Following an accidental release of radioactive material, emergency workers from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy and the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development will collect air, water, and soil samples to determine the existence, amount, and location of any contamination. Samples of milk, forage, crops, and processed foods may also be obtained. Field data and other factors will be used by the state to determine the best course of action to protect the public and the food supply.
Because naturally occurring radioactive materials can always be found in the environment, Holtec Palisades and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy conduct a continuous program of sample air, water, milk, vegetation, and animal life near the Holtec Palisades Plant. In this way, they are able to establish a baseline for comparison in the event of an emergency.
The area designated for post-accident environmental sampling could extend as far as 50 miles from the plant site. Specific instructions regarding the collection and testing process will be made available to farmers, food processors and distributors in the affected area by the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development.