ML20004B784
| ML20004B784 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Wood River Junction |
| Issue date: | 03/04/1981 |
| From: | Grier B NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I) |
| To: | Grant M RHODE ISLAND, STATE OF |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20004B777 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8106010037 | |
| Download: ML20004B784 (3) | |
Text
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UNITED STATES g
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION REGION I
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g 831 PARK AVENUE D
KING oF PRUSSIA, PENNSYLVANIA 194o6
,o 0 4 MW, tog; Mr. Malcolm Grant Policy Associate State of Rhode Island State House Providence, Rhode Island 02903
Dear Mr. Grant:
This refers to your latter dated January 14, 1981 in which you requested our response and action on several requests contained in your letter. The current status of these matters is summarized below.
1.
Residential Well Testing:
Region I obtained 17 residental drinking water samples.
Since none of these samples showed radionuclide concen-trations above background levels, we do not presently plan additional well sampling.
In the near future we will send the analytical results to the individual residents from whom the samples were obtained. A compilation of the results will be provided your office. The well of Mrs. Barry Capalbo was one of the original 17 wells sampled.
2.
Deeo Monitoring Well, Additional Monitoring Wells Along Pawcatuck, Hydrolecical Monitoring, and NRC'.s Oraf t Soil Decontamination Criteria:
The NRC's Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS) is performing or responsible for a variety of studies related to the l
above topics. We have provided NMSS with a copy of your letter and i
have requested that they correspond directly with you.
1 3.
Examination of the Site for Additional So*urces of Radiolooical Contamination:
Your comments and recommendations concerning the aerial radiological survey of the UNC Recovery Systems site are being transmitted to our Headquarters for appropriate action. With regard to your request for a ground level survey, the Division of Fuel Cycle and Material Safety of the Office,of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards plans to have a ground level survey performed as part of the final confirmatory NRC survey of the ijNC Recovery Systems site.
We see no useful purpose in performing a ground level.",urvey of the site prior to completion of the decommissioning and decontamination activities by UNC.
i 4.
Testing of the pawcatuck River: A sample of the river bottom sediments l
at the effluent discharge point from the UNC Recovery Systems facility was taken as part of our sampling program. Analysis of the sample disclosed no concentration of radionuclides above background levels.
l We will be happy to analy::e a limited number of additional river bottom sediment samples if you choose to send them to us.
5.
Indian Cedar Swame:
Vegetation and ground water samples of the swamp were taken as part of our sampling program. No radionuclide concen-t trations above background levels were detected.
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State of Rhode 1sland 2
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Source of Fission Produ;is: On August 13-19, 1930, Region I examined the cause of the fission product contamination in UNC lagoon wastes and the extent of the ground water contamination as a result of leakage from the lagoons.
Inspection Report No. 70-820/80-14, wnich will be provided to you, documents the results of that inspection'.
7.
Waste processing and packacing Irrestication:
Region I has completed Inspection No. 70-520/80-19.
Inis inspection concerned the circumstances surrounding the packaging of six shipments of radioactive lagoon waste which were shipped from tha UNC Recovery Systems facility to the Nuclear Engineering Company burial site in Beatty, Nevada, and which were subsequently returned to UNC Recovery Systems.
The results of that inspection are presently being evaluated with respect to appropriate enforcement actions. The UNC quality assurance program for assuring that lagoon waste is properly packaged and suitable for burial is now a condition of UNC's license.
After Region I inspects the implementation of the program in March, an evaluation will be performed to determine the suitability of authorizing UNC to resume shipments of these waste materials to licensed burial sites.
8.
Allegation of pumoing of Lagoon Wastes onto Ground: An investigation of the allegation
- ?.t UNC Recovery Systems pumped liquid waste from the lagoons onto t ground was conducted and the results are presently under cvaluation. As a part of this investigation, Region I took samples from outstde the present ferce line a~t the tocation of the alleged discharge point of the liquid.
These samples, taken at two inch increments to a depth of 14 inches, were analy:ed for radionuclides.
The concentrations of radionuclides in the samples were all at background levels.
In March, additional samples will be taken at the location of the old fence line. Should you desire to perform additional chemical analyses, we will be happy to provide you with an aliquot of each sample.
9.
Develcoment of a long Range Decommissioning Strategy: The Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguarcs is the lead office in defining decommissioning strategy for the UNC Recovery Systems facility. As netco abr,ve, we have forwarded your comments and request to NMSS for their appropriate action.
As you are aware, Messrs. J. H. Joyner, and W. W. Kinney and Dr. R. J.
Bores of this office and Mr. W. T. Crow of the Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards at+. ended the February 6, 1981 meeting with UNC Recovery Syrtems, at whi:h time the decommissioning was discussed.
10.
Scheduling of an NRC Hearing: We have forwarded your request concerning preparations for an NRC til. tog to the Office of the Executive Legal Director and the Office of Nuclear Safety and Sa'eguards for their appropriate actions.
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State of Rhode island 3
g4 gyg We appreciate the analytical data on the contaminants in the wells of the schools located in the general vicinity of the UNC Recovery Systems facility, provided i
as an attachment to your January 14 letter.
The data show only background concentrations of radionuclides.
In our sampling program described in Paragraph 1 abcVe, we sampled drinking water at Charlestown Consolidated School and Chariho Regional High School.
The rnalyses of these samples also showed only background concentrations of radionuc' ides.
With respect to the municipal well data, we appreciate your forvarding to the appropriate officials cur request for data on the semiannual state testing of Westerly's well field.
I hope the above is respe'.sive to your requests and we look forward to future cooperation between our organizations.
Should you have any questions regarding these matters we would be pleased to discuss them witn you.
Sincerely,
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Bo le H. Grier Director cc:
H. D. Thornburg, IE:HQ W. Crow, NMSS W. Kerr, SP J. P. Murray, ELD I
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