g man-rem before the tritium passed out to sea. An extensive environmental sampling program was conducted after the release to verify the predicted trajectory of the tritium and to determine potential individual dose commitment. Approximately 1000 samples were collected and analyzed; these included air moisture, elemental tritium gas in the atmosphere, pine needles, grass, food crops, milk, surface water, soil, and human urine. Inhalation doses were < 0.05 mrem; that is, urine analyses were less than the sensitivity of analysis ~0.005 uCi/£). Potential individual doses from consumption of tritium-bearing food crops and milk were less,than 1 mrem. The trajectory of the tritium puff was verified by analysis of vegetation at a distance of about 45 miles northeast from the plant boundary; beyond this point, tritium concentration in vegetati'on was generally less than 14 pCi/ml (free water) and variable (within the normal range of concentrations found in this area), making trajectory tracking impractical.

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This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by the United States Government. Neither the United States nor the United• States Atomic Energy Commission,' nor any of t'heir empfoyees, nor any of their contractors, subcontractors, or their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for .the accuracy. 'completeness or usefulness of any information, apparatus, 'product or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not inf'ringe,prlvately owned rights.