ML061010446
| ML061010446 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Braidwood  |
| Issue date: | 12/13/2005 |
| From: | Slawinski W NRC/RGN-III |
| To: | Boland A NRC/RGN-III |
| References | |
| FOIA/PA-2006-0115 | |
| Download: ML061010446 (5) | |
Text
Anne Boland - Fwd: Questions from Bwd semi-public mtg on tritium 12/12e From:
Wayne Slawinski / Jig To:
Anne Boland Date:
Tue, Dec 13, 2005 5:07 PM
Subject:
Fwd: Questions from Bwd semi-public mtg on tritium 12/12 Attachei are the Q & A's from the Braidwood meeting last evening as transcribed by Nick Shah. This was the one document you did not have.
Anne Boland - Questions from Bwd semi~-public rntg on tritiumn 12112 j ]g From:
To:
Date:
Subjec-t:
11 Jan Strasma Tue,'Dec 13, 2005 4:02 AM Questions from Bwd semi-public mtg on tritium 12/12 Jan, here are the questions asked by the local residents (and the answers provided by the licensee) that I wrote down during the meeting. Please take a look and let me know if you remember a different answer or if there were some questions that I missed.
thanks...
CC:
Gregory Roach; John House; Richard Skokowski; Steven Orth
!Anne Boland - Questions from 12.wpdf Page 1 11
Anne Boland - Questions from 12.wpd Page 11 Questions from 12/12 Tritium Meeting at Braidwood Unless stated, all answers are those provided by the licensee (John Moser).
- 1.
When did the licensee dig the sampling wells ?
The wells were dug in Nov and Dec 2005.
- 2.
Is there any tritium in the blowdown pipe today ?
There is no tritium in the pipe since liquid radwaste releases were suspended. The pipe contains normal blowdown from the lake.
- 3.
What is being done with the liquid radwaste since the licensee has suspended radwaste releases ?
It is being stored on-site in tanks.
- 4.
How much liquid radwaste is currently being stored on-site ?
About 80,000 gal.
- 5.
How much liquid radwaste is normally discharged from the site ?
About 250,000 gal/year. The radwaste is held in tanks and periodically discharged into the blowdown line.
- 6.
When did you start suspending liquid radwaste discharges ?
About 2 weeks ago.
- 7.
Since you stopped discharging have you seen an Increase or decrease in the tritium levels ?
Have not collected many duplicate samples, as still doing characterization. However, samples to date show no significant variation.
- 8.
Since you can't store forever, does this mean you have to fix this problem this year ?
We have obtained additional tanks and we are reviewing our options for future discharges.
- 9.
What is the blowdown line made of ?
Stainless Steel.
- 10.
Do you plan to do a pressure test on the blowdown line ? How long will your evaluation take ?
- Anne Boland - Questions from 12.wpd Page 2 1 Ann.Bo-and_ ue.sti
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I irk A pressure test was one of several options considered, but we decided that acoustical monitoring of the piping was the best choice. We expect this monitoring to take 3-4 days and begin next Monday. If you wish, we will share the results of the monitoring with you.
- 11.
If a vacuum valve fails where does the water go ? Into the water table ?
The water will collect in the valve pit and then overflow into the environment.
- 12.
When did you start inspecting the blowdown line and valves ? Did you start after the 2000 event ?
We had performed walkdowns of the blowdown line and valves prior to the 2000 event, but we increased our inspection frequency after the event.
- 13.
What is the normal concentration of tritium in the blowdown line ?
About 90,000 pCVL in 2000, but since then about 30,000 pCiL.
- 14.
This concentration Is higher than the EPA limit. Is this ok ?
Yes. The release is diluted by the river. Before each release we monitor both river flow and level to assure adequate dilution.
- 15.
How often did you test the liquid radwaste for tritium ?
Before each discharge and on a 30 day average.
- 16.
What do you mean by "background levels ?"
Background levels are those levels of tritium that can be attributed to natural sources or as fallout from atomic bomb testing.
- 17.
What is the EPA limit based on (dose to adult or child)? I have an 18 month old baby and expensive show horses--do I need to be concerned ?
The EPA limit is based on an adult. If you were to imbibe water having a tritium concentration equal to this limit, you would get a dose of 4 mrem/yr. The highest well sample measured so far, would equate to a dose of 0.3 mrem/yr.
- 18.
Which well had the highest tritium sample ?
The highest well water sample result was 1524 pCVL. We cannot divulge whose well had that sample due to personal privacy concerns.
- 19.
What should I do with my horses if you see >20,000 pCi/L in the residential well samples?
We do not expect to see these tritium levels in the samples.
0I: Anne Boland - Questions from 12.WDd Pacie 31
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- 20.
What testing frequency do you plan for the future ?
That has yet to be determined.
- 21.
Do you plan to do sampling in the vicinity of the blowdown piping by the river ?
Yes.
- 22.
What are the EPA standards/requirements for future testing ?
Don't know. We will get back to you.
- 23.
Why are you concerned if the well samples are below the EPA drinking water limits ?
Even though the levels are below the EPA limits, because the tritium migrated offsite we are concerned.
- 24.
If the spill occurred in 1998, why are you concerned so many years after the fact ?
What did you do for the 1998 event ?
This question will be reviewed during the root cause evaluation.
- 25.
Was any testing done for tritium during site construction ? What were the results
? Was any testing done for the 1998 spill ? Who was responsible for sampling the 1998 event?
Yes, testing was done in 1976, but I don't know the results. Don't know what was done for the 1998 spill. This will be evaluated as part of the root cause.
- 26.
How many gallons of water were spilled in the 2000 event ? How come nobody noticed the leakage for so long ?
About 3 million gallons were spilled during the 2000 event. -Why it went undetected will also be evaluated as part of the root cause evaluation.
- 27.
Did the leakage (1 998 and 2000) occur from the 8 Inch diameter vent piping ?
No. The leakage occurred in the valve pit and escaped through the manhole.
- 28.
What caused the failure of the vacuum breaker valve ? Is there a way to stop the water flow if the valve failed ?
A leak detection system was being evaluated, but does not appear to be very reliable.
- 29.
What else Is In the water besides tritium ? Is Co-60 present ?
Besides tritium, the samples were analyzed for radioactive particulates; none were found. 0o-60 is a particulate and, as stated, was not identified.