ML19290D173
| ML19290D173 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 01/29/1980 |
| From: | Sniezek J NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION V) |
| To: | Quitugua A GUAM |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19290D174 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8002200208 | |
| Download: ML19290D173 (2) | |
Text
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JAN 2 91980 License No. 56-12953-01 Department of Agriculture ATTN: Antonio S. Quitugua Director, Administrative Services Government of Guam P. O. Box 2950 Agana, Guam 96910 Gentlemen:
This refers to the inspection conducted by Mr. H. E. Book of this office on October 31, 1979 of activities authorized by NRC License No. 56-12953-01 and to the discussion of our findings held by Mr. Book with you, Mr. Artero and other members of your staff at the conclusion of the inspection.
Areas examined during this inspection are oescribed in the enclosed inspection report.
Within these areas, the inspection consisted of selective examinations of procedures and representative records, interviews with personnel, and observations by the inspector.
No items of noncocpliance were observed within the scope of this inspection.
However, the inspection revealed matters wnich we believe to be of significance to radiation safety and which potentially could result in a serious problem.
The gamma irradiator authorized by this license, and which contains about 950 curies of cobalt-60, has not been used for about ten years, and has not been leak tested for about nine years.
The Department of Agriculture, Government of Guam has no persons trained or experienced in radiation safety and no operable radiation detection or measuring instruments.
Thus, if a problem developed with the device, it very likely would not be recognized for some time.
This could result in a serious radiological hazard to the people of Guam.
Exposure of the irradiator to the warm, moist, marine climate of Guam promotes corrosion and other deterioration, increasing the possibility of a problem.
We believe there is little likelihood that the fruit fly eradication project for which the irradiator was used will ever be revived and there appears to be no purpose to continuing this license in effect.
Therefore, this is to inforn you that the Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards does not intend to renew NRC License No. 56-12953-01 when it expires on September 30, 1980.
In such an event, it will be necessary for you to dispose of the irradiator containir.g the radioactive material, CERTIFIED MAIL RETURN RECEIPT RE00ESTED 8002200 b
Department of Agriculture You should submit to this office within thirty (30) days of your receipt of this letter, a written statement describing your plans for disposing of the radioactive material. Additionally, within sixty (60) days of your receipt of this letter you should submit to this office a firm schedule for disposing of the radioactive raaterial.
Our subsequent actions will depend upon your response to this letter.
In accordance with Section 2.790 of the NRC's " Rules of Practice," Part 2, Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations, a copy of this letter and the enclosed inspection report will be placed in the NRC's Public Document Room.
If this report contains any information that you believe to be proprietary, it is necessary that you submit a written application to this office, within twenty (20) days.of the date of this letter, requesting that such information be withheld from public disclosure.
The application must include a full statement of the reasons why it is claimed that the information is proprietary.
The application should be prepared so that any proprietary information identified is contained in an enclosure to the application, since the application without the enclusure will also be placed in the Public Document Room.
If we do not hear from you in this regard within the specified period, the report will be placed in the Public Document Room.
Should you have ar,y questions concerning this inspection, we will be glad to discuss then with you.
Sincerely, O
f Wb a.es H. Sniezek D' rector vision of Fuel Facility and Materials Safety Inspection Office of Inspection and Enforcement
Enclosure:
Inspection Report 79-01 cc:
Departraent of Public Health and Social Services Bureau of Environmental Health P. O. Box 2815 Agana, Guam 96910 ATTN:
John C. Rosario Administrator