ML19209B239

Summary of 790829 Meeting W/Usgs in Reston,Va to Discuss Hydrologic & Geologic Investigations Undertaken by NRC Contractors

ML19209B239
Person / Time
Site:	West Valley Demonstration Project
Issue date:	09/11/1979
From:	Haughney C NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS)
To:	Rouse L NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS)
References
RULE-RM-50-6 NUDOCS 7910090367
Download: ML19209B239 (3)

Text

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SEP 11 1979 Docket No. 50-201 RM 50-6 MEMORANDUM FOR: Leland C. Rouse, Chief Advanced Fuel and Spo t Fuel Licensing Branch FR0?!:

Charles J. Haughney Advanced Fuel and Spent Fuel Licensing Branch

SUBJECT:

MEETING

SUMMARY

FACILITY:

Western New York Nuclear Service Center, West Valley, New York

Purpose:

To meet with USGS to discuss hydrologic and geologic investigations undertaken by NRC contractors at the West Valley site. These investigations include work by the New York Geological Survey (NYGS) and planned work by Rockwell Hanford Operations.

Place and Date:

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Office of Radiohydrology, Reston, Virgir.ia, August 29, 1979

Participants:

See attached list.

Discussion:

During the initial part of the meeting:, we briefly described tha West Valley site investigations undertaken for us by NYGS as well as the waste-soil interaction studies planned by Rockwell Hanford as part of their evaluation of the safety conditions of the high level waste storage system.

USGS s

mentioned that they had previously conducted some research activities at the site; but that their involvement was now limited to some technical assistance supplied to NYGS by their Albany, New York district office.

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Leland C. Rouse SEP 11 1979 We then discussed soue items that had arisen during soine of our recent meetings,

with NYGS.

USGS explained that although horizontal permeability within the silty till was greater in mangitude than vertical permedDility, the predominant direction of water flow within the till could still be vertically downward due to the influence of gravity on the hydraulic gradient.

Observation of seeps flowing laterally from road cuts or the sides of a research trench would, in general, not provide evidence of horizontal flow from the undisturbed till but would, rather, indicate flow through cracks in disturbed till near the surface.

USGS personnel mentioned that their previous work confirmed the high ion exchange capacity of the silty till in that they had been able to detect a tritium front migrating from the low level burial ground trenches, but had not detected the migration of cesium or strontium isotop USGS personnel mentioned that re-sealing u. bore holes was a difficult task, particularly if the holes were deep. Both porosity within the sealed hole and the interface between the seal and the soil could result in pathways for migration of radionuclides.

==

Conclusions:==

USGS is interested in further studies at tt ) site, but they will not become substantially involved in a project unless it is under their control and di rection. Their present interest is shallow land burial ground performance includes:

(1) long term performance of trench covers, (2) geomorphology and site erosion and (3) long term care and site safety.

However, present resource limitations prevent their pursuing these interests at the West Valley site.

USGS remains interested in following the work spttSored by NRC, and agreed to assist us by reviewing and Commenting on propos&la for future work.

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I Charles J. Ha ghney Advanced Fuel and Spent Fuel Licensing Branch Division of Fi.el Cycle and Material Safety

Enclosure:

Participant List c

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