Gamma Count Rate

Gamma Count Rate

Survey in

Pines, Indiana

Conducted October 10 – 15, 2009

PINES

(People in Need of Environmental Safety)

October 27, 2009

Overview

Pines, Indiana, is presently involved in a United States Environmental Protection (USEPA) Region 5 Superfund cleanup action due to ground water pollution originating from flyash disposed of by the Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NISPCO) at the Brown, Inc. landfill (Yard 520) in Pines, Indiana. Flyash is also believed to have been used in the construction of some roads in the town and the surrounding area, and as fill on some residential and commercial properties.

Because it is known that flyash can contain radionuclides of the Uranium (uranium-238) Decay Series, the Actinium (uranium-235) Decay Series, and the Thorium (thorium-232) Decay Series a decision was made by the PINES (People in Need of Environmental Safety) group to conduct a radiation survey of sites where flyash was believed to have been used.

The radiation survey was conducted over the span of October 10 through October 15, 2009, using a gamma-ray scaler/count rate meter and a sodium iodide scintillometer. Surveys were conducted by a retired USEPA Region 5 Superfund Radiation Expert. Natural background gamma count rates were established at 3 sites believed to not have any deposits of flyash. Gamma count rates were also measured at 12 sites where flyash contamination was suspected to be an issue. Further gamma count rates were measured at 3 sites where the Remedial Investigation Report showed isotopic soil concentrations exceeding cleanup levels USEPA Region 5 has used for uranium, thorium and radium sites.

Once background radiation count rates levels were established, they were compared to count rates at sites of interest. Those site levels exceeding twice the average background gamma count rate were deemed to be in need of further investigation as a potential radioactively contaminated area. Further investigation would need to include determination of the isotopic identities and the isotopic activity concentration of soil components.

Table of Contents

Overview

Data Sets

Background Sites

Carolina Avenue and Calumet Bike Trail

1602 North

1675 Alabama

Investigation Sites

1600 N

1606 N

1607 N

500 E at Interstate 94

Connecticut Avenue

North County Road 625 E

Railroad Avenue

Ardendale Road

Monitoring well south of Yard 520

Illinois Avenue

Site SS018

Site SS021

Johns Avenue

Discussion

Conclusions

Recommendations

Appendices

Appendix A – Surveyors

Appendix B – Equipment

Appendix C – Various materials seen

Radiation Measurements at Carolina Avenue and the Calumet Bike Trail

Measurements by Larry Jensen and Rosemary Gemperle, October 11, 2009

Intersection of Carolina Avenue and the Calumet Bike Trail

Glittering black material on the avenue

2 minute count with probe tip on contact with the ground

21,407 counts/2 minutes = 10,704 counts per minute (cpm)

Background Site

Approximately 50 feet southwest of Carolina Avenue and the Calumet Bike Trail intersection

Measurement in grassy area

2 minute count with probe tip on contact with the ground

9743 counts/2 minutes = 4872 cpm

Midway between South Shore railroad tracks and Calumet Bike Trail on Carolina Avenue

** Center of Carolina Avenue

Glittering black material on the avenue

2 minute count with probe tip on contact with the ground

21,313 counts/2 minutes = 10,657 cpm

** 10 feet west of Center of Carolina Avenue

Grassy area to side of avenue

2 minute count with probe tip on contact with the ground

23,367 counts/2 minutes = 11,684 cpm

** 25 feet west of Center of Carolina Avenue

Grassy area off avenue

2 minute count with probe tip on contact with the ground

8839 counts/2 minutes = 4420 cpm

On Calumet Bike Trail, 100 feet west of Carolina Avenue

** Center of Calumet Bike Trail

“Limestone” fill on trail

2 minute count with probe tip on contact with the ground

6103 counts/2 minutes = 3052 cpm

** 10 feet south of Center of Calumet Bike Trail

Grassy area to side of trail

2 minute count with probe tip on contact with the ground

8750 counts/2 minutes = 4375 cpm

** 25 feet south of Center of Calumet Bike Trail

Grassy area off trail

2 minute count with probe tip on contact with the ground

10,459 counts/2 minutes = 5230 cpm

Radiation Measurements at 1602 N 500 E

Measurements by Larry Jensen and Paul Kysel, October 10, 2009

Background Site

Approximately 100 yards southwest of Islamic Center of Michigan City, in woods

N 41^o 39.980' / W 086^o 58.445'

2 minute count with probe tip on contact with the ground

9670 counts/2 minutes = 4835 counts per minute (cpm)

Radiation Measurements at 1675 Alabama

Measurements by Larry Jensen and Peggy Richardson, October 12, 2009

Background Site

Approximately 30 feet north of driveway in woods

2 minute count with probe tip on contact with the ground

8916 counts/2 minutes = 4458 counts per minute (cpm)

Radiation Measurements on 1600 N from Porter/La Porte County Line to 600 E

Measurements by Larry Jensen and Paul Kysel, October 10, 2009

** West of gate near County Line Road

Glittering black material on surface

9500 – 10,000 counts per minute (cpm)

** Approximately 200 feet north of 1600 N in wooded area

approximately 9000 cpm

** N 41^o39.953' / W 086^o56.041'

2 minute count with probe tip on contact with the ground

21,387 counts/2 minutes = 10,694 cpm

** At farmer's vehicle entrance to field, on north side

approximately 9000 cpm

Radiation Measurements at 1606 N 500 E

Measurements by Larry Jensen and Paul Kysel, October 10, 2009

Measurements at Islamic Center of Michigan City

** Paved parking lot

Approximately 7000 counts per minute (cpm)

** South side, grassy area

7000 – 8000 cpm

** Gravel drive on south side

3000 – 3500 cpm

** West side, grassy area towards the south end

3500 – 5000 cpm

** West side, grassy area towards the near north side / tree line

8000 – 8500 cpm

** North side, grassy area

4500 – 5000 cpm

** Far east side in grassy area

4000 – 5000 cpm

** Apron of parking lot on east edge – in line with crack running east/west in alignment

with north wall of building

10,000 – 10,500 cpm

** In limited grassy area in east near N 41^o40.012' / W086^o58.305'

10,000+ cpm

** East side, approximately 50' from parking lot edge

7500 – 8000 cpm

(appears to be a seam that runs north / south along parking lot edge)

8500 – 10,000 cpm

** South side of drive entrance next to asphalt patch

about 11,000 cpm

2 minute count with probe tip on contact with the ground

21,121 counts / 2 minutes = cpm

Radiation Measurements at 1607 N 500 E

Measurements by Larry Jensen and Paul Kysel, October 10, 2009

** Parking area by tree holding security light

Approximately 4500 counts per minute (cpm)

** South side of front yard

5000 – 6000 cpm

Radiation Measurements on 500 E at US Interstate-94

Measurements by Larry Jensen and Paul Kysel, October 10, 2009

South of I-94, west of 500 E

Stone pile / asphalt patch area

** West of berm where materials have been removed

8000 – 8500 counts per minute (cpm)

** Area in front of barbed wire fence to west

N 41^o 39.254' / W 086^o 58.25'8'

4000 – 4500 cpm

Radiation Measurements at Connecticut Avenue

Measurements by Larry Jensen and Peggy Richardson, October 12, 2009

Approximately halfway between 2^nd Place and Highway 12

N 41^o 41.442' – W 086^o 56.315'

Glittering black material on center of avenue

2 minute count with probe tip on contact with the ground

27,079 counts/2 minutes = 13,540 counts per minute (cpm)

Approximately 2/3 distance north of 2^nd Place towards Highway 12

** Center of Connecticut Avenue

Glittering black material on the avenue

11,000 – 14,000 cpm

** Approximately 15 feet east of center of avenue in grassy area

approximately 12, 000 cpm

** Approximately 25 feet east of center of avenue in woods

4500 – 5000 cpm

Measurements by Larry Jensen and Peggy Richardson, October 13, 2009

1649 N 625 E

North County Road 625E

Open field, north of driveway

4000 – 8500 counts per minute (cpm)

Higher counts on band near south center of field

Open field, south of driveway

4000 – 5000 cpm

Radiation Measurements on Railroad Avenue

Measurements by Larry Jensen and Peggy Richardson, October 13, 2009

675 Railroad Avenue, north side, on west side of driveway, along berm

11,000 – 12, 000 counts per minute (cpm)

675 Railroad Avenue, north side, to east side of driveway, along berm

9000 – 11,000 cpm

675 Railroad Avenue on south side of avenue, between avenue and railroad tracks

8000 – 11,000 cpm

West of 664 Railroad Avenue, south side of avenue, between avenue and railroad tracks

2 minute count with probe tip on contact with the ground

15,912 counts/2 minutes = 7956 counts per minute (cpm)

West of 664 Railroad Avenue, north side of avenue, on grass

2 minute count with probe tip on contact with the ground

13,311 counts/2 minutes = 6656 counts per minute (cpm)

656 Railroad Avenue, north side, walking west on berm to 650 Railroad Avenue

4500 – 11,000 cpm

(lowest count rate at large tree on 656 Railroad Avenue)

Between 650 and 656 Railroad Avenue, south side on berm

6500 – 11,000 cpm

Radiation Measurements on Ardendale Road

Measurements by Larry Jensen and Peggy Richardson, October 13, 2009

1693 Ardendale Road, garage

** 2 well points lying on garage floor

3500 – 4500 counts per minute (cpm)

** garage floor approximately 10 feet from well points

3500- 4500 cpm

1692 Ardendale Road, driveway

** 7000 – 11,000 cpm

1690 Ardendale Road, around tree at south end of blue garage

** 4000 – 5000 cpm

Radiation Measurements Monitoring well south of Yard 520

Measurements by Larry Jensen and Peggy Richardson, October 13, 2009

Monitor well on south side of landfill, on Railroad Avenue

** North side of monitor well

8500 – 9000 counts per minute (cpm)

** South side of monitor well

11,000 – 12,000 cpm

Radiation Measurements on Illinois Ave, between Railroad Ave. and Johns Ave.

Measurements by Larry Jensen and Larry Silvestri, October 14, 2009

Illinois Avenue from Railroad Avenue to Johns Avenue

4500 – 12,000 counts per minute (cpm)

lower count rates near Johns Avenue

higher count rates where glittering black material was present

** Center of Illinois Avenue, 200 feet north of Railroad Avenue

25,005 counts/2 minutes = 12,503 cpm

** Center of Illinois Avenue, 450 feet north of Railroad Avenue

23,191 counts/2 minutes = 11,596 cpm

Radiation Measurements at SS018 sampling site

Measurements by Larry Jensen and Larry Silvestri, October 14, 2009

Highway 20 at Mitchel Bros. Storage property

** Parking lot

on “slag” type material

8000 – 9000 counts per minute (cpm)

** Weedy field to west of parking lot

7000 – 8000 cpm

** Dumping area to north of parking lot

7000 – 8000 cpm

** Lowland area to north of dumping area and north of parking lot

5000 – 6000 cpm

Radiation Measurements at SS021 sampling site

Measurements by Larry Jensen and Larry Silvestri, October 14, 2009

Ardendale Road, north of County Road 1600 N

West side of Ardendale in woods

South of corrugated sheet metal slab

Northeast of blue house

18,846 counts /2 minutes = 9423 counts per minute (cpm)

Radiation Measurements on Johns Avenue

Measurements by Larry Jensen and Tom Brand, October 15, 2009

Northeast corner of Johns Avenue and Idaho Avenue

8500 – 9500 counts per minute (cpm)

Northwest east corner of Johns Avenue and Idaho Avenue

4500 – 9000 cpm

Southwest corner of Johns Avenue and Idaho Avenue

11,000 – 12,000 cpm

Southeast corner of Johns Avenue and Idaho Avenue

8500 – 13,000 cpm

South side of Johns Avenue from Idaho Avenue to Florida Avenue

11,000 – 13,000 cpm

North side of Johns Avenue from Idaho Avenue to Florida Avenue

4000 – 9500 cpm

Discussion

It is known that many natural materials contain radionuclides. Coal is one of these. To varying degrees, based on its geological origin, coal contains three groups of radionuclides, the Uranium (U-238) Decay Series, the Actinium (U-235) Decay Series, and the Thorium

(Th-232) Decay Series. These series contain isotopes of uranium, thorium, radium, radon, and others that can potentially be a health detriment. When coal is burned, the waste flyash will still contain these radionuclides.

Yard 520 was a disposal site for flyash. Samples collected by ENSR for USEPA Region 5 show total radium soil concentrations above the level generally used for USEPA Region 5 Superfund radiation soil cleanups [5 picocuries per gram (pCi/g) plus background for total radium (radium-226 + radium-228)]. The total radium criterion for the Yard 520 Site would be

5.618 pCi/g. Measured concentrations within Yard 520 that exceed this criterion are:

Site GP005 5.82 pCi/gm

Site GP006 6.49

Site GP007 7.09

Site GP009 7.26

Site GP010 5.96

Thus, USEPA Region 5 has established that there are excess total radium concentrations in Yard 520 wastes.

It was reasonable to assume where flyash was disposed of outside of Yard 520 there might also be elevated levels. Soil concentrations need to be measured in a laboratory but gamma-ray emissions by these radioactive materials are detectable with a hand held field meter. The PINES group sought to investigate this issue using a portable scintillometer.

It was PINES strategy that once normal (background) gamma-ray levels were established, other areas could be compared to background. It is common among radiation health physicists to use twice background gamma-ray levels as a criterion where further investigation should begin, especially the taking of soil samples for laboratory isotopic analysis.

From October 10 through October 15, gamma-ray levels (count rates) were measured at three background sites, those believed not be have been disposal areas for flyash in the Pine area. These included

Carolina Avenue & the Calumet Bike Trail 4872 counts per minute (cpm)

1602 N 500 E 4835 cpm

1675 Alabama Avenue 4458 cpm

Average 4722 cpm

Using a criterion of twice background (9444 cpm), the following sites showed gamma-ray count rates exceeding twice background. Where count rates are good to 5 digits, measurements were made for exactly 2 minutes with the probe vertical on the ground. Where count rates are a range, measurements were by observing the meter numbers as the survey walk was being conducted with the meter poised about an inch above the ground.

1600 N street 10,694 counts per minute (cpm)

1606 N 500 E 10,561 cpm

1692 Ardendale Road 7000 – 11,000 cpm

Carolina Avenue near the Calumet Bike Trail

Center of Carolina 10,657 cpm

10 feet west of center of Carolina 11,684 cpm

Connecticut Avenue 13,540 cpm

Illinois Avenue

200 feet north of Railroad Avenue 12,503 cpm

450 feet north of Railroad Avenue 11,596 cpm

Johns Avenue at Idaho Avenue

Southwest corner 11,000 – 12,000 cpm

Southeast corner 8500 – 13,000 cpm

South side from Idaho Avenue to

Florida Avenue 11,000 – 13,000 cpm

Railroad Avenue

Near 675, north side of avenue 4500 – 12,000 cpm

Near 675, south side of avenue 8000 – 11,000 cpm

Between 650 & 656, south side 6500 – 11,000 cpm

Yard 520, monitor well on south side

South side of casing 11,000 – 12,000 cpm

In almost every case, excess count rates were associated with a black, glittering material. PINES surveyors called this material flyash. The survey leader was more familiar with material of this appearance being called sand blasting grit. The most elevated gamma-ray count rates were all associated with roadways and the berms adjacent to them.

One less elevated count rate area was at 1606 N 500 E where material looking like stone, or perhaps slag, on the east side of the parking lot had a count rate of about 7500 – 8000 cpm.

There was also a seam in an area further east of the 1606 N 500 E parking lot that ran about

8500 – 10,000 cpm. Buried material would show a lower count at the surface because of radiation shielding by intervening soil. The same could be said for the seam on the north side of the driveway at 11 North County Road 625E.

Conclusions

USEPA showed radioactive total radium in soil concentrations above those generally used by the USEPA Region 5 for Superfund cleanups, 5 picocuries per gram (pCi/g) over background for radium-226 + radium-228. With USEPA's background of 0.618 pCi/g, this criterion would be 5.618 pCi/g. The range of USEPA measurements was 5.82 – 7.26 pCi/g. The soil material is presumed to be flyash.

The PINES group was concerned that flyash with elevated radioactive soil concentrations might also be found in the Town of Pines. A gamma-ray count rate survey between October 10 and October 15, 2009 showed elevated readings in 15 locations. Background in 3 areas believed to be flyash free showed an average reading of 4722 counts per minute (cpm). Using a criterion of twice background (9444 cpm) as a point where more expansive investigation should begin, these 15 locations showed a range of readings up to 13,540 cpm.

Where readings were elevated, the area was usually covered with a black, glittery material with the appearance of finely ground obsidian. Surveyors called this material flyash. The health physicist operating the meter had seen similar material used for sandblasting.

Two other areas were found that seemed to indicate buried seams. If such seams were excavated gamma-ray count rates would probably rise. One further area showed “slag” type material that had a count rate distinct from the average background count rate.

Recommendations

Clearly, there is material along many roads and under some open fields in Pines that shows gamma-ray counts over normal background levels. Further investigation is necessary to determine what this material is, its radiation isotopic composition, its isotopic concentration, and its projected health risk. Determination should also be made as to whether Pines well water has been affected by radionuclides.

PINES makes the following recommendations.

Confirmation be made of PINES’ data.

Determination be made as to the component giving elevated gamma-ray count rates (e.g., black glittery material?).

Determination be made by gamma spectroscopy as to the isotopic identities of the

gamma-ray emitters.

Determination be made as to the isotopic concentration of the principal gamma-ray emitters. If, as seems probable, these are products in the three natural decay series, then concentrations should be made for radium-226, radium-228, isotopic uranium, and isotopic thorium.

Review be made of well data from Pines citizens to determine if radium-226, radium-228, uranium-238, uranium-234, and uranium-235 have been measured so that a judgment can be made as to whether the Total Radium and/or the Total Uranium concentrations can be compared to those in the Drinking Water Act.

Appendix A

Surveyors

October 10

Larry Jensen

Paul Kysel

October 11

Larry Jensen

Rosemary Gemperle

October 12

Larry Jensen

Peggy Richardson

October 13