MREMP Direct Radiation [Michigan]
Michigan Dept. of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy · 2025 Full Details
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Full Details
- Title
- MREMP Direct Radiation [Michigan]
- Description
- Environmental samples collected for MREMP are analyzed for different radionuclides depending on their type. The results are provided in table format and sorted by nuclear power plant. Samples are also collected in the Lansing area that are used for background monitoring and are not associated with a facility. Background measurements are useful when it may be necessary to determine if detections are significant. Milk, water, and air samples are analyzed by the radiological protection laboratory (RPL) using three techniques. These three techniques are gamma spectrometry (GS), gas flow proportional counting (GFPC), and liquid scintillation counting (LSC). A third-party analysis laboratory evaluates and provides results for direct gamma radiation readings of thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLD). Gamma Spectrometry (GS): A method that identifies and quantifies radioactive materials in a sample through measurement of gamma rays emitted from those materials. Gas Flow Proportional Counting (GFPC): A method that quantifies radioactive materials in a sample through measurement of high-energy alpha and/or beta radiation emitted from those materials. This method alone cannot identify the radioactive material species in the sample. Liquid Scintillation Counting (LSC): A method that quantifies radioactive materials in a sample through measurement of low-energy alpha and/or beta radiation. This method alone cannot identify the radioactive material species in the sample. For the MREMP, only tritium is measured through this method. Thermoluminescent Dosimetry (TLD): A method that quantifies radiation exposure to all forms of radiation. For the MREMP, TLDs are used to measure radiation exposure from x-rays and gamma rays only. The following sample types are collected as part of the MREMP. The radionuclides or radiation type that each sample is analyzed for is provided, along with the analysis technique shown in parenthesis. In prior reports, milk sample results are referred to as Terrestrial. Water: Gross Beta (GFPC), Tritium (LSC) Milk: I-131 (GS), Cs-137 (GS), K-40 (GS) Air: Gross Beta (GFPC), I-131 (GS) Direct: Ambient Gamma (TLD) Multiple samples are collected for each facility and at varying frequencies. The details for the current MREMP are provided below. Changes to the program have occurred over time. For example, Big Rock Point only has TLD monitoring for direct gamma radiation. Other environmental samples are no longer part of the program for Big Rock Point, since the plant has been decommissioned and only an independent spent fuel storage installation (ISFSI) remains. Fermi (Includes Fermi 1 (shut down) and Fermi 2): Water: 5 locations, 4 monthly and 1 every other week Milk: 1 location, every other week Air: 5 locations, continuous collection analyzed weekly Direct: 16 locations, continuous collection analyzed quarterly Palisades: Water: 1 location, monthly Milk: 1 location (shared with Cook), every other week Air: 3 locations, continuous collection analyzed weekly Direct: 15 locations, continuous collection analyzed quarterly Big Rock Point: Water: None Milk: None Air: None Direct: 4 locations, continuous collection analyzed quarterly Lansing (Background): Water: 1 location, every other week Milk: 1 location, every other week Air: 1 location, continuous collection analyzed weekly Direct: 1 location, continuous collection analyzed quarterly Data is updated approximately on a quarterly basis. The various fields and units are provided below to assist users with interpretation. Results showing "LT" indicates that the measured amount of radiation is Less Than the laboratory minimum detection limit, which is shown after "LT". Laboratory uncertainty is provided after the ± symbol and provides a level of confidence for the reported value. A table with field definitions is provided for each sample type. Occasionally, samples are not collected due to scheduling issues, being lost in transit, or laboratory reporting issues. For these samples, a "no result" or "lost" may be displayed. Commercial Nuclear Power Plants Descriptions Field Name Description Nuclear Power Plant Nuclear power plant facility that the sample is associated with. Control samples are associated with Lansing, which are used to monitor background radiation. Cook: D.C. Cook Nuclear Power Plant Fermi: Enrico Fermi II Nuclear Power Plant Palisades: Palisades Nuclear Power Plant Big Rock Point: Big Rock Point Nuclear Power Plant Status The status refers to the operational status of the facility. Big Rock Point Nuclear Power Plant is the only property that we consider inactive since it has been decommissioned. However, spent nuclear fuel remains at the property and we do monitor for gamma radiation. The other three facilities still have nuclear power reactors on site. Surface Water Results Descriptions Field Name Description Sample Unique identifier used for air sample Collection Date Date of sample collection Site Specific sample site that the water is collected from. Nuclear Plant Nuclear power plant facility that the sample is associated with. Control samples are associated with Lansing, which are used to monitor background radiation. Beta Total beta activity concentration measured in the sample, reported in picocuries per liter. Results displayed with "LT" are less than the laboratory minimum detection limit for that sample, which is shown following LT. Tritium Total tritium activity concentration measured in the sample, reported in picocuries per liter. Results displayed with "LT" are less than the laboratory minimum detection limit for that sample, which is shown following LT. Milk Results Descriptions Field Name Description Sample Unique identifier used for milk sample Collection Date Date of sample collection Site Milk collection site name. South Haven is used for Palisades and Cook Nuclear Power Plants. Monroe is used for Fermi Nuclear Power Plant. Lansing is used for background measurements. Other historical milk sampling locations are no longer part of the program and can be found on the MREMP website. I-131 Total iodine-131 activity concentration measured in the sample, reported in picocuries per liter. Results displayed with "LT" are less than the laboratory minimum detection limit for that sample, which is shown following LT. Cs-137 Total cesium-137 activity concentration measured in the sample, reported in picocuries per liter. Results displayed with "LT" are less than the laboratory minimum detection limit for that sample, which is shown following LT. K-40 Total potassium-40 activity concentration measured in the sample, reported in picocuries per liter. Results displayed with "LT" are less than the laboratory minimum detection limit for that sample, which is shown following LT. K-40 is a naturally occurring radioactive material and is present in small percentages for all materials with potassium. Air Results Descriptions Field Name Description Collection Date Date of sample collection Station Specific air station that the sample is collected from. Nuclear Plant Nuclear power plant facility that the sample is associated with. Control samples are associated with Lansing, which are used to monitor background radiation. Beta Total beta activity concentration measured in the sample, reported in picocuries per cubic meter. Results displayed with "LT" are less than the laboratory minimum detection limit for that sample, which is shown following LT. I-131 Total iodine-131 activity concentration measured in the sample, reported in picocuries per cubic meter. Results displayed with "LT" are less than the laboratory minimum detection limit for that sample, which is shown following LT. Direct Radiation Descriptions Field Name Description Placement Date Date of TLD placement. TLDs are collected quarterly for analysis. Site Specific placement location that the sample is collected from. Nuclear Plant Nuclear power plant facility that the sample is associated with. Control samples are associated with Lansing, which are used to monitor background radiation. Year Year the measurement is associated with. Quarter Quarter of the year for which the result is associated with. Result Gamma radiation that the TLD was exposed to, reported in millirem per quarter. Radiation is present in the natural environment and varies based on location. Results with uncertainties were analyzed by the RPL. Data from 2016 and earlier have only random uncertainty reported. This was expanded to total uncertainty in 2017. Analysis was outsourced in 2018 and uncertainties are no longer reported. For more information and questions please reach out to Jay Paquette at PaquetteJ3@michigan.gov .
- Creator
- Michigan Dept. of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy
- Temporal Coverage
- Last Modified: 2025-08-11
- Date Issued
- 2025-07-31
- Rights
- This application or dataset, along with any maps, data, content and other information contained within it and all output from the application (together the “Information”), is provided as a public service, and there are no restrictions on the use, reproduction, or distribution of the Information. It is your responsibility to use the Information for a legally permissible purpose. This Information is provided “AS IS” and on an “AS AVAILABLE” basis. The State of Michigan (“State”) makes no warranties, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, adequacy, reliability, timeliness, or completeness of this Information. THE STATE DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES WITH REGARD TO THIS INFORMATION, INCLUDING THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NONINFRINGEMENT OF PROPRIETARY RIGHTS. THE STATE WILL NOT BE LIABLE, REGARDLESS OF THE FORM OF ACTION, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY OR BY STATUTE OR OTHERWISE, FOR ANY CLAIM FOR CONSEQUENTIAL, INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT, OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION LOST PROFITS AND LOST BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES, RELATED TO THE ACCESS OR USE OF THIS INFORMATION. IN NO EVENT WILL THE STATE BE LIABLE FOR ANY AMOUNTS THAT MAY RESULT FROM THE ACCESS OR USE OF THIS INFORMATION, REGARDLESS OF THE FORM OF ACTION, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY, OR BY STATUTE OR OTHERWISE. By accessing or using this Information, you agree that you will not make any claims against the State or any of its departments, divisions, officers, or employees related to your use of the Information. These terms are governed by and interpreted under the laws of the State of Michigan without regard to conflict of laws provisions. Nothing in these terms is meant to impact or replace any existing rights or licenses, such as copyright, trademark, or patent protections, in materials or content that may be located on the site or portal containing the Information.
- Access Rights
- Public
- Format
- ArcGIS FeatureLayer
- Language
- English
- Date Added
- September 03, 2025
- Provenance Statement
- The metadata for this resource was last retrieved from State of Michigan Open Data Portal on 2025-09-03.
Resource Class
Theme
Place
Local Collection
Cite and Reference
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Citation
Michigan Dept. of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (2025). MREMP Direct Radiation [Michigan]. . https://gis-michigan.opendata.arcgis.com/datasets/egle::mremp-direct-radiation (web service) -
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