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nd Quarter 2014 Update

July 2014

PA DEP TENORM Study - Update

1
 Background

• Technologically Enhanced Naturally Occurring 

Radioactive Material

– Consists of naturally occurring radioactive 

material whose radionuclide concentrations have 

been increased above levels encountered in the 

natural state by human activities. 

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Background

Generation of TENORM has increased significantly. This is mainly due 

to the recent expansion in natural gas exploration and production in 

Pennsylvania.

There are many issues with TENORM that must be managed 

effectively.

These issues include:

• Potential worker radiation exposure

• Public radiation exposure

• Environmental (water, etc.) contamination

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Site Categories

•Waste Water Treatment Plants (WWTPs)

•Landfills

•Sludge Loads to Landfills

•Well Pads

•Underground Natural Gas Storage Sites

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Site Categories

• Gas-Fired Electricity Generating 

Facilities

• Compressor Stations

• Beneficial Use Sites

• Decommissioned Well Casings

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2013 Completed Field Work

•184 Site Visits

•114 Locations

•1,000 Samples Analyzed

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2013 Completed Field Work

• 25 WWTP’s / 73 Visits (3 Rounds) 

• 48 Landfills (9 Extensively Sampled)

• 1 Set of facilities to evaluate the effect 

of transport on sludge radioactivity

• 20 Well Pads / 41 Visits 

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2013 Completed Field Work

• 13 Beneficial use sites

• 1 Decommissioned well casings disposal 

site

• 7 Facilities that compress, store and 

utilize natural gas

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Sample Types

• Natural Gas Samples

• Liquid Samples (i.e., frac water, flowback 

water)

• Solid Samples (i.e., drill cuttings, sludge)

• Radiation Surveys

• ‘Swipe’ Samples 

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Sample Analysis

• The samples are being analyzed for the 

presence of Alpha, Beta and Gamma 

radiation. 

• The gas is being sampled for the 

presence of radon-222.

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Field Work in 2014

• Well pad sampling (18 visits to 11 pads)

• Continued landfill leachate collection (5 

facilities)

• Landfill ‘Bulking’ operations (2 facilities)

• Beneficial use sites (4 sites)

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Field Work in 2014

• Gas-fired power plants (1 facility)

• Gas storage facilities (4 facilities)

• Compressor stations (1 facility)

• Gas processing facilities (1 facility)

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Field Work in 2014

• Wastewater impoundments (2 facilities)

• Evaluating the effect of transport on 

sludge radioactivity (5 events)

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Field Work in 2014

• Well pad sampling (5 visits to 2 pads)

• Wastewater Impoundment (1 facilities)

• Beneficial use sites (4 sites)

• Decommissioned Well Pad Casing (if 

available)

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Field Work in 2014

• Landfills – recover radon detectors (8 

facilities)

• Landfills – Bulking (2 facilities)

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Remaining Field Work – Summer 2014

• Well Pad – if completed, 1 production 

phase gas collection for radon

• Landfills – collection of ambient radon 

samplers in SW area of the state

• Well Pads – ambient gamma surveys of 

areas with buried rock cuttings

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Lessons Learned

• Well pad field work schedule changes

• Technical challenges

• Science-based study plan, had to make 

some adjustments and additions

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Schedule

• Most field work to be completed by the end of July

• Sample analysis, data analysis, and report preparation 

(including peer review) from March through August

• Internal DEP final review

• Final study report planned for completion in 2014...

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TENORM Study Information 

• Study related documents are available at 

www.dep.state.pa.us Keyword “TENORM”

• Updates are being provided to the 

appropriate DEP Advisory Committees and 

other stakeholders 

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Questions?

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