Information Notice 1992-11, Soil and Water Contamination at Fuel Cycle Facilities
UNITED STATES
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY AND SAFEGUARDS
WASHINGTON, D.C.
20555
February 5, 1992
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
February 5, 1992 Attachment 2
February 5, 1992 Information
Notice No.
92-10
92-08
91-86
91-U4 Subject
Brachytherapy 1
Involving Iridl
Used in Endobri
Treatments
LIST OF RECENTL1
NMSS INFORMATION
Incidents
1u_-192 Wire
onchial
Y ISSUED
NOTICES
Date of
Revised Protective Action
Guidance for Nuclear Inci- dents
New Reporting Requirements
for Contamination Events at
Medical Facilities
Problems with Criticality
Alarm Components/Systems
Training and Supervision
of Individuals Supervised
by an Authorized User
(1) Erroneous Data in
'Nuclear Safety Guide, TID-7016, Revision 2."
(NUREG/CR-0095, ORNL/
NVREG/CSD-6 (1978)) and
(2) Thermal Scattering
Data Limitation In the
Cross-Section Sets Provided
with the KENO and SCALE Codes
Issuance
Issued to
01/31/92 All Nuclear Regulatory Com- mission (NRC)
licensees
authorized to use
iridium-192 for brachy- therapy; manufacturers and
distributors of iridium-192 wire for use in brachy- therapy.
01/23/92 All fuel cycle and materi- als licensees authorized
to possess large quanti- ties of radioactive materi-
1al.
12/27/91
All licensees authorized
to use byproduct materials
for human use.
12/26/91
All Nuclear Regulatory
Commission (NRC)
fuel
cycle licensees, interim
spent fuel storage licens- ees, and critical mass
licensees.
11/12/91 All NRC medical licensees.
10/18/91 All fuel cycle licensees, critical mass licensees, interim spent fuel storage
licensees, and all holders
of operating licenses or
construction permits for
test, research, and nuclear
power reactors.
Information
Notice No.
92-10
92-09
92-08
92-07
92-06
92-05
92-04
92-03 Subject
Brachytherapy Ii
Involving Irdi1
Used in Endobror
Treatments
LIST OF RECENTL1
NRC INFORMATION
icidents
mw-192 Wire
nchial
Y ISSUED
NOTICES
Date of
Overloading and Subsequent
Lock Out of Electrical
Buses During Accident
Conditions
Revised Protective Action
Guidance for Nuclear Inci- dents
Rapid Flow-Induced Erosion/
Corrosion of Feedwater Piping
Reliability of ATWS Mitiga- tion System and Other NRC
Required Equipment Not
Controlled by Plant Tech- nical Specifications
Potential Coil Insulation
Breakdown in ABB RXMH2 Relays
Potter & Brumfield Model
MDR Rotary Relay Failures
Remote Trip Function
Failures in General Electric
F-Frame Molded-Case Circuit
Breakers
Issuance
Issued to
01/31/92 All Nuclear Regulatory Com- mission (NRC)
licensees
authorized to use
iriditu-192 for brachy- therapy; manufacturers and
,"
distributors of iridium-192(
wire for use in brachy- therapy.
01/30/92
All holders of OLs or CPs
for nuclear power reactors.
01/23/92 All fuel cycle and materi- als licensees authorized
to possess large quanti- ties of radioactive materi- ial.
01/09/92
All holders of OLs or CPs
for pressurized water
reactors.
01/15/92
All holders of OLs or CPs
for nuclear power reactors.
91-66 OV08/92 OV06/92
01/06/92
All holders of OLs or CPs
for nuclear power reactors.
All holders of OLs or CPs
for nuclear power reactors.
All holders of OLs or CPs
for nuclear power reactors.
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
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~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-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:
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________________________________
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
technical contact(s) listed below)or the appropriate NRCR6egional /5ffice.
'7
Richard E. Cunningham, Director
Division of Industrial and
-
Medical Nuclear Safety
Office of Nuclear Material Safety
I and Safeguards
D. Flack, 'NMSS
504-2405 Technical Contacts:
Edwin
(301)
George Bidinger, NMSS
(301) 504-2683
Attachments:
1. List of Recently
2. List of Recently
Issued NMSS Information Notices
Issued NRC Information Notices
II
Ed 4X NMSS
EKds
1 /p/92
- See previous concurrence
OFC:IMUF:*
- IMUF*
- IMUF*
7 MNS :D/IMNS:
___________________________________
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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
an ornsitc sturage
(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.
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:
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NAME:EFlack:mh:
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RCunningham:
--
11 DATE:1/.i2/92:
1/iJ /92:
1/ 1/92:
1/ /92:
1/ /92:
1/ /92:
OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
EF/INFORMATION NOTICE