ML19210C018

Responds to IE Bulletin 79-19.No Liquid Low Level Waste Is Generated.From Jan 1978-June 1979,three Radwaste Shipments Made,Consisting Mainly of Plastic Gloves,Bags & Vials

ML19210C018
Person / Time
Site:	05000294
Issue date:	10/19/1979
From:	Carrick J, Terry S MICHIGAN STATE UNIV., EAST LANSING, MI
To:	NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE)
References
NUDOCS 7911130153
Download: ML19210C018 (1)

Text

.

'{ l b MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY d

COLI FGF OF INGINE E RING DIVISION OF INGINEENING HESEARCH LAST LAS$1NG MK.HIGAN 4h824 October 19, 1979 s'

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Office of Inspection and Enforcement 799 Roosevelt Rd.

Glen Ellyn, Illinois 60137 Docket 50-294 RE: IE Bulletin No. 79-19 Gentlemen:

Michigan State University has delegated the responsibility of transfer, packaging and transport of low-level radioactive material to the Department of Radiation, Chemical and Biological Safety. Warren Malchman, Director of the Department of Radiation, Chemical and Biological Safety has answered IE Bulletin No. 79-19 in the letter which has been attached to this response. We would like to supply additional information which pertains directly to the Nuclear Reactor Laboratory.

1. A current set of NRC regulations is maintained at the Reactor Laboratory.

2. Radiation safety is included in the reactor operator training program. This includes discussion and a demonstration of the proper handling and disposal of low-level waste.

During 1978 and the first six month of 1979,

1. 3 shipments totaling .5 cubic meters of low-level waste originated at the Reactor Laboratory consisting mainly of plastic gloves, bags and vials.

2. Less than 10 mci of low-level waste was shipped.

The major isotopes were Na ,K , Fe , Zn ,

Br , Eu Lu 198 203 , p,233

, , Au

3. We did not generate any liquid low-level waste.

Should there be any questions, please contact the Reactor Supervisor, James Carrick, at (517) 353-9097.

Sincerely, h(LfU..

S t ephen Terry W

James Carrick 11' Assistant Vice-President or Business and Finance Reactor Supervisor }

m OCT 261979 79111so O

j MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY e

/ DEPARTMr.HT OF RADIATION, CHEMICAL AND B10thGICA1. SAFETY FEE N -

'"**G"'*'*'**

TELEPHONE (517) 355-0153 or 353,-6675 ,

Septenter 4.1979 James G. Keppler, Director 2 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Comission Region III 799 Roosevelt Road Glen Ellyn, Illinois 60137 Re: NRC License Nos.

21-00021-29 21-00021-30 21-00021-32 SNM-390 R-il4

Dear Mr. Keppler:

This is in regard to I.E. Bulletin No. 79-19, pertaining to the above Michigan State University NRC licenses. The Department of Radiation, Chemical

- and Biological Safety maintains a radioactive waste disposal service for all Michigan State University NRC licenses. The material given below is applicat,le to all of the above NRC authorizaticns.

1. The Department of Radiation, Chemical & Biological Safety maintains a current set of DOT and NRC regulations con-cerning the transfer, packaging and transport of low-level radioactive waste material.

2. The Radiation, Chemical & Biological Safety Department maintains a current set of requirements placed on the waste burial firm by the Agreement State. Regulations are checked before packaging low-level radioactive waste materials for transfer and shipment to an Agreement State licensea. Waste collection contractors are utilized and appropriate requirements are obtained from the contractor

3. The following personnel are hereby designated, in writing, who are responsible for the safe transfer, packaging and transport of low-level radioactive waste material.

Warren H. Malchman, Director Department of Radiation, Chemical & Biological Safety University Radiation Safety Officer Patrick Miller Health Physicist Steven Sawdey Safety Technician  %

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..i. Nuclear Regulatory Co.wnission September 4, 19/9

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4. The Director of the Departinent of Radiation, Chemical &

Biological Safety approves instructions and operating proceaures to all personnel involved in transfer, pack-aging and transport of all low-level radioactive material.

(Applicable personnel are listed in item #3). Special attention is given to controls on the chemical and physical form of the low-level radioactive siiaterial and on the con-tainment integrity of the packaging. Specific instructions and operating proceaures are essentially 49 CFR Parts 170-179

• and CFR Parts 19-71.

5.

The Radiation Technicion is responsible for the day to day safe transfer, packaging and transport or low-level radio-active waste. Periodic training and retraining in the 00T and NRC regulatory requirements m e tentm ted on on unuoing basis. The end r esult of training, periodic retraining and operating procedures are inspections by the University Radiation Safety Of ficer and the Health Physicist of each shipment of radioactive waste containers prior to transfer to the NRC lic-ensed or waste collection contractor As much as possible, a record of training cates, attenoces and suLject r.1aterial will be documented.

6.

Routine training programs are provideJ each semester to unner-sity personnel in order to assure that the volume of low-level radioactive waste is minimized and that such waste is processed into acceptab'.e chemical and phy sical forms.

" minimize" radioactive waste, training progromsIn order to emphasize that all puientially contaminated items be monitored, prior to dis-posal in designoted radioactive waste cortainers. Experimental protocols must be designed to minimize the generation of waste volumes.

7.

The Department of Radiation, Chemical & Biological Safety has established and implemented a management, controlled audit func-tion of all transfer, packaging and transport activities to pro-vide assurance that all personnel, instructions ind procedures in processes and transport equipment are fur " .ing to insure safety and compliance with regulatory requi ...a t s .

8.

An audit has been perfor.ned (within the required 60 days of tne i.e. Bulletin #79-19) of Michigan State University's activities associated with the transfer, packaging and transport of low-level radioactive waste. A record of future audits will be main-tained for NRC and DDT inspectors.

9.

For 1978 and for the first six months of 1979 the following ques-tions are answered.

1. There were 17 low-level radioactive waste shipments from Michigan State University. The total volume was 5,670 cubic feet.

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es G. Keppler, Director

.S. Nuclear Regulatory Comission September 4, 1979

, Page 3 2.

There was a total quantity of 3.0 curies of low-level radioactive waste shipped. Thea:.ajor isotopes in the low-level radioactive waste were 3s, 14 C, 1251 and 32p, 3.

Michigan State University generated liquid low-level radioactive waste. The process used to solidify the waste was absorption in vermiculate, in accordance with instrtttions by the comercial nuclear waste disposal firm.

If any additional informatiori or inaterial is needed, please let me know.

Sincerely.

,//?</ W'Atce'// . . . ~

Warren H. Malchmen -

Di rec tor WHM:jp c.c. Office of Inspection & Enforcement, Division of Fuel Facility & Materials Safety Inspection U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Conwission Washington, DC 20055 D lD "$'9' S o w n s N 1 1}5 ,

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