United States Environmental Monitoring
Environmental Protection and Support Laboratory
ASency PO Box 15027
Las Vegas NV 8911A
January - March 1978
oEPA First Quarter Report
Environmental
Monitoring and
Support Laboratory
Las Vegas
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DIRECTOR
6.B. mm*
DEPUTY DIRECTOR
OR. R.(E* STANLE Y
ENVIRONMENTAL MONiTORiNG AND SUPPORT LABORATORY
P.O. BOX 1502? • 944 EAST HARMON AVENUE • LAS VEGAS. NEVADA 89)14
TELEPHONE j?02|?3i«9 • FTS 595-2989
TENANT ORGANIZATIONS
MONITORING SYSTEMS
DESIGN 111
ANALYSIS STAFF
E. SCHUCK
INFORMATION
SERVICES ST
C.S. DOUGLAS
OFFICE OF PROGRAM
MANA6EMENT
AND SUPPORT
W.E. PIT11I
HEALTH ANO
SAFETY STAFF
DR. Hi, KAYE
BRANCHES
filNERAL SERVICES
M. CARPENTER
COMPUTER 1EI VICES
6. ALLISON
FACILITIES ANB
ElifliElill SERVICES
ft.COULTER
MONITORING SYSTEMS
RESEARCH All
DEVELOPMENT DIVISION
DR. i. A SANTQLUCITO. ACTG
8BANCHES-
METHODS DEVELOPMENT
ANB ANALYTICAL SUPPORT
E 8RETTHAUER
QUALITY ASSURANCE
A. JARVIS
POLLUTANT PATHWAYS
OR G WIERSMA
EXPOSURE/DOSE
ASSESSMENT
OR fi POTTER
FARM AID ANIMAL
INVESTIGATION
OR. 0, SMITH
iiiiiiiiii
OPERATIONS
DIVISION
O.T. WRU8LE
BRANCHES:
WITH ANO LAND
QUALITY
V. LAttBOO
Hi! QUALITY
ft SIIILI1I
ENVIRONMENTAL
RADIATION
c. COSTA
AIRCRAFT OPERATIONS
C. BROPP
REM01
SENSING
DIVISION
OR. O.N. McNELlS
BRANCHES:
REMOTE SENSING
OPERATIONS
1. UtlKll
REMOTE MONITORING
METHODS
J. ICXE1T
ENVIRONMENTAL
PHOTOGRAPHIC
INTERPRETATION
COMPLEX
V. WEIB
OFFICE Of RADIATION
PROGRAMS.
LAS VEGAS FACILITY
O W. HENDRICKS
REGIONAL SERVICES
STIFF
81. »pts«
LAS VEGAS
ACCOUNTING OFFICE
L A. DEMtRS
*
*
PERSONNEL OFFICE
US VEGAS
A SANQOVAL.JR.
REGION IX
LAS VEGAS UNIT
R. CUMMINS
OFFICE FOR CIVIL
RIGHTS
M. WOODS
>
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FIRST QUARTER REPORT
OF THE
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND SUPPORT LABORATORY
LAS VEGAS
January through March 1978
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND SUPPORT LABORATORY
LAS VEGAS. NEVADA 89114
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CONTENTS
Page
EVENTS OF GENERAL INTEREST 1
BIOLOGICAL MONITORING 2
MONITORING SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT 3
EQUIPMENT AND TECHNIQUES DEVELOPMENT 4
RADIATION MONITORING 8
QUALITY ASSURANCE 9
TECHNICAL SUPPORT 12
SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL REPORTS 16
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EVENTS OF GENERAL INTEREST
The Las Vegas Laboratory hosted an interagency planning
committee meeting in February to discuss the White River Surface
Water Quality Monitoring Techniques Development Program. Repre-
sentatives of the U.S. Geodetic Survey in Meeker, Colorado, of
EPA Regions 8 and 10, and of the Laboratory's Water and Land Qual-
ity Branch attended. Discussions included a review of work accom-
plished to date and the coordination of activities yet to be
performed by the respective participants in the Program.
As part of the White River Program, the Laboratory recently
evaluated three methods of macroinvertebrate collection. Samples
were collected from a uniform riffle using a Surber sampler, a
portable invertebrate box sampler, and a travelling kick method.
Sample results from the three methods were then compared and
evaluated for selectivity, reproducibility, and capture effective-
ness .
A workshop is being planned to assist the Laboratory in
identifying environmental carcinogens related to specific types
of cancer in humans. The carcinogen-cancer pairs identified will
be the focus for studies on which to base development of an ex-
posure monitoring system for environmental carcinogens. A general
literature survey has been initiated and, during the next quarter,
a committee of Las Vegas Laboratory staff, with consultation from
the EPA's Office of Health and Ecological Effects, will prepare a
list of potential workshop participants who will represent the
best expertise available on the subject. "ne workshop will convene
in late 1978.
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BIOLOGICAL MONITORING
MICROORGANISMS
Experimental results show that plutonium is incorporated
into fungal tissue, as demonstrated by its translocation to the
spores of new growths of A, *"" ' ~ J - t
the transport and biological availability of plutonium in a
desert environment. This finding is important in that, should
the plutonium incorporated into organic matter of fungi be passed
on more readily,to other organisms, it may be necessary to revise
the present concept of the long-term fate of plutonium deposited
in soil. The finding suggests that the amount of soil-deposited
plutonium which becomes biologically available to higher plants
and animals may increase with time. The mobility of plutonium
deposited in soil may also be expected to increase with time be-
cause microbial cells containing plutonium can be transported by
water movement as well as by the movements of predatory protozoa,
nematodes, and arthropods, for which the microbial cells are a
food source.
DAIRY COWS AND GOATS
Analytical results from curium-243 metabolism studies with
lactating dairy cows and goats are being evaluated, and a summary
report is being prepared. Bibliographies have also been prepared
for curium and neptunium.
In vitro laboratory studies began this quarter on the rela-
tive solubility of plutonium-238 dioxide as particulates in the
artificial rumen and bovine gastrointestinal fluids.
SMALL MAMMALS
Data analyses were completed and are currently being evalu-
ated for radiotracer studies conducted to provide information on
intestinal absorption, routes of excretion, and tissue deposition
of lead and cadmium administered intravenously to rats. The sum-
mary report will also reference the most currently available data
on the subject as compiled from a search of the literature now
underway.
of investigations to show
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MONITORING SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT
CARCINOGENS
The Laboratory is experimenting with benzene Co determine
its persistence in and movement between environmental compart-
ments. Work during this quarter has shown that some plants can
be induced to assimilate and degrade benzene. The mode of meta-
bolic action is not known.
To complement information relating to selected carcinogen
pathways from sources to man, prototypes of microcosms were tested.
One of the systems tested was selected, and five replicates of the
selected system were assembled and are now being evaluated in
controlled environmental chambers. The replicate microcosms will
be used to study five carcinogenic compounds labeled with carbon-14
benzene , carbon tetrachloride, benzidene, trichloroethylene, and
ethylene dibromide. The first to be studied is benzene, and work
has begun on the sorption of carbon-14 labeled benzene in soils.
GEOTHERMAL EFFECTS
In studies to determine and evaluate the environmental im-
pact of geothermal resource development on air, water, soil, and
biological systems, sampling was conducted in the Imperial Valley
of California. There agricultural soil and vegetation are being
collected for analysis to establish a baseline for trace element
levels associated with geothermal development. The groundwater
assessment project, however, was significantly delayed due to the
bankruptcy of the contractor involved.
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EQUIPMENT A® TECHNIQUES DEVELOPMENT
AIR
Meteorological field data collection was completed in the
Phoenix, Arizona, area in a study to develop and validate guide-
lines for optimization of an air monitoring network. These data
will provide the information required to validate and calibrate
a complex terrain windfieId submodel. Specifically, these field
data are being used to construct a frequency distribution of
me t eo r o1ogica1 scenarios needed for urban airshed simulation and
development of the monitoring network design.
The Laboratory is participating in a comprehensive program
to evaluate the real and potential air quality impacts of energy
related developments in the Western Energy Resources Development
Area. A multi-agency fixed-station monitoring program is in
operation to establish a substantial baseline data set. It is
providing baseline data for total suspended particulates, trace
elements, sulfate, nitrate, and visibility.
Also, a data base of air quality data acquired from aerial
platforms for particulates, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide,
oxidants, and trace elements is being established. Using aerial
plat forms will make it t. :> s s i b 1 e to more synopt icaily identify
and characterize major energy-related point sources, as well as
to discriminate between natural and man-made air pollutants. It
is anticipated that more intensive monitoring will, be required
for sulfur dioxides, fine particulates, and visibi1ity because
of the newly enacted legislation on visibility and prevention of
significant deterioration.
SURFACE WATER
A program is underway to inventory water quality monitoring
stat ions and servicing laboratories nationwide and to integrate
Western Energy Resources Devel pment Area water quality data
The plan is to review available data to determine optimum samj ling
frequency and to evaluate and predict energy development impact
°n major water basins. Emphasis is being placed on individual,
river basins, including preparation of a summary report and update
of earlier basin reports. A redirection from phasis on the
monitoring of physical and chemical and chemitai. water quality
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parameters to monitoring of organic pollutants and their Impact on
aquatic biota is foreseen, particularly in areas of coal gasifica-
tion, oil-shale development, and other energy-related activities,
A project supported by a grant to Colorado State University
was initiated in February to evaluate statistical and economic
factors in the design of water quality monitoring networks.
Data to be used in this study are being obtained from the Illinois
State Water Survey and from Michigan. Illinois is determining
22 water quality parameters on a daily basis, and Region 5 is
investigating 30 water quality parameters in Michigan.
GROUNDWATER
A significant revision has been made in the project to de-
velop monitoring techniques for assessing the impact of energy
related developments on groundwater. To date, the part of the
project relating to oil-shale developments has been concerned
with surface retorting and centered largely in Utah. New devel-
opments make in situ processes underground more favorable,
however, and industry has begun in situ activity in Federal lease
tracts in Colorado, Thus, the project is being relocated to
Colorado and re-oriented to the in situ process.
REMOTE SENSING
Projects to demonstrate the effectiveness of remote sensing
in monitoring the environmental impact and effects of energy
related mineral extraction activities were continued during this
quarter,
An interagency agreement was established with the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration to assist the EPA by using
an Earth Resources U-2 aircraft equipped with various types of
remote sensing instruments to gather environmental data. The
high altitude aircraft will provide wide-area coverage giving
the needed data over a large area quickly and at relatively small
cost. The data collected will provide an inventory of the strip
mines and environs in the study area. These data can be compared
with similar data for the same region collected by the Laboratory.
Baseline photographic data of selected strip mines have
been collected annually and ir.ultispectra 1 data have been collected
and analyzed. As part of this program, preliminary guidelines
have been established and a demonstration of overhead monitoring
of mining activities using automatic classification techniques is
in progress.
Another energy-related remote sensing project in progress
is aimed at the development of airborne remote sensing instru-
mentation using interactions between laser-produced radiation
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and environmental pollunmts. Three general t t° . of instrumen-
tation are under development.
One of these types is a £luorosensor. The Laboratory found
that the use of airborne laser fluorosensing methods to determine
vegetation stress due to pollutants is not feasible. However,
in determining the feasibility of using laser fluorosensing to
remotely monitor selected water quality parameters, the Labora-
tory found a correlation between certain fluorescence character-
istics of water samples and the total dissolved organic carbon
in these samples. Thus, use of an airborne laser fluorosensing
system for remote water monitoring appears feasible.
The second type of instrumentation under development is an
earth-reflected differential absorption instrument for remote
monitoring of tropospheric ozone. A prototype system was success-
fully ground tested and a revised airborne system was assembled.
After the system performance was evaluated in a flight configura-
tion, the earth-reflected differential absorption ozone monitor
was redesigned using more suitable lasers. The mechanical-optical
systems have been redesigned to accommodate a, second transverse
excited atmospheric (TEA) laser. Also, during this quarter, a
laboratory study was conducted to determine whether this tech-
nique could also be used to monitor selected tracer gases which
could be used to simulate point source emissions.
The third type of instrumentation under development is the
airborne downward-looking 1idar. This device maps the vertical
aerosol distribution beneath the aerial platform. It has partic-
ular utility in determining the location and dimensions of point
source and extended (urban) plumes. Three downward-looking lidar
systems have been constructed: a prototype system, an operational
dye system, and a two-frequency system.
The two-frequency system was successfully subjected to shake
tests to ensure compatibility with the vibration environment of
aerial platforms. .No modifications were deemed necessary. In the
electronics portion of the system, the bit-slice microprocessor,
which forms the nucleus of fast electronics, is in operation.
The microprocessor, using state-of-the-art techniques, will make,
real-time corrections to the lidar return signals. It is a dedi-
cated system with an instruction set specifically designed to
perform these tasks.
Present effort is aimed toward modifying the two-frequency
system to simultaneously accept Raman-scattered lidar returns
from nitrogen molecules in the atmosphere together with the normal
laser backscatter returns. Normalisation of the backscatter
return using Raman data would facilitate comparison of data taken
at different times and places and even with different instruments.
A most important use of this technique would be the documentation
of particulate scattering over pristine areas before and after
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energy resource development activities are initiated. A specific
task would involve investigating the conversion rate, growth, and
transport of sulfate aerosols through combined lidar and in situ
te niques.
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RADIATION MONITORING
Radiological safety support was provided for nuclear tests
conducted at Che Nevada Test Site during this quarter. Mobile
ground-based and aerial radiological monitoring personnel were
deployed to the off-site areas. Other personnel served as ad-
visors to the Test Controller for the U.S. Department of Energy
(DOE) and coordinated off-site surveillance activities from the
Test Site Control Point.
No releases of radioactivity occurred as a result of nuclear
tests conducted at the Test Site, and all interim reports covering
results of the monitoring were submitted to the DOE's Nevada
Operations Office.
On March 17, 66 of the standby stations of the Air Surveil-
lance Network were activated to monitor airborne radioactivity
resulting from the atmospheric nuclear test conducted by the
People's Republic of China on March 15, Operation of these
stations was continued after this reporting period, and all
routine networks operated as usual. Fresh fission products found
throughout all networks were at levels below the Federal radiation
protection standards. A report summarizing the results of the
radiation monitoring is in preparation.
Routine quarterly samples from the Milk Surveillance Net-
work were collected from 20 locations in January. Monthly and
semiannual samples were collected from 30 locations of the Long
Term Hydrological Monitoring Program, Ambient radiation levels
at 78 locations around the Nevada Test Site were continuously
monitored with thermoluminescent dosimeters.
Two Laboratory personnel provided support for Operation
Morning Light» a project of the Canadian Government to locate and
collect radioactive debris from the re-entry to the atmosphere of
a nuclear-powered satellite of the Soviet Union. The two persons,
equipped with radiological monitoring gear, were dispatched to
Cosmos Lake, Northwest Territories of Canada, soon after re-entry
of the satellite on January 23. They returned to the Laboratory
in early March,
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QUALITY ASSURANCE
REFERENCE MATERIALS AND METHODS
The Las Vegas Laboratory maintains a repository of standard
reference samples and materials for distribution to users upon
request- During this quarter, a total of about 300 calibrated
radioactivity samples was distributed to participating
laboratories,
Letters were sent to laboratories participating in the
Laboratory's Standards Distribution Program announcing the avail-
ability of gamma-ray emission rate standards of spiked clay, 200
of which were received from the National Bureau of Standards (NES)
during this quarter. Iraceability studies with the NBS continued.
During the quarter, traeeability measurements were made on
americium-241, barium-140, calcium-45 , carbon-14, europium-152 ,
mercury-203 , molybdenum - 99 , nickel-63 , plut.onium-239 , promethium
147, and thorium-228.
Standard aqueous solutions of radium-228 with accompanying
decay scheme data continue to be distributed to laboratories"on
request. Evaluation studies of two published methods for the
measurement of radium-228 in water are continuing. One of the
methods will be selected for single- and inter-laboratory testing
to validate the method. Standard radium-228 solutions are being
used in these method evaluation studies.
In support of the energy-related quality assurance program,
the following standards have been calibrated and distributed on
request; mixed gamma-ray emitters in water (two activity levels),
aqueous poloniurc-210, aqueous plutonium-239, Mancos shale charac-
terized for radium-226 and -228. an aqueous solution of radium-228,
a gamma-ray emission rate standard in clay, two activity levels of
pitchblende ore, two activity levels of monazite ore, two activity
levels of mill tailings, and a composite mixture of mill tailings
from 16 different uranium mills.
The in vivo incorporation of toxic elements into plant and
animal tissues to be used as reference materials is proceeding
under an EPA grant.
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INTERCGMPARI SON STUDIES
Final reports were prepared and issued to participants in
the Environmental Radioactivity Laboratory Intercomparison
Studies Program for 12 different cross-check analyses: August
gamma in water, tritium in water, radionuclides in food, strontium
89 and -90 in water; September -- radionuclides in milk, radium
226 and -228 in water, gross alpha and beta in water, tritium in
urine, radionuclides on air filters; October -- gamma in water,
tritium in water; November -- radionuclides in milk.
The cross-check studies conducted during this quarter and
the number of participants for each study are as follows.
Type of Cross-Check Ho. of Participating Laboratories
Analysis January February March
Gross alpha and beta in water 80 — 90
Gamir.a in water — 78
Tritium in water — 78 —
Radium-226 and -228 in water -— — 55
Strontiurr<-89 and -90 in water 58
Plutonium-229 in water 24
Radionuclides on air filters — — 78
Radionuclides in food — — 32
Tritium in urine — — 24
Krypton-S5 in air — 15
The standards developed for the energy-related quality
assurance program are also being used in the Laboratory Inter-
comparison Studies Program,
After about a year of trial, the FAMULUS computerized in-
formation retrieval system obtained from the U.S. Forestry
Service was judged to be a useful tool for managing cross-check
results and evaluating the performance of individual participat-
ing laboratories. To improve applicability of the system, changes
were made in the method of storing data in the computer. These
changes necessitated the recreation of all computerized records
compiled in the program to date.
PROGRAM SUPPORT
In the on-going program to provide guidance, consultation,
training assistance, and support to Regional, State, and local
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laboratories, Laboratory personnel participated in a 4-day work-
shop held in Denver, Colorado, at the request of Region 8, The
National Interim Primary Drinking Water Regulations, quality
assurance, statistical ana lysis, sampling, and analytical method-
ology, including laboratory exercises, were covered in the workshop.
Assistance was also provided to Region 6 in the on - s i t. e
evaluation of two commercial laboratories and in the training of
personnel. A 3-day training session was conducted in methodology
and laboratory evaluation, and a 1-week session was provided in
radionuclide analytical methodology as related to the National
Interim Primary Drinking Water Reguations. In addition, an
on-site evaluation was conducted for one commercial laboratory
and one Federal laboratory in Region 3.
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TECHNICAL SUPPORT
A variety of technical support projects was conducted this
quarter for EPA Regional Offices. Listed by Region, these in-
clude remote sensing projects which entail the acquisition,
processing, interpretation, and delivery of data collected from
aerial platforms. These data are presented in the form of color
and infrared photography, map teets, annotated overlays or other
imagery displays, and detailed narrative reports, as requested by
the Region.
REGION 1
Aerial reconnaissance flights were made to inspect and
inventory selected oil facilities in Maine, New Hampshire, Ver-
mont , Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut in support of
the Spill Prevention Control and Countermea sures (SPCC) program.
Information was collected in Lowe11, Massachusetts, on the con-
dition of about 15,000 drums containing hazardous chemicals.
Another project completed this quarter resulted in the report,
"Aerial Survey of Vegetation Damage in the Vicinity of Berlin,
New Hampshire."
Two projects initiated this quarter are the environmental
assessment of sections of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont
in support of an environmental impact statement being prepared by
the Region, and the survey of pits, ponds, and lagoons in New
England.
The Laboratory furnished chemical analyses and data in-
terpretation on candidate water bodies for a trophic classifica-
tion study by the EPA's Marine FieId Station, West Kingston,
Rhode Island.
REGION 2
A survey of oil facilities in New Jersey, New York, and
Puerto Rico was conducted in support of the SPCC program.
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REGION 3
On-going aerial reconnaissance projects continued this
quarter, including the survey of land use and specific nonpoint
sources for 208 planning in the vicinity of Smith Mountain Lake,
Virginia, and the SPCC survey of oi1 facilities in Pennsylvania,
Maryland, and West Virginia.
REGION 4
In addition to a survey to investigate Apalachicola basin
drainagt tfluent in Apalachicola Bay, Florida, aerial reconnais-
sance fugnts made during this quarter resulted in the following
reports sent to the Region: "Aeria1 Photoanalysis of Vegetation
and Land Cover in the Vicinity of Everglades City, Florida,"
"Aerial Survey of Aquatic Weeds in the Ross Barnett Reservoir,
Jackson, Mississippi," and "Remote Sensing Survey of Aquatic
Macrophytes in the HoIston River, Tennessee." Also, a survey of
aquatic biomass in the Indian River region of Florida was con-
ducted in support of an enforcement investigation.
REGION 5
Interpretation of Landsat imagery to characterize lake
trophic state was provided for the Illinois Environmental Pro-
tection Agency. This involved extensive communications exchange
between the Illinois EPA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, where
much of the Landsat imagery is processed.
Aerial reconnaissance flights were made to survey environ-
mental conditions in the vicinity of a power generation station
in Central Illinois and to survey oil facilities in Illinois and
Indiana in support of the SPCC program.
REGION r
Inspection of oil facilities in the East Texas oil fields
continued in support of the SPCC program, and another completed
SPCC project resulted in the report, "Aerial Reconnaissance of
Oil and Chemical Facilities, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana."
Laboratory participation in the Atchafalaya Basin, Louisiana,
water and land management study continued. A laboratory repre-
sentative participated in Atchafalaya Basin Management Group
subcommittee activities during this quarter and a paper on
Atchafalaya Basin management proposals is being co-authored in
conjunction with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the EPA
Office of Federal Activities, and the Regional Office. A com-
pleted aerial reconnaissance project resulted in the report ,
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"Water Turbidity Levels in Atchafalaya Basin, Louisiana." Efflu-
ent discharge points were also surveyed in Jefferson Parish,
Louisiana.
Aerial reconnaissance projects initiated during this quarter
for Region 6 include survey of pits, ponds, and lagoons in Osage,
Oklahoma, and survey of selected facilities between Baton Rouge
and New Orleans, Louisiana, in support of the National Pollutant
Discharge Elimination System permit program.
REGION 7
Aerial reconnaissance surveys of oil facilities in Iowa,
Nebraska, and Missouri in support of the SPCC program continued.
Projects' initiated include a survey of discharge points in Cedar
River( Iowa, and a survey to compile environmental assessment
data in the vicinity of Wichita, Kansas, in support of an en-
vironmental impact statement being prepared by the Region.
REGION 8
Aerial reconnaissance flights made during this quarter in-
clude the continuation of a survey of oil facilities in support
of the SPCC program in Utah, Montana, and Wyoming, and the
initiat ion of surveys of outfalls and silt run off in Casper,
Wyoming, and sulfur dioxide damage along the Poplar River in
Montana.
REGION 9
Field surveys in the Lake Tahoe Basin to assess the effec-
tiveness of meadows and marshlands in reducing nutrient loading
are continuing. Recent findings show a hundredfold increase in
nitrate-nitrite in Cold Creek and a corresponding increase in
conductivity. A sewer leak was suspected as the cause. To in-
vest igate this possibility, special studies were initiated in
cooperation with the Lahontan Water District at the request of
the Region.
Aerial reconnaissance f1ights were made to study land use
in the Toiyabe National Forest to determine cost effectiveness
of proposed sanitation collection plans in support of the con-
struction grants program. Flights were also conducted to study
drainage and vegetation for wildlife habitat management in the
Moapa Valley of Nevada. A proj ect completed resulted in the
report, "Aerial Reconnaissance of Selected Oil Fields and
Facili ties, Bakers f i eld, California."
Data from the 4 months of air monitoring on Oahu in the
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Hawaii power plant study have been processed and delivered to the
Region. Plume dispersion modeling of the Kahului plant was com-
pleted by a subcontractor, whose report is scheduled for delivery
in May.
REGION 10
Aerial reconnaissance flights were initiated during this
quarter to (1) survey oil facilities in Idaho, Oregon, and
Washington in support of the SPCC program; (2) examine water
surface dispersion patterns and oi1 spillage around marinas in
Washington; and (3) survey surface mines, hazardous waste dis-
posal sites, landfills, and land development sites in the Region
to document problem conditions and establish a base for future
trend analysis. Imagery interpretation for the survey of non-
point sources in selected basins in Oregon and Washington
continued.
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SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL REPORTS
Ten project reports were published by the Laboratory in
the EPA Research Series during the first quarter of calendar
year 1978. They are listed below.
Survey of Cross-Basin Boat Traffic, Atchafalaya Basin,
Louisiana, by J. L. van Beek and B. Small, Coastal Environments,
Inc., Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Contract No. 68-01-2299. Project
Officer, V. W. Lambou. EPA-600/3-77-090.
Movement of Mercury-203 in Plants, by D. D. Gay and G. P.
Butler. EPA-600/3-77-122.
Distribution and Importance of Phytoplankton in the
Atchafalaya Basin, by S. C. Hern, W. D. Taylor, L. R. Williams,
V, W. Lambou, M. K. Morris, F. A. Morris, and J. W. Hilgert.
EPA-600/3-7 8-001.
Distribution of Phytoplankton in Maryland Lakes, by ¥. W.
Lambou, F. A. Morris, R. W. Thomas, M. K, Morris, L. R, Williams,
W. D. Taylor, F. A. Hiatt, S. C. Hern, and J. W. Hilgert,
EPA-600/3-77-124.
Relationships of Productivity and Problem Conditions to
Ambient Nutrients: National Eutrophication Survey findings for
418 eastern lakes, by L. R. Williams, V. W. Lambou, S. C. Hern,
and R. W. Thomas. EPA-600/3-78-002.
The Status and Quality of Radiation Measurements for Air,
by D. G. Easterly, R. R. Kinnison, A. N. Jarvis, and R. F.
Smiecinski. EPA-600/4-77-043.
Status and Quality of Radiation Measurements: Food and
human urine, by D. G. Easterly, R. R, Kinnison, A. N. Jarvis, and
R. F. Smiecinski. EPA-600/4-7 7-047.
Overhead Environmental Monitoring with Light Utility Air-
craft : Demonstration and evaluation of the system, by G. E.
Howard, Jr., and F. R. Wolie. EPA-600/4-78-008.
Characterization of Emissions from Plutonium-Uranium Oxide
Fuel Fabrication, by E. ¥. Bretthauer, A. J. Cummings, and S. C.
Black. EPA-600/7-77-079
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Qua1icy Control for Environmental Measurements Using Gamma
Ray Spectrometry, by L. H. Ziegler and H. M. Hunt, EPA-800/7-
77-144.
PAPERS PRESENTED OR PUBLISHED
Ten papers were presented at scientific and professional
meetings during the quarter. Six of these were presented at
the Nevada Applied Ecology Group Plutonium Information Conference
in San Diego, California, February 28 through March 2. The
Nevada Applied Ecology Group is sponsored and funded by the U.S.
Department of Energy which will publish proceedings of this
Conference. The other four papers reported EPA-sponsored work
performed at, or under contract to, the Las Vegas Laboratory,
These are also expected to be published in proceedings documents.
The papers presented are listed below.
J. C, McFarlane presented "The Effect of SO? on Soil Micro-
organism Activity" at the Program Review for Coal-Fired Power
Plant Study held in Corvallis, Oregon, January 17-19. Co-authors
of the paper were R. D. Rogers and D, V. Bradley, Jr.
W. G. Phillips presented a paper entitled "A Sixteen-Detec-
tor Alpha Spectrometer Using One Multichannel Analyzer" at the
Health Physics Society's Eleventh Midyear Topical Symposium on
Radiation Instrumentation held in San Diego, California, January
D, W. Williams, of Lockheed Electronics Company, Inc., in
Las Vegas, presented a paper on work performed under contract to
the Laboratory entitled "Applications of Remote Sensing to Vege-
tation Injury Caused by Air Pollution" at the Symposium on Remote
Sensing for Vegetation Damage Assessment held in Seattle, Wash-
ington, February 14-16.
G. B. Wiersma presented a paper by D. Rogers, ¥. Bradley,
and J. C. McFarlane on "Biological Monitoring of Available Toxic
Materials" at the Biological Monitoring Symposium held in Raleigh,
North Carolina, March 22-23.
Papers reporting results of DOE-reimbursed work presented
at the Nevada Applied Ecology Group Plutonium Information Con-
ference in San Diego were the following:
"Microbial Contribution to Plutonium Bioavailability and
Transport in the Environment," by F. H. F, Au and W. F. Beckert;
"The Solubility of Amerieium-241 in In Vitro Bovine Ruminal
Gastrointestinal Fluids and Predicted Tissue Retention and Milk
Secretion of Field-Ingested Artiericiuni-241," by J, Earth;
17
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"Overview of the EPA Bioenvironmental Research Program
NAEG Research," by E. W. Bret t.hauer;
"Soil Surveys and Profile Descriptions of Plutonium Contam-
inated Areas on the Test Range Complex in Nevada - 1970-197 7," by
V. D. Leavitt;
"Area 13 Grazing Studies: Additional data," by D. D.
Smith; and
"Metabolism of Americ ium-241 in Dairy Animals," by W. S.
Sutton, R. G. Patzer, A. A. Mullen, P. B. Hahn, and G. D. Potter.
18
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Spates
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and Support Laboratory
PO Box 15027
Us Vesas NV 89H4
Office) Business
Penally lor Private Use
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Envaronmoofif
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Speo«l Fourth
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