ML19256C704
| ML19256C704 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | National Bureau of Standards Reactor |
| Issue date: | 09/18/1979 |
| From: | Flack E, Higginbotham L, Sniezek J NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE) |
| To: | |
| References | |
| PNO-79-383B, NUDOCS 7910110690 | |
| Download: ML19256C704 (2) | |
Text
PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION September 18, 1979 PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE--PNO-79-383B This preliminary notification constitutes EARLY notice of events of POSSIBLE safety or Eublic interest significance.
The information presented is as initially received without verification or evaluation and is basically all that is known by IE staff on this date.
Facility:
U. S. Department of Commerce National Bureau of Standards Washington, D.C.
20234 (DN 50-184)
Subject:
RADI0 ACTIVE SURFACE CONTAMINATION (Updated Information)
On August 28 to 31, 1979, several areas of radioactive contamination were found near the National Bure'au of Standards (NBS) reactor building complex (See PN0s79-383 and 79-383A).
Since issuance of these PN0s, NBS established a program to identify the cause of the contamination and to clean up the con-tamination.
Comprehensive surveys, soil sampling and drainage area sediment sampling have been done and are continuing.
Analysis of the contamination indicates that the radioactivity is solely from Cobalt-60 and is in the form of particles each less than 100 microns in size.
NBS preliminary micrometallur gy iadications are that these particles could be stellite imbedded in type 316 stainless steel.
Stellite is a metal material put on the surface of other metals for durability and hardness.
Stellite was flame-sprayed on the wear rings of the primary system pump impellars of the NBS reactor.
NBS's preliminary estimate of contamination cleaned up to date from grassed areas, roofs, a drain, and a roof / storm drain outfall is about 2.3 millicuries of Ccbalt-G0.
In addition, a two millicurie quantity of Cobalt-60 was cleaned Lp from a olacktop area where a used heat exchanger was stored outdoors.
Soil c.1dsedimentsamplestakendowngradeofanearbystormdrainougfallonthe licensee's property contained Cobalt-60 contamina microcuries per gram at 50 feet from the outfall and 4 x 10 } ion of 4 x 10 microcuries per gram at 130 feet from the outfall. Cobalt-60 does not occur naturally.
However, other racicisotopes(e.g., Potassium-40, Uranium-238,andT90rium-232)_grefound naturally in the world at levels ranging from 2 x 10 to 2 x 10 microceries per gram.
The State of Maryland is being kept informed.
NBS plans to make an updated news release on September 18, 1979.
CONTINUED 1453 259 7910110 b
6 September 18, 1979 ' PNO-79-3838 Continued NRC, Region I (Philadelphia) received this updated information by telephone from the licensee.
Contact:
EDFlack, IE x28188
'LBHigginbotham, IE x28188 JHSniezek, IE x28098 Distribution:
Transmitted H St Chairman Hendrie Commissioner Bradford S. J. Chilk, SECY Commissioner Kennedy Commissioner Ahearne C. C. Kammerer, CA Commissioner Gilinsky ACRS (For Distribution)
Transmitted: MNBB P. Bldg Slh0C)
V. Stello* IE L. V. Gossick, EDO H. R. Denton, NRR Region "l H. L. Ornstein, EDO R. C. DeYoung, NRR J. J. Fouchard, PA R. J. Mattson, NRR Landow N. M. Haller, MPA
. D. Vassallo, NRR J. J. Cummings, 0IA R. G. Ryan, OSP D. Eisenhut, NRR H. K. Shapar, ELD SS Bldg (MAIL)
W. J. Dircks, NMSS R. Minogue, SD S. Levine, RES PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION 1453 260 O