Information Notice 1992-11, Soil and Water Contamination at Fuel Cycle Facilities

Soil and Water Contamination at Fuel Cycle Facilities

ML031200686
Person / Time
Site:	Beaver Valley, Millstone, Hatch, Monticello, Calvert Cliffs, Dresden, Davis Besse, Peach Bottom, Browns Ferry, Salem, Oconee, Mcguire, Nine Mile Point, Palisades, Palo Verde, Perry, Indian Point, Fermi, Kewaunee, Catawba, Harris, Wolf Creek, Saint Lucie, Point Beach, Oyster Creek, Watts Bar, Hope Creek, Grand Gulf, Cooper, Sequoyah, Byron, Pilgrim, Arkansas Nuclear, Three Mile Island, Braidwood, Susquehanna, Summer, Prairie Island, Columbia, Seabrook, Brunswick, Surry, Limerick, North Anna, Turkey Point, River Bend, Vermont Yankee, Crystal River, Haddam Neck, Ginna, Diablo Canyon, Callaway, Vogtle, Waterford, Duane Arnold, Farley, Robinson, Clinton, South Texas, San Onofre, Cook, Comanche Peak, Yankee Rowe, Maine Yankee, Quad Cities, Humboldt Bay, La Crosse, Big Rock Point, Rancho Seco, Zion, Midland, Bellefonte, Fort Calhoun, FitzPatrick, McGuire, LaSalle, Fort Saint Vrain, Shoreham, Satsop, Trojan, Atlantic Nuclear Power Plant
Issue date:	02/05/1992
From:	Cunningham R NRC/NMSS/IMNS
To:
References
IN-92-011, NUDOCS 9201310062
Download: ML031200686 (7)

UNITED STATES

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY AND SAFEGUARDS

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555 February 5, 1992 NRC INFORMATION NOTICE 92-11: SOIL AND WATER CONTAMINATION AT FUEL

CYCLE FACILITIES

Addressees

All uranium fuel fabrication and conversion facilities.

Purpose

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing this information notice

to inform uranium fuel fabrication and conversion facilities of recent problems

with solutions of uranium and other chemicals contaminating the soil, and ground

water. It is expected that recipients will review the information for

applicability to their facilities and consider actions, as appropriate, to

avoid similar problems. However, suggestions contained in this information

notice are not new NRC requirements; therefore, no specific action or written

response is required.

Description of Circumstances

In August 1990, uranium-contaminated soil and water were noted during excavation

work near the solvent-extraction building at a fuel-conversion facility. Further

investigation determined that the floor and sump of the solvent-extraction

building were damaged, and solutions containing uranium and chemical contaminants

had leaked through the damaged floor and sump. As a result of these findings, NRC issued an Order Modifying License, in which the licensee was required to:

(1) repair and ensure the integrity of the floor and sump; (2) characterize and

quantify the contaminants under the building; (3) identify potential migration

pathways; (4) examine present and past monitoring-well data for evidence of

contaminants; (5) determine whether contaminants had been released beyond the

restricted area; and (6) develop a plan to identify and characterize other

locations where past or present operations could have resulted in contaminating

the environment.

In November 1991, uranium and chemical contaminants were reported below the

main process building at a fuel-fabrication facility. After a spill of

approximately 200 gallons of nitric acid, the licensee noted damage to the

floor and determined that uranium and other chemical contaminants were in the

soil and surficial water aquifer. Presently, the licensee has removed soil

from an area of about 8 feet by 30 feet by 5 feet deep. In addition, the

licensee has installed a dewatering system at the interface between the

permeable and impermeable soil layers. Because of the geological formation, the contaminants are not expected to have penetrated the impermeable soil

9201310062a-2-4

IN 92-11 February 5, 1992 layer. Because of this problem, the licensee has placed a portion of its

operations on standby.

In December 1991, at another fuel-fabrication facility, 5300 gallons of liquid

waste containing uranium and an ammonia compound leaked from an underground

plastic pipe when a coupling ruptured. This occurred during the transfer of

the waste from an onsite storage lagoon to the municipal sewer system. The

incident was detected when water was observed percolating up from the soil in

the vicinity of the discharge line. The licensee is taking soil and ground- water samples to characterize and quantify the contaminants.

Discussion

The events described in this information notice emphasize the need for uranium

fuel-fabrication and conversion facilities to examine their floors, sumps, and

underground pipes, to prevent solutions containing uranium and other chemical

contaminants from leaking into and contaminating the soil. and water. In

addition, operating practices should be reviewed to ensure that the potential

for leaks and spills is minimized.

This information notice requires no specific action or written response. If

you have any questions about the information in this notice, please contact

one of the technical contacts listed below, or the appropriate NRC regional

office.

Richard E. Cunningham, Director

Division of Industrial and

Medical Nuclear Safety

Office of Nuclear Material Safety

and Safeguards

Technical contacts: Edwin D. Flack, NMSS

(301) 504-2405 George Bidinger, NMSS

(301) 504-2683 Attachments:

1. List of Recently Issued NMSS Information Notices

2. List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices

Attachment 1 IN 92-11 Attachment 2 February 5, 1992 IN 92-11 February 5, 1992 LIST OF RECENTL1 Y ISSUED LIST OF RECENTL1 Y ISSUED

NMSS INFORMATION NOTICES NRC INFORMATION NOTICES

Information Date of Information Date of

Notice No. Subject Issuance Issued to Notice No. Subject Issuance Issued to

92-10 Brachytherapy 1Incidents 01/31/92 All Nuclear Regulatory Com- 92-10 Brachytherapy Iiicidents 01/31/92 All Nuclear Regulatory Com- Involving Iridl1u_-192 Wire mission (NRC) licensees Involving Irdi1 mw-192 Wire mission (NRC) licensees

Used in Endobrionchial authorized to use Used in Endobrornchial authorized to use

Treatments iridium-192 for brachy- Treatments iriditu-192 for brachy- therapy; manufacturers and therapy; manufacturers and ,"

distributors of iridium-192 distributors of iridium-192(

wire for use in brachy- wire for use in brachy- therapy. therapy.

92-08 Revised Protective Action 01/23/92 All fuel cycle and materi- 92-09 Overloading and Subsequent 01/30/92 All holders of OLs or CPs

Guidance for Nuclear Inci- als licensees authorized Lock Out of Electrical for nuclear power reactors.

dents to possess large quanti- Buses During Accident

ties of radioactive materi- Conditions

1al.

92-08 Revised Protective Action 01/23/92 All fuel cycle and materi-

91-86 New Reporting Requirements 12/27/91 All licensees authorized Guidance for Nuclear Inci- als licensees authorized

for Contamination Events at to use byproduct materials dents to possess large quanti- Medical Facilities for human use. ties of radioactive materi-

(10 CFR 30.50) ial.

91-U4 Problems with Criticality 12/26/91 All Nuclear Regulatory 92-07 Rapid Flow-Induced Erosion/ 01/09/92 All holders of OLs or CPs

Alarm Components/Systems Commission (NRC) fuel Corrosion of Feedwater Piping for pressurized water

cycle licensees, interim reactors.

spent fuel storage licens- ees, and critical mass 92-06 Reliability of ATWS Mitiga- 01/15/92 All holders of OLs or CPs

licensees. tion System and Other NRC for nuclear power reactors.

Required Equipment Not

Training and Supervision 11/12/91 All NRC medical licensees. Controlled by Plant Tech- of Individuals Supervised nical Specifications

by an Authorized User

92-05 Potential Coil Insulation OV08/92 All holders of OLs or CPs

91-66 (1) Erroneous Data in 10/18/91 All fuel cycle licensees, Breakdown in ABB RXMH2 Relays for nuclear power reactors.

'Nuclear Safety Guide, critical mass licensees, TID-7016, Revision 2." interim spent fuel storage 92-04 Potter & Brumfield Model OV06/92 All holders of OLs or CPs

(NUREG/CR-0095, ORNL/ licensees, and all holders MDRRotary Relay Failures for nuclear power reactors.

NVREG/CSD-6 (1978)) and of operating licenses or

(2) Thermal Scattering construction permits for 92-03 Remote Trip Function 01/06/92 All holders of OLs or CPs

Data Limitation In the test, research, and nuclear Failures in General Electric for nuclear power reactors.

Cross-Section Sets Provided power reactors. F-Frame Molded-Case Circuit

with the KENO and SCALE Codes Breakers

OL a Operating License

CP = Construction Permit

IN 92-11 February 5, 1992 layer. Because of this problem, the licensee has placed a portion of its

operations on standby.

In December 1991, at another fuel-fabrication facility, 5300 gallons of liquid

waste containing uranium and an ammonia compound leaked from an underground

plastic pipe when a coupling ruptured. This occurred during the transfer of

the waste from an onsite storage lagoon to the municipal sewer system. The

incident was detected when water was observed percolating up from the soil in

the vicinity of the discharge line. The licensee is taking soil and ground- water samples to characterize and quantify the contaminants.

Discussion

The events described in this information notice emphasize the need for uranium

fuel-fabrication and conversion facilities to examine their floors, sumps, and

underground pipes, to prevent solutions containing uranium and other chemical

contaminants from leaking into and contaminating the soil and water. In

addition, operating practices should be reviewed to ensure that the potential

for leaks and spills is minimized.

This information notice requires no specific action or written response. If

you have any questions about the information in this notice, please contact

one of the technical contacts listed below, or the appropriate NRC regional

office.

Richard E. Cunningham, Director

Division of Industrial and

Medical Nuclear Safety

Office of Nuclear Material Safety

and Safeguards

Technical contacts: Edwin D. Flack, NMSS

(301) 504-2405 George Bidinger, NMSS

(301) 504-2683 Attachments:

1. List of Recently Issued NMSS Information Notices

2. List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices

Editor/NMSS

EKraus

1/23/92

• See previous concurrence

OFC:IMUF:* :IMUF* :IMUF* :IMSB* :DD/IMNS :D/IMNS:- <

___________________________----------------------------- F --------

NAME:EFlack:mh:VLTharpe:GHBidinger :JHickey :JGreeves :feuMn tigham:

~11 DATE:1/22/92 :1/22/92 :1/21/92 :1/23/92 :1/28/92 :1/29/92:

OFFICIAL RECORD COPY

DOCUMENT NAME: IN 92-11

IN 92-XX

January , 1992 plastic pipe when a coupling ruptured. This occurred during the transfer of

the waste from an onsite storage lagoon to the municipal sewer system. The

incident was detected when water was observed percolating up from the soil in

the vicinity of the discharge line. The licensee is taking soil and ground- water samples to characterize and quantify the contaminants.

Discussion

The events described in this information notice emphasize the need for uranium

fuel-fabrication and conversion facilities to examine their floors, sumps, and

underground pipes, to prevent solutions containing uranium and other chemical

contaminants from leaking into and contaminating the soil and water. In

addition, operating practices should be reviewed to ensure that the potential

for leaks and spills is minimized.

This information notice requires no specific action or written response. If

you have any questions about the information in this notice, please contact the

technical contact(s) listed below, or the appropriate NRC regional office.

Richard E. Cunningham, Director

Division of Industrial and

Medical Nuclear Safety

Office of Nuclear Material Safety

and Safeguards

Technical Contacts: Edwin D. Flack, NMSS

(301) 504-2405 George Bidinger, NMSS

(301) 504-2683 Attachments:

1. List of Recently Issued NMSS Information Notices

2. List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices

Editor/NMSS

EKraus

1/23/92

• See previous concurrence

OFC:IMUF:* :IMUF* :IMUF* :IMSB* /':DD/IMNS :D/IMNS: 4

_______________ ______________ ______________ -T ----- 6 + c _ _ _ _ _ _

NAME:EFlack:mh:VLTharpe:GHBidinger :JHickey :J r ehes :RCunningham:

- --- -- - --- -- 11 __--- -- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ------ ________________________________

DATE:1/22/92 :1/22/92 :1/21/92 :1/23/92 :1  %/92 :1/27/92:

OFFICIAL RECORD COPY

EF/INFORMATION NOTICE

IN 92-XX

January 1992 plastic pipe when a coupling ruptured. This occurred during the transfer of

the waste from an onsite storage lagoon to the municipal sewer system. The

incident was detected when water was observed percolating up from the soil in

the vicinity of the discharge line. The licensee is taking soil and ground -

water samples to characterize and quantify the contaminants. A

Discussion

The events described in this InformationXotice emphasize the need for uranium

fuel fabrication and conversion facilities to examine their floors, sumps, and

underground pipescto prevent solutions containing uranium and other chemical

contaminants from leaking into and contaminating the soil and water.

This ttnformation botice requires no specific action or written response. If

you have any questior about the information in this notice please contact the '7 technical contact(s) listed below)or the appropriate NRCR6egional/5ffice.

Richard E. Cunningham, Director

Division of Industrial and

- Medical Nuclear Safety

Office of Nuclear Material Safety

I and Safeguards

Technical Contacts: Edwin D. Flack, 'NMSS

(301) 504-2405 George Bidinger, NMSS

(301) 504-2683  ;

Attachments:

1. List of Recently Issued NMSS Information Notices

2. List of Recently Issued NRC Information Notices

II

Ed 4X NMSS

EKds

1 /p/92

• See previous concurrence

OFC:IMUF:* :IMUF* :IMUF*  : 7 MNS :D/IMNS:

___________________________________

- ________________________________________

NAME:EFlack:mh:VLTharpe:GHBidinger :JHickey :JGreeves :RCunningham:

11 -- _________________

DATE:1/22/92 :1/22/92 :1/21/92 :1/1392 :1/ /92 :1/ /92:

OFFICIAL RECORD COPY

EF/INFORMATION NOTICE

IN 92-XX

January , 1992 when a coupling ruptured. This occurred during the transfer of the waste from

(lagoon

an ornsitc sturage to the municipal sewer system. The incident was

detected when water was observed percolating up from the soil in the vicinity

of the discharge line. The licensee is taking soil and ground water samples

to characterize and quantify the contaminants.

Discussion

The events described in this Information Notice emphasize the need for uranium

fuel fabrication and conversion facilities to examine their floors, sumps, and

underground pipes to prevent solutions containing uranium and other chemical

contaminants from leaking into and contaminating the soil and water.

This Information Notice requires no specific action or written response. If

you have any question about the informiation in this notice, please contact the

technical contact(s) listed below or the appropriate NRC Regional Office.

Richard E. Cunningham, Director

Division of Industrial and

Medical Nuclear Safety

Office of Nuclear Material Safety

and Safeguards

Technical Contacts: Edwin D. Flack, NMSS

(301) 504-2405 George Bidinger, NMSS

(301) 504-2683 Attachments:

1. List of Recently Issued NMSS Information Notices

2. List of Recently Issued NRC Infornmation Notices

Editor/NMSS

EKraus

1/ /92 OFC:IMUF: IMUk: 1MUF:- p IMSB: DD/IMNS: D/IMNS:

___ ____-

---

NAME:EFlack:mh: VLT.arpe: GHBidinger: JHickey: JGreeves: RCunningham:

--

11 DATE:1/.i2/92: 1/iJ /92: 1/ 1/92: 1/ /92: 1/ /92: 1/ /92:

OFFICIAL RECORD COPY

EF/INFORMATION NOTICE