IR 05000201/2024001
| ML24122A733 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | West Valley Demonstration Project |
| Issue date: | 05/08/2024 |
| From: | Anthony Dimitriadis Decommissioning, ISFSI, and Reactor Health Physics Branch |
| To: | Bower B US Dept of Energy, West Valley Demonstration Project |
| References | |
| IR 2024001 | |
| Download: ML24122A733 (1) | |
Text
May 8, 2024
SUBJECT:
WEST VALLEY DEMONSTRATION PROJECT - U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION MONITORING VISIT REPORT NO.
Dear Bryan Bower:
On March 26 - 27, 2024, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) conducted an announced monitoring visit at the U.S. Department of Energys West Valley Demonstration Project site to review ongoing decommissioning activities. The monitoring visit consisted of observations by the NRC representatives, a review of documents, interviews with site personnel and site walkdowns supplemented by in-office reviews and periodic phone calls. The results of the monitoring visit were discussed with Jennifer Dundas and Jamie Prowse on April 29, 2024, and are provided in the enclosed report.
Based on the results of this monitoring period, no public health and safety issues of more than minor significance were identified.
No reply to this letter is required. Please contact Katie Barnes of my staff at (610) 337-5323 if you have any questions regarding this matter.
Sincerely, Anthony Dimitriadis, Chief Decommissioning, ISFSI, and Reactor Health Physics Branch Division of Radiological Safety and Security
Docket No.
05000201 License No. CSF-1
Enclosure:
Report No. 05000201/2024001 ANTHONY DIMITRIADIS Digitally signed by ANTHONY DIMITRIADIS Date: 2024.05.08 10:01:40 -04'00'
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
West Valley Demonstration Project (WVDP)
NRC Monitoring Visit Report No. 2024001
An announced monitoring visit was conducted on March 26 - 27, 2024 by U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff at the DOE WVDP site in West Valley, New York, supplemented by in-office reviews and periodic phone calls. The monitoring visit included reviews of programs and activities associated with the West Valley site decommissioning project. The monitoring visit consisted of interviews with DOE, DOE contractors, and New York State Energy Research and Development Agency (NYSERDA) personnel; a review of documents; walkdowns of the facility; and observations of in-progress work activities. The program for conducting NRC monitoring visits at the WVDP is described in Inspection Manual Chapter (IMC) 0111, Region I Monitoring Activities for the Department of Energy West Valley Demonstration Project.
Based on the results of this monitoring period, no public health and safety issues of more than minor significance were identified.
REPORT DETAILS
1.0 Introduction
In accordance with the WVDP Act of 1980 and as implemented by a Memorandum of Understanding between the DOE and the NRC, an announced routine monitoring visit was conducted on March 26 - 27, 2024 by NRC staff at the DOE WVDP site in West Valley, New York, supplemented by in-office reviews and periodic phone calls. The program for conducting NRC monitoring visits at the WVDP is described in IMC 0111.
The monitoring visit included reviews of programs and activities associated with the WVDP site decommissioning project.
2.0 Main Plant Process Building (MPPB) Demolition
a. Inspection Scope
The Main Plant Process Building (MPPB) was the main facility used for commercial nuclear fuel reprocessing; the MPPB was built between 1963 and 1966 and used by Nuclear Fuel Services from 1966 to 1972. The building consists of a series of cells, aisles, and rooms that are mostly above grade with a couple extending below ground surface. Portions of the MPPB were modified over the past four decades by the WVDP to support mission activities such as solidifying high-level waste.
In September 2022, CH2M HILL BWXT West Valley, LLC (CHBWV) began the phase of its contracted work to demolish the MPPB to grade level (100 +/- 3 ft) safely. All below-grade structures were previously grouted with controlled low-strength material in preparation for demolition activities. At the time of the monitoring visit, demolition had progressed without significant issues; recent demolition activity included the liquid waste cells and hot cells. As of April 2024, the building has been reduced to two stories in most areas.
The NRC staff reviewed DOEs MPPB Demolition Work Instruction Package (WIP) and MPPB demolition activities, including the most recent revision to the WIP. The monitoring visit consisted of interviews with DOE staff and contractor personnel, including discussions with cognizant personnel on the demolition activities. NRC staff performed walkdowns of the site, including outside areas of the MPPB, the remote handled waste facility, the radiological control room, and the lag storage facility. The NRC staff observed ongoing demolition activities on the MPPB, a pre-shift briefing, plan of the day meetings, and a technical review meeting. The NRC monitors discussed 2023 air monitoring results and recent Occurrence Reports with DOE personnel.
The NRC staff reviewed WVDPs corrective actions associated with a Technical Safety Requirement (TSR) noncompliance related to fossil fuel limitations in the lag storage area (LSA). This issue was documented in NRC monitoring report 2023002 (ADAMS Accession No. ML24052A085). The review included a tour of the LSA, discussions with DOE and contractor staff, and a review of documents associated with the corrective actions identified in WVDPs root cause analysis.
b. Observations and Findings
Airborne activity monitoring on site is provided by Environmental Continuous Air Monitors (ECAMs) and fixed air samplers (FAS) around the perimeter of the demolition area. The ECAMs transmit near-real-time data to the control room, where activity levels are monitored against three escalating action levels. NRC staff found all 14 ECAMs operational and communicating with the control room at the time of the monitoring visits.
Offsite airborne activity monitoring is provided by 16 low-volume ambient air samplers surrounding the site, one in each of the 16 compass point sectors, used to demonstrate compliance with the EPA National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) dose limit of 10 mrem per year. The offsite air monitoring network continues to record low levels of radioactivity attributed to the MPPB demolition, though the doses continue to comprise a small fraction of the regulatory limits. In addition, the reported dose estimates for the theoretical maximally exposed onsite worker for 2023 calculated from the activity measured by the onsite air samplers was well within regulatory limits and the reported annual average derived air concentration (DAC) at the radiological boundary area was a small fraction of the site limit. The 2023 annual offsite air emissions will be reviewed in further detail when the Annual Site Environmental Report is available.
At the time of the monitoring visit, work in progress included waste packaging of low-risk material on the east side of the MPPB and construction of a ramp for the removal of the 1C sampler, a high material-at-risk (MAR) item. Work activities were intermittent as wind conditions required work to be stopped in accordance with the WIP. The 1C sampler was removed and packaged without incident the week following the monitoring visit.
The NRC staff verified that fossil fuel powered equipment approved for use in the LSA had been evaluated and confirmed to meet the TSR for fuel capacity, and that pre-approved equipment was labeled accordingly. The NRC staff verified that the entry of such equipment into the LSA is appropriately controlled in accordance with WVDPs corrective actions. The NRC staff found the LSA to be well organized and maintained, with waste containers observed to be in good material condition. The NRC staff found that revisions to procedures, training, and the Independent Verification Review process were reasonable to prevent recurrence of a TSR noncompliance.
c. Conclusions
No public health and safety issues of more than minor significance were identified.
4.0
Exit Meeting Summary
The NRC Region I representatives discussed the monitoring visit results with Jennifer Dundas, Associate Director, and Jamie Prowse, DOE contractor, on April 29, 2024.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
KEY POINTS OF CONTACT
Department of Energy Staff and Contractors
- B. Bower, Director WDVP
- J. Dundas, Assistant Director WDVP
- T. Ellis, Work Group Supervisor, CHBWV
- K. Slomba, Waste Operations and Compliance, CHBWV
- P. Bembia, Program Director
- B. Frank, Program Manager
- A. Mellon, Program Manager
PARTIAL