Technical Note
ORP/LV-76-1
RADIATION SURVEY IN BEATTY, NEVADA,
AND SURROUNDING AREA (MARCH 1976)
APRIL 1976
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
OFFICE OF RADIATION PROGRAMS
LAS VEGAS FACILITY
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA 89114
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Technical Note
ORP/LV-76-1
RADIATION SURVEY IN BEATTY, NEVADA,
AND SURROUNDING AREA (MARCH 1976)
D. W. Hendricks
C. W. Fort, Jr.
April 1976
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
OFFICE OF RADIATION PROGRAMS
LAS VEGAS FACILITY
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA 89114
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This report has been reviewed by the Office of Radiation
Programs—Las Vegas Facility, U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, and approved for publication. Mention of trade names
or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or
recommendation for their use.
11
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PREFACE
The Office of Radiation Programs of the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency carries out a national program designed to
evaluate population exposure to ionizing and non-ionizing radia-
tion and to promote development of controls necessary to protect
the public health and safety.
Within the Office of Radiation Programs, the Las Vegas
Facility conducts in-depth field studies of various radiation
sources (e.g., nuclear facilities, uranium mill tailings, and
phosphate mills) to provide technical data for environmental
impact statement reviews as well as needed information on source
characteristics, environmental transport, critical pathways for
population exposure, and dose model validation. The Office of
Radiation Programs--Las Vegas Facility also provides, upon
request, technical assistance to Western States and to other
Federal agencies. In this technical assistance role, the
Las Vegas Facility participated in a radiation survey in the
Beatty, Nevada, area. The primary purpose of the survey was
to determine if radioactive materials intended for burial at
the Beatty, Nevada, commercial low-level radioactive waste bur-
ial site had been removed from the site and distributed in the
nearby community. A secondary purpose was to identify these
materials so that they might be returned to the burial site.
This report summarizes the results of that survey which was
conducted in March 1976.
Readers of this report are encouraged to inform the Office
of Radiation Programs--Las Vegas Facility of any omissions or
errors. Comments or requests for further information are also
invited.
Donald W. Hendricks
Director, Office of Radiation
Programs--Las Vegas Facility
111
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CONTENTS
Page
PREFACE iii
LIST OF FIGURES v
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS vi
STUDY PARTICIPANTS vii
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS 1
INTRODUCTION 3
SURVEY 6
General 6
Chronology and Highlights 7
DISCUSSION 10
APPENDIXES
I Location and Identification of Radioactive 12
Items Found During Beatty, Nevada, Survey--
March 1976
II Selected Photographs of Items Located During 25
Beatty Survey
III Radium-Dial Clocks and Compass 34
IV Portable Survey Instruments Used in Beatty, 37
Nevada Survey
IV
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LIST OF FIGURES
APPENDIX I
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5
Figure Index of Areas Inspected
for Radioactive Materials from the
NECO Disposal Site—March 1976
Locations Inspected for Radioactive
Materials--March 1976
Radioactive Materials Located in
Beatty, Nevada--March 1976
Locations Inspected for Radioactive
Materials--March 1976
Locations Inspected for Radioactive
Materials--March 1976
20
21
22
23
24
APPENDIX II
Figures 1-15
Selected Photographs of Items
Located During Beatty Survey
26-33
v
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency expresses grateful
appreciation to the residents of Beatty, Nevada, and the surround-
ing area. Without their full and understanding cooperation, this
effort would not have been possible. Special thanks go to Nye
County Deputy Sheriffs Ron Korienek and Bert Gray and to Officer
Brian Thayer, Nevada Highway Patrol.
VI
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STUDY PARTICIPANTS
Representatives from several Federal agencies as well as
State of Nevada officials and Federal agency contractors par-
ticipated in the study. The following agencies and contractors
participated to varying degrees in the study:
State of Nevada/Department of Human Resources
State of Nevada/Radiological Health Supervisor
State of Nevada/Department of Agriculture
State of Nevada/Highway Patrol
Nye County Nevada/Sheriff's Department
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency/Office of Radiation
Programs--Las Vegas Facility
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency/Environmental
Monitoring and Support Laboratory--Las Vegas/
Office of Research and Development
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency/Region IX
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission/Regions III and V
U.S. Energy Research and Development Administration
Reynolds Electrical § Engineering Company, Inc.
EG§G, Inc.
Lawrence Livermore Laboratory, University of California
VII
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SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
For almost 13 years radioactive materials have been shipped
to the Beatty, Nevada, Nuclear Engineering Company (NECO) burial
site. All radioactive materials sent to the site were to have
been buried under the terms of the site licenses. In actual
fact, large quantities of radioactive materials sent to the site
for burial were diverted from the site for private use.
Radiation surveys were conducted in Beatty, Nevada, and
nearby areas by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),
Office of Radiation Programs--Las Vegas Facility (ORP--LVF),
EPA Environmental Monitoring and Support Laboratory--Las Vegas
(EMSL--LV), and contractors of the Nevada Operations Office of
the U.S. Energy Research and Development Administration (ERDA)
which included: Reynolds Electrical and Engineering Co., Inc.
(REECo), Lawrence Livermore Laboratories--University of
California (LLL), and EG$G, Inc. (EG$G). Radioactive materials
distributed from the Beatty, Nevada, commercial low-level radio-
active waste burial site were found at a number of locations
(see Appendix I). Concrete was found at several locations which
contained low levels of gamma-emitting radionuclides. Contami-
nated soil was found at three locations. Radioactive contamina-
tion which could be removed by swiping was found at several
locations. Containers used for shipping radioactive materials
were found at numerous locations. Some metal containers and
some wooden packing crates were radioactively contaminated.
Bennett containers and other types of metal shipping containers
were in use as septic tanks and as water tanks for both humans
and livestock. Plywood from shipping crates was in widespread
use in various types of structures.
At three locations items having unconfined or removable
radioactivity were found in residences. In a number of homes
the only radioactive items found were wall clocks, compasses,
or gauges (all with radium-226 dials). In a few cases these
items probably did not come from the burial site but still con-
tained some quantity of radioactivity.
Isotopes identified by EPA, REECo, EG§G, and LLL included
radium-226, cobalt-58, cobalt-60, manganese-54, cesium-137,
strontium-90, plutonium-238, plutonium-239, uranium-235,
uranium-238, antimony-125, silver-108m, silver-HOm, chromium-51,
carbon-14, tritium, and europium-155. The types of radioactive
or contaminated materials (or materials identified as having
passed through the burial site) include plywood, Bennett
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containers (steel shipping containers), military clocks, com-
passes, gauges, balances, centrifuges, concrete slabs, carpet,
electric motors, tools, interior walls of a radioactivity labora-
tory, toolboxes, drill pipe, wood, laboratory grinders, miscel-
laneous types of small shipping containers, sheets of magne-thor,
and electrical switch boxes. (See Appendix II for photographs of
selected materials found during the survey.)
Subsequent to the Beatty survey, additional items removed
from the Beatty burial site were identified in Pahrump and
Las Vegas, Nevada, and in the Amargosa, Nevada, farm area.
While it was confirmed that radioactive items had been removed
from the NECO site to areas beyond the Beatty vicinity, it was
considered impractical to begin a systematic survey in these
areas without more specific information. NRC is distributing a
questionnaire to residents in other communities around the site
in an effort to locate other missing materials.
Levels of radon gas released from two military clocks and
one military wrist compass were measured at the LVF for pur-
poses of dose estimation. Radon release levels from the indi-
vidual instruments were found to be sufficiently low that in an
average home the radon and radon progeny levels would probably
be indistinguishable from natural background (assuming the
instruments remain undamaged.) (See Appendix III.)
Based on data available at this time, it appears that there
was no significant exposure to persons from the various radio-
active materials found. However, there were many items which
contained enough radioactive material to pose health hazards
and to require major decontamination costs should the items
have been broken open and the radioactive materials released to
the environment. It should also be noted that there exists
the possibility of higher exposures from radioactive materials
at locations in areas not covered by the survey. Additionally,
it is conceivable that short half-life radionuclides may have
been initially present on materials at the time of removal from
the site but could have subsequently decayed to non-detectable
levels by the time of the survey.
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INTRODUCTION
In late 1962 the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission issued a
license for burial of low-level radioactive wastes at a site
located near Beatty, Nevada. Since that time low-level nuclear
wastes have been disposed of at that site in a cut-and-cover
trench operation, with individual trenches measuring approxi-
mately 20 to 40 feet deep, 40 to 90 feet wide, and up to 700 feet
in length.
In 1972, the State of Nevada became an agreement state with
the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) (formerly the U.S.
Atomic Energy Commission) and accepted the responsibility for
licensing and regulating the disposal of low-level radioactive
wastes within the State, except for special nuclear material,
which remains under the authority and responsibility of NRC.
The Beatty burial site, operating under this agreement, is owned
by the State of Nevada and is leased to NECO.
The Beatty burial site is located in Nye County (in south-
western Nevada, approximately 95 miles northwest of Las Vegas).
The two nearest towns are Beatty (11 miles to the north) and
Lathrop Wells (18 miles to the southeast). Both are small des-
ert communities with populations less than 500.
During the last week of February 1976, the State of Nevada
was advised by NECO that a concrete mixer truck from the Beatty
burial site had been used to pour concrete slabs in the com-
munity of Beatty. (The truck was used at the site to mix low-
level liquid radioactive waste with cement. The mixture was
then poured into the bottom of the burial trenches for solidi-
fication since only solid wastes could be buried at the site.)
The obvious concern was that the concrete slabs poured in Beatty
might contain some residual contamination from the mixer truck.
As a result of this notification, the State of Nevada
radiological health supervisor requested assistance from the
ORP--LVF in monitoring the concrete slabs for possible radio-
activity. One March 2, 1976, the State radiological health
supervisor, the director, ORP--LVF, and a radiation technician
from the EMSL--LV met with NECO employees at the NECO site.
They were informed by the employees that at least three slabs
in Beatty had been poured using the NECO mixing truck. The
slabs were to be used as a foundation for a residence, a patio
behind a saloon, and a floor for the town jail and courthouse
building. A fourth slab, being used as the floor of a chicken
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coop, had also possibly been poured using the same truck, but
prior to initial use of the truck at the NECO site. Inspections
of the slabs on March 2, using a Baird Atomic NE-148A Gamma
Scintillator, revealed three spots with elevated radiation
levels on the saloon slab (see Appendix IV for description of
instrumentation). The saloon slab contact measurements (using
an Eberline E-500B beta-gamma survey meter) on the three locali-
zed areas indicated levels of 45, 15, and 8 mrad/hr. beta plus
gamma exposure rates respectively. The residence slab showed a
slight gamma exposure rate (3-6 yr/hr.) above background with the
contamination appearing to be relatively homogeneous. Gamma
measurements of the courthouse slab were all background. No
obvious gamma radiation levels above background were found at the
chicken coop site using the scintillator survey meter.
At the residence foundation, samples of concrete, appar-
ently left over from the pour, were picked up for laboratory
analysis at EMSL--LV. Analysis by gamma spectroscopy indicated
trace quantities of cobalt-58, cobalt-60, and manganese-54. An
aliquot of a sample collected earlier by NECO at the same loca-
tion was also analyzed by EMSL--LV. This sample also contained
cobalt-58.
On March 4, 1976, NECO removed the concrete slab behind the
saloon to the NECO burial site. Samples of the 45 mrad/hr. spot
in the concrete were collected by the EMSL--LV radiation tech-
nician for analysis. Analysis indicates that there was a very
localized concentration of cobalt-60 with the surrounding con-
crete containing trace quantities of cobalt-58, cobalt-60, and
manganese-54. Leftover concrete pieces from the courthouse were
also analyzed by EMSL--LV, but only background levels of radio-
activity were detected. Concrete samples were not obtained at
the chicken coop.
On March 4, 1976, the EMSL--LV radiation technician, at
the request of the State radiological health supervisor, also
collected soil and vegetation samples from four locations close
to, but outside, the burial site boundaries. The vegetation sample
collected 25 yards south of the site showed trace quantities of
cobalt-58, cobalt-60, and manganese-54. Levels of radioactivity
in the soil sample collected near the positive vegetation sample
were so low that it was not certain if the soil sample contained
radionuclides other than those from natural radioactivity and
world-wide fallout. The other soil and vegetation samples had
no detectable levels of artificial radionuclides above back-
ground. Resampling of vegetation in the area south of the site
on March 9, 1976, confirmed the previous findings of trace quan-
tities of cobalt-58, cobalt-60, and manganese-54 in vegetation.
Soil samples collected during the resampling were also found to
clearly contain trace quantities of the radionuclides found in
the vegetation.
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On March 8, 1976, the State of Nevada, through the State of
Nevada radiological health supervisor and the State of Nevada
director, Department of Human Resources, requested technical
assistance from the ORP--LVF. The State had decided to conduct
a door-to-door check for radioactivity in the Beatty community to
determine if there were any factual basis in allegations which
had been made to the effect that potentially contaminated mate-
rials (other than the concrete mixer truck) had been removed from
the Beatty burial site. The technical assistance requested was
to identify and locate during the door-to-door search radioactive
materials in Beatty and surrounding areas which might have been
removed from the Beatty site, and which might represent real or
potential health hazards. Any objects identified would then be
returned to the site for burial.
The State request was discussed by the director, ORP--LVF,
with the Office of Radiation Programs (Headquarters), with EPA
Region IX radiation representative, and with the director, EMSL--
LV. The director, EMSL--LV, in turn, coordinated the request
with ERDA.
Approval from Region IX and ORP (Headquarters) was given for
ORP--LVF to participate with the clear understanding that the EPA
role was solely to provide assistance to the State. On March 9,
1976, the State of Nevada radiological health supervisor met in
Las Vegas with the director, ORP--LVF, and a member of the LVF
staff to discuss details of the proposed door-to-door search.
The director of the EMSL--LV Information Services Staff and one
staff member also participated in this meeting. As a result of
this meeting and a number of telephone discussions, it was agreed
that the search would get underway on the following day (March 10,
1976) in Beatty, Nevada. The initial participants in the program
would be the State of Nevada director, Department of Human
Resources, the State of Nevada radiological health supervisor,
the director, ORP--LVF, four LVF staff members (serving as radi-
ation monitors), and three EMSL--LV radiation technicians (also
serving as monitors). The EMSL--LV technicians were available
only on a non-interference basis since their primary mission in
the Beatty area was in support of the Nevada Test Site off-site
monitoring program for two nuclear tests which were scheduled
during the week of March 8, 1976. It was agreed that an LVF
staff member would serve as project coordinator to assure that
all possible locations were monitored. EPA personnel were
individually provided with identification certifying that they
were representing the State of Nevada in the investigation.
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SURVEY
GENERAL
On the morning of March 10, 1976, a meeting was held in
Beatty, Nevada, between personnel from the State of Nevada, EPA,
and the NRG to discuss all aspects of the door-to-door survey.
Pertinent information regarding types of materials known to
have been taken offsite was discussed to aid the EPA radiation
monitoring personnel in their search. Maps of Beatty, copied
from aerial photographs taken by the Remote Sensing Division,
EMSL--LV, were distributed to each EPA monitor. The town was
divided into four quadrants, with two monitors being assigned
to each of two quadrants. Monitors generally worked individually
at residences to allow an owner, in cases where only one resident
was at home, to accompany then throughout their home and exterior
property. The survey began at about 1 p.m., March 10, 1976.
Surveys continued each day until dusk and began on the days after
March 10, at 8 a.m. On Sunday, March 14, 1976, continuing sur-
veys of private residences began at about 10:30 a.m. to minimize
disturbing late sleepers.
Each monitor was equipped with a fast response gamma detec-
tor (Baird-Atomic NE-148A Scintillator) for the walk-through sur-
vey. Alpha detection equipment was also available as a secondary
search instrument but was used only in suspect situations because
of time considerations.
The interview of various individuals by State and NRC inves-
tigators revealed information regarding additional specific items
known to have been taken from the burial site. The monitors
were advised, as this information became known, to allow them to
be more specific in their search.
Arrangements were made by the State personnel with NECO
personnel to provide retrieval of all items located during the
search. The radiation monitors were advised to note the loca-
tions of items for referral to NECO for pickup. However, there
were a few instances where individuals requested monitors to
take possession of items they had located rather than wait for
NECO personnel to pick the items up. Items collected in this
fashion were stockpiled and turned over to NECO on a daily basis.
Items identified but left at residences were reported to NECO
personnel who then retrieved them.
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Additional items were brought to monitors or NECO personnel,
turned in at the town meeting, or placed in NECO trucks by anony-
mous citizens. Because of the truck load quantities of materials
recovered during the survey, no attempt was made to keep a com-
prehensive list of individual items or to make extensive measure-
ments on each item. The primary goal was to locate and return
the materials. Appendix I, therefore, lists locations identi-
fied as having radioactive materials and lists some of the more
representative items found at the particular location. Indi-
vidual locations are identified on the accompanying maps (Fig-
ures 1-5). In some instances it is known that ownership was at
least once removed from the original source. This fact was
illustrated when a resident, just moving into a recently pur-
chased home, requested an EPA monitor to remove a radium-dial
military wall clock (left by the prior owners) from the residence,
CHRONOLOGY AND HIGHLIGHTS
During the first afternoon of the survey, a triple beam lab-
oratory balance was located in a residence as a result of the
gamma search. Alpha monitoring of the balance revealed positive
and removable alpha contamination. A smear test of the balance
was sent to the EMSL--LV laboratory, and on Friday morning,
March 12, 1976, was identified as containing plutonium-239.
By Thursday evening, March 11, approximately 50 per cent of
the residences and businesses in Beatty and ranches in outlying
areas had been surveyed. During this time a number of radium-
dial clocks, compasses, and gauges had been located, in addition
to externally contaminated items such as plywood, sample mixers,
a centrifuge, and lead bricks. Non-contaminated items (of NECO
origin) such as Bennett containers (6 ft. diameter by 7 ft. high
steel drums with bolt down lids used as radioactive waste ship-
ping containers) and plywood, marked "L.S.A." (low specific
activity) were also found. Because of the findings on March 10,
two additional ORP--LVF staff members arrived on March 11, 1976,
to assist in the search. Also on March 11, 1976, the NRC
requested ERDA to provide additional assistance to monitor for
special nuclear material.
On March 12, in response to the NRC request, the Nevada
Operations Office of the ERDA provided personnel and equipment
from the following ERDA contractors: Reynolds Electrical and
Engineering Company (REECo), EG§G, Inc., and Lawrence Livermore
Laboratory (LLL). REECo personnel immediately began intensive
alpha surveys at selected locations previously identified by
the EPA survey as containing multiple radium-dial gauges or
other externally contaminated materials. Their survey (at the
request of the owner) also included a house suspected of con-
taining plywood from the NECO site. A thorough search of all
areas of plywood construction at the house failed to locate any
radioactive contamination. The alpha surveys in the Beatty area
continued through Sunday, March 14, 1976.
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Also on March 12, the ILL equipment was used to make 111 situ
spectra measurements of the concrete slab inside the new court-
house. The spectra did not show any man-made nuclides greater
than that expected from world-wide fallout. An additional
in situ measurement was taken on a concrete slab inside the
cFicken coop previously monitored on March 2, 1976. Trace amounts
of cobalt-60 were detected. Since plywood of undetermined origin
had been used in enclosing the chicken coop, it could not be
determined if the source of cobalt-60 was in the slab or in the
plywood. In any case, the barely detectable radiation levels
presented no significant health hazard. LLL participation in the
Beatty area continued through Sunday, March 14„
EG§G participation in the field effort included aerial (vis-
ual and radiometric) surveys by helicopter. Additionally, a
mobile gamma scanner drove all the streets of Beatty, checking
for any areas of increased levels of gamma radioactivity and also
assisted in the gamma search at outlying residences and ranches.
EG§G participation was concluded on March 12. Reports of find-
ings by each of the ERDA contractor groups will be through ERDA.
By Sunday evening, March 14, 1976, the vast majority of all
residences, ranches, and businesses in Beatty and the immediate
surrounding area had been surveyed. At this point it was decided
to release all survey participants except one NRC staff member
and the ORP--LVF coordinator. The coordinator continued to try
to monitor locations where for one reason or another access to
premises for monitoring had not previously been obtained.
On Monday, March 15, an alpha contaminated area of approxi-
mately two square feet was located at the City dump. A burned,
radium-dial military wall clock had previously been found at
this location. It was suggested to the acting NECO site manager
that a sign of some type be placed in a prominent location at the
dump advising dump users of the potential hazards associated with
burning radioactive materials. It was also suggested that an
attempt be made to remove the contaminated items and soil. On
Tuesday, March 16, and Friday and Saturday, March 19 and 20,
final surveys were completed by the EPA/ORP coordinator of all
but seven known locations in the Beatty area. At these locations
efforts to contact residents to gain access to premises had been
unsuccessful. On Saturday evening, March 20, a detailed descrip-
tion of the seven remaining locations to be surveyed were left
with the acting NECO site manager for followup by the NECO site
radiological safety officer. A letter was also left at each of
the seven locations directing the resident to contact the Deputy
Sheriff to obtain a survey of the premises.
On March 18, 1976, at the request of the State radiological
health supervisor, the ORP--LVF director and the ORP coordinator
traveled to Pahrump, Nevada, (approximately 60 road miles west
of Las Vegas) to assist the State, NRC, ERDA, and REECo in
inspecting several residences belonging to former NECO employees.
8
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A survey at two locations (outside only at one residence since
the owner was not at home) by the EPA representatives did not
locate any radioactive contamination, although two pairs of anti-
contamination coveralls were found at one location. An ERDA
team returned to this residence when the owner was at home and
located some radioactive material inside the dwelling. This
will be reported separately by ERDA. The survey at the third
location identified four items containing radioactivity or
having obviously come from the NECO site. These items consisted
of a glass optical lens (100 yR/hr. gamma), a set of socket
tools marked "CTR/RF" (no detectable contamination but the mark-
ing was consistent with other tools shipped to NECO for burial),
a large Navy floating-card compass with a radium dial (250 yR/hr.
gamma), and a U.S. Army pocket compass containing tritium. No
surface alpha contamination was identified on any item.
During a visit to the Amargosa farm area (approximately 85
miles north of Las Vegas) later that day, the EPA team identi-
fied two Bennett containers which were welded end to end to form
a cylindrical enclosure. Presumably, the larger tank was to be
used as a septic tank. In addition, two containers were tenta-
tively identified (at a distance) at a ranch being used probably
for either stock or irrigation water.
Wednesday afternoon, March 24, at the request of an ex-NECO
employee living in Las Vegas, Nevada, the ORP coordinator sur-
veyed personal tools that had been used at the NECO site by the
ex-employee during his employment there. This request was made
through the State radiological health officer. The survey
located an uncontaminated (but of NECO origin) tool and a per-
sonally owned compressed air blowgun, slightly contaminated on
the exterior (30 yR/hr. gamma). The contamination was later
identified as cobalt-60. Both items were voluntarily surrendered
for proper disposition.
By Friday, March 26, NECO had advised that all items iden-
tified by the survey had been picked up by NECO personnel and
returned to the NECO burial site with the exception of some con-
taminated tarpaulins (at a residence where the owners had not
been found at home). On April 2, NECO advised that the contami-
nated tarpaulins had been picked up and returned to the burial
site.
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DISCUSSION
Although the search showed that radioactive items intended
for burial at the site were widespread throughout the Beatty area,
the actual external radiation exposure to individuals is believed
to have been small since external beta-gamma exposure rates were
generally low except when in actual close contact with items such
as clocks, compasses, or tools. Exposures to individuals from
such items would be expected to be of limited duration and pri-
marily to the extremities instead of to the whole body. This
should also be true for the localized contamination found on a
piece of carpet.
Some materials did have surface radioactivity which would
easily be transferred to the hands by handling and subsequently
ingested. Fortunately, most of these items were of such a
nature (i.e., centrifuge, balance, weights, sample mixer) that
handling should have been infrequent. Persons believed to have
had the highest probability of contact with these materials are
being given bioassays and/or whole body counts. These results
will be reported separately but would be expected to show little,
if any, internal body deposition of radionuclides associated with
the radioactive items.
Field measurements of airborne radionuclides were not made
during the survey. However, based on the types of radioactive
items encountered, significant airborne concentrations would not
be expected. The potential for inhalation is believed minimal.
Laboratory measurements made on two radium-dial clocks and
a radium-dial wrist compass indicated that a typical dwelling
containing one of these items would not be expected to have sig-
nificantly elevated levels of airborne radon-222 or its progeny
(Appendix III).
Two dwellings were found where metal shipping (Bennett)
containers were used for water storage. At one location, water
was used as a potable water source. At the second location,
water was being used for showers and for watering pets, but was
not used as a source of drinking water. Water samples from these
two tanks showed no detectable levels of plutonium, tritium, or
gamma-emitting radionuclides. Residents from these locations are
being whole-body counted.
10
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Concrete pours containing detectable levels of radionuclides
were found at four locations. Elevated gamma radiation levels
were found only at location 26 (see Appendix I). There may have
been additional pours since there was some indication that con-
crete sewer manhole collars may have been poured using the con-
taminated concrete truck. Several collars were spot-checked with
several meters, but the measurements did not conclusively show
above-background levels. A concrete sample from location 30 was
treated in the EMSL--LV laboratory to remove chemically-bound
water. The water was then analyzed and found to contain about 11
nanocuries per liter of tritium. Although this level is, perhaps,
10-20 times background, it would not be a significant source of
exposure because of the chemical binding of the tritium in the
concrete.
In all, ORP--LVF provided about 41 man-days of field effort
to the field survey. Approximately 15 man-days were expended in
laboratory analysis and report preparation. EMSL--LV provided
approximately 12 man-days of field effort to the field study.
EPA/Region IX provided approximately four man-days of field effort,
11
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APPENDIX I
Location and Identification of Radioactive Items
Found During Beatty, Nevada, Survey--March 1976
Location 1;
Items located: vegetation and soil samples collected 25
yards south of the NECO site boundary.
Isotopes identified: cobalt-58, cobalt-60, and
manganese-541 in soil and vegetation.
Location 2:
Items located: aircraft instruments with radium dials and
a radium-dial military wall clock.
Location 5:
Items located: burned radium-dial military wall clock
with resultant surface soil contamination (approximately 2 ft.
radius).
Alpha activity: 50,000 cpm2 in soil.
Location 4;
Items located: Bennett container (serial No. 255). Gamma-
emitting point sources in soil about 12 inches from lip of the
container. Container was not found to be contaminated.
Exposure rate: 350 yR/hr.3*1* gamma and 50 yR/hr.3 gamma
on point sources in soil.
Beta activity: 3,780 dpm beta2 on 350 yR/hr. soil sample.
Isotopes identified: cobalt-60, antimony-125,
chromium-51, silver-HOm, and silver-108m in soil sources.2
Location 5:
Items located: many radium-dial instruments (pressure
gauges, tachometers, temperature gauges, etc.), radium-dial
military wall clock, aircraft door handle with radium buttons,
three sheets of 4'x8'xl/16" Magne-Thor (presumably
12
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magnesium-thorium alloy), a large rubber tire (approximately 2 ft
thick x 5 ft. in diameter), plywood chicken coop door, centerless
grinder (dry sample mixer), plywood pickup truck toolbox and
aircraft tool.
Exposure rate: 150 mrad/hr.2*1* beta plus gamma on aircraft
tool.
Alpha activity: 100,000 cpm on pickup toolbox.2
Isotopes identified: radium-226 on pickup toolbox,2 and
uranium-238/235 on centerless grinder.5
Location 6;
Items located: Bennett container (used as a water reser-
voir for showers and pets), triple beam laboratory balance, and
brass balance weights.
Isotopes identified: plutonium-239 on balance1 and one
weight;5 cesium-137 on another weight;5 cobalt-60. cesium-134,
and europium-155 on swipe of balance and weights.
Note: Analysis of water sample from Bennett container indi-
cated no plutonium, tritium, or gamma-emitting radionuclides
above natural background.1 Swipes of container were negative
for alpha and beta emitters.2 On-site gamma analysis of con-
tainer by LLL was negative.6
Location 7:
Item located: radium-dial military wall clock.
Location 8;
Items located: centrifuge, numerous radium-dial military
wall clocks, numerous radium-dial gauges, two lead bricks, sev-
eral metal sample containers, mixer, radium check source, sev-
eral floating-card ship compasses, two hydraulic actuators, and
two explosion-proof metal cans.
Exposure rate: 20 mrad/hr.2 beta plus gamma on lead bricks.
Isotopes identified: carbon-14 on centrifuge,2 radium-2266
on lead bricks, cobalt-60 on centrifuge,6 and uranium-238/235
on mixer.5
Location 9:
Items located: several radium-tipped switches.
13
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Location 10;
Items located: Bennett container (used as potable water
reservoir) and a radium-dial military wall clock.
Note: Analysis of water sample from Bennett container indicated
no plutonium, tritium, or gamma-emitting radionuclides above
natural background.1 Swipes of container were negative for
alpha and beta emitters.2 On-site gamma analysis of container
by LLL was negative.6
Location 11;
Items located: 4'x4'x8' plywood shipping box and a
military night scope.
Exposure rate: 200 yR/hr.3 gamma point source in the cor-
ner of the shipping box.
Location 12:
Item located: radium-dial military wall clock.
Location 13;
Items located: wooden bench (one corner contaminated) and
a radium-dial compass.
Exposure rate: 20 mrad/hr.2 beta plus gamma on corner of
bench.
Location 14:
Item located: radium-dial military wall clock.
Location 15;
Item located: radium-dial compass.
Location 16_;
Item located: radium-dial compass.
Location 17:
Item located: sheet of plywood on storage shed with small
area of contamination.
Exposure rate: 100 yR/hr.3 gamma.
Alpha activity: 9,000 cpm.3
Isotope identified: uranium-238/235?>5
14
-------
Location 18;
Items located: radium-dial military wall clock, taps and
dies and other miscellaneous tools and radium-dial gauges.
Location 19;
Item located: trace of cobalt-606 detected in the interior
of chicken coop (source not identified but probably cement slab
or plywood enclosure or contribution from both).
Location 20;
Items located: two radium-dial military wall clocks.
Location 21;
Item located: radium-dial military wall clock.
Location 22:
Items located: six radium-dial gauges and a radium-dial
compass.
Location 23;
Item located: concrete base for clothesline pole.
Isotopes identified: cobalt-58, cobalt-60, and
manganese-54.*
Location 24;
Item located: radium-dial military wall clock.
Location 25:
Items located: plastic bag of tools with magenta and white
stickers.
Exposure rate: 350 yR/hr.3 gamma.
Location 26:
Item located: concrete slab with three point source "hot"
spots (first contaminated item to be located and removed to
NECO site).
Exposure rate: 45 mrad/hr.3 beta plus gamma contact.
15
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Isotopes identified: cobalt-58, cobalt-60, and
manganese-54 from concrete samples. "Hot" spot was primarily
cobalt-60.1
Location 27;
Items located:
Location 28:
two radium-dial military wall clocks.
Item located: radium-dial military wall clock.
Location 29;
Item located: rug in living quarters.
Exposure rate
small area.
110 mrad/hr.2 beta plus gamma over very
Isotope identified: radim-226.6
Location 50;
Item located: concrete slab.
Exposure rate: 4-6 yR/hr.3 gamma above background (back-
ground was approximately 9-10 yR/hr.).
Isotopes identified: cobalt-58, cobalt-60, manganese-54,
and tritium in concrete samples.1
Location 51:
Items located: 3' high x 4' wide x 8' long stack of plywood
(individual sheets were not surveyed) and radium-tipped switches.
Exposure rate: 3 mrad/hr.2 beta plus gamma on plywood.
Location 52 ;
Items located: acetylene welding tank gauges and several
radium-dial gauges.
Location 33:
Item located: radium-dial military wall clock.
Location 54:
Items located: five Bennett containers (four welded
together and used as sand storage; no contamination identified
on containers), several radium-dial gauges, and a radium-dial
compass.
16
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Location 35:
Item located: two-pound coffee can containing green crys-
tals (may be radium salts or ore concentrate)--not NECO origin
but removed at owner's request.
Exposure rate: 3 mR/hr.3 gamma at surface of can.
Location 36;
Items located: pump body and a radium-dial compass.
Exposure rate: 500 yR/hr.3 gamma on the pump body.
Beta activity: 19 dpm beta2 on swipe from the pump body.
Location 37:
Items located: tools, radium-dial military wall clock,
small radium-dial instruments, gauges, stainless steel bolts,
contaminated areas on two sheets of plywood on a storage shed,
and a small area (approximately 3 ft. radius) of contaminated
soil near wash. (The source of contamination was later iden-
tified as a contaminated rag approximately 2 ft. beneath the
soil surface. The rag was possibly washed from upstream,
deposited, and covered with flash flood sediment.)
Isotopes identified: cobalt-60 in soil.6
Location 38:
Items located: 7 radium-dial military wall clocks, 8 elec-
trical fuse or circuit breaker boxes, and many small and varied
radium-dial gauges.
Location 39:
Items located: a I'x2'x3f yellow military chest, many
yellow tarpaulins, a radium-dial military wall clock, many
small radium-dial gauges, a large electrical panel (2'x5'), and
a radium-dial tensiometer.
Note: The tensiometer was apparently leaking since external
alpha contamination was identified.
Location 40:
Items located: a reel of cable, 15-20 sealed 6 in. diame-
ter x 30 ft. long pipes from the AEC Rulison project containing
smaller tritium contaminated piping, one 6 in. pipe from the
Rulison project containing similar material but with one end
open (originally sealed also), 2 1/2 Bennett containers (not
contaminated), and radium-dial compasses.
17
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Location 41;
Items located: approximately 24 radium-tipped switches,
three radium-dial military wall clocks, two 6"xl2"xl8" stain-
less steel boxes, electric hoist, "A" frame, 9 1/2 Bennett
containers (not contaminated), two 8'x2" pipes, plywood sheet
used as window cover on shed (outdoor beer bar) , surveying transit
with radium lettering, 10 electric motors (another 10 to 20
similar motors were monitored on the motor exterior with negative
results), sump pump with approximately 100 ft. of plastic hose,
2"xl2"xl5' boards used as floor of horse trailer, wooden pallet
(containing insecticides), and two aircraft instruments with
radium dials.
Exposure rate: 15 mrad/hr.2 beta plus gamma on 2"xl2"xl5'
planks.
Isotope identified: plutonium-238 on electric hoist.5
Location 42;
Items located: two 2'x6'x6' metal shipping containers
used as stock watering troughs, 1 1/2 Bennett containers (1/2
container used as water reservoir (container not contaminated)),
four 30-gallon shipping containers (not contaminated), and an
uncontaminated wrench with a magenta band.
Exposure rate: 0.4 mrad/hr.3 beta plus gamma on 2'x6'x6'
container.
Isotope identified: cobalt-60 from swipe on water
troughs.6
Location 45;
Items located: tools with magenta markings, miscellaneous
radium dial gauges, military radio, numerous U.S. Navy electric
motors, interior walls and a door and frame from a radioactive
hot laboratory.
Isotopes identified: cobalt-60 and cesium-137.7
Location 44:
Item located: radium-dial military wall clock.
Location 45:
Items located: several radium-tipped switches.
18
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Notes:
1. EPA (EMSL--LV) analysis.
2. Preliminary measurements made by the REECo monitor-
ing team or the REECo laboratory analysis. For measurement
verification and a description of the instrumentation, see
the REECo final report.
3. Field measurements made by EPA personnel using a
Baird-Atomic NE-148A gamma scintillator and/or an Eberline
Instrument Company PAC-1SA alpha scintillator (59 cm2 surface
area). All measurements are surface contact.
4. Gamma readings reported as yR/hr. or mR/hr. Gamma plus
beta readings reported as mrad/hr.
5. Idaho Nuclear Engineering Laboratory analysis from swipe
or sample supplied by NRC personnel.
6. Analysis on site by LLL solid state (G-e-Li) gamma detec-
tion equipment. See LLL final report for measurement veri-
fication and description of instrumentation.
7. Identification by EG§G mobile van. See LLL final report
for measurement verification and description of instrumentation,
19
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-N-
FIGURE 3
(BEATTY.NEV.)
FIGURE INDEX OF AREAS
INSPECTED FOR RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
FROM THE NECO DISPOSAL SITE
MARCH 1976
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
OFFICE OF RADIATION PROGRAMS
LAS VEGAS FACILITY
figure 1
NECO Disposal Site
20
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LOCATIONS INSPECTED FOR RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
MARCH 1976
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
OFFICE OF RADIATION PROGRAMS
LAS VEGAS FACILITY
f\* Appendix 1 Location Number
^B Radioactive materials located
£) Radium d i a I cl ock(s), or co m pa ss(es),
and/or gauge(s)only
Q_) No radioactive materials located
figure 2
NECO Disposal Site "\
II miles from BEATTY, NEVADA/
SCALE
21
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RADIO
ACTIVE MATERIALS LOCATED IN BEATTY, NEVADA
MARCH 1976
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
OFFICE OF RADIATION PROGRAMS
LAS VEGAS FACILITY
•
c
Radioactive materials located
Radium dial clock(s), or compass(es),
and/or gauge(s)only
figure 3
22
500' 1000'
Feel (Approx.)
-------
LOCATIONS INSPECTED FOR RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
MARCH 1976
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
OFFICE OF RADIATION PROGRAMS
LAS VEGAS FACILITY
£-?2 Appendix 1 Location Number
^^ Radioactive materials located
fl^ Radium d ia I clock(s), or com pa ss(es),
and/or gauge(s)only
(_) No radioactive materials located
39
figure 4
-------
LOCATIONS INSPECTED FOR RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
MARCH 1976
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
OFFICE OF RADIATION PROGRAMS
LAS VEGAS FACILITY
jp^ Appendix 1 Location Number
Radioactive materials located
Radium dial clock(s), or compass(es),
and/or gauge(s)only
No radioactive materials located
41
SCALE
figure 5
24
MILES-(approx.)
^2(approx. llmiles)
/>
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APPENDIX II
Selected Photographs of Items
Located During Beatty Survey
25
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•. ~* «* .--.V>~ '•*^">
:-* . ._ % --v'.
Figure 1. Military Clock (Location 5) and Military
Transit (Location 41). (Photograph taken
after items were returned to burial site.)
Figure 2. Bennett container in use for home water
storage (Location 6).
26
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Figure 3. Electric mixer and centrifuge (Location 8)
Figure 4. Miscellaneous military clocks and electrical
fuse boxes (Location 38).
27
-------
Figure 5. Tensiometers (Location 39). (Photograph
taken after items were returned to burial
site.)
Figure 6. Rulison Pipe (Location 40).
28
-------
Figure 7. Contaminated electric hoist (Location 41)
(Photograph taken after item was returned
to burial site.)
Figure 8. Empty Bennett container (Location 41)
29
-------
Figure 9. Empty Bennett containers and other miscel-
laneous materials (Location 41). (Photo-
graph taken after items were returned to
burial site.)
•
Figure 10.
Contaminated metal shipping container
(foreground) in use as stock watering
trough and one-half Bennett container
(Location 42).
30
-------
Figure 11.
Radioactivity laboratory wall panels
(foreground)(Location 43). (Photo-
graph taken after items were returned
to burial site.)
31
-------
Figure 12. Electric motors and pumps (Location 43).
(Photograph taken after items were re-
turned to burial site.)
Figure 13
# •/•
,.£$*.:
\ //
-<•-.
• •*
Miscellaneous contaminated tools (Location
43). (Photograph taken after items were
returned to burial site.)
32
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Figure 14. Navy floating-card compass (Pahrump).
Figure 15.
Military clocks and compass. (See Appendix
III) Photograph taken at LVF.
33
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APPENDIX III
Radium-Dial Clocks and Compass
Because the primary thrust of the State concern was to iden-
tify and remove any items which might present real or potential
health hazards and which obviously were intended for burial at
the site, no large effort was expended to make comprehensive dose
measurements on each individual item as it was identified. In
any case, the large numbers of individual items found would have
precluded such an effort. However, because a large number of
radium-dial military clocks and compasses were recovered from
homes, it appeared worthwhile to make separate dose measurements
on some of these items. With State permission, a U.S. Army wall
clock, a U.S. Navy wall clock, and a U.S. Army wrist compass were
selected from those which had been returned to the burial site
and taken to the ORP-LVF for further study. Exposure rate mea-
surements were taken at the surface with an Eberline E-500B beta/
gamma survey meter. Exposure rate measurements were also taken
at one meter, two meters, and three meters with a Reuter-Stokes
Model RSS-111 Pressurized lonization Chamber. The instruments
were individually placed in an environmental chamber and the
rate of radon gas release measured by collecting filtered air
samples in a scintillation cell followed by analysis of the
scintillation cell. The results are as follows:
U.S. Navy Wall Clock:
This clock was black and measured 4 inches high and 7 inches
in diameter. The markings were "Mark I, Deck Clock, U.S. Navy,
63544, 1943, Seth Thomas."
Using an E-500B survey meter, the maximum exposure rates at
the clock glass cover face surface were 50 mrad/hr. beta plus
gamma and 4 mR/hr. gamma. Using a pressurized ionization cham-
ber (PIC), the gamma radiation levels at one meter, two meters,
and three meters from the clock face were 8.5 yR/hr., 2.5 yR/hr.,
and 0.8 yR/hr. above a background of 9.5 yR/hr.
This clock releases radon-222 at a rate of about 0.14 pico-
curies per second (pCi/sec.). If the clock were used in a 1,000
square foot home with one air change per hour, the house would
contain about 2.2 x 10" picocuries per liter (pCi/1) above the
naturally occurring background radon levels which would be
expected to be on the order of 0.5 pCi/1. The clock would,
therefore, result in an added exposure to the house resident
34
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of, perhaps, one to several per cent of the natural radon back-
ground, depending on actual house or trailer home size, actual
number of air changes, and how many hours per day the re.sident
occupied the house.
U.S. Army Wall Clock:
This clock had a brass container approximately 5 1/4 inches
in diameter by 2 1/2 inches high. The labeling on the clock
read "Message Center, Ml, Chelsea Clock Co., Boston, 446315."
The maximum E-500B contact readings on the clock glass cover
above the face were 50 mrad/hr. beta plus gamma and 4 mR/hr.
gamma. The PIC measurements at one meter, two meters, and three
meters were 5.5 yR/hr, 2.0 yR/hr, and 1.0 yR/hr., respectively,
above the 9.5 yR/hr. background. This clock releases radon at a
rate of about 0.06 pCi/sec. or about one-half the level released
by the Navy clock.
U.S. Army Wrist Compass:
This compass was in a green plastic body about 1 1/2 inches
in diameter and had a green cloth wrist strap. The maximum E-500B
contact readings on the compass with the cover closed were 9 mrad/
hr. beta plus gamma and 2 mR/hr. gamma. With the cover open, the
maximum readings were 35 mrad/hr. beta plus gamma and 2.5 mR/hr.
gamma.
External gamma levels as measured with the PIC at one meter,
two meters, and three meters were 0.9 yR/hr., 0.5 yR/hr., and
0.3 yR/hr., respectively, above the 9.5 yR/hr. background.
Because of the low exposure rates, it is questionable whether
the two and three meter values are truly above background. This
compass releases radon at a rate of about 0.007 pCi/sec. or
about 1/20 the rate of the Navy clock.
Discussion:
From the foregoing it would appear that the airborne radon
levels (and consequently the radon progeny levels) resulting
from having such an intact clock or compass in the home would
not contribute significantly to the background levels. Although
the actual radium content of these particular clocks and the com-
pass is not known, some similar military clocks now being phased
out of service contain about 10 microcuries (yCi) of radium-226.
Wrist compasses still in military use contain 1 to 15 yCi of
radium-226.
The PIC gamma exposure rate from the Navy wall clock relates
to a radium-226 point source of roughly 10 yCi. The radon pro-
duction rate from 10 yCi is about 20 pCi/sec. Thus, as expected,
only a small fraction of the radon produced is being released
from the clock dial and clock.
35
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Damage to such an instrument would probably make more radon
available in addition to making the radium parent radionuclide
available for possible ingestion or for contamination of property
and persons. As an example, a radium clock was found to have
been burned at the Beatty dump during the survey. As a result
of the fire, a two-foot diameter circle was found to be contami-
nated with elevated radium-226 levels.
The gamma radiation exposure levels at one meter from the
Navy clock are approximately equivalent to background radiation
levels. However, since it is unlikely that anyone would remain
within one meter of the clock for any extended period of time,
the external exposures to such sources should be some small frac-
tion of the existing gamma radiation background.
36
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APPENDIX IV
Portable Survey Instruments Used in Beatty, Nevada, Survey
Baird-Atomic NE-148A Gamma Scintillator:
This scintillator is an extremely sensitive, portable gamma
detecting instrument capable of detecting a 5 yC radium-226
source at about 6 feet in air. The six-foot measurement is
approximately 2 yR/hr. above background, when background is
approximately 4 yR/hr. It was used as the principal detector
in the gamma search. Three ranges provide measurements to 3
mR/hr., with the lowest range 0-30 yR/hr. The detector is a
sodium iodide crystal scintillator. Response time of the elec-
tronics is quite rapid, making the instrument an extremely good
"fast search" gamma detector. A cesium-137 standard was used
to calibrate the instrument.
Eberline Instrument Corp. PAC-1SA Alpha Scintillator:
The PAC-1SA is a scintillator with an active area of 59 cm2
and is used for detecting alpha-emitting radionuclides. The
crystal (silver activated zinc sulfide) has an aluminized Mylar
window with a thickness of 1.5 mg/cm2. The alpha scintillator
was used to monitor suspect locations/items that had no detect-
able gamma levels. Four ranges provide measurements to 2 x 106
cpm. A plutonium-239 standard was used to calibrate the instru-
ment.
Eberline Instrument Corp. E-500B Beta/Gamma Meter:
The E-500B employs two G-M tubes as the detector. A movable
shield provides either gamma or gamma/beta readings. The effec-
tive wall thickness for the lower ranges in the gamma/beta mode
is 30-40 mg/cm2. Five ranges provide for measurements to 2 R/hr.
The gamma response time is significantly slower than the NE-148A
and the sensitivity is also correspondingly lower. For these
reasons, the E-500B was used during the survey primarily when
gamma radiation levels were encountered which were off-scale for
the scintillator. A cesium-137 standard is used to calibrate
the E-500B.
37
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Reuter-Stokes RSS-111 Environmental Radiation Monitor:
The RSS-111 is an ultra-sensitive gamma exposure monitor-
ing system designed to measure and record low-level exposure
rates such as those due to fallout and natural background radia-
tion. The RSS-111 can measure dosage increases of less than
1 mrad/year. The detector is a high pressure (25 atmosphere of
ultra-pure argon) spherical (10 in. diameter) ionization chamber
mounted directly to a solid state electrometer. Two ranges pro-
vide measurements from 0 yR/hr. to about 200 yR/hr.
Ludlum Measurements, Inc. Model 2200 Sealer:
A Ludlum model 2200 Sealer was used in conjunction with a
photomultiplier tube (zinc sulfide crystal on photomultiplier
tube face) mounted over a sliding drawer filter holder for use
in counting alpha swipes.
Ludlum Measurements, Inc. Model 125 Gamma Scintillator:
The Ludlum Model 125 gamma scintillator is a hand-held
instrument. It employs a l"xl" Nal(tl) crystal coupled to a
1" diameter photomultiplier tube. This instrument is useful in
the range of 0 to 3000 yR/hr. on three scales. It was calibrated
with cesium-137.
38
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TECHNICAL REPORT DATA
(Please read Instructions on the reverse before completing)
1. REPORT NO.
ORP/LV-76-1
3. RECIPIENT'S ACCESSION-NO.
4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE
Radiation Survey in Beatty, Nevada, and
Surrounding Area (March 1976)
5. REPORT DATE
April 1976
6. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION CODE
7. AUTHOR(S)
D. W. Hendricks and C. W. Fort, Jr.
8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NO.
9. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME AND ADDRESS
Office of Radiation Programs--Las Vegas Facili
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
P.O. Box 15027
Las Vegas, NV 89114
10. PROGRAM ELEMENT NO.
-y
11. CONTRACT/GRANT NO.
12. SPONSORING AGENCY NAME AND ADDRESS
13. TYPE OF REPORT AND PERIOD COVERED
Final
14. SPONSORING AGENCY CODE
15. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES
16. ABSTRACT
At the request of the State of Nevada, a radiation survey was initiated
in the Beatty, Nevada, area on March 10, 1976, to identify and locate
radioactive materials which might have been removed from the Nuclear
Engineering Company low-level radioactive waste burial site located
near Beatty. Approximately 280 locations including dwellings,
storehouses, schools, saloons, hotels, motels, businesses, ranches, and
mines were inspected. Seventeen residences in Beatty and the surround-
ing area were identified where the sole radioactive items found were
radium-dial clocks, compasses, and instrument gauges which had been
distributed from the burial site. An additional 25 locations were
identified where other radioactive items originating from the Beatty
site were found. Subsequent to the Beatty survey, additional items
removed from the Beatty burial site were identified in Pahrump, Nevada,
and in the Amargosa, Nevada, farm area. Levels of radon gas released
from two military clocks and one military wrist compass were measured
at the Office of Radiation Programs—Las Vegas Facility for dose esti-
mation. Radiation exposures to persons possessing the various radio-
active materials appear to have been generally and fortuitously minimal
17.
KEY WORDS AND DOCUMENT ANALYSIS
DESCRIPTORS
b.IDENTIFIERS/OPEN ENDED TERMS
c. COSATI Field/Group
Radioactive Wastes
Waste Disposal
Radiological Contamination
Beatty, Nevada
Radium-dial Instru-
ments
Radiation Survey
Radon Measurements
1807
1807
1808
18. DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT
Release Unlimited
19. SECURITY CLASS (This Report)
UNCLASSIFIED
21. NO. OF PAGES
20. SECURITY CLASS (Thispage)
UNCLASSIFIED
22. PRICE
EPA Form 2220-1 (9-73)
*GPO 690-901-1976
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