Transcript US EPA RadNet Program California Air Resources Board Monitoring & Laboratory Division

US EPA
RadNet Program
California Air Resources Board
Monitoring & Laboratory Division
Special Purpose Monitoring
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Program History
• 1950’s: Federal government begins monitoring
radioactive materials due to nuclear weapons
testing
• 1970: Monitoring for rads is consolidated under the
US EPA
• 1973: US EPA creates a continuous monitoring
system called “Environmental Radiation Air
Monitoring System” (ERAMS)
• 2005: ERAMS is renamed “RadNet”
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What Is RadNet?
• US EPA’s environmental radiation monitoring
program
• Categories monitored:
– Drinking water
– Precipitation
– Pasteurized milk
– Air
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Air Monitoring
• Sept. 11th brought renewed emphasis to monitoring airborne
rads.
• US EPA installed a nationwide network of 124 “near realtime monitors”
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California RadNet Air Monitoring
• California’s RadNet sites:
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Anaheim
Bakersfield
Eureka
Fresno
Los Angeles
Riverside
Sacramento (Began late 2008)
San Diego
San Francisco
San Jose
San Bernardino (11th site as of early 2011)
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The RadNet Monitor
• Stand alone monitoring
system developed by General
Atomics
• Acquires, stores and
electronically transmits data
to the National Air Radiation &
Environmental Lab (NAREL)
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RadNet Components (Met. & Comm.)
Satellite antenna
Temp. sensor
Cellular antenna
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RadNet Components (Sampling)
Beta & gamma detectors
Filter
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RadNet Components (Data Mgmt.)
Local Processing Unit (i.e. CPU)
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Operator’s Role
• Change and field test filters 2x / Week
• Complete and submit “Air Particulate
Sample Report” to NAREL
• Occasionally assist US EPA with trouble
shooting
• Annually calibrate the RadNet w/ US EPA’s
assistance
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Filter Change & Field Test
• Perform background count w/ the geiger counter
• Remove and replace the exposed filter
• Perform count on exposed filter w/ the geiger counter
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Sample Report Completion
• After completion, mail form & filter to NAREL
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Interesting Links
• Japanese Nuclear Emergency Webpage
http://www.epa.gov/japan2011/index.html
• USEPA Envirofacts – RadNet Data
http://iaspub.epa.gov/enviro/erams_query_v
2.simple_query
• RadNet Operator Webpage
http://www.epa.gov/narel/radnet/operators/13
Thanks for watching.
Contact:
Whitney Okabayashi
(916) 324-3997
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