Environmental monitoring of nuclear power plants for radiological emissions

Environmental Monitoring of Nuclear Power Plants for Radiological Emissions

Section 254.41 of the Wisconsin Statutes requires the Department of Health Services (DHS) to collect and test environmental samples for radiation emission in any area of the state within 20 miles of a nuclear power plant.

Environmental monitoring programs cover the following nuclear power plants

Kewaunee (facts, website (exit DHS))
La Crosse Boiling Water Reactor (facts, website (exit DHS))
Point Beach (facts, website (exit DHS))
Prairie Island (facts, website (exit DHS)) and
Zion (facts, article (exit DHS) on decommissioning)
Location of Plants (map)

The activities involved in the monitoring the nuclear power plants consist of the collection of various types of environmental samples from the air, water and terrestrial exposure pathways, analysis of the samples for radioactivity and the publication and public distribution of Environmental Monitoring reports.

Environmental monitoring links

Wisconsin State Statute ss 254.41 (PDF, 717 KB) (user must go to page 13)
DHS 158 Administrative Code (PDF, 6 KB)
Environmental Monitoring Phases
Current (2011) Environmental Monitoring reports
(For reports from previous years, contact the office below)
- La Crosse Boiling Water Reactor (LACBWR) pdf version (PDF, 132 KB]
- Point Beach-Kewaunee Nuclear Reactors pdf version (PDF, 259 KB]
- Prairie Island pdf version (PDF, 184 KB)
- Zion pdf version (PDF, 512 KB)
Other links (exit DHS)
- U.S. NRC - United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission