ML19257B705
| ML19257B705 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 12/26/1979 |
| From: | Scarano R NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| To: | NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| References | |
| REF-WM-34 NUDOCS 8001180164 | |
| Download: ML19257B705 (1) | |
Text
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
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DEC 2 61979 MEMORAllDUM FOR:
Files FR0ft:
Ross A. Scarano, Chief Uranium Recovery Licensing Branch Division of Waste fianagement
SUBJECT:
UNI 0fi CARBIDE'S URAVAfi, COLORAD0 TAILIl!GS EMBAf4Kf1EliT At 1:30p on December 21, 1979, I received a telephone report from Roy Person, WiUR, and Gonzalo Castro, Geotechnical Engineering, Inc.,
regarding the stability review of Union Carbide's Uravan tailings embankment.
The main topic of concern was the integrity of pond #3 being utilized by Union Carbide while remedial actions are being performed to stabilize pond #2.
While it did not seem to Dr. Castro that pond #3 was in imminent danger of collapse it would be extemely prudent to modify the UC operating procedures A spigoting the tailings into pond #3 in a e-manner that would create a sand beach adjacent to the embankment. Dr.
Castro noticed on his recent site visit to Uravan on December 18, 1979, that tailings water was ponded up against the embankment.
Creating a sand beach would lower the phreatic surface in the embankment thereby making it incrementally more stable.
We had made this recommendation in our initial site visit on October 31 and reiterated it in our letter to Colorado dated flovember 16, 1979.
Itelephonedfir.R.Gamewell,ColoradoDepartmentofHealth(CDH),
(fiessrs. Hazie and Montgomery were not in the office), at 2:00p to recommend that a representative of CDH call UC " ASAP" and require them to modify their operations accordingly, ilr. Gamewell stated that maintenance of a sand beach was made a license requirement per our earlier recommendation but that he would look into the matter.
At 2:30p I apprised State Programs of the situation and requested that because of the urgency of this matter they might make contact with Colorado to assure that appropriate actions are taken.
At 3:30p John Kendig, SP, telephoned to tell me tha layne Kerr located Al Hazle, CDH, and was assured that immediate act' would be taken.
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Ron A.'Scarano, Chief
. Uranium Recovefy Licensing Branch Division'of Waste Management 1769 88f fg
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