ML19295D797

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NRC Staff Testimony of Tl Johnson Re Groundwater Contamination,Board Questions 9a,9c,9d & 9e
ML19295D797
Person / Time
Site: Crane 
Issue date: 10/17/1980
From: Johnson T
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:
Shared Package
ML111090060 List: ... further results
References
FOIA-80-515, FOIA-80-555 NUDOCS 8011060630
Download: ML19295D797 (84)
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{{#Wiki_filter:. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NUCLEAR REGULATORY CCMMISSICN i BEFORE THE ATCMIC SAFETY AND LICENSING BOARD In the Matter of ) ) METROPCLITAN EDISCN COMPANY, ) ET AL. ) Docket No. 50-289 ) (Three Mile Island Nuc'. ear ) Generating Staticn) ) NRC STAFF TESTIMONY OF TERRY L. JOHNSON RELATIVE TO GROUNDWATER CONT 3NINATICN (BOARD OUESTIONS 9a, 9c, 9d, 9e) Q.9a. What T.easures are taken to monitor groundwater quality at the site? A. At tne request of the NRC staff, the licensee installed a series of eight monitoring wells and, subsequently, nine observation wells at the TMI site. These wells were sited to detect leakage of contaminated water frcm the Unit 2 containment and auxiliary b;ildings. The locaticn of tne wells is show.i in Figure 1. The monitoring wells have been sampled at about one-week intervals since installation in late January, 1980. The observation wells, installed to clarify ancmalous d?ta frca some of the monitoring wells, have also been sampled at about one-week intervals since completion in late April,1980. The different designation (i.e., monitoring well vs. observation well is ins igni ficant the differentiation is only between sets of data-gathering facilities. Sanpling on all wells continues at the present time at intervals of one week. 8011060630 --_m-

WE__ _OCK~ 0.\\ S /VGR r H.q--H.g OW-9 g-M W-2 OW-lO OW-17 ( ow.16 mcon i u a E is 4,, 7MW-3 Q'/ Eg E g lsi! $(J m Aux. BLOG m !uM(T k ( FuEt H AnDtinc I REA TOR Pf (74 MV/-S e.Lu c. cc cie:,e t \\ k [ N c.c.i. B.Lb G. l N OW-14 OW 13 MW-6 M V/- 8 MW I / ~ COMMEAITS: I. M W-I LOCATED IN NORTil PARKING LOT G COORblAIATES N 301,460. O4 E 2,286,53 8. 94 ' 2. Op5-/5 LOCATED ON Sount END OF /SLAND @ COORDINATES. 5N 292> 985 44 9 ?n, u.n ncr

_2 The samples have been tested extensively for radicactivity and chemical contaminacicn. To check for errors, the analyses were done by several different laboratories, including Teledyne Labs, Oak Ridge National Lcb, and the Tennessee Valley Authority. Q.9c. Is there any evidence at the present time of changes in the groundwater quality, including but not limited to radicactivity and boron, attri-butable to operations at TMI-l and/or 2? A. Initial analyses of water samples fec

cme monitoring wells indicated concentrations of tritium above inferred background ievels in the vicinity of major plant structures. Based on readings taken in nearby wells and in the Susquehanna River by EPA, it appears that the normal background level of tritium in the area is about 100 - 500 pCi/l', tritium levels in this range have been observed in MW-1, north of the plant structures.

Tritiun readings taken in other monitoring and observation wells have been variable. An indicatic.) of these fluctuations and magnitude of tritium levels can be seen in the following tables.

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. The above tables were taken frca the licensee's September 16, 1980 submittal to NRC, which included analyses of samples taken as recently as July 25, 1980. It can be seen from these tables that levels of tritium are above the background level measured offsite. However, these tritium levels are all less than the Maximum Permissible Concentration (MPC) of 3,000,C00 pCi/1, as specified in 10 CFR 20, Appendix 3. Concentrations of other radionucl des are also below "PC for unrestricted areas. In addition, there is no evidence of non-radioactive chemical concentrations exceeding allowable limits for discharge to the Susquehanna River. Q.9d. If changes in groundwater quality have occurred, distinguish, if possible, the sources of any contamination, i.e., routine operations at Unit 1, routine operations at Unit 2, unplanned or accident conditions at Unit 1, unplanned or accident conditions at Unit 2, or clean-up operations. A. The hignest tritium levels occurred at wells which were lomited near the Unit 2 Borated Water Storage Tank (SWST). The fittings and valving appurtenant to the SWST have been known to be leaking onto the immediately surrounding ground surface. This leakage occurred several months to more than a year ago. At the request of the NRC staff, additional observation wells were drilled to confirm that the BWST was the source of contamination. Soil samples were taken near the SWST during the drilling of the observation wells. The concentrations of various radionuclides were measured at varicus depths in the soil column, from ground level to a depth of over 25 feet.

4_ The tests or. the soil samples recovered frcn the well drilling operations show higher concentrations of tritium at locations above the water table and close to the BWST. Infiltration of precipitation has carried the contamination downward to the water table, through which it has been transported to other locations. Based on the well data, soil sa:aples, and the fact that the BWST has leaked, we conclude that the analysis of the test data supports the hypothesis of the BNST leakage through the fittings as the source of contamination. Q.9e. What mitigative measures are available, should groundwater contamination occur? A. If contamination exceeding the concentrations prescribed in 10 CFR 20 were to Occur, there would be several methods to prevent additional contamination of the site groundwater and the Susquehanna River. (1) The monitor wells could be pumped, such that the contaminated groundwater is removed. The wells are located to permit a large volume of grcundwater to be pumped, probably into ensite storage tanks. (2) A slurry wall of bentonite or other relatively impermeable material could be installed to surround the contaminated area. The wall would inhibit the passage of groundwater to offsite locations. We estimate that at least a year's time would be available to install the wall, since it would take the groundwater this long to migrate to the Susquehanna River.

.w ... If, for any reascn, the above mitigative methods could not be implemented, further movement of contaminated groundwater could not be prevented. In order to assess the effects of contaminant movement, the NRC staff performed an analysis to determine the concentrati?n of radioactive material in drinking water supplies should a massive laak occur frca the reactor building. For the purpose of the analysis, we conservatively assumed that the entire volume of contaminated water (700,000 gallons) in the reactor building was released s the site groundwater environment over a pericd of about 2-1/2 days. Based nn these conservative postulations, we fcund that the levels of radioactivity in drinking water frcm the Susquehanna Ri ver would be below the levels specified in 10 CFR 20, Aopendix 3. The computed levels were: Nuclide Comouted Concentraticn MPC -0 -7 SR-90 4.5 x 10 uCi/ml 3 x 10 uCi/ml -10 -5 CS-137 2.9 x 10 aCi/ml 2x10 aci/mi 3 -7 -3 H 2.7 x 10 uCi/ml 3 x 10 aci/ml These levels were computed using a flow in the river of 34,000 cfs, corresponding to the average annual discharge. .}}

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