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Last updated: March,1998 Arthur Z. Rosen
Gamma Detector Shield
In 1980, following the Three Mile Island accident, PG&E approached the Cal Poly Physics Department and asked if we could help them establish an off-site radiation measurement laboratory with the objectives of doing pre-and post-operational monitoring as well as providing sample measurement capability during an emergency. The department agreed and set up a special committee to oversee the operation of the facilty. PG&E supplied the basic equipment consisting of a high resolution gamma detector installed in a four inch wall lead shield to reduce background, computer hardware and software and associated nuclear counting and control equipment. Beginning in 1982, the facility has conducted careful environmental radiation monitoring for the last fourteen years and has provided quarterly and yearly reports to PG&E, California Department of Health Services and San Luis Obispo County Health Department. As part of their cost-cutting program, PG&E suspended funding for the RAF as of July,1995. We were able to continue operation through 1996 with some funds remaining in the account, with financial help from former County Supervisors Delany and Blakely and some assistance from the Physics Department and the College of Science and Mathematics. Since then we have continued operation with volunteer supervisory help and student assistants and essential materials paid from contributed funds.
We operate four air monitoring stations which each week collect particulates on paper filters and absorb gases on charcoal filters. We monitor ambient radiation at fourteen thermoluminescent dosimeter stations each month. We collect and test monthly samples of fresh water originating from San Luis Obispo County's three principal reservoirs, vegetables from four locations, sea water samples from three locations, kelp samples from two locations, ocean fish samples from three locations, surface water from San Luis creek and Diablo creek, San Luis Obispo sewer effluent, one milk sample, one sand sample and one soil sample. Off-site collection stations are shown in the SLO County map.
Last updated: March,1998 Arthur Z. Rosen