ML19343D027
| ML19343D027 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 07000824 |
| Issue date: | 11/26/1980 |
| From: | Olsen A BABCOCK & WILCOX CO. |
| To: | Page R NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| References | |
| 18042, NUDOCS 8104090091 | |
| Download: ML19343D027 (2) | |
Text
{{#Wiki_filter:_ .+ -#4-- 76 M [. E ;. y 7 (o /g#y'EfPjED Babcock &Wilcox 3 nese m nano oe,eiopmento ssioo r c c l '1 F 3 0 4 Y P.O. Box 1260. Lynct burg, Va. 24505 - i J -.w Mr c7. Teiepnone: <so4) 384 5t ti C c.s q YO',, " OE*". N r-. 8 ,, w 4 /A O November 26, 1980 / D g o/ 5 5 R A kt. M a
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Mr. R. G. Page, Acting Chief e n N h ^ W Uranium Fuel Licensing Branch .y Division of Fuel Cycle and C ~ ..-.y~ ?Di o' H Material Safety -M# s% A N. M. S. S. \\ h p )
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U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission A G y Washington, D. C. 20555 x / c,. License: SNM-778 N
Subject:
Soil Decontaminatien In January, 1969 contaminated water was discovered in a storm sewer at the Lynchburg Re,earch Center. An investigation revealed that a water pipe, which car:ted contaminated liauid trom a demineralizer used in connection with che Babcock & Wilcox Test Reactor to the Liquid Waste Disposal Facility, had burst. The contacinated water leaked into the sewer line which emptied down the hillside behind Building J (r Slid waste storage building). The original estinate of the activity in-volved was 200 millicuries of Co-60. This was later revised to 300 millicuries. Surveys at the time indicated that the contamination aas confined to the soil of the water drainage area on the hillside ant to a marshy area at the base of the hill. A fence was constructed m und the conta W.ated area and appropriate signs displayed to meet the re-quirement' of a restricted area. This infor-ation was reported to the U. S. Atomic Energy Cocmission by letter from William M. Breazeale, Director, dated January 30. 1969, License TR-4, docket 50-200. In 1978 it was decided to evaluate the condition of the area. To accomplish this it was necessary to dry the area. A pond was dug in an area to the east of the marshy area and the storm sewer flow was diverted from the hillside to the pond. The su=cer of 1980 was ex-ceptionally dry in this section of Virginia and the hillside and marshy area dryed out. Soil samples were telken and analyzed and radiation measurements were made. They confirmed that the restricted area boundry was properly located on the south, east and west sides. The north boundry was adjacent to the Chessie System Railroad right-of-way. Radiation measure-ments made alcag the north boundry fence varied from 0.3mR/hr to 1.0mR/hr. Soil samples indicated that approximately 4 millicuries of Co-60 was located immediately outside the boundry fence on approximately 800 square feet of soil. 810409001/ a_ lk tj,f wasa o
e ,s a . A new fence was ere::ed and appropriate signs displayed :o extend the restricted area to en:e=;sss ' area ec :aini:; the ~:-s3 and to main-tain the radiation leve: 2: 1 aev boundry be~ :2 :..;117hr. The railroad right-:f-vay is oened by the Chessie 575:en. I have con-tacted this co=pany c d 1 3 received their pe- '=t':t :: take the this portion of their pr ;er y to an unre-necessary action to rt .a stricted area. The soil sa:ples indi:a:e that the activity is loca:ei in the top 1/2 inch. The Lynchburg Researci C4::er (LRC) is planning te re_c te the top two (2) inches of soil over the affected area. .ne vers vil" ~:e perfor=ed - by LRC e=ployees under the superrision of Health physics i I::ordance with written procedures. The workers vill ~ be provided with p:c:e::ive clothing and coni-toring devices as sp> 2' in license S*D!-776. lea ~:h Physics shall per-for= direct radiatica s: reys, smear surveys and s=;'.e for airborne activity to assure the worker pr: a:: ion and prevent a s;:ead :f cont:mination. Due to the relatively scali
- -=a to be decon:anina ei, i: is anticipated that the work can be accc plished with hand teols, heverer. :he use of mechanized equip =ent =ay be needed and is not excluded.
Ile ::::= '7ated soil vill be placed in DOT specifi:a:i:2 containers suitable f er :ff-site shipment. These containers vill be s:: red in accordance with the ~_i:a:2e, p-ior to shipment. In speaking with Dr. 5::: Of your staff I understand -ia: an acceptable cri-teria for releasing this area for unrestrie ed use has been established. This criteria for Co-{'. is 10 u R/hr at e (1) re:e ab:ve background, average and 20 p R/hr a. ::e (1) ceter above S2:kgr:;;d, 22xi=um. It is the intent of the LI: :: :ce: this criteria by perf:rning the work described abcve. To assure tha: :le LRC is vorking to achieve '_evels of activity that are acceptable :: y r: and Region II, I reques: ::a: you concur in writing to the criteria 7:~ciously stated. In =y conversations virh re=bers of the Region II s:sff I have found that they are desirous tha: iis cleanup proceed srectily ::d expeditiously. They have asked to be ke;: inforced of cur pregres s c-I that I assure that all parties involved, he in agreement vi:h the leve~_I f radioactivity to be achieved by the clear:7 I agree with the Reg'::. I a= avaiting your early ::::urrence. If you have a 7 questions concerning this catter please call _.. Yours very truly, P00R 0RIMsIIIIb 3A3C;G. i U LC0X COMPANY LYSC _:~~IG RISEARCH CENTER / s{s Arne ?. :;sen Licerse e 'nistrator Ay0:cef
- Dirsitor, Region II
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