Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Berkeley Lab operates facilities where radionuclides are produced, handled, stored, and potentially emitted. These facilities are subject to the EPA radioactive air emission regulations in 40 CFR 61, Subpart H (EPA 1989a). Radionuclides may be emitted from stacks or vents on buildings where radionuclide production or use is authorized or they may be emitted as diffuse sources. In 2010, all Berkeley Lab sources were minor sources of radionuclides (sources resulting in a potential dose of less than 0.1 mrem/yr [0.001 mSv/yr]). These minor sources included more than 100 stack sources and one source of diffuse emissions. There were no unplanned emissions from the Berkeley Lab site. Emissions from minor sources (stacks and diffuse emissions) were measured by sampling or monitoring or were calculated based on quantities used, received for use, or produced during the year. Using measured and calculated emissions, and building-specific and common parameters, Laboratory personnel applied the EPA-approved computer codes, CAP88-PC and COMPLY, to calculate the effective dose equivalent to the maximally exposed individual (MEI). The effective dose equivalent from all sources at the Berkeley Lab main site in 2010 was 7.3E-3 mrem/yr (7.3E-5 mSv/yr) to the MEI, well below the 10 mrem/yr (0.1 mSv/yr) dose standard. The location of this MEI is at the University of California (UC) Lawrence Hall of Science, a public science museum about 1500 ft (460 m) east of Berkeley Lab?s Building 56. The estimated collective effective dose equivalent to persons living within 50 mi (80 km) of the Berkeley Lab main site was 1.5E-1 person-rem (1.5E-3 person-Sv) attributable to the Lab?s airborne emissions in 2010. The effective dose equivalent from all sources at Berkeley Lab operations at the Berkeley West Biocenter (Building 977 at 717 Potter Street, Berkeley) in 2010 was 2.3E-4 mrem/yr (2.3E-6 mSv/yr) to the MEI, well below the 10 mrem/yr (0.1 mSv/yr) dose standard. The location of this MEI is in the Berkeley West Biocenter?s Potter Street building, about 98 ft (30 m) from the point where emissions from Berkeley Lab operations are released. The estimated collective effective dose equivalent to persons living within 50 mi (80 km) was 9.8E-6 person-rem (9.8E-8 person-Sv) attributable to the Lab?s airborne emissions from Building 977 in 2010. The effective dose equivalent from all sources at Berkeley Lab operations at the Joint BioEnergy Institute (Building 978 at 5885 Hollis Street, Emeryville) in 2010 was 1.7E-5 mrem/yr (1.7E-7 mSv/yr) to the MEI, well below the 10 mrem/yr (0.1 mSv/yr) dose standard. The location of this MEI is in the Joint BioEnergy Institute?s Hollis Street building, about 62 ft (19 m) from the point where emissions from Berkeley Lab operations are released. The estimated collective effective dose equivalent to persons living within 50 mi (80 km) was 6.4E-8 person-rem (6.4E-10 person-Sv) attributable to the Lab?s airborne emissions from Building 978 in 2010.