Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Site Radionuclide Air Emissions Report for Calendar Year 2011

Abstract

This report documents radionuclide air emissions that result in the highest effective dose equivalent (EDE) to a member of the public, referred to as the maximally exposed individual (MEI). The report has been prepared in compliance with the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Title 40, Protection of the Environment, Part 61, National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP), Subpart H, "National Emission Standards for Emissions of Radionuclides Other than Radon from Department of Energy Facilities" and Washington Administrative Code (WAC) Chapter 246-247, "Radiation Protection-Air Emissions." Federal regulations in Subpart H of 40 CFR 61 require the measurement and reporting of radionuclides emitted from DOE facilities and the resulting public dose from those emissions. Those regulations impose a standard of 10 mrem/yr EDE, which is not to be exceeded. Washington State adopted the 40 CFR 61 standard of 10 mrem/yr EDE into its regulations that require the calculation and reporting of the EDE to the MEI from both point source emissions and from fugitive source emissions of radionuclides. WAC 246-247 further requires the reporting of radionuclide emissions, including radon, from all PNNL Site sources. The Clean Air Act Amendments of 1989 revised the NESHAP regulations (i.e., 40 CFR 61 Subpart H) to govern emissions of radionuclides from DOE facilities. Those regulations are intended for the measurement of point source emissions but are inclusive of fugitive emissions with regard to complying with the dose standard. The EDE to the PNNL Site MEI due to routine emissions in 2011 from PNNL Site sources was 1.7E-05 mrem (1.7E-7 mSv) EDE. No nonroutine emissions occurred in 2011. The total radiological dose for 2011 to the MEI from all PNNL Site radionuclide emissions was more than 10,000 times smaller than the federal and state standard of 10 mrem/yr, to which the PNNL Site is in compliance.

Department of Energy – Office of Science Pacific Northwest Site Office Environmental Monitoring Plan for the DOE-SC PNNL Site

“…Air effluent monitoring 2 consists of in-stack monitoring of facility radiological emissions. Summarized radiological effluent monitoring results (Ci emitted annually) are reported in the Radiological Air Emissions Report (e.g., Snyder et al 2011). Other effluent (e.g., water, solids, hazardous chemicals) may also require onsite monitoring and management.…”

“…Impacts to the MEI are greatest for radionuclides that require continuous stack monitoring and also correspond to those identified for offsite air surveillance. Dose assessment results are reported in the annual RAER for the DOE-SC PNNL Site (e.g., Snyder et al 2011). The air pathway is the only current contributor to this dose; no direct exposure pathways or water pathways from DOE-SC PNNL Site effluent contributes to offsite public dose.…”

EMP Attachment 3 DOE-SC PNNL Site Dose Assessment Guidance

“…This section provides guidance for determining the retrospective MEI location for the annual Radiological Air Emissions Report (e.g., Snyder et al 2011). In comparison to the Hanford Site, the potential DOE-SC PNNL Site MEI could be located in closer proximity to DOE-SC PNNL Site emission points.…”