ML19309B391
| ML19309B391 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 02/20/1980 |
| From: | Brown G, Wilborn L NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV) |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19309B387 | List: |
| References | |
| REF-QA-99990004 99990004-80-01, 99990004-80-1, NUDOCS 8004040104 | |
| Download: ML19309B391 (6) | |
Text
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..g U. S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT REGION IV Report No. 80-01 Docket No. 99990004
Subject:
Investigation of Radiological Evaluations conducted in Moab, Utah Period of Investigation:
January 22 and 23, 1980 Personnel Assisted: Dane Finerfrock, Utah State Division of Health Don Mitchell, Utah State Division of Health Gerald Storey, Southeast Utah Counties Health Department Mark Hutchison, Southeast Utah Counties Health Department Wayne Ball, Southeast Utah Counties Health Department
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Investigator:
M orenzo Wilt 4, Radiation Specialist Date 3
Reviewed by:
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6-2-r> N Blen'D. Brown, Chief, Fuel Faulity and
( Date Material Safety Branch Investigation Summarv:
Investigation on January 22 and 23, 1980 (Report No. 9990004/80-1)
Areas Inspected:
Special, unannounced investigation of radiological evaluations conducted in Moab, Utah. The investigation involved eighteen (18) inspector hours by one NRC inspector.
Results: No items of noncompliance or deviations were identified.
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REASON FOR INVESTIGATION The Uranium Recovery Licensing Branch, Division of Waste Management, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (WMUR) recently became aware of a situation in the Moab, Utah area involving the possible unauthorized use of uranium mill tailings material.
A report by the USEPA, " State of Utah - Community Summary Report for Radiation Surveys in Moab, Utah,"
of surveys conducted during 1971-1972, indicated sixteen (16) locations where tailings material may be involved.
It is not evident that follow-up surveys have been completed to assess this situation.
Mr. Larry F. Anderson, Director, Bureau of Radiation and Occupational Health, Utah State Division of Health, in contacts with the WMUR staff, requested NRC assistance on the follow-up surveys.
Therefore, WMUR requested that Inspection and Enforcement personnel be made available.
SCOPE OF INVESTIGATION During January 22 and 23,1980, a Region IV inspector, assisting Utah State and County personnel, visited Moab, Utah, to conduct follow-up surveys to the surveys conducted by USEPA and to conduct the necessary investigation for the evaluation of the possible exposure to elevated levels of radon progeny and gamma radiation indoors in structures and the immediate surroundings that may be utilizing uranium tailzngs or ore materials.
2 DETAILS A.
General During the period January 22 and 23,1980, a Region IV Radiation Specialist, assisting two Utah State Health Department personnel and three personnel representing Southeast Utah Counties, conducted follow-up surveys to the surveys conducted by USEPA and evaluated the possible exposure to elevated levels of radon progeny and gamma radiation indoors in structures and the immediate surroundings that may be utilizing uranium tailings or ore material.
B.
Persons Contacted Owners and/or occupants of the property that was surveyed.
A survey was performed at a location on private property only after permission was obtained.
Several individuals were interviewed during the investigation but chose that their names be anonymous.
C.
Investigation Findinr1 The personnel in Paragraph A were divided into two teams.
NRC's main concern was structures possibly utilizing uranium tailings material, therefore, the locations listed by USEPA's report as possible uranium mill tailings use were distributed to the team with the NRC inspector.
Both teams combined visited forty-two locations.
Gamma measurements were made at some loc 3tions, grab air samples were taken at some locations and both were accomplished at other locations.
This report refers only to the activities conducted by the one team, which consisted in part of the NRC inspector.
A composite report will be completed by the Utah State personnel.
According to the USEPA report:
(1) there were eight properties listed as possible uranium mill tailings use locations; (2) tailings deposits were found on the property at four locations, however, the deposits were more than ten feet away from a habitable :tructure; (3) tailings deposits were found up-against or within ten feet of a habitable structure at three locations; and (4) a survey of the Atlas Corporations active tailings pile, from visual observation, appeared that the migration of material was minimal.
During this investigation, the locations corresponding to those of the USEPA report were surveyed, with one exception - an additional location, and the results were as follows:
3 Location No.
Address Results/ Remarks 42,124 601 East 2nd South No follow-up - no one home 42, 127 238 South 4th East
Background:
4-6 micro R/hr 42,132 388 East 1st South No follow-up - no one home 42,154 58 North 1st East
Background:
4-6 micro R/hr Northside of storage shed 42,156 142 North 1st East 4-28 micro R/hr.
Hot spots few inches in diameter, indicates possible chunks of ore, ney.t to road on the west side.
42,157 94 East 1st North 800-900 micro R/ hour.
In front of storage shed.
Conversation with resident indicated that they had once stored ore in that area many many years ago.
42,176 72 South 1st East 4-20 micro R/hr.
Flower bed, observed chunks of ore.
42,180 69 North Main Street 10-15 micro /hr outside and greater than 3000 micro R/hr inside.
Rock shop, observed chunks of ore.
42,185 785 McCormick Blvd.
10 micro R/hr at street side and increasing to greater than 3000 micro R/hr at garage and in portions of flower bed, northside of house.
Conversation with resident and observation revealed a 55 gallon drum of l
ore stored in the garage l
and chunks observed in the l
flower bed.
4 42,188 Cane Creek Blvd.
Could not locate possibly NW of City Road DP due to construction in area.
42,203 372 Moenkopi Ave.
10-20 micro R/hr in lawn along the street.
Even distribution of observed readings indicate possibility of tailings use.
42,216 94 West 1st North No follow-up - no one home 42,217 167 North 2nd East 4-450 micro R/hr.
Hot spots, few inches in diameter, indicates possible chunks of ore.
42,222 157 South 2nd East 4-50 micro R/hr.
Hot spots, few inches in diameter, indicates possible chunks of ore.
42,225 North 1st West
Background:
4-6 micro R/hr Vacant lot south of Town House Cleaners 42,142 Atlas Minerals Visual observation showed Uranium Mill that migration of material from the tailings pile was minimal.
Exception 158 North 4th East Background games inside residence.
Observed 4 to greater than 3000 micro R/hr in areas of the yard.
Digging to a depth of two to three feet where detected hot spots were observed revealed hunks of ore.
Note:
Grab air samples were taken for an indication as to the locations that will be included in a subsequent radon concentration evaluation
)
by State of Utah personnel.
Several areas of interest were j
observed. The main being at 158 North 4th East, where an elevated concentration of radon was observed.
Interviews with several elderly residence of Moab revealed that this residence was constructed where an ore stockpile used to be.
5 D.
Conclusion Due to the observation of chunks of ore, fluctuations in observed instrument readings and conversation with residences and construction workers, the possible use of uranium mill tailings in structures was ruled negative except for the one location at 372 Moenkopi Avenue.
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