Releases from Omega West Reactor were commonplace in the late 1950's and early 1960's, according to H-Division Monthly Progress Reports (Table, below). However, no reports in this series later than 1964 have been released to the public. OWR operated until leaks forced its shutdown in 1992.

Incidents, Accidents and Ventings Related to Omega Reactor in H- Division Progress Reports Prior to 1964

Date of H-Division
Progress Report Occurrence

3/21/62-4/20/62 "The continuously recording gamma rate
meters indicated a few short time rises, which correlate
with the Omega stack gas activity."

1/21/62-2/20/62 "The continuously recording gamma rate
meters indicated a few short time rises, which correlate
with the Omega stack gas activity. There has been no
noticeable increase due to fallout."

9/20/61-10/20/61 "Beta-gamma activity in air and
precipitation has been somewhat higher. The average
figures are approximately five to ten times the values found
during the summer months...
"The continuously recording gamma rate meter showed a few
short time rises which correlate with Omega stack gas
activity. There has been no noticeable increase due to fallout."

2/21/62-3/20/62"The continuously recording gamma rate
meter showed a few short time rises which correlate with
Omega stack gas activity. There has been no noticeable
increase due to fallout."

12/21/61-1/20/62"The continuously recording gamma rate
meter showed a few short time rises which correlate with
Omega stack gas activity. There has been no noticeable
increase due to fallout."

11/21/61-12/20/62"The continuously recording gamma rate
meter showed a few short time rises which correlate with
Omega stack gas activity. There has been no noticeable
increase due to fallout."

8/20/61-9/20/61"The continuously recording gamma rate
meters showed only a few short time rises due to Omega
Stack gases. Any increase in background due to Russian
weapon test fallout is not noticeable."

7/20/61-8/20/61"Two fission gas releases occurred at the
Omega West reactor during the month."

12/20 60-1 20/61"An experiment in which plutonium was
irradiated in the OWR was started on January 23.
Difficulties developed in the equipment which required a
shut down. Radiation levels on the top of the reactor
reached 3 r/hr..."

9/20/60-10/20/60"On September 28 a plug broke while K-
Division was identifying the different fission gases
produced by the OWR..."

"A purging of fission gases at the Omega West reactor
showed up in pips on the area monitors and in the air
samples taken on the Administration Building roof."

4/20/60-5/20/60"On May 16 a power run with Godiva took
place at TA-49 for approximately 6 hours. Many neutron
and gamma measurements were made..."

3/20 60-4 20/60"Work on Kiwi A-3 fuel elements was
started by N-i at TA-46. Although the building at this site
was not designed for work with radioactive materials,
ventilation equipment was installed which has kept the air-
borne activity in the work area below the maximum
permissible level. ...the air- borne activity discharged from
the stack has been high, averaging between 2000 and 3000
d/m/M3."

12/20/59-1/20/60"The community background monitors
have had a few short-lived pips during the month. They
usually match conditions of inversion in the atmosphere,
and seem to reflect TA-2 activities."

5/20/58-6/20/58"On May 27 at 2:52 p.m., a power
transformer in the Omega area failed which caused a power
failure of the Omega Water Boiler. An air sample taken in
the control room showed a count of 3 mr/hr or
approximately 20 times tolerance. The Water Boiler Section
of the building was evacuated and all doors opened to flush
out the gases..." "On May 29 at 4:00 p.m. there was a
power failure at the Omega Water Boiler caused by
overloading a circuit during experiments. The conditions
were the same as above in radiation levels at the area was evacuated."
"On June 6 at 9:58 a.m. there was a power failure at
Omega Water Boiler. Levels were approximately 3-4
times tolerance and failure was attributed to generator
failure..."

These are the latest H-Division Progress Reports released to the public in the Human Studies Project Team's 31- volume set of notebooks in 1994:

607. Shipman, T.L., H-Division Progress Report, July 21 - August 20, 1963.

608. H-Division Progress Report, August 21, 1963 - September 20, 1963.

609. Shipman, T.L., H-Division Progress Report, December 21, 1963 - January 20, 1964.

Some are also available from DOE's OpenNet database. However, none later than 1964 have been released to the public.

Two issues in the late 1960's may be of particular public health importance:

¥ the wattage of Omega West Reactor was increased from 5 to 8 MW. Regulatory authorities raised serious concerns about emissions of fission products, including radioiodine (See Question #17); and

¥ emissions of plutonium from TA-21 increased in the months after the fire at the Rocky Flats in May 1969 (See Question #11).

The month-to-month narrative contained in the Health Division Monthly Progress Report series may shed considerable light on these issues in the late 1960's.

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