Environmental consequences of postulated plutonium releases from the Babcock and Wilcox Plant, Leechburg, Pennsylvania, as a result of severe natural phenomena

Potential environmental consequences in terms of radiation dose to people are presented for postulated plutonium releases accidently caused by severe natural phenomena at the Babcock and Wilcox plant, Leechburg, Pennsylvania. The severe natural phenomena considered are earthquakes, tornadoes, high straight-line winds, and floods. Maximum plutonium deposition values are given for significant locations around the site. All important potential exposure pathways are examined. The most likely 50-year committed dose equivalents are given for the maximum-exposed individual and the population within a 50-mile radius of the plant. The maximum plutonium deposition values most likely to occur at the site boundary are also given. The most likely calculated 50-year collective committed dose equivalents are all much lower than the collective dose equivalent expected from 50 years of exposure to natural background radiation and medical x-rays. The most likely maximum residual plutonium contamination estimated to be deposited at the site boundary following Earthquake No. 3, the 110-mph and 130-mph winds, and the 130 mph tornado are above the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) proposed guideline for plutonium in the general environment of 0.2 μCi/m2