ML19203A185
| ML19203A185 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 07/16/2019 |
| From: | NRC/OCIO |
| To: | |
| References | |
| FOIA, NRC-2019-000278 | |
| Download: ML19203A185 (4) | |
Text
DISTRIHUTION URFO s/f SIS-31 URFO r/f JCol lins SIS-31/RFB/84/07/17/0 RBrich MHood JUL 2 4 1984 URFO:RFB SIS-31 63000330100E MEMORANDUM FOR: Fi le No. S15-31 FROM: Randall F. Brich, Project Manager Licensing Branch 1 Uranium Recovery Field Office, Region IV
SUBJECT:
REVIEW OF STATE OF NEW MEXICO REQUEST FOR USNRC REVIEW OF PROPOSED TERMINATION OF GULF MINERALS RESOURCES COMPANY RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL LICENSE NM-GUL-IX-00
Background
On June 14, 1984, Mr. D. A. Nussbaumer of the Office of State Programs of NRC requested our review of the State of New Mexico, Environmental Improvement Division's (NM-EID) proposed tennination of Radioactive Material License. NM-GUL-IX-00 currently held by Gulf Minerals Resources Company (GMRC) for operation of an fon exchange facility associated with mfne dewatering at the Mariano Lake Project, McKinley County, New Mexico *
- By letter dated May 15, 1984, (F. R. Miera, Jr., N.M. to D. A. Nussbaumer, NRC) New Mexico requested NRC review of the proposed termination of subject radioactive materials license and all associated amendments. Enclosed with the May 15, 1984 letter to D. A. Nussbaumer was a letter dated April 20, 1984, from Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to New Mexico stating that they had reviewed NM-EID's report and concur with the proposed license termination as explained in detail in the letter datP.d April 11, 1984, from NM-EID to BLM.
The April 11, 1984 letter contains pertinent information concerning the objective of the remedial action at the Gulf Mariano Lake ION exchange facility which was, to:
- 1. decontaminate and dismantle the Ion exchange plant for resale;
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SIS-31/RFB/84/07/17/0 JUL 2 4 1984
- 2. drain the three lagoons and remove radioactive sludge;
- 3. recontour the land to its original condition; and
- 4. revegetate th~ site with an appropriate grass seed mixture native t~
this region.
- The rr, 1 ~matton of the underground mine, mine yard, ore storage pad, associfltYd equipment and buildings, and Ion exchange complex was considered a joint management effort between the BLM and the NM-EID. BLM assumed overall jurisdiction and provided technical support to the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), since the project was situated on Indian Allotted Lands *
- Both BLM and NM-EID supplied similar radiological cleanup criteria to Gulf to make certain that the remedial action efforts ~~uld be compatible. BLM assumed management responsibility over the reclamation of the following areas; underground mine closure, above-ground mine yard and ore storage pad restoration, associated mine complex buildings and equipment dismantling and decontamination, surface land decontamination and contouring, and revegetation for the main mining yard complex. The NM-EID was responsible for assuring that the adjacent Ion exchange plant and associated lagoons were reclaimed in accordance with NM-EID criteria.
The following discussion highlights the salient features identified during my review of the NM-EID report on the reclamation of the Ion exchange plant and associated lagoons.
ION Exchange Facility
- According to the letter dated April 11, 1984 from NM-EID to BLM, the Ion Exchange facility was decontaminated to NM-EID criteria, dismantled and sold. NM-EID personnel surveyed the Ion exchange and holding tanks, piping network, plant building and equipment in order to verify that decontamination procedures were in accordance with the criteria for release to unrestricted use. This letter states that the facility and associated equipment were decontaminated to acceptable levels for unrestricted use. The NM-EID decontamination levels were identical to those contained in Table 1, Annex C (WM-7601, November 1976).
Lagoons The lagoons which held the mine water were drained and the radioactive sludge was removed and mixed with available uranium ore, whereupon this C :
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SIS-31/RFB/84/07/17/0 JUL 2 4 1984 ore was transported to a licensed mill for future processing. The synthetic liners from the lagoon were monitored and taken to the main mine yard former ore storage pad area for burial beneath mine overburden materia 1.
Vegetation The letter states that the land was recontoured to approximately the original condition and reseeded with plant species native to the region, ;
and reclamation efforts appear successful.
Protocol for Radiological Surveys
- The area was gridded on 10-foot centers (100 square feet) and ganina ray exposure rate measurements were made at the grid points and in the center of each grid at one (1) meter above the ground with micro R meters cross calibrated to a pressurized ionization chamber. Representative surface soil samples were collected at the grid intersection points across the ion exchange complex with both surface and subsurface soil samples composited at five other locales including the former ion exchange building. All soil samples were sent to the NM State Laboratory for Ra-226 and Unat analysis. One split sample was sent to an independent laboratory for quality assurance comparison purposes. In addition, a continuous radon sampler was operated for 6 hours6.944444e-5 days <br />0.00167 hours <br />9.920635e-6 weeks <br />2.283e-6 months <br /> in the center of the project site.
Discussion The results of the garnna ray expo*;ure rate mvnitoring indicates that one
- localized hot spot (240 uR/hr) in t~e northeast quadrant of the property uf approximately 1 square meter was decontaminated inrned1ately. A resurvey of the location on July 14, 1983, identified about 25 uR/hr or approximately twice background. Review of the entire licensed facility surface measurements shows that all were below the NM-EID target level of 25 uR/hr.
A 6-hour continuous measurement of radon-222 averaged 0.356 pCi/1 compared with 48 hour5.555556e-4 days <br />0.0133 hours <br />7.936508e-5 weeks <br />1.8264e-5 months <br /> Tedlar Bag samples yielding an estimated annual concentration level of 0.254 +/- 0.252 pCi/1. Background for this area was previously reported at 0.55 +/- 0.07 pCi/1. The Ra-226 and Unat soil samples averaged 0.377 +/- 0.416 pCi/g and 8.8 +/- 12.4 ug/g respectively.
Background for Ra-226 in this area was 0.5 +/- 0,2 pCi/g.
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- ,. I SIS-31/RFB/84/07/17/0 JUL 2 4 1984 The ganma ray exposure rate, radon-222 concentration and Ra-226 concentration in soils were well below the minimum cleanup standards and less than the target levels NH-EID provided to Gulf by letters dated July 2, and November 4, 1982. These target levels were 10 pCi/g for Ra-226, 25 uR/hr for the ganwna ray exposure rate, and 3 pCi/1 for ambient radon in air.
All equipment at the plant was dismantled and decontaminated to levels below those listed in Enclosure l of the letter dated July 2, 1982 (NM-'EID to Gulf).
Conclusions
- Based on my review of the information submitted by the NM-EID, I conclude that GMRC has adequately decommissioned the site for release for unrestricted use. Based on a telephone conversation with Mr. Sam Simpson of the NM-EID, I understand that the proper land records will be amended to include a description of the fonner use of the property.
In accordanrP. with the provisions of 10 CFR 150.15a, my review indicates that cleanu. and ~eclamation of the ion exchange site meets all app11cab,e stanc. *ds pertaining to the decontamination, decort111issioning and reclamation of the site. Therefore, I reco11111end that NM-EID be informed that USNRC has no objection to termination of the subject 1icense.
Randall F. Brich, Project Manager
- Approved by:
O.d~innl Sf.r,n~d E:r I'.d~~ard J!, P~l:,lcin:J Edward F. Hawkins, Chief Licensing Branch 1 Uranium Recovery Field Office Region IV Licensing Branch 1 Uranium Recovery Field Office, Region IV Case Closed: 63000330100E
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