ML19290C583

Submits Latest Results of Radon Releases from Underground U Mines.Contains Research Measurements Indicating That Radon Emission Seems to Be Independant of Activity within U Mines

ML19290C583
Person / Time
Site:	Skagit
Issue date:	11/15/1979
From:	Schwendiman L Battelle Memorial Institute, PACIFIC NORTHWEST NATION
To:	Thompson W NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS)
Shared Package
ML19290C542	List: ML19290C583 ML19290C592
References
NUDOCS 8001220113
Download: ML19290C583 (2)

Text

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6 November 15, 1979 4

Vacihc Northsest Laboratories P.O. Bos 999 RichlJnd. WJshmaton L5 A 9M52 Telephone iSh Telen 15-28N Mr. W. E. Thompson Fuel Cycle Technology Assessment Branch Nuclear Regulatory Commission

• Mail Stop 396-SS .

Washington, D.C. 20555 .

Dear Bill:

RAD 0N EMISSION FROM UNDERGROUND URANIUM MINES This letter is to confirm our telephone conversation of November 14 regard-ing radon releases from underground mines. I told you of our conclusions regarding radon release per RRY based on many additional radon measurements in 27 mines which included the mir's used in PNL-2888 Rev. It is important to remember, in perspective, that the calculated curies per RRY are wholly contingent on knowledge of U3 08 production from individual mines in the sample. The ore production listed in Table IV, PNL-2888 Rev. for the seven mines was obtained from the mine management. We accepted and used these mine production data and the estimate of 0.2% 3U 0s in the ore to arrive at the value of 15.9 Ci exhausted in ventilation air per ton of U 03 8 produced.

At this point, we have made direct measurements of the radon emission from 27 underground uranium mines, (including those mines in Table IV, PNL-2888 Rev.)

whose production constitutes 59% of the 1978 U.S. production from underground uranium mining. With these data, we feel that we are in a reasonably good position to estimate the curies of radon per RRY from underground uranium mining in the U.S. We must caution, however, that there are still a few assump-tions that need to be verified before our best estimate can be made.

These include the fact that radon emission seems to be independent of activity within the uranium mines. Data on radon emission versus time from uranium mine vents are being analyzed to determine variations with time that occur. There may be some significant seasonal variation in radon emission and this is also being investigated. Other factors which affect our estimate involve the fact that some uranium mines are being ventilated although there is no ore produc-tion taking place. The reason for this is apparent that these mines have connections with other underground mines which are being worked and ventilation is therefore required to avoid seepage of radon into active uranium mines.

All these factors appear at this point to be minor, so we therefore still have confidence that our measurement of radon release from the 27 mines that we have studied is reasonably representative of the uranium industry. These 27 mines are located in the Ambrosia Lake, Church Rock, and Mariano Lake area of 1787 317 50 Years of Service T 1929-1979

W.E. Thompson Nov.15,1979 page 2 New Mexico, the Uravan area _ of Colorado, the Moab area of Utah, and in the Four Corners region (Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico).

The following information has been used in calculating the radon emission per RRY:

Total production from the 27 mines for 1978 (obtained from the DOE Grand Junction office) was 3,600,000 tons of uranium ore, 11,500,000 pounds of U3 0s (5215 metric tons) or 28.7 RRY for 182 metric tons per RRY. ,

Our measurements of the total radon emission from these 27 mines is 151,000 curies of radon per year.

151,000 + 28.7 = 5261 curies of radon per RRY. (We'd round this to 5260.)

This value of 5260 curies of radon per RRY is for radon emission in the vents from uranium mines. In addition, we estimate that 100 curies of radon per RRY will be emitted from aboveground ore storage at the mine mouths. Thus, our best estimate is 5360 curies of radon per RRY from underground uranium mining.

The back-up documentation for these numbers is being included in our next topical report on underground mining which is currently being prepared.

The large difference in this curies of radon per RRY value compared with our earlier value of 3340 curies of radon per RRY in NUREG/CR-0627 (PNL-2888 Rev.)

September 1979, is due to the lower average current production for this group of mines compared to the production cited by the mine managers for October,1976 and which we used for arriving at the radon release per RRY. In checking with the mine operator for each of these seven mines, it appears that there actually has been a substantial decreas.e in production rates over the past three years.

This decrease in production may have taken place slowly over a period of time.

We did make numerous attempts to obtain production rates during these series of measurements but were only able to obtain this information for Mines 1 and 2 which are listed in Table IV of the above report.

The earlier curies of radon per RRY value is thus based on the information which we were able to obtain from the mine operators provided to NRC by the mine operators in 1976. We do feel now that the information from the DOE Grand Junction office is as reliable as can be obtained and therefore, we feel that our current estimate of 5360 curies of radon ~per RRY will not be subject to a .

major modification as we obtain further information in this study.

Very truly yours, f0. kukw&W&

L. C. Schwendiman Atmospheric Sciences Department dj ]/g/ }))

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. December 21, 1979 ALL POWER REACTOR LICENSEES ALL CONSTRUCTION PERMIT HOLDERS AND APPLICANTS Gentlemen:

The U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Comission (NRC) is proposing a change to the current regulation on radiological emergency response plans for nuclear production and utilization facilities. During the comment period on the proposed rule, the NRC staff intends to meet regionally with appropriate State and local officials and utility representatives to discuss the feasibility of the proposed rule, its impact and the procedures proposed for complying with its provisions.

Briefly, the proposed rule would:

(1) Require an NRC licensee to shut down a nuclear power reactor if appropriate State and local emergency response plans have not received NRC concurrence or do not warrant continued NRC concurrence.

(2) Require that State and local emergency response plans be concurred in by the NRC as a condition of operating license issuance.

(3) Require extending emergency planning considerations to the emergency planning zones (i.e., within the approximate 10 and 50 mile radii around the plant).

(4) Require that detailed emergency planning implementing procedures be submitted to NRC for review.

(5) Require informing the public and improving support for local emergency response personnel.

NRC will be holding its workshop for States in your region in c.cordance with the enclosed schedule. I invite you to designate one individual to

, represent your views during discussions among State, local, utility, NRC and FEMA participants.

9 M

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December 21, 1979 Since we are working in a short time frame, I ask that by December 31, .

you notify Mr. Allan Morrongiello, Office of Standards Development, (301) 443-5966 and give the name of your representative, his or her position, address and telephone number. -

It is our view that this proposed rule is a significant step to providing needed protection in the event of an accident at a nuclear facility. I look forward to your participation in this important meeting.

For your information, I am enclosing the Federal Register notice of the proposed rule and the agenda for the January workshops.

Sincerely, [

s-

/ - /

4,,, /he Brian K. Grimes, Director Emergency Preparedness Task Group Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Enclosures:

1. Federal Register Notice

2. Agenda 3 Schedule t

1787 320