Re: Characterization of a Release Into a Body of Water

[LIPTONW@detroitedison.com]

You asked:   
 
Radsafers, 
 
	I would like to know if there are any documents/publications 
available that would assist us in characterizing a release of 
radioactivity into a body of water.  Also, is there dose guidance for 
immersion into a body of water that has had a release into it?  i.e. 
dose to an individual swimming, dose to a fisherman etc.  What do you 
tell the public if you have had a release to the water?  Do you 
arbitrarily restrict fishing in an area with some boundary, or do you 
wait to obtain samples of the water to better determine the potentially 
contaminated water area?  Is it advisable to recommend to the public to 
stay out of a certain boundary of water area until samples can be taken 
and other recommendations considered?  We are preparing to hold a 
simulated press conference based on a release from a nuclear reactor and 
are trying to cover any potential questions from the media/public. 
 
 
I would recommend consulting: 
 
Regulatory Guide 1.109, "Calculation of Annual Doses to Man From Routine 
Releases of Reactor Effluents..." 
 
Regulatory Guirde 1.113, "Estimating Aquatic Dispersion of Effluents ..." 
 
NUREG/CR-3332, "Radiological Assessment - A Textbook on Environmental Dose 
Analysis" by John Till and Robert Myer 
 
The opinions expressed are strictly mine. 
It's not about dose, it's about trust. 
 
Bill Lipton 
liptonw@detroitedison.com