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  Radioactive Pathways

  Norm Buske and The RadioActivist Campaign (TRAC)

  In November 2004, a non-profit scientific organization, The RadioActivist Campaign (TRAC), conducted a radiological survey around the Oak Ridge Reservation (ORR) in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. TRAC collected 15 environmental samples from 8 candidate, radiological pathways from ORR into the surroundings. TRAC selected samples based on official reports, concerns expressed by citizens, and availability of material. This is a full report of those results.

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  Radioactive Neighbor: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  The RadioActivist Campaign (TRAC)

  The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) reports releases of radioactive and toxic materials into its surroundings. LLNL also monitors its environment for radioactive and toxic materials, with results published in an annual Environmental Report. LLNL’s radiological monitoring focuses on two radionuclides “often associated with LLNL operations”: hydrogen-3 (called tritium) and plutonium. Other radioactive by-products of nuclear fission and nuclear activation are not included in LLNL’s routine monitoring. Thus, neighbors of LLNL have to largely rely on LLNL to report its own sources of radioactivity (such as pipes, stacks, effluent, etc.). Livermore residents also have to rely on LLNL to report on its compliance with “all federal, state, and local environmental permitting requirements.”

  In December 2003, The RadioActivist Campaign (TRAC) began a 5 month radiological survey around LLNL’s perimeter to monitor LLNL’s releases of artificial radioactivity into the surrounding environment.TRAC used the results of the December study to plan follow-up monitoring in May 2004. The follow-up monitoring provided confirmations of positive “hits” and checks on alternative explanations for those results. This is TRAC’s final report from the December 2003 and May 2004 radiological monitoring around LLNL.

  This research was completed money allocated during Round 5 of the Citizens’ Monitoring and Technical Assessment Fund (MTA Fund). Clark University was named conservator of these works.

  If you have any questions or concerns please contact us at digitalrepository@clarku.edu

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  Early Warning: A Radioactive Rio Grande

  Norm Buske and The RadioActivist Campaign (TRAC)

  The Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) Risk Reduction and Environmental Stewardship Program monitors contaminants migrating off the 40 square mile, Department of Energy (DOE) site. While LANL has reported contaminated storm water running off the site after the wildfires of 2000, LANL has not reported any nuclear waste leaking into the Rio Grande. In Fall 2002 and Spring 2003, The RadioActivist Campaign (TRAC) joined a research team, collaborating with Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety (CCNS), to study the LANL bank of the Rio Grande. TRAC checked whether any radioactivity from LANL is already leaking into the Rio Grande at detectable levels. TRAC focused on sampling Spring 4A, which flows into Pajarito Stream and then into the Rio Grande. Spring 4A is relatively close to LANL facilities and has an unusually large flow. Low activities of a natural, short-lived radioactive tracer, beryllium-7, showed that the waters in Spring 4A and Pajarito Stream are almost undiluted groundwater. Samples from both Spring 4A and Pajarito Stream contained consistently low levels of cesium-137 of LANL origin. This is the first confirmed detection of LANL radioactivity entering the Rio Grande from a groundwater pathway. This is an early warning for the public to take an active role in LANL oversight to protect and restore the Rio Grande.

  This research was completed money allocated during Round 4 of the Citizens’ Monitoring and Technical Assessment Fund (MTA Fund). Clark University was named conservator of these works.

  If you have any questions or concerns please contact us at digitalrepository@clarku.edu

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  Under a Cloud - Fallout from the Savannah River Site

  Norm Buske and The RadioActivist Campaign (TRAC)

  In April 2003, The RadioActivist Campaign (TRAC) identified a pattern of radioactive cesium-137 outside the northeast boundary of the Savannah River Site (SRS). That cesium-137 is evidence of recent radioactive fallout, from SRS, that contaminates the area downwind of the site. The radioactivity of that cesium-137 was 50 times the normal “background” level.

  TRAC believes SRS’s contamination of the area downwind of the site poses a threat to public health and safety and environmental quality. SRS denies that the site contaminates public air and land and states that radioactivity from fallout around SRS is not above background levels.

  TRAC also identified levels of cesium-137 at a thousand times background level in Lower Three Runs Creek, which drains SRS. Along with the cesium-137, TRAC found strontium-90 and a trace of cobalt-60 contaminating the creek. The combination of those three radionuclides suggests that the source of that contamination is spent nuclear fuel at SRS. That contamination is entering the Savannah River.

  This report brings these contamination problems to the public’s attention so the affected communities can take action to protect their health and their environment.

  This research was completed money allocated during Round 4 of the Citizens’ Monitoring and Technical Assessment Fund (MTA Fund). Clark University was named conservator of these works.

  If you have any questions or concerns please contact us at digitalrepository@clarku.edu

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  Trouble in the Columbia Riverbed: Increasing radioactivity under the Hanford Reach

  Government Accountability Project and Norm Buske

  The public has expressed concern that radioactivity from Hanford’s wartime nuclear weapons production might contaminate salmon spawning grounds in the Columbia River. Salmon hatchlings (alevin) grow among the gravels in the riverbed, where they are susceptible to environmental stresses that include toxic chemicals and radioactivity. Some people worry that radioactivity from Hanford will damage the alevin genetically and slowly reduce the strength of the salmon stock.

  In 2001, The RadioActivist Campaign (TRAC) found a radioactive fingerprint (europium-152) of old Hanford nuclear waste in 60% of sediments lying under the Hanford Reach and in 7 of 10 major salmon spawning areas. Those results prompted this laboratory study, to examine the water in which the salmon alevin live. The question was, What radioactivity dissolves from contaminated Hanford Reach riverbed sediments into the riverbed water?

  These results remind us that the Columbia River runs through Hanford Site, the most contaminated place in North America. As more of Hanford’s historical impacts on the Columbia River are discovered, Hanford Site becomes ever more clearly an unwise choice for a waste disposal site, for the present and for our future.

  This research was completed money allocated during Round 3 of the Citizens’ Monitoring and Technical Assessment Fund (MTA Fund). Clark University was named conservator of these works.

  If you have any questions or concerns please contact us at digitalrepository@clarku.edu