ML19225A300

Ack Receipt of 790329 Rept of Safety Evaluation of Pan 8D-2 Defect at West Valley,Ny.Rept Is Inadequate.Situation Is Bordering on Edge of Major Catastrophe.Suggests Matl Be Removed & Solidified as Soon as Possible

ML19225A300
Person / Time
Site:	West Valley Demonstration Project
Issue date:	05/16/1979
From:	Resnikoff M Sierra Club
To:	Haughney C NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS)
References
NUDOCS 7907180778
Download: ML19225A300 (2)

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Charles J. Faughney \ w *"

Reprocessing and Recycle Branch /,

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Division of Pael C jele and 'faterial Safety - =\

U.S. ?!uclear Regulatory Commission

'7ashington, D.C. 20535 So-zal

Dear !!.r. Faughney:

2ank you for sending the NRC " Evaluation of the Safety Associated 17ith the Defect in the Pan SD-2 at " test 7 alley, New Yorky dated Yarch 29, 1979 ?/e find the document entirely inadequate in assessing the sai2ty of the present condition of tank SD-2. Several statements in the " evaluation have not yet been substantiated and therefore assurance cannot be provided that the hi;;h level waste facility is safe. No seismic ar_alysis provided to the public has shown that the tank can withstand a 0.2g earthquake. No credible scenario has been laid out in the event the tank does leak.

Concerning seismic cogetence of the hi:;h level waste tank, there is reason to believe that the tank cannot withstand a 0.2g earthquake. As you are aware, the tank is free-standing on perlite blocks; the entire vault sits on a cone-rete slab on cud, without piles to bedrock. It is e:cpected that the entire facility would shake severely under a 0.2g earthquake. The vault is already cracked since the flotation incident. ?ie e:crect that the tank would shif t around on the perlite blocks until it struck cne of the internal vault support colu=s. It seems unlikely to us that this novement would not split the tank.

Your report alludes to a report, not yet published, which shows that the faci-lity can withstand a 0.2g earthquake. '7e eagerly await your analysis which was due this Spring.

In the event of a tank leak, it cannot be presumed that the leak would be small simoly because leaks at Savannah River have been small. Se conditions are not identical. At Savannah River, the srace between the vault and the tank is ventilated, allowing the high level waste to dry to a salt ca'<e, and each hole to self-heal. At Nuclear Fuel Serrices, ',his space is hu-id. 17ere a lea? to cecur, the supernate could be puged to tan's BD-1 within a two wee <

time period. Put then, what would happen to the remaining sludge in tank 3D-2?

As you know, this sludge contains the bulk of the radioactivity in a mch sTaller volume. ?(e believe that it w uld heat uc, possibly to hC00C, drive off the remaining water and degrade the tait and concrete vault. "Te have seen n: analysis by the NRC staff of the detailed scenario, including deco : ssion-ing, for the case of a leaking tank.

"Te have thought for some time rcw that this high level waste situation is bor-dering on the edTe of a rajar catastrophe. Properly based firf nas concer.im; the safety of the hizh level waste facility were not raic by the .EC rhen the 3 W (w'/ -

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muchney

.ca:a 2 construction permit and license were issuel, and are not bein; rada now by the NRC. There is a difference between providing, 7ith words, "added ass-urance rezarding the safety" (your nemo of Jan. 23, 1979), and actually pro-viling that safety.

We believe that a proper regulatory b"dy would require '?S to renove and solidify the material from the high level waste '.an'.c as soon as possible.

Since Ii?S, the AEC and the State of "en Yor':, have set up this potential hacard, the costs to recedy this situation cught to be shared.

If the pointa raised in this letter concerning the safety of the high level waste situation are without merit, we expect a careful analysis shocring why this is so. Otherwise, we excect t'at your analysis will ta'ce these points into acccunt. If the situation is hacardous, we excect you to take imed-iate action to protect the health and safety of the public.

cc: Lundine Sincerely, Nowak

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/ ffg p'arvin Resnikoff plr/

t Sierra Club Box 6b, Station G Buffalo, N.Y. 1h213 435 , c: : O 00:.