ML19263B603
| ML19263B603 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Wood River Junction |
| Issue date: | 12/20/1978 |
| From: | Bowers C UNITED NUCLEAR CORP. (SUBS. OF UNC, INC.) |
| To: | Martin J NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| References | |
| CEB-78-252, NUDOCS 7901220158 | |
| Download: ML19263B603 (5) | |
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Nuclear Regulatory Commission Mr. John B.
Martin, Assistant Director Fuel Cycle Safety and Licensing 7915 Eastern Avenue Silver Spring, Maryland 20910 Gentlemen:
Subject:
UNC Fuel Recovery Operation Waste Management Program
Reference:
NRC-FRO M'eting, Silver Spring, 12-14-78 As you know, FRO has been actively engaged for over two years in a program to improve the handling of processed uranium wastes.
Our program has had two objectives: the short-term orderly dis-position of existing process lagoons and the long-term minimiza-tion or elimination of process waste requiring special handling.
In that program, we have had numerous contacts with NRC and Rhode Island State officials in an effort to keep all interested parties informed.
At the FRO-requested meeting on December 14, we discus. sed both short-term and long-term aspects with your Messrs. Crow, Shum, and Stevenson.
We believe that the meeting was constructive and mutually beneficial, and appreciate the helpful and professional attention given us by your staf f.
We left the meeting with the impression that our plan for orderly disposition of existing lagoons over a three year period was accepted as reasonable and proper, with due regard to accountability, sa fegua rds, and en-vironmental concerns.
Attached to this letter is a summary of the various activities which have been and are being directed toward a positive, orderly waste management program.
We believe that the program meets all regulatory requirements and existing commitments to NRC.
- Further, we believe that the proposed resolution time-frame is responsive to genuine needs, potential risk, and sound business management principals; to compress the schedule significantly would negate the careful planning which has preceded current programming.
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Mr. John B.
Martin December 20, 1978 4
- At the December 14 meeting, we were advised that the following dates were appropriate and acceptable to NRC:
July 1979
- Submission of Waste Management Plan (Objective: Minimization of Process Effluent)
September 1979 - Start Lagoon Recovery March 1982
- Complete Lagoon Recovery Accordingly, we will proceed along this schedule until and unless it is mutually modified, assuming your approval.
We will be happy to discuss it with you in detail at your convenience.
Very truly yours, UNITED NUCLEAR CORPORATION
/
C.
E.
Bowers General Manager Fuel Recovery Operation CEB:amc Attachment cc:
J.
A.
Aceltine, UNC K.
A.
Cunningham, UNC Sheldon Meyers, NRC
WASTE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM REVIEW Program Abstract In general, PRO's approach has been to schedule orderly, safe disposition of process residues.
Temporary, " holding" actions have been implemented, with full knowledge of NRC and Rhode Island officials, while programmatic details are solidified.
Special efforts (including several information meetings initiated by FRO) were made to keep interested parties informed.
Discharge to the Pawcatuck River initially appeared to be a viable and fully acceptable option, and was pursued with NRC's encourage-ment.
Concurrently, process studies were being made to minimize residue generation rates.
Plans werc made for the recovery of uranium from existing process lagoons, and corporate funding ap-proval was formally given; such orderly recovery would reduce burial liability, improve uranium accountability, and improve process technology.
Subsequent establishment of impractical discharge limits by Rhode Island effectively terminated discharge plans and required immediate relief measures, thus interrupting the orderly planning process.
Accordingly, an above-ground storage tank was erected, to provide controlled temporary storage.
Simultaneously, planning for re-covery and neutralization of the existing lagoons proceeded on schedule.
Such processing will begin no later than September 1, 1979 and will be completed (for all five lagoons) no later than March, 1982.
Alternate liquid waste treatment programs are being evaluated, with an overall goal of " neutralization" of residues, to an innocuous level, prior to discharge from the plant.
This objective has not been realized and cannot be firmly scheduled, but preliminary re-sults and conclusions continue to be promising.
In the interim, it is submitted that FRO waste handling policies are sound, responsive to NRC and environmental concerns, and con-sistent with public health and safety needs.
WASTE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM REVIEW Event Chronology Fuel Recovery Operation Date Event 1964 First process lagoon (Lagoon "A")
constructed; liquid discharge to Pawcatuck River initiated 1968 Discharge to Pawcatuck River terminated 1969 Second lagoon constructed (Lagoon "B")
1970 Lagoon "A" contents removed, buried in Kentucky burial site; lagoon reconstituted 1976 Waste Management Plan initiated; increased capacity alternatives studied; final disposition of existing lagoons charted; new " cascading" approach designed; process improvements (for residue climination) scoped 1977 Solids transferred from Lagoon B to Lagoon A, and Lagoon B reconstituted with improved, double-thickness liners in a series of five cascading lagoons on original "B" site
- November, Meeting held between NRC, Rhode Island, and FRO 1977 personnel to discuss UNC's planning for establishing an alternate liquid waste disposal program
- November, Subsequently, NRC suggested that FRO investigate the 1977 possibility for discharge to the Pawcatuck River
- January, Request for discharge permit accordingly submitted to 1978 Rhode Island and EPA
- March, License amendment request submitted, covering 1978 1.
Details of new lagoon construction 2.
Dilution and discharge of supernate to river 3.
Reclamation of lagoon residues April, 1978 Meeting, Rhode Island and FRO, to discuss permit application April, 1978 Meeting, NRC and FRO, to discuss license amendment request
Date Event May, 1978 Modification to license amendment application sub-mitted by FRO, reflecting consensus of April meeting and implementing river discharge July, 1978 Rhode Island established discharge limits (ni tra te levels at 50% of drinking water standards) which effectively eliminated river discharge possibility August-Given the impractical Rhode Island limits and an September, unseasonable rainfall accumulation, FRO concluded 1978 that prompt temporary correction was needed.
From several options reviewed, an above ground storage tank, with special leak and spillage protection, was selected
- October, Revised license amendment application submitted, 1978 covering use of storage tanks
- November, Construction of covered storage tank started 1978
- December, Construction of storage tank completed 1978