ML20009H121
| ML20009H121 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 06/18/1981 |
| From: | Pettengill H NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| To: | Themelis J ENERGY, DEPT. OF |
| References | |
| REF-WM-40 NUDOCS 8108060054 | |
| Download: ML20009H121 (1) | |
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Mr J. G. Themelis 3
Grand Junction Office
.{cs U.S. Department of Energy P. O. Box.2567 Grand Junction, CO 81502
Dear Mr. Themelis:
Enclosed for your information is an Edgemont Cleanup Action Program Status Report.
It summarizes the results of the Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratories' radiological surveys through April,1981.
If you have any comments or questions, please contact me or Greg Eadie dt 301-427-4103~.
Sincerely, h.
.L b Harry J. Pettengill, Section Leader Operating FacilitiesSection II Urenium Recovery Licensing Branch Division of Waste Management
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MEMORANDUM FOR:
John B. Martin, Director Division of Waste Management Office of Nuclear Material Safety
' and Safeguards FROM:
Ross A. Scarano, Chief Uranium Recovery Licensing Branch Division of Waste Management
SUBJECT:
2ND STATUS REPORT - EDGEMONT CLEANUP (331162)
The NRC has contracted with the Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratories (PNL) to conduct radiological surveys to determine the extent of usage of uranium mill tailings at off-site-properties in the vicinity of Edgemont, South Dakota.
PNL operates a mobile laboratory which facilitates the collection and analysis of grab. radon progeny samples (i.e., the' Working Level measurement). Also, extensive gamma radiation surveys, and soil
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sampling and analysis are being conducted at each property.
The need to conduct remedial action (i.e., the cleanup of residual radioactive materials) will be detennined based on standards established by.the U.S.
EPA in 40 CFR 192
" Proposed Cleanup Standards for Inactive Uranium Processing Sites". summarizes the results of the PNL radiological surveys through April, 1981.
In sum, 71 structures and 7 vacant lots fail to meet the EPA standards due to gamma radiation levels greater than 20 pR/hr above background or radium-226 in soil content greater than 5 pCi/g.
To date, at least 184 structures will require long-term radon progeny sampling based on the EPA criteria that there is the need for remedial action if the annual average working level exceeds 0.015 WL.
Additionally, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has required that grab Working Level sampling be conducted in any structure in Edgemont before federal financial assistance will be approved.
PNL is also conducting these surveys.
Results to date indicate that 60 structures fail the HUD criterion of having less than 0.033 WL (i.e.,
0.02 Weighted Working Levels).,
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John B. Martin
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JUN. 21981 The PNL work is ' progressing well.
Radiological surveys have been conducted in 515 structurep, but surveys have yet to be completed in the remaining 46 structures where the homeowner /occunant has requested the PNL surveys.
PNL is also preparing to complete engineering assessments at the 71 properties known to date to e;;ceed the EPA standards.
(During the summer of 1980, the ARIX Corporation completed engineering assessments at 23 other properties.)
PNL estimates that the total number of structures which will require an engineering assessment may be about 125.
On January 21-22, 1981, the NRC sponsored a " Workshop on Radiological Surveys in Support of the Edgemont Cleanup Action Program" which was attended by representatives of the DOE, EPA, HUD, and several of the DOE national laboratories. The Workshop Report h~as been finalized and will beissuedasNUREG/CR-2083(seeEnclosure2).
In order to eliminate the need for continuing to conduct long-term RPISU type of sampling to determine the annual average Working Level, PNL is preparing a survey protocol "to locate residual radioactivity at a.
property".
The purpose of such a survey shall be to ascertain with a high degree of certainty that any amount of residual radioactivity having an average radium-226 content greater than 5 pCi/g will be detected, whether such material is physically located within a structure or buried out-of-doors on the property.
This new survey technique will combine the presently used gamma radiation survey method (both indoors and outdoors) with a more extensive soil core sampling or bore-hole logging technique. Also, PNL has already initiated a year-long. cross-calibration study comparing the results of the Track Etch Device with RPISU sampling.
In order to complete the remaining radiological and engineering assessments, PNL will continue to keep a field team of scientists' in Edgemont for the remainder of calend-ear 1981.
Ross A. Scarano, Chief Uranium Recovery Licensing Branch Division of Waste Management
Enclosures:
As stated
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.. _. _. a Edgemont Cleanup Action Program Monthly Report Summary for April,1981 e
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Structures surveyed by Grab Working Level Measurements Total Number of Available Structures:
658 Number of Requests for Survey Received:
561 2
Sumary Table of NRC/ State Program Less Than 0.01 to Greater Than3 Number of" O.01 WL 0.033 WL 0.033 WL Retests Oct. 1, 1980
'7 (2)s 20 (2) 0 8 RRWL, 4 RRTO Nov. 1, 1980 33- (4) 56 (11)
'l (1) 19 RRWL, 31 RRTO Dec. 1,1980 21 (7) 40 (4) 24 (4) 9 RRWL, 19 RRTO Jan. 1, 1981 8
(2) 21 (3) 3 (0) 6 RRWL, 4 RRTO Feb. 1, 1981 4
(0) 15 (3) 6 (0) 1 RRWL, 3 RRTO (0) 5 RRWL, 8 RRTO March 1,1981 10 (2) 24 (3) 0 April 1,1981 6
(2) 11 (0) 7 (1) 0 RRL'l, 4 RRTO May 1,1981 29 (9) 21 (6) 1 (2) 0 RRWL, 3 RRTO Totals:
.118 (28) 208 (32) 50'(8) 48 RRWL, 76 RRTO Revised Totals? 110 (21) 221 (37) 60 (13)
II.
Vacant Land Gamma Radiation Surveys Total Number of Available Lots:
388 Lots '+ 66 Vacant City Blocksi Number of Requests for Lot Survey Received:
320 Lots + 51 Blocks 6
Summary Table of NRC/ State Program Less Than Greater Than Greater Than 5 pCi/ gram' 14.5 vR/hr
.14.5 pR/hr 22sRa or Greater Than Date Average Average 34.5 uR/hr Point Reading October 1,1980 November 1,1980 19 2
Decemoer 1,1980 8
4 January 1,1981 0
0 February 1, 1981 18 0
March 1,1981 6
0 1
April 1, 1981 0
0 May 1, 1981 25 1
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One City block centains approximately 16 lots.
HUD criterion is that the grab Working Level (WL) tines the factor 0.6 equals the Weighted Working Level (WWL) which must be less than 0.02 WWL (0.033 WL X 0.6 = 0.02 WWL).
See the attached flow diagram for the signif-icance of these screening levels.
When the verified grab working level measurement is greater than 0.033 WL, the property receives a detailed, engineering assessment to define what remedial action must be taken; otherwise a ling-term monitoring program may be conducted to determin.e if remedial action is requir:d.
These are based on the average of two measurements.
RRWL means a single measurement >0.033 WL which must be verified.
RRio means turnover time was too short (<32 minutes) which must be retested at least once.
These are the numbers of pending reruns generated each period.
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Numbers in parentheses indicate the numoer of measurements included in the nunber without parentheses which are slated for engineering assess-ment due to failure of one or more of the other criteria (i.e. 22'Ra in soil >5 pCi/g, gamma dose rate >20 pR/hr above background).
HUD criterion for Vacant Land is that the average ganna radiation dose rate level must be less than 14.5 pR/hr.
7 Revised total an of April 30, 1981 reflects changes in the" status of properties caused by rerun analysss.
It is based on data taken from the master log.
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