SWRHL-71r
OFF-SITE RADIOLOGICAL SURVEILLANCE
NIMBUS B-2/SNAP-19 LAUNCH
APRIL 13, 1969
by
Environmental Surveillance
Western Environmental Research Laboratory
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Published December 1971
This surveillance performed under a Memorandum of
Understanding (No. SF 54 373)
for the Alouquerque Office
U. S. ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION
-------
"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 their employees, 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, or process
disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately-owned
rights."
Available from the National Technical Information Service,
U. S. Department of Commerce
Springfield, VA 22151
Price: paper copy $3.00; microfiche $.95.
004
-------
CI.7DUT _ 7 1 -
August 16, 1972
Support Bequireaents for Transit Launch
Robert Landreth
Engineering Section
As discussed earlier, toe foUoving support items are required
for the Transit Satellite Launch.
a. Detection Bguipaent - to be nade available by August 25, 1972.
(l) Six eaergency nonitoring kits (to include alpha and beta-
detection equipcsant).
(2) Two fldlero (calibrated at 17 KEY and 60 KEY).
b. Cooaunlcations Equipnent - to be installed by August 25,
(1) Six porta-aobil* cofflounication sets (l6^A50 M3Z) to
be installed in £80 vehicles.
(2) One base station (l£fe.l»50 MHZ) to be used at Vandenburg
AFB by Mr. Wruble or
(3) One aircraft set (16V.450 MHZ) to be installed in the
T-3^ and used as an aerial relay (ground-air-ground).
Charles F. Costa
Chief
Operations Section
ecs
Donald T. Wruble
-------
SWRHL-71r
OFF-SITE RADIOLOGICAL SURVEILLANCE
NIMBUS B-2/SNAP-19 LAUNCH
APRIL 13, 1969
by
Environmental Surveillance
Western Environmental Research Laboratory*
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Published December 1971
This surveillance performed under a Memorandum of
Understanding (No. SF 54 373)
for the Albuquerque Office
U. S. ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION
*Formerly part of the Southwestern Radiological Health Laboratory,
U. S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Public Health Service,
Environmental Health Service, Environmental Control Administration,
Bureau of Radiological Health.
-------
ABSTRACT
The Western Environmental Research Laboratory provided off-site
surveillance for the successful launch of the Nimbus B-2/SNAP-19 weather
spacecraft on April 13, 1969.
Environmental monitoring and samples taken before and after the
launch indicated no release of radioactivity.
-------
I. INTRODUCTION
The Western Environmental Research Laboratory (WERL) of the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provided off-site monitoring
for the launch of the Nimbus B-2/SNAP-19 weather spacecraft. This
report presents the results of that surveillance in accordance with
general responsibilities for radiation surveillance and in compliance
with the Atomic Energy Commission, Nevada Operations Office (AEC/NVOO),
request by letter of February 7, 1969, (AEC/NVOO to the Director, SWRHL).
Two SNAP-19 packages were incorporated in the power supply of the
Nimbus B-2 weather spacecraft. The SNAP-19 package is a radioactive
thermoelectric generator powered by Pu. The weather spacecraft
was launched aboard a Thorad/Agena-D rocket from location SLC-2 East
(Figure 1), Vandenberg Air Force Base at 2355 PST, April 13, 1969.
The launch took place with no apparent anomalies. Environmental
samples were collected before and after the launch to verify that no radio-
activity was released.
II. SAMPLE COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Samples collected included air, vegetation, milk, soil, and water
(fresh and salt). Sampling locations were set up to coincide with previous
1 2
work done in the area '
Fifty-one samples were collected and analyzed.
Radiation Surveillance in Santa Barbara County, California, July 1, 1963 -
January 1, 1965; the EDP of SWRHL, Department of Health, Education, and
Welfare, PHS, Las Vegas, Nevada, March 15, 1965.
2
Nimbus B/SNAP-19 Launch, May 18, 1968, Off-Site Radiological Surveillance, by
Environmental Surveillance, Southwestern Radiological Health Laboratory, DHEW,
PHS, NCRH, December 1968, SWRHL-50r.
-------
III. DESCRIPTION AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA
The monitoring data and sample results are presented in Tables 1 ,2 and 3.
The ground monitoring summary, Table 1, includes average instrument
readings before and after the launch. The alpha activity on the ground
2
(cpm/59 cm ) is listed under the PAC-1S column. The gamma activity (cpm),
as measured with a Plutonium Gamma Probe, is listed under the PG-1 column.
Although there is a relatively large difference between the stations, this
is a characteristic of the survey meter used and the variation in natural
radioactivity and is not an indication of activity levels above background.
2
The levels are comparable to those reported in similar studies and were as
expected for natural radioactivity.
The gross alpha summary, Table 2, includes results on soil, water,
and vegetation with results expressed as activity (pCi) per gram or liter.
2
The data are about as expected when compared to previous work .
The air sample gross alpha activity summary is presented in Table 3.
In all cases, the alpha activity was less than eight counts per minute total
for all volumes greater than or equal to 250 cubic meters. Beta and gamma
analyses were done on all filters. No evidence of radioactivity from this
operation was found.
During this period, the WERL operated an air surveillance network con-
sisting of 105 sampling stations in 20 states west of the Mississippi River.
From April 13 to April 27, all filters were carefully examined for gross alpha
activity. No evidence of an increase in gross alpha activity was found.
A milk sample collected in Santa Maria on April 12 contained no
detectable levels of radionuclides other than naturally occurring ^°K.
Typical detection limits are 10 pCi/1 for 131I, 20 pCi/1 for ^J?Cs, and 2 pCi/1
for *uSr.
-------
Milk samples were not collected after the successful launch because
additional background samples were not required.
IV. SUMMARY
The WERL monitored the off-site area before and after the successful
launch of the Nimbus B-2/SNAP-19 weather satellite. Fifty-one environ-
mental samples were collected and analyzed. All results indicated no increase
in environmental radioactivity levels and these levels were comparable to
studies previously conducted in this area.
-------
TABLE 1
Ground Monitoring Summary
LOCATION
Surf
Miguelito Park
Paradise Store
Gaviota State Park
Jalama Beach
Santa Maria
DATE PAC-1S a
a(cpm/59 cm^)
4-9-69
4-14-69
4-9-69
4-14-69
4-10-69
4-14-69
4-10-69
4-14-69
4-10-69
4-14-69
4-11-69
4-14-69
50
50
7
8
3d
8
25
25
15 d
8
5
5
PG-1
2500
2500
6000
6000
2000 d
5000
2000
1700
800
800
2000
2000
E-500Bb
(Open Probe)
mR/hr
0.03
0.03
c
0.03
3 The average of five readings within one square meter.
b The reading is with a Geiger-Mueller probe with the shield open.
The closed shield probe was calibrated with 137Cs. The unit
mR/hr indicates a meter deflection and not exposure rate.
c Not taken.
d Variation in background readings due to taking readings at
different locations.
-------
TABLE 2
Gross Alpha Summary
LOCATION
Gaviota State Beach
Lake Cachuma Park
Miguelito Park
Jalama Beach
Ocean Park
Santa Maria
DATE
COLLECTED
APRIL 1969
9
14
11
14
11
14
12
14
9
14
10
14
SOIL
(pCi/gm)
28
20
5
6
4
Lt(4)
Lt(4)
Lt(4)
5
Lt(4)
Lt(4)
WATER
(pCi/1)
FRESH
Lt(2)
Lt(2)
Lt(2)
Lt(2)
Lt(2)
SALT
Lt(4)*
Lt(4)
Lt(4)
Lt(4)
Lt(4)
VEGETATION
(pCi/gm)
Lt(4)
Lt(4)
Lt(4)
Lt(4)
Lt(4)
Lt(4)
Lt(4)
Lt(4)
Lt(4)
Lt(4)
*Lt(x) - Denotes results less than (x).
Denotes samples not taken.
-------
TABLE 3
Air Sampling Summary
LOCATION
Ocean Park
Lake Cachuma Park
Miguelito Park
Santa Maria
Jalama Beach
Gaviota State Beach
TIME
4-9
4-10
4-11
4-8
4-9
4-10
4-9
4-10
4-9
4-10
4-11
4-9
4-10
4-11
4-13
4-9
4-10
4-11
4-13
ON
1055
0935
1040
1130
1618
1640
1100
0930
1330
1100
1200
1150
1640
1035
1735
1120
0935
1045
2345
TIME
4-10
4-11
4-12
4-9
4-10
4-11
4-10
4-11
4-10
4-11
4-12
4-10
4-11
4-12
4-14
4-10
4-11
4-12
4-14
OFF
0930
1015
1015
1605
1628
1710
0905
0945
1030
1150
1200
0930
1029
1150
0857
0920
1015
1330
0920
ALPHA ACTIVITY
ND*
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
ND
*ND - less than 8 cpm total
after collection, volumes ^
alpha activity
; 250 m3.
when counted 8 days
-------
Santa Maria
SLC-2 East /
(Launch Pad)* * Vandenberg
XLompoc
X Solvang
O
ita Barbara
LOS ANGELES
A/
0 5 ID 15 20 25
Statute Miles
FIGURE 1
Nimbus-B2/SNAP-19 Surveillance Area
-------
DISTRIBUTION
1-15 WERL, Las Vegas, Nevada
16 Robert E. Miller, Manager, NVOO/AEC, Las Vegas, Nevada
17 Robert H. Thalgott, NVOO/AEC, Las Vegas, Nevada
18 Henry G. Vermillion, NVOO/AEC, Las Vegas, Nevada
19 Chief, NOB/DNA, NVOO/AEC, Las Vegas, Nevada
20 Donald W. Hendricks, NVOO/AEC, Las Vegas, Nevada
21 Technical Library, NVOO/AEC, Las Vegas, Nevada
22 Mail & Records, NVOO/AEC, Las Vegas, Nevada
23 Martin B. Biles, DOS, USAEC, Washington, D. C.
24 Director, DMA, USAEC, Washington, D. C.
25 John S. Kelly, DPNE, USAEC, Washington, D. C.
26 Philip Allen, ARL/NOAA, NVOO/AEC, Las Vegas, Nevada
27 Stanley M. Greenfield, Ass't Admin, for Research & Monitoring, EPA,
Washington, D. C.
28 Acting Deputy Ass't Admin, for Radiation Programs, EPA,
Rockville, Maryland
29 Paul C. Tompkins, Act. Dir. , Div. of Criteria & Standards, Office of
Radiation Programs, EPA, Rockville, Maryland
30 - 31 Charles L. Weaver, Act. Dir., Div. of Surveillance & Inspection,
Office of Radiation Programs, EPA, Rockville, Maryland
32 Ernest D. Harward, Act. Dir., Div. of Technology Assessment, Office of
Radiation Programs, EPA, Rockville, Maryland
33 Acting Director, Twinbrook Research Laboratory, EPA, Rockville, Maryland
34 Gordon Everett, Dir., Office of Technical Analysis, EPA, Washington, D. C.
35 Bernd Kahn, Radiological Engineering Lab., EPA, Cincinnati, Ohio
36 Regional Admin., Region IX, EPA, San Francisco, California
37 Eastern Environmental Radiation Laboratory, EPA, Montgomery, Alabama
38 John M. Ward, President, Desert Research Institute, University of
Nevada, Reno, Nevada
39 James E. Carothers, LLL, Livermore, California
40 William E. Ogle, LASL, Los Alamos, New Mexico
41 Byron F. Murphey, Sandia Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico
42 William Everett, County Health Dept., Lompoc, California
43 James Nicks, Chief, Space Propulsion Branch, ALOO/AEC, Albuquerque,
New Mexico
-------
Distribution (continued)
44 Joseph Nardo, County Health Director, Santa Barbara, California
45 Steven Coray, County Health Director, Ventura, California
46 Philip Latorre, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
47 Ray Hervin, Chief, Health and Safety Engineering Branch, NASA,
Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland
48 Levin Gray, Isotopes, Inc., Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt,
Maryland
49 Ray Miller, ALOO/AEC, Albuquerque, New Mexico
50 G. P. Dix, Chief of Safety Branch, SNS, USAEC, Washington, D. C.
51 Milt Klein, Dir., Space Nuclear Systems, USAEC, Washington, D. C.
52 Lt. Col. L. S. Tyler, Vandenberg Air Force Base, Vandenberg, California
53 Director, ALOO/AEC, USAEC, Albuquerque, New Mexico
54 Clifford E. Nelson, Reg. Rep., PHS, FDA, BRH, Region IX, San Francisco
California
55 Ronald Shearin, EPA, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
56 - 57 DTIE, USAEC, Oak Ridge, Tennessee (for public availability)
------- |