ML19253A466

Forwards Responses to 790411 Request Re Storage of Liquid Waste in Tank Cars

ML19253A466
Person / Time
Site:	Crane
Issue date:	04/11/1979
From:	Miraglia F Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:	Vollmer R Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
NUDOCS 7909100071
Download: ML19253A466 (9)

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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION i

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NOTE TO: Richard Vollmer, NRR, THI-2 Onsite Tesen 5

FROM:

Frank J. Miraglia, Coordinator Team B

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SUBJECT:

STORAGE OF LIQUID WASTE IN TANK CARS i

Per our telecon this evening, responses to B. Grimes request of April 11 re: Storage of Liquid Waste in Tank Cars is attached.

Frank J. Miragl a, rdina+7r Team B 5

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J Response to Request of B. Grimes gcerning Storage of Liquid Waste In Tankcars (See Attachment A)

The following infonnation has been developed in response to the J'

request received from B. Grimes on April 11, 1979 concerning the storage of liquid wasta in railroad tank cars.

The radionuclide inventory assumed for the calculations is shown in the table below.

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TOTAL TANKCAR INVENTORY (2)

CONCENTRATION pCi/cc Curies I-131 100 10,000 I-133 5

500 Xe-133 4(3) 400 Cs-134 0.4 40 Cs-136 0.8 80 Cs-137 1.4 140 La-140 1.4 160 1.

From 8. Grimes 2.

Based on a tankcar capacity of 30,000 gallons 0

(~1x10 cc).

3.

Calculated equilibrium concentration from 1-133 decay.

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Direct Radiation Levels The direct radiation levels were calculated by ORNL based on a 7/16 inch steel shell. The results are as follows:

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DISTANCE DOSE rLTE CONTACT 40 Rem /hr 200 feet 100.mr/hr

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900 feet 2.5 mr/hr 1000 feet 1.8 mr/hr 2000 feet 0.1 mr/hr 8

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Release of Airborne Effluents

a. For the case where iodine is not fixed, we calculate a

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release of 0.06 Ci 1-131 per day resulting in a child

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~I thyroid dose of 0.7 mrem / day based on the following

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assumptions:

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. vented tank car 3

. evaporation rate of 1 ft /hr

. partition factor of 0.001 for I-131

/Q = 1.0 x 10-6 sec/m 3

b. For the case where the iodine is fixed and only Xe-133 evolution is considered, we calculate a whole body dose of 0.004 mrem. This is based on the assumption that all of the Xe-133 (400 C1) is released and a Xjg of 1.0 x 10-6,,cj,3,

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Spills a.

Airborna Pathway (I-131)

Assuming the entire tank car _ spills, we calculate a A.,; w.,4.c

'.g thyroid dose (to an adult) of 50 mrem based on the following i

-a assumptions:

~4 A partition factor of 10 for I-131.

P An accident X/Q of 1.0 x 10~4 sec/m,

3 b.

Liquid Pathway

- Case 1 - spill into storm drains, direct to river.

We calculate an infant thyroid does of"100 rem based on the following assumptions:

Entire contents of one tank car (30,000 gal) reaches river in 15 minutes.

River dilution to downstream water supply based on a flow of 55.000 cfs.

Infant consumes 1 liter.

Casa 2 - spill to ground.

We calculate a dose of 1.3 rem to the thyroid of an infant over a 5 day period and an adult whole body dose of 1 mrem over a 5 day period, based on the following assumptions:

Ground seepage to river in 5 days.

Continued seepage for 5 days.

Ion exchange in soil neglected.

In response to the request for what sigle things can be done to check tank car leak tightness when received, the following is offered:

4 1.

Fill tank car with water and see if it leaks.

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Plug up tank and pressurize with air and see if it leaks.

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In response to the request for what simple things can be done for spill mitigation (before and after spill), the following proposals are mde (some of these aren't simple but we put them in anyway):

1.

Make a basin around tank or at least arot 7d most likely leak points such as hose connections.

HMB recomends sealed asphalt or clay, possibly plar. tic if no chemical attack of plastic by waste water is foreseen.

2.

If basin is used, a. pug could be connected to allow leakage to be pumped to another tank car. Also, hoses could be connected to tank itself to allow pumping to a standby tank before all leaks out.

3.

Tanks could be placed inside temporary building, unused building already onsite, or inside turbine I

building. This would simplify construction of basin (old building) or allow use of drain collection system (turbine building). Also, building would help prevent washing away of leakage by rain.

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4.

Don't use tenporary tanks; pump to tankage in other unit.

5.

Keep tanks as far Wom stonn drains as.possible; this will slow release to river. Also, as far away from the river as possible.

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Have cover and absorbent material (like venniculite) available to help contain leak if it occurs. Use absorbent only if water is getting away.

7.

Loop seal or vent to rAuce nonal effluents. -

Also charcoal filter on vent.

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Attachment A Telefax from B. Grimes to M. Aycock (Knighton/Barrett) on 4/11/79 i

I Temo. Tank Car Storage Assu@ tion for tank car inventory _

pCi/cc -

I-1 31 _

102 I-133-5 Xe-133 calc. equal from I-133 dec.

C -134 0.4 s

C -136 0.8 3

Cs-137 1.4 La-140 1.6 1.

Direct radiation levels (how far do we need to ropa off) 2.

Effluents -

a.

Iodine not fixed, water at 80 F b.

Iodine fixed. Xe evolution only 3.

Spills (Assume tank stays on rail car)

What sienole things can be done to cPock leaktightness a.

when received.

b.

What simle things can be done for spill mitigation (before and after spills) nhat are consequences of spill (With and without c.

mitigation neasures) any limits on activity indicated by this calc.

Simle means done in 24 hour2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br /> time frame

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What are consequences of spill (with and without m tigation measures)?

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Any limits on activity indicated by this calc? How long to get s,

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If the water can get to storm drain, the waste water would hit s'f. _

.iQ1WSfMtt?%%MMF e 4 si the river within minutes (15).

If the water has to soak through

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,c ground to ground watcr before it gets to the river, it would take days.

2.

If water goes thru storm drain, radioactivity would hit river in a slug of a few hours.

If water soaks thru ground, release to river will be spread over a much longer time (days).

Much of the radioactivity (especially Cs) will be held-up by ion exchange action of soil; the fraction is impossible to estimate.

3.

If the radioactivity goes down river in a several hout slug, stopping intake at the municipal drinking water intakes (Columbia. Baltimore, etc) could probably be done without causing water shortage problems. If the release is over a period nf days, stopping intake could cause water shortage problems especially in small comunities like Columbia.

4.

If we decide that such stoppages 1%y be required, before they may be needed, we should talk to States of MD and PA about plans.

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