Re: Cats at San Onofre

[Robert Owen <Robert_Owen@health.ohio.gov>]

     The population control could well consist of alpha, beta, gamma, and 
     neutron maintaining control over the "rad rats" in the area, or maybe 
     even chasing "hot fleas" for fun.  Once old enough, they should be 
     bred with other cats so that their "daughters" could be named 
     neutrino, muon, pi meson, and lepton.  Who knows, we may be on the 
     edge of something here!


______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Cats at San Onofre
Author:  radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu at Internet
Date:    2/9/96 4:12 PM


     Joel write:
     
<    I've  been  hearing reference(s) to radioactive cats at San Onofre 
<    Generation Station.  What gives??
<
<    Joel Baumbaugh (baumbaug@nosc.mil) 
<    NRaD
     
     HISTORY
     
     On January 31st of this year, an adult cat was captured in our Owner 
     Controlled Area outside our Restricted Area.  Our practice is to 
     relocate any captured animal to a suitable environment.  In this case, 
     the cat was relocated away from the plant to a remote location 
     elsewhere on San Onofre property.
     
     On February 1st, four young kittens were heard "meowing" between the old 
     and new Unit 1 Administration Buildings.  Unit 1 was retired
     in 1992 after 27 years of service and is no longer operating.  As the 
     kittens were being taken from the Restricted Area through the Security 
     Processing Facility, the exit portal monitors alarmed.
     
     
     ACTIVITY
     
     When found, each kitten measured about 6000 cpm with a standard frisker. 
     After a warm bath and shampooing the levels dropped to about 1000 cpm. 
     Radioassay by a HpGe showed that 98% of the activity was from 
     cesium-137, about 1% from cesium-134 and a smaller percentage from 
     cobalt-60.  Activity measured with a SAM-9 on Feb 2nd indicated 1000 
     nCi.  The effective half life appears to be 6 days (they averaged 550 
     nCi yesterday).  The kittens are about 3 weeks old and require bottle 
     feeding.  They are being cared for by site employees and have been 
     nicknamed Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Neutron.  All appear to be contented 
     and are gaining weight.
     
     After the discovery of the kittens, an effort was made to learn more 
     about the cat that had been relocated the previous day.  Trace levels of 
     contamination (2.4 nCi) were found in bedding material used to transport 
     the cat.
     
     RESPONSE TO THE DISCOVERY
     
     There has been substantial media attention regarding the kittens 
     including newspapers and TV, both nationally and internationally.
     
     The site's response to this discovery has included voluntary reports to 
     Nuclear Regulatory Commission and additional emphasis on controlling the 
     animal population on site property.
     
     I'd be interested to hear from any RADSAFER's who have had similar 
     experiences and efforts taken as a result.
     
     
     
     
                              Scott Medling, CHP
                              Manger, Regulatory Projects
                              San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station 
                              medlines@songs.sce.com