Environmental Monitoring

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"To protect public health and the environment by measuring radiation and radioactivity in our environment, and by evaluation of protective techniques through the timely measurement of radioactive contamination at nuclear facilities."

The Environmental Radiation Program performs the following functions: the program surveys radiation and radioactivity in the environment, estimates radiation doses to individuals and populations, and assesses the likely effects of specific radiation hazards. The program's technological capabilities supplement the administrative and regulatory controls of the Radiation Control Division.

This group serves as a valuable information resource for cost-effective radiation dose assessment and dose reduction techniques. The Environmental Radiation Program makes available its resources to managers of all facilities who might have an interest in this subject area.

VDH collects environmental samples for the following facilities:

North Anna Nuclear Power Station- Facility reports its data to the NRC
http://www.nrc.gov/reactors/operating/ops-experience/tritium/plant-specific-reports/na1-2.html
Surry Nuclear Power Station-Facility reports its data to the NRC
http://www.nrc.gov/reactors/operating/ops-experience/tritium/plant-specific-reports/sur1-2.html
BWX Technologies
Northrop Grumman Shipyard, formerly Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock
U.S. Navy Norfolk Shipyard in Portsmouth

Beginning with the second quarter of 2011, the Environmental Monitoring Program will publish the results quarterly. To view the 2nd quarter results click on the following link: 2011 3rd quarter results. Links to the annual reports are listed at the bottom of this web page.

September 16, 2011 Update:

Radiological Health Emergency Procedures Exercise

August – September of 2011

As a result of the 5.8 magnitude earthquake on August 23, 2011, near Mineral, Virginia, the North Anna Nuclear Power Station declared an Alert emergency classification and proceeded to shut down both Units 1 and 2. Dominion is in the process of refueling one of its reactors and is performing maintenance in accordance with this procedure. The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) used this event as a training opportunity to exercise its emergency procedures for monitoring the environment for radiation. Following Hurricane Irene, VDH continued sampling at North Anna and expanded its monitoring to include sampling at the Surry Nuclear Power Station for one week. This monitoring is in addition to the routine environmental that is reported on this website. The results from the exercise are reported in the table below:

North Anna Power Station
Type of sample	Collection Date	Results of Samples	Expected Results	Conclusion
Stationary Air	8/23 - 8/26	No significant peaks found	Below action Limits	Normal
Sample	8/29 -9/2	No significant peaks found	Below action Limits	Normal
	9/2 – 9/9	No significant peaks found	Below action Limits	Normal
Portable Radiation	08-23-11	Normal Ambient	Within normal limits	Normal
Detectors (OSLs)	08-24-11	Normal Ambient	Within normal limits	Normal
	08-25-11	Normal Ambient	Within normal limits	Normal
	08-26-11	Normal Ambient	Within normal limits	Normal
	08-29-11	Normal Ambient	Within normal limits	Normal
Water Sample	08-23-11	Below action limits	Below action limits	Normal
from	08-24-11	Below action limits	Below action limits	Normal
discharge Canal	08-25-11	Below action limits	Below action limits	Normal
	08-26-11	Below action limits	Below action limits	Normal
	08-29-11	Below action limits	Below action limits	Normal
	08-30-11	Below action limits	Below action limits	Normal
	08-31-11	Below action limits	Below action limits	Normal
	09-01-11	Below action limits	Below action limits	Normal
	09-02-11	Below action limits	Below action limits	Normal
	9-5-11	Below action limits	Below action limits	Normal
	9-6-11	Below action limits	Below action limits	Normal
	9-7-11	Below action limits	Below action limits	Normal
	9-8-11	Below action limits	Below action limits	Normal
	9-9-11	Below action limits	Below action limits	Acceptable*
	9-12-11	Below action limits	Below action limits	Normal
	9-13-11	Below action limits	Below action limits	acceptable*
	9-14-11	Below action limits	Below action limits	Normal
Surry Power Station
Type of sample	Collection Date	Results of Samples	Expected Results	Conclusion
Stationary Air	8/29 -9/2	No significant peaks found	Below action Limits	Normal
Sample
Portable Radiation	08-29-11	Normal Ambient	Within normal limits	Normal
Detectors (OSLs)
Water Sample	08-29-11	Below action limits	Below action limits	Normal
from discharge	08-30-11	Below action limits	Below action limits	Normal
Canal	08-31-11	Below action limits	Below action limits	Normal
	09-01-11	Below action limits	Below action limits	Normal
	09-02-11	Below action limits	Below action limits	Normal

*North Anna has been shut down since the earthquake. As part of its routine maintenance during a shutdown, the plant’s system is being flushed. VDH’s sampling revealed levels to be expected during flushing and are within acceptable limits set by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Report prepared by: Marvin Rideout, III Assistant Director, Radiological Health

Annual reports of the environmental monitoring program are available for the following years in pdf format.

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Last Updated: 11-04-2011

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