Preliminary radiation dose assessment for the Palmerton ore storage site, Palmerton, Pennsylvania

Potential maximum radiation doses rates were calculated for the Palmerton ore storage site in Palmerton, Pennsylvania. The RESRAD computer code, which implements the methodology described in the US Department of Energy's manual for establishing residual radioactive material guidelines, was used in this evaluation. Four potential scenarios were considered for the Palmerton ore storage site. Two scenarios were developed on the basis of industrial use of the site, and two were developed on the basis of residential use of the site. The scenarios also vary with regard to time spent at the site, sources of food consumed, and source terms. The RESRAD code was used to analyze potential radiation doses from three exposure pathways. The results indicate that the basic dose limit of 100 mrem/yr would not be exceeded in Scenarios A (industrial use, hot spot), B (industrial use, homogenous contamination), and C (residential use, homogenous contamination), but would be exceeded in Scenario D (residential use, hot spot). The potential maximum dose rates for Scenarios A, B, C, and D are 1.0 mrem/yr, 0.66 mrem/yr, and 360 mrem/yr, respectively. 3 refs., 3 tabs.