Environmental Monitoring and Support Laboratory Las Vegas sss2 wz ^7 sagssjzz First Quarter- January, February, March 1976 ------- FIRST QUARTER REPORT of the ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND SUPPORT LABORATORY LAS VEGAS January through March 1976 U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND SUPPORT LABORATORY LAS VEGAS, NEVADA 89114 ------- CONTENTS Page EVENTS OF GENERAL INTEREST 1 BIOLOGICAL MONITORING 4 MONITORING SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT 6 EQUIPMENT AND TECHNIQUES DEVELOPMENT 8 MONITORING 10 QUALITY ASSURANCE 12 TECHNICAL SUPPORT 15 SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL REPORTS 18 OFFICE OF RADIATION PROGRAMS-LAS VEGAS FACILITY 20 iii ------- EVENTS OF GENERAL INTEREST On request of the State of Nevada 1n March, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency personnel served as authorized representatives of the State Division of Health in assisting with a radiation survey of the town of Beatty, Nevada. The survey was to ascertain the existence of radioactive materials taken into public and private areas from a radioactive waste burial site near the town, and to determine the extent of radioactive contamination. The Environmental Monitoring and Support Laboratory-Las Vegas and the Office of Radiation Programs-Las Vegas Facility provided radiation survey teams and other technical support as well as public information assistance. The joint investigation was conducted by the Nevada Department of Human Resources and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission with assistance from the U.S. Energy Research and Development Administration as well as the EPA. Radiation monitors surveyed over 250 homes and buildings. Several truck- loads of items taken from the burial site were located and recovered, many voluntarily turned in by local citizens as a result of an appeal at a town meeting. Although few items were contaminated, all materials recovered were returned to the site and buried. Several residents were examined for internal burden of radionuclides at the EPA Laboratory's medical facility. Preliminary results showed no abnormal ra- dioactivity present in these people. On March 15, a news conference was held at the Laboratory. Roger Trounday, Director of the Nevada Department of Human Resources, and Robert Engelken, Director of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Region V Office, announced the results of the investigation and answered questions. Representative George E. Brown of California, Chairman of the House Sub- committee on Environment and the Atmosphere, visited the Laboratory with Repre- sentative Larry Winn, Jr., of Kansas, a Subcommittee member, and Frank R. Hammill, Jr., Counsel to the Subcommittee. Their visit followed hearings held in Washington in December on how the recent reorganization of the EPA's Office of Research and Development affects work at the EPA Laboratories. Dr. Delbert S. Barth, Director of the Laboratory, presented an overview of the Laboratory's programs. The visitors then toured the Laboratory. Highlights included briefings on the ozone calibration system, pollutant pathways studies, and aerial imagery applications to environmental protection. The group then visited the EPA hangar to view aircraft and specialized equipment used for environmental monitoring. Mr. John R. McBride, Deputy Director, served as the Laboratory's advisor to the Test Controller's Panel of the U.S. Energy Research and Development 1 ------- Administration at the Nevada Test Site during several testing activities in this Quarter, PROFESSIONAL MEETINGS Dr. Barth and Mr. Robert Oser, environmental engineer, attended the National Conference on Health, Environmental Effects and Control Technology of Energy Use which was held in Washington, D.C. in February. Dr. Barth chaired a session on Measurement and Monitoring. Mr. Arthur N. Jarvis, Chief of the Quality Assurance Branch of the Monitor- ing Systems Research and Development Division, was an invited speaker at the National Bureau of Standards 75th Anniversary Symposium on Measurements for the Safe Use of Radiation. At this meeting, held in Gaithersburg, Maryland, in March, Mr. Jarvis described the Laboratory's Quality Assurance Program and discussed the standard reference materials, quality control guidelines, and training required to improve the quality of environmental radiation measure- ments. Mr. Donald B. Gilmore of the Monitoring Systems Design and Analysis Staff spoke at the Federal-State Conference on Geothermal Energy held in Oakland, California, March 10. The subject of his speech was the EPA's research on the environmental impact of geothermal energy. OTHER MEETINGS Dr. S. Harvey Melfi, Director of the Remote Sensing Division, attended the FY 1976 Advanced Applications Flight Experiment (AAFE) meeting in Newport News, Virginia, in January. On request of the National Aeronautics and Space Adminis- tration, Dr. Melfi is serving as a panel member to the Office of Applications Ad Hoc Advisory Subcommittee for evaluating AAFE proposals. In January, Dr. Barth attended the Institute of Environmental Sciences Executive Board Meeting in Las Vegas. In February, he attended the final meeting of the Steering Committee of the Third Joint Conference on Sensing of Environmental Pollutants in Washington, D.C., and also met with members of the Office of Manpower and Budget to discuss the off-site radiological safety program the Laboratory conducts for the U.S. Energy Research and Development Administration. In March, Dr. Barth, along with Mr. George Morgan, Director of the Laboratory's Monitoring Systems Research and Development Division, and Mr. Donald Wruble, Director of the Laboratory's Monitoring Operations Division, attended the staff meeting of the Office of Monitoring and Technical Support in Denver, Colorado. Mr. McBride attended the U.S. Energy Research and Development Administra- tion Containment Evaluation Panel meeting in San Diego, California, in March. Mr. Victor Lambou, Chief of the Water and Land Quality Branch of the Moni- toring Operations Division, and members of his staff are participating in the Water Resources Seminar, a full semester course offered by the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. Mr. William Taylor, biologist, made a presentation on the 2 ------- algal community structure of hot springs. Dr. Dale Boland, also a biologist, discussed the findings of his reserch in LANDSAT satellite imagery as related to trophic condition of lakes. Dr. Boland made extensive use of National Eutrophication Survey data in drawing correlations with the data from the satellite. Dr. Bengt Steen, Water and Air Pollution Research Laboratory, Gothenburg, Sweden, met with Dr. Barth and the Division Directors to discuss remote sensing, aircraft sampling and integrated monitoring. Mr. Jerome Svore, Region VIII Administrator, also visited the Laboratory and received an overview briefing of current activities. Dr. Joseph V. Behar of the Monitoring Systems Design and Analysis Staff was a guest lecturer at the Environmental Management Institute held at the Uni- versity of Southern California on January 26. Dr. Behar spoke on the EPA's approach to air pollution management. Mr. Carl R. Gerber, Associate Assistant Administrator of the Office of Research and Development, met at the Laboratory with Dr. Barth and key staff in March to discuss policies and overall objectives of the ORD. At a general assembly, Mr. Gerber presented certificates to employees who had been with the EPA since its inception and addressed the group on ORD programs present and future. AWARDS In an award ceremony in March, Mr. William Gries, Co-Chairman of the Clark County, Nevada, Bicentennial Executive Board, presented certificates in recog- nition of effective communication of the bicentennial message in the Labora- tory's newsletter to Mrs. Geneva S. Douglas, Director of the Information Services Staff, and Mrs. Patricia Wunder, editor of the newsletter. At the same ceremony, Mr. McBride awarded Quality Step Increases to 13 Laboratory employees and, on behalf of the United Way Campaign, a plaque in recognition of the nearly 100 percent employee participation in the recent drive. Mrs. Marianne Carpenter, 1975 Campaign Coordinator, accepted the plaque for the Laboratory. 3 ------- BIOLOGIAL MONITORING ACT INIDES A grazing study has been in progress since May 1973 on the plutonium- contaminated range in Area 13 of the Nevada Test Site. The primary objective of this study is to determine the uptake and tissue distribution of the plutonium by ruminants. Some recent findings show that the median plutonium-239 value from the gonads of cattle that grazed this range was 25 times higher than that for muscle tissue, approximately equal to levels in the femur, and one-half to one-third of that for liver and lung tissues. Uranium levels in the gonads were greater than in all of the other tissues discussed. Little difference was noted in the activity levels between the gonads of the males versus the gonads of the fema1es. The Health and Safety Staff completed monitoring of the employees who participated in the recent study to investigate the relative biological avail- ability of in vivo and in vitro plutonium-labeled bovine milk. As part of this study, four adult cows were each intravenously dosed with plutonium-238 citrate and milk from these cows was fed to one group of calves. Another group of calves was fed in vitro plutonium-labeled milk prepared by adding plutonium-238 citrate to milk collected from the farm herd. The monitoring was to determine plutonium levels, if any, in the persons involved in the study. Whole-body counts were made and blood and urine samples collected before and after the study. Results indicate that there was no detectable plutonium contamination in any of these persons. ANIMAL INVESTIGATION Some pollutants such as plutonium are associated with soil particles and are ingested by grazing beef cattle. While these contaminated soil particles are in the gastrointestinal tract, a certain amount of the pollutant may be absorbed and enter man's food chain. Oust how much soil cattle ingest is not known. Therefore, an estimate of soil ingestion by grazing cattle was made by weighing the sediment from washed ingesta collected from fistulated steers that had grazed for a 24-hour period on both ungrazed range and heavily grazed range. Sediment was also collected from the entire gastrointestinal tract of a sacri- ficed cow from the heavily grazed range. From these data, it was estimated that less than 0.5 kilograms of soil would be ingested for a 24-hour period by cattle grazing these ranges. As part of a Deer Migration Study, both ground and aerial reconnaissance were conducted to locate the eight deer on or near the Nevada Test Site which a year ago were equipped with radio transmitters. The Study, of interest to the U.S. Energy Research and Development Administration and the Nevada Department of Fish and Game, is designed to investigate the remote possibi1ity that deer which inhabit the Nevada Test Site could become contaminated with radionuclides and 4 ------- possibly pose a health problem to persons consuming meat from deer collected near the Test Site during hunting season. In January, two deer were located on the Test Site near Timber Mountain and one near Shoshone Peak. In early February one deer was located on Timber Mountain and another in the Shoshone Peak area. Flights conducted later in February north of the Nevada Test Site and on the west side of Timber Mountain failed to locate any deer. Either the transmitters have stopped operating or the deer have moved beyond the search area. A more extensive search is planned. 5 ------- MONITORING SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT ENERGY DEVELOPMENT IMPACT The Environmental Monitoring and Support Laboratory-Las Vegas has the responsibility for developing monitoring methodologies in several areas in- volving energy development and use. In coal strip and oil shale mining and processing, one of the Laboratory's responsibilities is to determine changes in groundwater quality resulting from such activities. Programs recently initiated or about to begin are: (1) A contract will be awarded shortly to investigate the changes in groundwater quality as a result of activities in coal strip mining and oil shale development. (2) The groundwater monitoring methodology as developed under contract by General Electric-TEMPO will be validated in the East Texas area. Portions of this validation will be carried out under contract to the Texas Water Develop- ment Board. (3) A grant will be awarded in the near future to the Illinois State Water Survey for the investigation of the relationship between ambient stream quality and water sampling frequency data. Laboratory responsibility in the geothermal area involves monitoring environmental impacts in all media. A contract will be awarded shortly to investigate the impact of geothermal energy development on groundwater quality in the Imperial Valley of California. In addition to the contractual effort in the Imperial Valley, in-house studies are underway to determine the effects of geothermal energy development on plants and animals, and a mobile monitoring laboratory is being assembled to determine the impact of geothermal energy development on ambient air quality. In a current project, the first phase of sampling was recently completed around a geothermal power plant in the Imperial Valley of California. The purpose was to collect base-line soil and crop samples within 1 mile of the San Diego Gas and Electric/Energy Research and Development Administration power plant located on the edge of the Sal ton Sea. This 10-megawatt experimental plant will not produce any power during the first year of operation, but will test the feasibility of binary fluid/heat exchanger operations under extremely saline conditions. However, emissions from the experimental plant should be representative of an operational plant of this type. The source of energy for the plant is high-temperature brine confined in the ground under pressure. This geothermal brine cannot be used directly because of the corrosive effect of its high salt content - about 10 times that of seawater. The binary fluid/heat exchanger is being developed to transfer heat from the geothermal brine to isobutane, which can be used to drive a standard turbine generator. 6 ------- A very intensive sampling design was used to enhance statistical sensi- tivity. Over 300 composite samples of soil and vegetation were collected within a 1-mile radius of the plant; it is planned that these samples will be analyzed for about 34 elements using the x-ray fluorescence spectrometer. The background levels of these elements will be compared with the levels from samples collected after the plant has been in operation for some time. If no increase in levels is detected, this will be an indication that the power plant is not contaminating the surrounding area. To perform automated analyses of elemental constituents for the geothermal energy assessment program, an argon plasma emissions spectrometry laboratory is being set up. Dr. Donald R. Scott, recently assigned to the Monitoring Systems and Development Division, is supervising the design of the laboratory. Dr. Scott was previously an Associate Professor of Physical Chemistry at the South Dakota School of Mines and is an authority in spectroscopy and quantum chemistry NETWORK OPTIMIZATION A program is underway to identify monitoring sites in the areas of existing or potential energy resource development in the western United States. The information being collected will be collated and used to select a network of water quality monitoring stations for both ground and surface water. These data will be used to establish a western area water quality baseline and to assess trends and impacts of energy-related activities. This program will result in an integration of such monitoring data and will provide uniformly and properly validated water quality data to the National Computer Storage bank. 7 ------- EQUIPMENT AND TECHNIQUES DEVELOPMENT FLUORESCENCE METHOD FOR MONITORING VEGETATION STRESS A new plant growth chamber was designed to simulate various environmental conditions. Installed in the Laboratory's greenhouse, the walk-in chamber can provide wide variations in temperature, humidity, air flow, and light intensity. All of these functions can be cycled to simulate day and night conditions. One of the several studies planned for the new growth chamber is part of a project initiated jointly by the Laboratory's Remote Sensing Division and the Monitoring Systems Research and Development Division. The purpose of the joint project is to study the possible application of fluorescence spectroscopy to the remote detection of sub-visual vegetation stress induced by atmospheric pollutants. The new chamber will allow the growing of plants in a rigidly con- trolled environment with stress applied by the measured addition of specific pollutants. The first stage of the project involves a 1-year laboratory feasibility study to establish whether exposure of certain crop types to known concentra- tions of atmospheric pollutants will, in the absence of visible symptoms of stress damage, induce measurable changes in the fluorescence spectra of these types. For this remote sensing method to be viable, it must be possible to directly relate these changes to the health, vigor and potential yield of the specific crop type. It must also be established that such changes can be moni- tored from an airborne platform under conditions of full daylight using a suitable laser fluorescence excitation source. Test and control plants are being grown in the new growth chamber for these exposure tests. They include soybean, corn, tobacco, petunia, grape, string beans, alfalfa, lettuce, and beets. A continuous record of the exposure conditions is being kept and, in addition, plant physiological parameters are being monitored. The effects of drought on the plant fluorescence characteristics are also being studied. Atmospheric pollutants being used to produce both acute and chronic exposures are ozone, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. Leaf tissue samples will be taken from both test and control plants and analyzed on a laboratory spectrofluorometer for changes in the fluorescence emission spectra induced by the simulated pollution event. Changes in fluores- cence characteristics for both the bulk plant tissue and the photopigments will be further analyzed. At the completion of the laboratory feasibility studies at the end of FY 1976, a series of measurements will be conducted under field conditions at the experimental farm on the Nevada Test Site. Selected vegetation types will be grown on microplots and exposed to gaseous pollutants by way of open-top fumi- gation chambers. The plant fluorescence characteristics will then be monitored 8 ------- using a laser fluorosensor 1n a simulated remote sensing configuration in which the device is suspended above the microplots from a movable gantry. Under field conditions, it will be possible also to monitor other parameters which might influence the plant fluorescence characteristics such as changes in leaf area index and diurnal and seasonal plant growth factors. The final stage of the project will be the design construction and testing of an airborne laser fluorosensor designed specifically for monitoring the stress-induced changes in the fluorescence spectra observed in the laboratory and field studies. RADIUM AND LEAD ANALYSIS A sequential analytical method for the determination of radium-226, radium- 228, and lead-210 in various types of environmental samples has been developed. This method reduces the analysis time for lead-210 by 4 to 5 months. Utiliza- tion of this method has reduced the backlog of samples for lead-210 analysis and has improved the quality of radium-226 and radium-228 analysis. NONPOINT SOURCE MONITORING With the ice melted on the White River in Vernal, Utah, biological sampling and physical/chemical monitoring have resumed as part of the Nonpoint Source Monitoring Techniques Study. This study is designed to test and assess water quality monitoring approaches for quantifying the contribution of nonpoint source pollutants to surface waters. The pollutants come from runoff from mining areas and seepage from waste disposal areas. A parameter report for nonpoint source monitoring is being prepared and statistical design for monitoring programs is underway. Informal agreement has been reached with the U.S. Geo- logical Survey in Vernal providing for use of their computer terminal data processing. 9 ------- MONITORING AIR Final system integration and checkout began in March for the air pollution monitoring instrumentation to be used in the Williams Air Force Base Aircraft Emissions Impact Study. This 2-year study is being conducted by the Laboratory in cooperation with the U.S. Air Force Civil Engineering Center and the Argonne National Laboratory. The study will collect data to test the ability of exist- ing air quality simulation models to estimate the air quality impact of airport emissions. The five-station Williams air quality monitoring network will be completely operational by mid-April. This network includes four instrumented trailers parked at strategic locations near aircraft activity areas to collect air quality data which will be related to aircraft emissions data. A fifth van is to be used to gather background data just inside the perimeter of the air- base. These trailers will continuously measure pollutant concentrations at the different locations. The data will be used to calculate the frequency distri- bution of the pollutants. From mid-February through mid-March, monitoring was performed by helicopter in St. Louis, Missouri, in support of the February 1976 Regional Air Pollution Study (RAPS) Intensive Field Study Period. About 100 hours of flight data was obtained, primarily in support of Regional Air Monitoring Station measurements and of urban vertical temperature structure and mixing depth investigations. The RAPS, largest air monitoring program ever undertaken by the EPA's Office of Research and Development, is a 5-year program. Its purpose is to produce for a single urban area enough information on all the processes that determine the concentrations of air pollutants so that they can be described in a system of mathematical models. The RAPS is designed to provide a data base on which the entire system of models can be validated. During January several monitoring flights by helicopter, totalling about 22 hours, were flown in the Las Vegas vicinity as part of an intensive air quality study. The purpose of the study was to collect research data needed to validate an air pollution model for the Las Vegas Valley to be used in the design of air monitoring networks. It is part of a broader field study of the Las Vegas Valley under various weather conditions. In January vertical pro- files of temperature, dewpoint, aerosol light scattering, and carbon monoxide were obtained. RADIATION In the continuing Off-site Human Survei1 lance Program, 30 residents (8 families) were examined for body burden of gamma-emitting radionuclides by the Health and Safety Staff using the Laboratory's whole-body counting facility. 10 ------- As in the past, medical examinations of these persons, all residents of areas surrounding the Nevada Test Site, have revealed a generally healthy population. Radiological safety support was provided for nine announced nuclear detonations conducted by the U.S. Energy Research and Development Administra- tion at the Nevada Test Site. As many as 40 Laboratory personnel were dis- persed in off-site areas for several days at a time to perform ground and aerial monitoring, ground motion observation, community information services, and mine standby, i.e., to advise operating miners of possible ground motion. WATER In the continuing study in the Atchafalaya River Basin in Louisiana, samples were collected using helicopter and houseboat and small boat operations. The houseboat in use is designed as a water-mobile limnological laboratory and is equipped for overnight use when necessary. A high-speed aluminum boat provides broader range and flexibility in the sampling approach. To efficiently cover the more than 100 sampling sites in the Basin, helicopter sampling meth- ods used in the National Eutrophication Survey were employed. The study is a long-term interagency land and water management study. At the request of the Governor of Louisiana and in response to a joint U.S. Congressional resolution, the EPA, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Department of the Interior are conducting the study in conjunction with a massive channelization project by the Corps of Engineers. The Council of Environmental Quality is coordi- nating the joint effort. With field sampling activities completed in December, effort in the National Eutrophication Survey (NES) largely concerned the analysis and inter- pretation of data in the extensive data base compiled during the 4-year sampling program. Individual lake reports for the lakes sampled in the southeastern United States were forwarded to the respective States for review. Preliminary reports for the State of Louisiana, for lakes sampled in 1974, are being produced. A major comprehensive report relating water quality to ambient nutrient levels in 1972 NES lakes was selected for presentation at the EPA's Conference on Environmental Monitoring and Simulation held in Cincinnati in April 1976. A report evaluating the use of a dual differential radiometer to estimate chlorophyll from light reflected from the lake's surface was completed and is available as an NES Working Paper. The report is based on field testing of the instrument in conjunction with NES activities and ground-truth data. A user-oriented report, printed as part of the NES Working Paper Series, is being distributed to data management specialists and automatic data processors. This report provides information to facilitate statistical manipulation of data stored in the STORET system. Sample analyses for the NES have been completed. About 444,000 analyses were conducted on 74,000 samples to date. 11 ------- QUALITY ASSURANCE INTERCOMPARISON STUDIES The major objective of the Laboratory Intercomparison Studies Program is to assist laboratories involved in environmental radiation measurements to develop and maintain both an intralaboratory and an interlaboratory quality control program. This is accomplished through extensive laboratory intercom- parison studies (cross-checks) involving environmental media (milk, water, air, food, soil, and gases) and a variety of radionuclides with activities at or near environmental levels. Reports were issued to Laboratory Intercomparison Studies Program partici- pants for seven different cross-check analyses: November - radium-226 in water, beta and gamma emitters in milk, and gross alpha and gross beta in water; De- cember - beta and gamma emitters in food, tritium in urine, tritium in water, gamma in water, and gross alpha and gross beta in air filters; January - beta and gamma emitters in milk, gross alpha and gross beta in water, and radium-226 in water; February - tritium in water. The types of cross-check analyses and the number of participating laboratories during this quarter are shown in the following table: Type of Cross-check January February March Air Filter -- 56 Gamma in water -- 68 Gross alpha and gross beta 53 -- 65 in water Milk 55 — 67 Radium-226 in water 32 Tritium in urine -- -- 17 Tritium in water -- 61 The laboratories participating in the above cross-check programs include 2 international, 16 Federal, 35 State, 12 university, 1 county, and 42 nuclear facilities and contractor laboratories. REFERENCE METHODS A literature evaluation concerning the in vivo incorporation of mercury into plant tissues was completed. The study of numerous review and original articles showed that no published method can be applied directly to the production of large amounts of a uniform, mercury-containing reference mate- rial. The incorporation of mercury into water hyacinths grown in a hydroponic solution appears to be a promising approach. This modification of the approach 12 ------- presently being developed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for wastewater purification is based on the proven ability of water hyacinths to remove relatively large amounts of metals, such as mercury, lead, cadmium, nickel, cobalt, and silver, from aqueous solutions. Since a fraction of the metals removed from the solution is assimilated into the aerial plant parts, the large leaves of water hyacinths grown in a mercury-containing hydroponic solution could be harvested periodically and processed. Because water hya- cinths grow profusely and take up mercury, they could be the plant of choice for preparing standard reference materials containing in vivo incorporated mercury. One problem is that part of the mercury compound added to the solution will undoubtedly be reduced to the elemental and methylated forms of mercury, and some of this will escape from the hydroponic solution and adhere to the aerial surfaces of the plants. This cannot be easily prevented when growing plants on a large scale; however, it should not matter because similar pro- cesses occur in natural environments. On request, Mr. William Wolverton, who is responsible for the waste-water purification project at the National Space Technology Laboratory in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, will assist the Las Vegas Laboratory in this project. The National Bureau of Standards (NBS) has been involved in the prepar- ation of the only available standard reference plant material, namely orchard leaves. The preparation of the orchard leaves for use as standard reference material included the following steps: hand-picking the leaves, removing the stems and major veins, freeze-drying, grinding, sieving, blending, radiation- sterilization, analyzing, and weighing. It took experienced NBS personnel approximately 2 months to conduct the grinding, sieving, and blending steps alone; the analytical costs for certifying the material ran approximately $10,000 per element (in 1971). Dr. John Taylor, NBS, indicated that the Las Vegas Laboratory would be welcome to use NBS equipment and facilities. The reference material for measuring krypton-85 in air has been prepared. Samples of this material are ready for shipment to interested laboratories and will be included in the routine intercomparison studies designed to measure and upgrade analytical performance. Letters of invitation to request a sample of this reference material and/or to participate in the first intercomparison study were sent to 116 laboratories. To date, the response to this invitation has been very favorable. Letters of invitation to participate in a collaborative test of the Labo- ratory's recently published, "Tentative Reference Method for the Measurement of Gross Alpha and Gross Beta Radioactivities in Environmental Waters," EPA-680/4- 75-005, were sent to 115 laboratories. The number of laboratories desiring to participate was greater than expected; therefore, a two-part study will be conducted. CONSULTATION At the request of the Office of Radiation Programs, Mr. Lee H. Ziegler of the Laboratory's Quality Assurance program, visited the major laboratories in 13 ------- the United States engaged in the measurement of radon and its daughters at environmental and uranium-mine levels. These laboratories included Colorado State University in Ft. Collins, Colorado, the Bureau of Mines in Denver, Colorado, the U.S. Energy Research and Development Administration's Health and Safety Laboratory in New York City, New York, and the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology in Socorro, New Mexico. The purpose of these visits was to examine the construction of various types of radon chambers and current radon measurement procedures. Messrs. Arthur N. Jarvis and D. Gene Easterly of the Las Vegas Laboratory have been assigned to the Drinking Water Laboratories Quality Assurance Work Group. The Work Group has been given the responsibility for developing the criteria and procedures to be used in the Agency's program for certifying water supply laboratories. Mr. Jarvis has been designated as the chairman of the radiation subgroup. Mr. Jarvis attended the initial planning session held in Washington, D.C. on February 4, while Mr. Easterly participated in the working session held at the EMSL-Cincinnati during the third week of February. Both of these staff members are currently drafting certification criteria and procedures to be used in evaluating the radiation laboratories involved in the radioanalysis of drinking water. 14 ------- TECHNICAL SUPPORT OFFICE OF WATER AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS Measurement methods to be used for the analysis of samples generated by the Rural Water Survey have been validated. These include atomic absorption (carbon rod) methods for the measurement of lead, chromium, and cadmium in water samples. Efforts continue to validate an analytical method for arsenic in water. The Rural Water Survey is being conducted by the EPA's Office of Water and Hazardous Materials. Its prime objective is to determine the quality of rural drinking water supplies in terms of those parameters pertinent to human health. Over 5,000 water samples will be collected from as many households in all the States. The Las Vegas Laboratory is responsible for conducting all of the radiological determinations and about one-third of the stable chemical anal- yses. The Water Supply Research Laboratory in Cincinnati will analyze the remaining samples for stable chemical content. In February, at the request of the Oil and Special Materials Control Division of the Office of Water Program Operations, a remote sensing survey was made in Region III in the Virginia area of the Chesapeake Bay. The objective was to locate and document the extent of an oil spill from a barge which was found to be sunk near Smith Point. Color aerial photographs and annotated maps were prepared. REGION I At the request of Region I, remote sensing flights were flown to detect environmental effects from bulk fuel storage facilities in New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut. Photo maps of 110 sites and photo- graphy, interpreted to detail poor conditions in 10 sites, in the four States were delivered in February. REGION II A sunken oil barge that resulted in oil spills required Las Vegas Laboratory remote sensing services in Puerto Rico. Interpreted black and white aerial photographs and annotated maps showing the location of oil released from a sunken barge near San Juan, Puerto Rico, were delivered in January. These data were collected in flights requested by Region II. REGION IV In the study being conducted in the vicinity of the Atlanta, Georgia, 15 ------- International Airport, the environmental impact problem appears to involve a possible soil sterility condition which resulted in widespread damage to local vegetation. To determine the cause of the apparent soil sterility and phyto- toxicity, Laboratory personnel accompanied by Region IV personnel conducted an extensive field sampling program in January 1976. Well over 100 soil samples were collected under the flight paths of two major runways and from a control area. These soil samples were shipped to Las Vegas and are being used for plant germination and growth studies. They are also being analyzed for jet fuel residues. Since the reported damage to vegetation near the Atlanta International Airport may be due to the spillage of jet fuel by aircraft flying over the area, a method was needed to determine the cause of the vegetation damage. Consequently, a gas chromatographic method was developed to differentiate between diesel, gasoline, and jet fuel extracted from soil samples taken in the airport area. Approximately 90 soil extracts will be analyzed during the second quarter to support this project. REGION V In a joint effort between Region V, the Municipal Environmental Research Laboratory-Cincinnati and the State of Illinois, the Las Vegas Laboratory flew remote sensing flights in Illinois. The project is to provide initial guidance for the designing of a groundwater and core-sampling program to determine migration of hazardous materials from land disposal sites for industrial wastes. Color and color infrared photography and thermal infrared scanner data were collected over nine sites. The data package delivered to the Region in March included analysis of the data depicting indicators of hazardous material migration, i.e., vegetative stress, to the extent observable. The information will be used in evaluating the adequacy of the guidelines. REGION VI At the request of the Enforcement Division, Region VI, aerial photography, infrared imagery, and topographic maps documenting violations of point source permits are being prepared for delivery. Data were collected in remote sensing overflights in January. Information provided by these data may be used to assist in potential enforcement action and may include testimony from the Laboratory's Remote Sensing Division personnel. REGION VII At the request of the Enforcement Division of Region VII, remote sensing flights were flown to delineate areas of vegetation damage resulting from suspected sulfur dioxide emitted from a smelter. Results of this project may be used in enforcement proceedings and Remote Sensing Division personnel may be called upon for testimony. 16 ------- REGION X On request of the Surveillance and Analysis Division of Region X, the Laboratory is providing aerial support in the monitoring of certain water quality problems associated with silviculture and agriculture in Washington State. Region X is conducting the project in cooperation with the Washington State Department of Ecology. A major Laboratory interest in the study is to evaluate the use of remote sensing techniques in monitoring silviculture and agriculture and their effects on water and land. The study is being conducted in three seasonal phases, fall of 1975 and spring and summer of 1976. In mid-May, the Las Vegas Laboratory will begin the second of the three seasonal flights over 225 square miles of selected forest plots and 300 square miles of farmland sub-basins in Washington. Reports are being prepared on the interpretation of color photography collected in November during the first of the series of flights. Sediment is the main environmental problem resulting from silviculture. It is produced from forest lands by surface erosion, mass soil movement, and channel erosion. Logging road construction and use influence and may even accelerate production of sediments. Sediments cause turbidity and may carry other pollutants that affect fish life and water quality. Its most common water quality impact is the clogging of culverts and stream flow. This is most often caused by drainage system failures and the erosion of stream slopes and poorly constructed embankments, and from the slumping of embankments of exca- vation wastes. Sediment and runoff bearing phosphates, nitrogen and other pollutants are the main problems caused by agriculture. Faulty irrigation and drainage may also be a problem. Aerial photography taken to date documents problems in these areas. The imagery shows the main problems of timber harvesting to be in the collapse of stream beds, debris accumulation, plugged culverts, erosion of side cast banks, and poor drainage. Road washouts and drainage obstruction due to wheel ruts of vehicles are also evident. Silviculture activities monitored were those along five creeks in south- west Washington west of the Cascades. Certain bridges were measured and ele- vational differences accounted for to prepare true scales for photo interpre- tation. The major agricultural drains monitored are near the city of Yakima. The May flights will be aimed at improving Laboratory remote sensing methods and equipment as applied to nonpoint source monitoring. These flights will also monitor problem areas to find out if they can be documented from aerial photography. In addition to looking for sediment loadings, turbidity, debris movement, and the condition of stream channels, the May flights will retrace zones surveyed in November. Data not collected in the earlier flights because of weather conditions and snow on the ground in the CIe Elum district of the Wenatchee National Forest will also be sought. 17 ------- SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL REPORTS EPA PUBLICATIONS During the quarter the following seven project reports were published: Americium: It's Behavior in Soil and Plant Systems, K. W. Brown, EPA-600/3-76-005. Ruthenium: It's Behavior in Plant and Soil Systems, K. W. Brown, EPA-600/3-76-019. Tentative Reference Method for Measurement of Tritium in Environmental Waters, A. N. Jarvis, EPA-600/4-75-013 Tritium Accumulation in Lettuce Fumigated with Elemental Tritium, J. C. McFarlane, EPA-600/3-76-006. National Eutrophieation Survey: Data Acquisition and Laboratory Analysis, J. W. Mul1 ins, R. N. Snelling, R. G. Seals, and D. D. Hoden, EPA-600/4-75-015. Measurement of Strontium-89 and Strontium-90 in Environmental Waters, Quality Assurance Branch, Monitoring Systems Research and Development Division, EPA-600/4-76-011. Measurement of Total Radium and Radium-226 in Environmental Waters, Quality Assurance Branch, Monitoring Systems Research and Development Division, EPA-600/4-76-012 - REPORTS OF ERDA REIMBURSABLE WORK Two reports of work performed under the Laboratory's Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Energy Research and Development Administration(ERDA) were published. They are: Plutonium Uptake by a Soil Microorganism, Aspergillus Niger, F. H. F, Au, W. F. Beckert and J. C, McFarlane, NERC-LV-539-S7] Tissue Burdens of Selected Radionuclides in Beef Cattle On and Around the Nevada Test Site, D. 0. Smith, S. C. Black, K. R. Giles, D. E. Bernhardt and R. R. Kinnison, NERC-LV-539-29. PAPERS PRESENTED OR PUBLISHED Standard Field Methods for Determining Cesium-13? and Iodine-131 In Vivo, J. A. Eckert et al., was published in Health Physics, Vol. 30, pp. 113-118, January 1976. The following papers were presented at the Nevada Applied Ecology Group Meeting on Plutonium Information held in Las Vegas, Nevada, February 12 and 13: 18 ------- Solubility of Plutonium and Americium from Rumen Contents of Cattle Grazing on Plutonium-Contaminated Desert Vegetation in In Vitro Bovine Gastrointestinal Fluids, November 1974-May 1976, by Julius Barth. Rate of Passage for Sand Particles Through the GJ Tract of Dairy Cows, by Gilbert D. Potter. Grazing Studies on a Plutonium-Contaminated Range of the Nevada Test Site, by D, D. Smith. Biological Transport of Curium-243 in Lactating Goats, by W, W. Sutton. Biological Transport of Plutonium-238 via In Vivo Labeled Milk, by W. W. Sutton. 19 ------- OFFICE OF RADIATION PROGRAMS - LAS VEGAS FACILITY URANIUM FUEL CYCLE STANDARDS Mr. David E. Bernhardt was at EPA Headquarters the week of March 22 to participate in the Uranium Fuel Cycle Standard Task Force. ENVIRONMENTAL PLUTONIUM STANDARDS At the request of the Criteria and Standards Division of the EPA Office of Radiation Programs, arrangements were made to obtain several soil samples from the intermediate contamination area at Rocky Flats, Colorado. These samples were collected by a U.S. Energy Research and Development Administration con- tractor. The samples will be separated into 10-, 100-, and 2,000-micrometer(pm) particle-size fractions and analyzed for plutonium. Soil samples were also obtained from the Trinity, New Mexico, site for plutonium analyses. The samples were broken down into size fractions of less than 2 millimeter (mm), 100 pm, and 10 pm by sieving and sedimentation tech- niques. Two samples are being analyzed in triplicate to obtain information on the reproducibility of the separation techniques. Preliminary results have been received and forwarded to the Criteria and Standards Division. NATURAL RADIOACTIVITY GUIDANCE Messrs. Joseph Hans and William Fort traveled to Shiprock, New Mexico, to evaluate the effectiveness of postdecontamination activities in the mill yard survey areas where future decontamination work is required, and to meet with Navajo Engineering and Construction Authority staff to discuss problem areas and develop a sub-work plan for near-term decontamination activities. Comments concerning the results of radiation surveys that were conducted and reviewed during this visit were forwarded to the Navajo Engineering and Construction Authority. Report and survey results indicate that about 100,000 cubic yards of contaminated earth and tailings was removed from a former tailings pond area. This area is approximately 500 feet by 600 feet and was excavated to a depth of 18 feet in some places. Residual net gamma radiation exposure levels measured at 3 feet above the excavated area were less than 10 microRoentgens per hour (pR/hr). Messrs. Hans and Fort also met with Ford, Bacon and Davis Utah, Inc., staff to discuss the Shiprock uranium mill site. Additional surveys were conducted in support of the on-site decontamination activities of the Navajo Engineering and Construction Authority. Messrs. Gregory Eadie and Lee Zeigler visited the Bureau of Mines facility in Denver, Colorado, to discuss radon calibration facilities and techniques. 20 ------- Mr. Zeigler also evaluated radon calibration facilities at Colorado State Uni- versity, Health and Safety Laboratory, and Socorro, New Mexico. Construction of the additional parking area space by the Navajo Engineer- ing and Construction Authority, Shiprock, New Mexico, was interrupted until tailings used for bedding a gas service line in the area were removed. A partial base for the parking lot is now being constructed by NECA with clean fill. Most of the earth-hauling equipment is still being utilized to fill the excavated tailings pond area. Some delay has been experienced in decontami- nating the ore-storage yard due to extra effort required to clean up a drainage ditch in the area. RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT ORP-LVF performed an extensive review and provided cornnents to the Tech- nology Assessment Division on the paper, "Preliminary Data on the Occurrence of Transuranium Nuclides in the Environment at the Radioactive Waste Burial Site, Maxey Flats, Kentucky," prepared by Mr. G. L. Meyer. Review comments were also provided to Mr. Robert Dyer, Technology Assess- ment Division, on the draft report of the 1974 Farallon Radioactive Waste Dump Site Investigation. The scope of work for the radioactive waste burial site management and engineering contract has been drafted. This is an ORD energy-funded contract. Copies have been sent to the Office of Solid Waste Management Programs; Solid and Hazardous Wastes Research Division (Cincinnati); and the Office of Radi- ation Programs (Headquarters) for review and comments. A copy of the final draft of the geothermal technical note, "Radioactivity Associated with Hot Springs in the Western U.S.," was sent to Mr. Robert Zoon, Technology Assessment Division, to be used, in part, in the ORP Annual Report. Procurement request packages were prepared for the Management and Engi- neering Study for Commercial Low-Level Burial Sites and Assessment of Radio- nuclides Retention in Soils studies. Comments have been received from outside experts concerning the scope of work and are being incorporated. On February 19, Dr. Robert Kaufmann and Mr. George Oksza-Chocimowski accompanied two German visitors, Mr. Reinhard Proske, Institute for Underground Disposal, and Mr. Paul Heinz Bruecher, Institute of Chemical Technology, on a visit to the Beatty commercial radioactive waste disposal site to view general burial practices, solidification techniques, and methods of waste containeri- zation. They also attended a briefing by the U.S. Energy Research and Devel- opment Administration and its contractors at the Nevada Test Site. The sub- jects discussed were modeling of radionuclide movement in geologic formations both at the Nevada Test Site and in salt deposits. Dr. Robert Kaufmann joined Mr. David Smith, Director, Technology Assess- ment Division, in Albuquerque on March 1 to meet with Dr. Stanley Logan of the University of New Mexico and discuss the progress/objectives of the EPA con- tract to assess the probable effects of high-level waste storage in geologic 21 ------- formations. They also met with various Sandia staff to discuss two contracts Sandia has with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to (1) develop guidelines and broad objectives upon which NRC will formulate their licensing program involving radioactive waste management and (2} develop licensing cri- teria or general regulations forming the bases for specific and more detailed licenses of radioactive waste facilities to be developed by the U.S. Energy Research and Development Administration. ORP-LVF has provided extensive assistance to the State of Nevada in inves- tigating the removal of material from the Nuclear Engineering Company, Inc., Beatty, Nevada, radiological waste burial site. Field surveys in the area were completed. Assistance was also provided on March 18, to the State of Nevada for a survey of homes of several former Nuclear Engineering Company employees in Pahrump, Nevada. On March 5, Mr. Donald Hendricks attended a meeting called by Nevada Governor Mike O'Callaghan. The meeting was held at the Governor's Las Vegas offices to review the Beatty radioactive waste burial site situation. Other participants were Governor O'Callaghan; Ms. S. Smith, Nevada Deputy Attorney General; Mr. Roger Trounday, Director, Nevada Department of Human Resources; Mr. William Horton, Nevada Radiological Health Supervisor; Mr. Robert Engelken, Director, Office of Inspection and Enforcement, NRC, Region V; and Messrs. Neel, Dixon, and Williamson, Nuclear Engineering Company, Inc. After the meetings Mr. Trounday and Mr. Engelken held a joint press conference. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT REVIEW Dose calculations for the Sterling Nuclear Power Project were completed after consultation with Mr. Bruce Smith, Technology Assessment Division. These calculations wi11 be available to Region II to assist in their review. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF OPERATING FACILITIES AND NEW TECHNOLOGICAL PROJECTS Comments were received from the Division of Controlled Thermonuclear Research, U.S. Energy Research and Development Administration, on the draft report, "Environmental and Safety Aspects of Alternative Nuclear Power Reactor Technologies--Fusion Power Systems." THORIUM FUEL CYCLE STUDY Science Applications, Inc., has been awarded the contract at an estimated cost (plus fixed fee) of $95,000. Mr. Bruce Mann and technical staff of Science Applications, Inc., met with U.S. Energy Research and Development Administration, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and Office of Radiation Programs Headquarters personnel. Principal investigators for the study are Drs. Lee Simmons and Richard Ziskind. Professor Thomas Pigford, Department of Nuclear Engineering, University of California, also participated as a consultant. Arrangements are being made to obtain suggestions from the ERDA Thorium Utilization and Naval Reactor Programs concerning the description of thorium-based fuel cycles. Drs. Simmons and Ziskind visited ORP-LVF on February 25. 22 ------- NON-IONIZING RADIATION PROJECTS In February Mr. Donald Lambdin spent 3 weeks in support of the ORP Elec- tromagnetic Radiation Analysis Branch non-ionizing radiofrequency radiation survey in Miami and Orlando, Florida. TRAINING Mr. Thomas C. Sell instructed at the Federal Interagency "Radiological Emergency Response Planning Course in Support of Fixed Nuclear Facilities." The course was held in Battle Creek, Michigan, from March 8 to 11. 23 ------- ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND SUPPORT LABORATORY P.O. BOX 15027 944 EAST HARMON AVENUE LAS VEGAS. 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