HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 01101995 - 1.101 1.96 through 1.102
3
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
Adopted this Order on January 10,1995, by the following vote:
AYES: Supervisors Rogers, Smith, DeSaulnier, Torlakson and Bishop
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
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SUBJECT: CORRESPONDENCE
Item No.
1.96 LETTER from Chairman and CEO,Pacific Refining Company,advising of his Company's interest in providing
a better level of fire,safety and hazardous materials response to West County by soliciting participation with
the Fire District and other industries and government agencies in the area for the establishment of a Hazardous
Materials Response Program.
"REFERRED TO HEALTH SERVICES DIRECTOR AND CHIEF, CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT
1.97 LETTER from Chairperson,Contra Costa County Library Commission,recommending that the Board adopt
the Master Plan at this time, and urging the Board to seek resolution to the issues that hinder the full
implementation of the Plan.
"REFERRED TO INTERNAL OPERATIONS COMMITTEE AND COUNTY LIBRARIAN
1.98 LETTER from Chairperson, Statewide Vehicle Theft Advisory Committee(SVTAC)and Commissioner of
the California Highway Patrol,urging local jurisdictions to support the intent of the passage of Proposition 172
that funds not be supplanted but utilized for the support of California's public safety agencies to combat vehicle
theft and crime.
"REFERRED TO SHERIFF-CORONER
1.99 LETTER from H.Luke et al,Danville,requesting the Board to consider installing street lights along Danville
Boulevard through the Alamo area to improve visibility for both pedestrians and motorists at night.
"REFERRED TO PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
1.100 LETTER from Congressman George Miller, 7th District, advising of his support for the East Bay Corridor
(anti-crime)Project and of his work in securing funding for additional law enforcement activity.
"REFERRED TO SHERIFF-CORONER
1.101 LETTER from Manager, Area Relations, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, advising that the
Laboratory's "Site Annual Environmental Report for 1993"will be released shortly, and transmitting a copy
of the Executive Summary for review.
"REFERRED TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
1.102 CLAIM submitted on behalf of GTE Mobilnet of California Ltd.Partnership for refund of 1990-1991 property
taxes paid.
"REFERRED TO TREASURER-TAX COLLECTOR,ASSESSOR,AND COUNTY COUNSEL
{nureoy .urtity rh A this is a true and correct copy of
_ an action taken and ontered on the minutes of the
Board of Sup F
on the date shown.
ATTESTED:
PHIL BALOR, C e of the o rd
CC:: Correspondents of Superynd Cc Administrator
Health Services Director 3�^
Internal Operations Committee Deputy
County Librarian
Sheriff-Coroner
Public Works Director
Community Development Director
Treasurer-Tax Collector
Assessor
County Counsel
Chief, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District
PUBLIC.,AFFAIRS
AREA RELATIONS
December 15, 1994
Chairman Board of Supervisors RECEIVED
Contra Costa County
651 Pine Street f1EC 91994
Room 206
Martinez, CA 94553 CLERK BOARD O. sli ERVISORS
CONTP,A COSTA CO.
Dear Chairman Board of Supervisors:
The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory's Site Annual Environmental
Report for 1993 will be released shortly. Prepared by the Laboratory's
Environmental Protection Department, the report contains the results of the
Laboratory's Environmental Monitoring Program and demonstrates the
Laboratory's compliance with regulatory agency requirements. The report
documents that LLNL posed no threat to human health or the environment.
To reach the conclusions in the report, the Laboratory evaluated analytical data
from measurements of environmental radiation and samples of air, sewer
effluent, ground water, surface water, soil, rain, storm runoff, arroyo sediment,
vegetation and foodstuff. The Environmental Protection Department completed
more than 190,000 analyses of environmental samples in 1992.
The Laboratory is managed by the University of California for the U.S.
Department of Energy and conducts research and development important to
national goals, including national defense. Current research programs include
weapons, energy, biomedicine and the environment. The Laboratory has a long-
standing commitment to developing new methods and technologies to protect the
environment and enhance the nation's economic competitiveness.
Enclosed is a copy of the Executive Summary. If you, your staff, or others in your
organization are interested in a copy of the report or a briefing, please let me
know. We look forward to hearing from you. As always, should you have any
questions about the Laboratory, please call me at (510) 424-4026.
Sincerely,
Bert Heffner
Manager, Area Relations
An Equal Opportunity Employer o Universityof Califomia o PO Box 808 Livermore,California 94550 o Telephone(415)422-1100 o Twx 910-386-8339 UCLLL LVMR
/ ion
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Li PUBLIC AFFAIRS
AREA RELATIONS
December 15, 1994
Chairman Board of Supervisors FE .I� ED
Contra Costa County
651 Pine Street `,`� 9 1994
Room 206
Martinez, CA 94553 ----�-� �,�� c-F,v;SORS
cr w; COz.l•:CO.
Dear Chairman Board of Supervisors:
The Lawrence Livermore_National Laboratory's Site Annual Environmental
Report for 1993 will be released shortly. Prepared by the Laboratory's
Environmental Protection Department, the report contains the results of the
Laboratory's Environmental Monitoring Program and demonstrates the
Laboratory's compliance with regulatory agency requirements. The report
documents that LLNL posed no threat to human health or the environment.
To reach the conclusions in the report, the Laboratory evaluated analytical data
from measurements of environmental radiation and samples of air, sewer
effluent, ground water, surface water, soil, rain, storm runoff, arroyo sediment,
vegetation and foodstuff. The Environmental Protection Department completed
more than 190,000 analyses of environmental samples in 1992.
The Laboratory is managed by the University of California for the U.S.
Department of Energy and conducts research and development important to
national goals, including national defense. Current research programs include
weapons, energy, biomedicine and the environment. The Laboratory has a long-
standing commitment to developing new methods and technologies to protect the
environment and enhance the nation's economic competitiveness.
Enclosed is a copy of the Executive Summary. If you, your staff, or others in your
organization are interested in a copy of the report or a briefing, please let me
know. We look forward to hearing from you. As always, should you have any
questions about the Laboratory, please call me at (510) 424-4026.
Sincerely,
�v1 a
Bert Heffner
Cn� Manager, Area Relations
An Equal Opportunity Employer•University of California•P.O.Box 808 Livermore,Cafrfomia 94550•Telephone(415)422-1100•Twx 910-386-8339 UCLLL LVMR
Executive Summary
Gretchen M. Gallegos
Rebecca A.Failor
Introduction
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), a U.S. Department of
Energy (DOE) facility operated by the University of California, serves as a
national resource of scientific,technical,and engineering capability with a special
focus on national security. Over the years, the Laboratory's mission has been
broadened to encompass such areas as strategic defense, energy, the environ-
ment,biomedicine,the economy,and education. The Laboratory carries out this
mission in compliance with local, state, and federal environmental regulatory
requirements and takes measures to ensure that its operations do not adversely
affect the environment or public health. It does so with the support of the
Environmental Protection Department, which is responsible for environmental
monitoring, environmental restoration, hazardous waste management, and
ensuring environmental compliance.
LLNL comprises two sites: the Livermore site and Site 300. The Livermore
site occupies an area of 3.28 square kilometers on the eastern edge of Livermore,
California. Site 300, LLNUs experimental testing site,is located 24 kilometers to
the east in the Altamont Hills, and occupies an area of 30.3 square kilometers.
Environmental monitoring activities are conducted at both sites as well as in
surrounding areas.
During 1993,the Environmental Protection Department conducted sampling
of air, sewage effluent, ground water, surface water, soil, vegetation and
foodstuffs, and took measurements of environmental radiation. It performed
more than 190,000 analyses of environmental samples. The analytical results are
summarized in the chapters that follow, along with evaluations of the impact of
radioactive and nonradioactive materials, a discussion of the effects of LLNL
operations on the environment, and a summary of the activities undertaken to
comply with local,state,and federal environmental laws.
r
Environmental Monitoring Results
LLNL's sampling networks undergo constant evaluation; changes to them
are made, as necessary, to ensure adequate monitoring of all media potentially
affected by LLNL operations. Once samples are collected, they are analyzed for
radioactive and nonradioactive substances using standard methods such as
analytical procedures approved by the"U.S.-Environmental Protection`Agency"'. ' '
(EPA), special systems such as the continuous monitoring system for Livermore
site sewage, or special analytical techniques designed to measure very low levels
of radionuclides. Environmental radiation is also measured directly using
dosimeters.
LLNL Environmental Report for 1993 EX-1
Nis. Executive Summary
The most significant radiological pollutant continues to be tritium, the
radioactive isotope of hydrogen.The emissions of tritium at the Livermore site in
1993 were comparable to those in 1992, and were significantly lower than
emissions prior to 1992. In 1993, air emissions of tritium from the Tritium
Facility,the primary source of tritium emissions,were 8.77 x 1012 Bq(237 Ci); in
1992 these emissions were 6.55 x 1012 Bq (177 Ci). In 1991 and previous years
tritium emissions from this facility were above 37 x 1012 Bq (1000 Ci). The
Tritium Facility has ceased operations except for inventory reduction and
cleanup activities. These activities were more extensive in 1993 than in 1992,
leading to a small increase in emissions. In spite of this small increase in Tritium
Facility emissions, lower tritium values were measured in surface water, rain
water, and runoff. Small decreases have also been seen in measured values for
tritium in air and vegetation.
Particulate matter in air is monitored for beryllium and for radionuclides,
including plutonium and uranium isotopes. Most of the radioactivity detected is
from naturally occurring radionuclides and global fallout from historical nuclear
weapons testing. Plutonium from fallout and past programmatic activity is
found at low levels around the perimeter of the Livermore site. Plutonium from
fallout only is detected at even lower levels at Site 300. The highest average
plutonium value was measured at a location on the Livermore site near
Building 531. The average concentration there was 2.7 x 10-13 bequerels per
milliliter (Bq/mL) of air (7.4 x 10-18 µCi/mL),a small fraction of the regulatory
exposure guideline of 7.4 x 10-10 Bq/mL of air(2 x 10-14 µCi/mL).
To determine whether operations at Site 300 are affecting the measured
amounts of uranium, which occurs naturally, environmental analysts measure
the relative amounts of two isotopes of uranium: uranium-238 and uranium-235.
Natural uranium is primarily uranium-238,with 0.7% uranium-235. Most LLNL
uranium operations use uranium-238, a slightly radioactive isotope. The
observed ratio of the two isotopes, therefore, can reveal whether LLNL
operations have added uranium-238 to the environment at Site 300. The ratios of
airborne particulate uranium in April and October 1993 deviate from the.natural
ratio, indicating the presence of airborne uranium-238 from Site 300 operations.
The measured concentrations of uranium-238,however,are only a small fraction
(24/100,000)of the regulatory exposure guideline of 0.03 gg/m3.
Discharges of radioactive and hazardous materials to the combined sanitary
and industrial sewer-at--the Livermore-site-are controlled-by-limiting the use of
those materials, implementing engineering controls, and routing discharged
material to retention tanks for later characterization and treatment. Flow
proportional samples of discharged wastewater are regularly collected and
analyzed to assure that LLNL's sewage effluent meets the requirements of the
permit granted by the City of Livermore. In addition, effluent is-monitored
EX-2 LLNL Environmental Report for 1993
Executive Summary
continuously for pH,selected metals,and radioactivity. Should concentrations be
detected above warning levels, LLNL's sewer diversion system would be
automatically activated. The diversion system will capture all but the first few
minutes of wastewater flow that causes an alarm, thereby protecting the
Livermore Water Reclamation Plant (LWRP) and minimizing any required
cleanup. In 1993, there were no releases that exceeded any discharge limits for
release of materials to the sanitary sewer system. The results of the effluent
monitoring program demonstrate the success of LLNL's discharge control
programs.
As first discussed in the 1991 annual report, monitoring results for sewage
show concentrations of plutonium and cesium slightly higher than the values
seen historically.. These results are related to sewer cleaning with new, more
effective equipment. However, the cleaning activity around the site was less
extensive during 1993. This has been reflected in the slightly lower plutonium
and cesium concentrations in LLNL effluent during 1993. The plutonium levels
observed in LWRP sludge (2.1 mBq/dry g, or 0.057 pCi/dry g) are more than
two hundred times below the proposed EPA guideline for the unrestricted use of
soil. These levels are most probably due to residues left in the sanitary sewer
from previous programmatic activities.
Water sampling and an are a large part of the LLNL surveillance
monitoring effort. The waters monitored include lakes, streams, rainfall, tap
water, storm water runoff, drinking water supply wells, and ground water
monitoring wells. The samples are analyzed for gross alpha and gross beta
radiation,tritium,and nonradioactive pollutants,including solvents,metals,and
pesticides. For the Livermore-site storm water samples, gross alpha and gross
beta were generally below drinking water standards; the exceptions were at
locations ALPE and GRNE. These locations are upstream and off the Livermore
site. The source of the gross alpha and gross beta is unknown,and there were no
analytical results from air sampling that would tie the storm water results to
airborne emissions from LLNL. Tritium values for surface and drinking.water
samples were less than 1% of the drinking water standard of 740 Bq/L
(20,000 pCi/L).
Tritium values for rain water samples were also generally lower than the
drinking water standard, with one notable exception. A sample collected at loca-
tion B331 during a rainy period from February 8-20, 1993, measured 5439 Bq/L
(147,000 pCi/L). This Is-over-seven times..the.drinking-water-standard.._This .___... _.
sampling location adjoins LLNL's Tritium Facility, where various inventory
reduction and cleanup activities were taking place.Tritium values for the nearest
air sampling location were also elevated at this time. Modeling was used to
determine that a release of about 6.3 x 1010 Bq (1.7 CO over eight weeks, from
out-of-service equipment in the waste accumulation area east of the Tritium
LLNL Environmental Report for 1993 EX-3
Executive Summary
Facility, accounts for the observed levels of tritium in air and rain at the B331
sampling location. The calculated dose to a hypothetical member of the public
having the greatest possible exposure from this event is about 0.02 gsv
(0.002 mrem).
LLNUs Ground Water Protection Management Program is a multifaceted
effort to eliminate or minimize adverse impacts of Laboratory operations on
ground water,determine the extent and understand the impact of past activities,
remediate adversely affected areas, and monitor current operations. The LLNL
Ground Water Protection Plan is summarized in this report. Ground water
monitoring at the Livermore site investigates contamination at the site according
to the Federal Facility Agreement for the Comprehensive Emergency Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). LLNL conducts ground water
monitoring at Site 300 under two programs,one to meet regulatory commitments
established for site-specific CERCLA investigations, and a second consisting of
routine compliance monitoring around landfill and wastewater surface
impoundment units.
Results for ground water monitoring were similar to historical results.
Tritium results for Livermore Valley wells remain below the drinking water
standard. Tritium results for ground water monitoring wells located near the
Pit 7 Complex (a former landfill disposal complex)at Site 300 continue to exceed
the drinking water standard. Transport modeling of tritium,which has a half-life
of 12.3 years,indicates that the tritium will be below the drinking water standard
by the time the water reaches the Site 300'boundary. Some ground water near the
Pit 7 Complex also is contaminated with barium,depleted uranium,and organic
solvents from past releases from the landfills. LLNL will continue to determine
the nature and extent of contamination by continued sampling and data analysis.
Fate and transport analysis and risk assessment will be conducted. If these
assessments indicate that significant (as defined by CERCLA) hazards or risks
are posed by'these substances, corrective actions will be taken. Neither humans
nor domestic animals drink or use the water.
'Vegetation and foodstuffs are monitored for their tritium content; milk is
further analyzed to determine the amounts of cesium-137(a fallout radionuclide)
and potassium40 (a naturally occurring radionuclide). The milk samples taken
are of goat milk. As in past years, the levels of radiation in milk were minimal
and could not be distinguished from background radiation levels. The tritium
concentrations-in-vegetation samples-taken-near-the Livermore-sitewere greater
than those taken from more distant locations. The tritium concentrations in
nearby vegetation samples were three-fourths those reported in 1992, while the
concentrations in samples taken at greater distances were essentially unchanged
from 1991 and 1992. As in the past, the tritium concentrations in Livermore
Valley wines analyzed in 1993 are slightly above those for wines tested from
EX-4 LLNL Environmental Report for 1993
Executive Summary
Europe and other locations in California; however, even the highest detected
value, 8.25 Bq/L (223 pCi/L), is just over 1% of the amount California allows in
drinking water._This amount is nearly the same as the highest value for 1992,
8.84 Bq/L(239 pCi/L).
In 1993, soil samples from the Livermore site and Site 300, and arroyo
sediment samples from storm water drainage channels at the Livermore site,
were analyzed for radionuclides and beryllium. All measured values for 1993
were consistent with historical data and generally showed background values.
LLNL also maintains an extensive network of direct radiation monitors,
using thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs) for gamma radiation and neutron
monitors developed at LLNL for neutron radiation. TLD measurements at the
Livermore-site perimeter averaged 0.65 mSv (65 mrem) and at the Site 300
perimeter averaged 0.76 mSv (76 mrem). Neutron measurements at the
Livermore-site perimeter averaged 0.058 mSv (5.8 mrem). All of these measure-
ments are equivalent to natural background radiation levels.
Radiological Impact Assessment
DOE environmental radiation protection standards are provided in DOE
Order 5400.5, Radiation Protection of the Public and the Environment. The primary
DOE radiation standards for protection of the public are 1 mSv/y (100 mrem/y)
effective dose equivalent for prolonged exposure, and 5 mSv/y (500 mrem/y)
effective dose equivalent for occasional exposure. DOE and LLNL also comply
with EPA's standard for radiation protection,which applies to air emissions. It
limits the whole-body effective dose equivalent to 0.1 mSv/y (10 mrem/y). Both
limits are based on the maximum exposure that any individual member of the
public could receive. Compliance with the limits is determined by computer
modeling, which includes conservative assumptions and results in calculated
exposures larger than exposures actually received by members of the public.
Routine LLNL operations during 1993 released a total of 9.0 x 1012 Bq(243 Ci)
of tritium to the atmosphere from the Tritium Facility and other operations;of
that,4.4 x 1012 Bq (119 Ci)was in the form of tritiated water. An additional 6.9 x
1012 Bq (187 Ci) was released by Sandia National Laboratories, California, with
approximately 4.9 x 1012 Bq(132 Ci)in the form of tritiated water.The amount of
radioactivity released from LLNL during 1993 was slightly higher than that
released during 1992,but was below the range of previous years.
There was one unplanned atmospheric-radionuclide release at the Livermore
site in 1993 and none from Site 300.In September 1993,an analysis of gross alpha
data from a continuous sampler for particulates, which is located in a stack on
Building 251,revealed radon daughters,indicating a release to the atmosphere of
radon-220.The source of the release was a thorium-228 experiment occurring in a
glove box connected to the atmosphere by the NEPA-filtered stack. Data and
LLNL Environmental Report for 1993 EX-5
® Executive Summary
calculations evaluated the total release during the entire period to be 5.9 x
1011 Bq.(16 CO,with a resultant maximum dose to a hypothetical member of the
public of 3 x 104µSv/y(3 x 10-4 mrem/y),well below levels of health concern.
The total dose calculated for point source emissions, for a hypothetical
person having the greatest possible exposure at the Livermore site, was 0.40 µSv
(0.040 mrem) effective dose equivalent. From diffuse emissions it was 0.26 µSv
(0.026 mrem). This yields a total dose of 0.66µSv(0.066 mrem) for the Livermore
site in 1993, which represents less than 1% of the EPA limit of 0.1 mSv/y
(10 mrem/y) for airborne emissions. This value is slightly lower than the value
for 1992 and much lower thanthose for previous years: dose values reported for
1992, 19 91, and 1990 were 0.69 pSv (0.069 mrem), 2.34 µ5v (0.234 mrem) and
2.40µSv (0.240 mrem). Reduced emissions of tritium from the Tritium Facility
account for much of this decline.
The dose to a person having the greatest possible exposure at Site 300 in 1993
was calculated to be 0.37 µSv (0.037 mrem) effective dose equivalent. This value
includes contributions from both point sources (30%) and diffuse sources (70%).
Virtually all of the point source dose resulted from Building 801 firing table
emissions that used depleted uranium during open air,high-explosive tests.The
dose contributed by firing table operations at Site 300 shows a steady decline
from year to year,reflecting reduced use of depleted uranium in the tests:in 1993
the dose from firing tables was 0.11 µSv (0.011 mrem); in 1992, 0.21 µSv
(0.21 mrem);in 1991,0.44µSv(0.044 mrem);and in 1990,0.57µ5v(0.057 mrem).
The principal radionuclides contributing to these doses are tritium in the
tritiated water form-which accounts for about 93% of the dose at the Livermore
site—and the isotopes of uranium with atomic numbers 238, 234, and 235,
which account for about 5% of the dose at the Livermore site and all of the
Site 300 dose.
For LLNL operations in 1993, the collective effective dose equivalent was
0.0098 person-Sv (0.98 person-rem)from the Livermore site and 0.069 person-Sv
(6.9 person-rem)from Site 300,including all pathways (ingestion,air immersion,
surface exposure,and inhalation pathways). The larger value for Site 300 relative
to the Livermore site is traceable to highly conservative assumptions about the
explosive experiments at Site 300, which overpredict the long-range dispersal of
material in these experiments. These collective effective dose equivalents from
the two LLNL sites are quite small compared to that from natural sources of
_._radiation,which was estimated-ta be.19,000..person-Sv(1,900,000 person-rem).
Environmental Compliance Activities
Both the Livermore site and Site 300 are Superfund sites under CERCLA and
are undergoing remedial activities. The proposed technique for cleaning up
ground water-at the Livermore site consists of managed ground water extraction
EX-6 LLNL Environmental Report for 1993
Executive Summary
at 18 locations and surface treatment. Contaminated sediments in the
unsaturated zone will be treated,as appropriate,by extracting fuel hydrocarbons
or volatile organic compounds by vacuum-induced venting and treatment of the
vapors. EPA and local and state agencies have approved this plana In 1993,
ground water was treated at four facilities to capture and control the off-site
spread of contaminated ground water: Treatment Facility A treated more than
87 million liters of ground water,removing and destroying about 11 kilograms of
volatile organic compounds; Treatment Facility B treated about 40 million liters
of ground water, removing and destroying about 4.1 kilograms of,volatile
organic compounds; Treatment Facility C, which was constructed in 1993 and
began operating on October 30, 1993, treated about 440,000 liters of ground
water, removing 18 grams of volatile organic compounds; and Treatment
Facility F removed about 28,400 liters of gasoline.The Superfund activities at Site
300 are at an earlier stage; LLNL completed a site-wide remedial investigation
report for the site in August 1993. Treatment activities have begun in the General
Services Area at Site 300. During 1993, 77 million liters of ground water in the
eastern section were treated to remove approximately 1 kilogram of volatile
organic compounds.
Title III of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act is known as
the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act. It requires owners
or operators of facilities that have certain hazardous chemicals on site to provide
information on the manufacture, use, and storage of those chemicals to
organizations responsible for emergency-response planning. To comply with
these requirements,LLNL in 1993 implemented ChemTrak,a new computerized
chemical tracking system. An extensive chemical inventory effort was initiated in
November 1993. This inventory resulted in a baseline of approximately 158,000
chemical containers ranging form 55-gallon drums to gram-quantity vials.
LLNL continues to perform all activities necessary to comply with clean air
and clean water requirements. In 1993, the Bay Area Air Quality Management
District issued 200 permits for the Livermore site.The San Joaquin Valley Unified
Air Pollution Control District issued 44 permits for Site 300 covering the opera-
tion of equipment that gives off emissions to the air. LLNL has permits for dis-
charge of treated ground water,for discharges of industrial and sanitary sewage,
and for discharge of storm water.Site 300 has four additional permits for inactive
landfills; cooling tower discharges; operation of the sewer lagoon, septic tanks,
and leach fields;and discharge oftreated ground water. LLNL complies-with all ._
requirements for self-monitoring and inspections associated with these permits'.
As of March 31,1993,all 56 of the Livermore site and Site 300 facilities having
the potential to release radionuclides to the atmosphere had been evaluated to
show compliance with the National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air
Pollutants (NESHAPs). Annual doses resulting from total actual emissions (after
controls) were found to be well below the NESHAPs standard of 100 pSv/y
LLNL Environmental Report for 1993 EX-7
Executive Summary
(10 mrem/y). Estimates of effective dose equivalent for all evaluated facilities,
assuming normal operations but no pollution control devices, have been
calculated. Three facilities at the Livermore site have been identified as having
potential unmitigated effective dose equivalent estimates greater than 1 gSv/y
(0.1 mrem/y), and these facilities have appropriate continuous radionuclide
sampling systems in place, as required by NESHAPs. Several other Livermore-
site facilities also have existing sampling systems; however, potential
unmitigated effective dose equivalent estimates were less than 1 gSv/y
(0.1 mrem/y), and they do not require continuous monitoring under NESHAPs
regulations. No other facilities, including all those at Site 300, were found to
require continuous monitoring systems. During 1993, LLNL demonstrated its
compliance with the requirements of NESHAPs pursuant to a Federal Facility
Compliance Agreement signed by DOE and EPA. In April 1994, EPA concurred
that-all requirements of the Agreement had been met and that LLNL was now in
compliance with NESHAPs regulations.
LLNL has one endangered species, Amsinckia grandiflora (large-flowered
fiddleneck), which is found at Site 300. On April 19, 1993, LLNL personnel
counted 301 mature plants in the natural population of Amsinckia', down from
546 plants observed in 1992. The decline in population may have been related
to the extremely wet, cool weather pattern. LLNL personnel also counted 135
plants in two experimental populations. Work on all populations will continue
through 1994.
Conclusion
Like many other organizations and individuals who are concerned about the
environment, LLNL is committed to protecting the environment and ensuring
that operations are conducted in accordance with applicable laws and
regulations that have been enacted to protect the environment. The current
techniques used at LLNL for environmental monitoring are very sensitive,
allowing detection at extremely low levels of constituents.The monitoring results
for 1993 generally show that these low concentrations are only a very small
fraction of regulatory standards.The analytical results and evaluations generally
show a decrease in contaminant levels, reflecting the responsiveness of the
Laboratory in controlling pollutants. In summary, the results of the 1993
environmental monitoring and modeling programs demonstrate that the
environmental impacts of--LL-NL--are minimal-and pose no threat-to the public or
the environment.
EX-8 LLNL Environmental Report for 1993