ML19289C035
| ML19289C035 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 02700039 |
| Issue date: | 10/17/1978 |
| From: | Bunting J NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| To: | Higginbotham L NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19289C036 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7811210485 | |
| Download: ML19289C035 (4) | |
Text
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umTED STATES NUCt. EAR REGUt.ATORY COMMISSION
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- i.N Docket No.
27-39
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s MEMORANDUM FOR:
L. B. Higginbotham, Acting Director, Division of Fuel Facilities and Materials Safety Inspection, IE FROM:
J. O. Bunting, Jr., Acting Assistant Director for Waste Management, NMSS
SUBJECT:
U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY'S PROPOSED TUNNEL AT THE NUCLEAR ENGINEERING COMPANY'S (NECO) SHEFFIELD SITE In your memorandum dated October 11, 1978, you requested guidance from NMSS concerning the U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) proposed research tunnel at the Sheffield, Illinois low-level waste burial ground.
To help you understand our responses to your specific questions, we are providing background information on the parties involved, approvals to date, and current plans. The parties involved are identified in Enclosure 1.
In our letter dated September 1,1978, the licensira staff indicated that we have no objection to the project (See Enclosure 2).
In its letter dated September 18, 1978, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) conditionally' authorized the project (Enclosure 3).
Plans for the project are not completed, and negotiations between NEC0, IDPH, and USGS are still in progress.
Based on telephone conversations with IDPH.and USGS, we understand that the' corner of the site where USGS and its tunnelling contractor will be working will be fenced off from the controlled area with a gate for off-site access. USGS and its contractors will be able to work without entering NECO's controlled areas. The tunnel will be under NEC0's fence and Trenches 11, 3, and 2 but will not provide access to the ground surface under NECO's control. See the enclosed sketch.
IDPH is assuming all responsibility for radiation safety and monitoring including extensive soil sampling and analyses.
IDPH is developing written procedures and negotiating a memorandum of understanding with USGS.
7611210 48 I
.. L. B. Higginbotham Company, the State Under which license (Nuclear Engineeringider this propos of Illinois or the USGS) does fNSS cons Question 1:
tunnelling activity to be covered?
h tunnel proposed by fNSS does not believe that the researctivity at this time.
The site the USGS constitutes a licensable acOELD iin Materials possession underbasis fo
Response
is'not licensed as a facility.10 CFR Parts 30 five feet below trenches, the tunnel will notThe on t red is at the site.
h The five feet of soil will alsoa material which may have leached from t e wastes.
downward through the soil.
d provide shielding to reduce external gamHowever, w its materials license to provide for possess otion sa in the trenches.
The IDPH's license contaminated soil samples and calibra Some of ies.
ards in any fixed or mobile laborator laboratories.
the finished tunnel should also cover possession in their the samples from probes directed fromtow are to sample and t minated.
l The To assess the contamination potential, p ansh before nt that activity analyze cores from the next day's eart State is developing action levels in the eveanagem The action levels levels in the soil are above background.
will be used to determine appropriate mThe major activity so tnat interpretation of env r nated soil.
xists for NRC not compromised.
i we are confident that no legal bas s e In sumary, license for excavation and opera l comitments now plannedIn th to either NECO or USGS provided al to issue a lized.
d during excavation, we between USGS, IDPH, and NECO are time.
would reconsider the issue at that
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9
. L. B. Higginbotham What involvement does fMSS expect of Region III during this Question 2:
activity? 'It must be kept in mind by NMSS that IE's involve -
ment in this activity should not interfere with IE's main function of independent inspection.
Since tNSS believes that no licensable activity is involved,
Response
IE formal inspection and enforcement is not expected.
However, INSS staff would welcome Region III professional advice concerning radiological safety and environmental issues
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if requested by either INSS staff or IDPH. We would expect that' Region III would like to be aware of all activities at We may ask Region III staff to attend an occasional the site.
meeting with IDPH on the project in Springfield for information exchange and to visit the site once to observe and report on the project.
At one poinc, Low-Level Waste staff relayed an inquiry from IDPH to Region III concerning the possibility cf Region III staff participating in monitoring The inquiry resulted from State loss of key personnel but activities.
We regret State resources are now available and outside help is not needed.
any misunderstanding this request may have caused.
If the licensing situation or our expectations should change during the The regulation of course of the project, we wil let you know promptly.
shallow land burial grounds will continue to be a challenge and require We very much want to regular exchange of information between our offices.
continue the cooperative professional relationship established over the past two years with Region III staff.
?lY f
Joseph 0. Bu ting, Jr.
Acting Assistant Director for Waste Managemerit Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards
Enclosures:
1.
List of parties 2.
Ltr to J.B. Foster dtd 9/1/78 3.
Ltr to J.B. Foster fr L.Stratton 9/18/78 4.
USGS Sketch cc:
J. Blackburn, IDPH J. Foster, USGS NECO Service List
Ene.losure 1 USGS - (United States Geological Survey) - Federal agency conducting field studies at burial grounds as data base for developing siting criteria for hazardous sites as mandated by Congress. Principal investigator holds License No. 47-15868-01 for a sealed logging source. Supervises tunnel construction under contract.
NECO - (Nuclear Engineering Company, Inc.) - Site operator licensed pursuant'to Parts 30, 40, and 70 to possess and dispose of materials; holds lease for land in question (20 acres).
IOPH - (Illinois Department of Public Health) - Owner of 20 acres; regulator for naturally occuring and accelerator produced materials; probable manpower and expertise for monitoring (personnel and environmental) for tunnel project by agreement between USGS and Department.
NRC - (Nuclear Regulatory Comission) - fNSS licenses site operator pursuant to Parts 30, 40, 70; NRC supports USGS by funding analytical work for field studies through RES; A proposal for support part of tunnel effort is under consideration by RES.
I&E independently inspects licensed activities.
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