title: Issues in establishing an aerosol radiological baseline for the waste isolation pilot plant near Carlsbad, New Mexico.
abstract: The Department of Energy has constructed a deep geologic repository for defense transuranic waste disposal. The Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, located in Southeastern New Mexico, is slated to receive transuranic waste by truck delivery beginning in 1998. The Environmental Evaluation Group (EEG) provides an independent evaluation of the impact on the health and environment in New Mexico of the WIPP project. Since 1985, the EEG has operated a network of air monitoring sites around WIPP and in nearby communities. The radionuclide concentration data from these air samples have been assembled into a useful baseline data base after resolution of a number of methodological and quality assurance issues. Investigation thresholds for the principal radionuclides have been calculated from combined data collected from several sites. These action levels will provide a critical quantitative basis for decisions of whether future airborne radionuclide measurements are attributable to accidental releases.
authors.affiliation: Environmental Evaluation Group, Carlsbad, NM 88221-3149, USA.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Rodgers
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Kenney
mesh_terms: D000396:Air Pollutants, Radioactive / Q000032:analysis; D000576:Americium / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006077:Government Agencies; D009516:New Mexico; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011005:Plutonium / Q000032:analysis*; D018788:Radioactive Hazard Release; D011850:Radioactive Waste; D014186:Transportation; D014481:United States; D014484:United States Environmental Protection Agency
chemical_list: D000396:Air Pollutants, Radioactive; D011850:Radioactive Waste; D011005:Plutonium; D000576:Americium