ML19257B653
| ML19257B653 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 12/14/1979 |
| From: | Scarano R NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| To: | Hazle A COLORADO, STATE OF |
| References | |
| REF-WM-34 NUDOCS 8001180048 | |
| Download: ML19257B653 (2) | |
Text
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION g
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%.4%, J DEC 141979 fir. Albert J. Hazle, Director Radiation and Hazardous Wastes Control Division Colorado Department of Health 4210 East lith Avenue Denver, Colorado 80220
Dear fir. Hazle:
It has come to our attention through telephone conversations between our Dr. Roy Person and Messrs. Montgomery and Weaver of your staff that you intend to, but have not yet, imposed a license condit.on forbidding Union Carbide to use Pond No. 2 at their Uravan Mill until the integrity of the pile is assured, as we recommended in our November 15, 1979, letter to you.
We again urge you to make it legally clear as soon as possible to Union Carbide that operating use of Tailings Pond No. 2 is no longer authorized and wi'l not be until its safety is established.
In addition, we recommend that you require Union Carbide to take the folic, wing actions at the earliest practicable time:
1.
Increase the frequency of visual inspactions of tailings embankments numbered 2 and 3 to at least twice per shift by someone with engineering experience and/or qualifications to recognize signs of a potential embankment failure; for example, evidence of new seepage as evidenced by color changes on the outer slope, localized sloughing or settlement occurring where it was not before, the upward extension of seepage areas on the face of the embankment, significant increases in collected seepage (possibly using a weir designed to measure flow volumes), etc.
2.
Provide a pumping system to remove liquid from the tailings impound-ments which may accumulate due to catchment drainage, heavy pre-cipitation, or any other reason which might cause the pond levels to exceed the recommended freeboard requirements; 3.
Develop a monitoring program which shall comply with NRC Regulatory Guide 3.11, including:
a) increased pressure measurements in existing piezometers which will give an early warning of liquid loss from embankments numbered 2 and 3; 1768 001 pg
Mr. A. J. Hazie b) installation and monitoring of additional piezometers strategically located in both pond areas, and a network of survey points to detect both lateral and vertical movements in these embankments.
4.
Prepare, submit for review, and implement an emergency plan which addresses the steps which shall be taken at various action levels for th'e above or other appropriate indicators.
This plan should include but not be limited to the following:
a)
A description of Union Carbide's apparatus and procedures which relates observed dam conditions to corrective actions and/or consequence emergency mitigating measures necessary to protect public health and safety or private property including evacation of the hospital, school, mill and/or the town of Uravan.
b)
Procedures to alert residents and commercial users of wells and surface waters affected by an impoundment failure.
c)
Procedures to analyze well and surface water systems for both radiological and non-radiological contaminants following accidental discharge of tailings materials into these systems.
d)
Procedures to r.stify state and local officials including enforcement agencies, hospitals, and civil defense authorities.
We further recomend that you establish firm dates for the accomplishment of each of the requirements at the earliest practicable time.
As we noted in our tiovember 16, 1979 letter, signs of incipient tailings embank"ent failure of pond No. 2 at the Uravan mill site definitely exist.
It is imperative that remedial action proceed as expeditiously as possible.
In response to your December 4,1979 request, I have assigned Dr. Leroy Person of my staff to provide NRC technical assistance to you regarding this matter.
If you have any questions please feel free to call me at any time.
Sincerely, 4 C =2" Ross A. Scarano, Chief Uranium Recovery Licensing Branch Division of Waste Management 1768 002