ML20011E955

Discusses Results of Radiological Survey of Bldgs & Surrounding Areas Where Licensed Source Matl Activities Had Been Conducted at Cushing,Ok Refinery Site,Per 891201 Meeting

ML20011E955
Person / Time
Site:	07000925
Issue date:	02/13/1990
From:	Stauter J KERR-MCGEE CORP.
To:	Sjoblom G NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS)
References
NUDOCS 9002230189
Download: ML20011E955 (4)

Text

-,,70-145 t

h KERRMcGEECORPORMION KE RR-McQE t CENTim o OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA SP6 j

February 13, 1990 CERTIFIED MAIL RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED L

L Mr. Glen Sjoblom, Deputy Director Division of Fuel Cycle, Medical, Academic and Commercial Use Safety 1

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555 Re:

Kerr-McGee Corporation 4

Former Cushing, Oklahoma Refinery Site Radiological Investigation and Cleanup Activities

Dear Mr. Sjoblom:

This letter is a follow-up to our December 1,

1989 meeting in your _ of fices to discuss the results of Kerr-McGee's radiological survey of the buildings and surrounding areas where previously licensed source material activities had been conducted at the

. Cushing, Oklahoma refinery site.

Following the preliminary (0RAU) area

, surveys done for NRC by an Oak Ridge Associated Universities crew under the supervision of Mr. James Berger, Kerr-McGee completed in November 1989 a detailed survey from which a cleanup plan could be developed.

The results of-that detailed survey and our plans to address those buildings and surrounding areas, were, provided to you.

In addition to the _. work to be done at the former processing buildings,;

we also indicated that additional investigation, especially in reference to an oily sludge pit where soils and debris from the licensed activities were disposed, would be carried out to provide additional information on the extent of contaminated materials in the pit.

i

.jWe again met with you and other NRC staff on February 7, 1990 to discuss the. status of our activities concerning the radiological materials and the'other wastes at the site.

As we indicated, we are

'close to agreeing with the Oklahoma State Department of Health on an acceptable plan for addressing the cleanup of the oily sludge pits, 1

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'1 which comprise the major cleanup requirement.

Tne plan also addresses Kerr-McGee's intent and approach for handling the low-level radioactive wastes that have been identified and for further investigation.to determine if additional materials requiring cleanup may be at the site.

While Oklahoma is not an agreement State, we believe the agreement properly should address the cleanup of all waste materials at the site.

F The details of the approach and schedule we anticipate meeting in cleaning up the low-level radioactive waste are provided below.

e Former Process Buildings and Surrounding Areas

-Upon completion of the pending agreement with the

State, Kerr-McGee will immediately begin cleanup of the buildings and i

surrounding. aren soil contamination that was identified in the November 1989 survey.

Cleanup criteria for the buildings will be based upon. smear surveys for fdxed and removable levels of uranium or

thorium, whichever radionuclide is identified, for unrestricted release.

The surrounding soil identified as containing thorium residuals will be cleaned to USNRC Branch Technical Position Option 1 criteria.

Soils picked up will be

drummed, transported to Kerr-McGee's Cimarron Facility for final survey and packaging, and L-then shipped to a licensed low-level facility for final disposal.

Concurrent with this cleanup

work, additional sampling and analysis wiil be conducted to characterize residual materials in the

'former thorium processing building and to provide the basis for determining any further decontamination requirements.

These activities are scheduled for completion within 60 days of the ef fective date of the agreement with the State.

The cleanup of area soils and identified building contamination spots should be done within five to ten working days.

Radiological Survey of Refinery Area The Cushing refinery site has been proposed for the Federal Superfund National Priorities List (NPL) for cicanup of hazardous wastes.

The wastes' in question are oily acidic sludges contained in 5 pits.

One of these fenced pits, identified as Pit 4 and located in

-the northeast corner of the

property, contains some contaminated soils ~ and debris from previous cleanup activities associated with licensed materials.

Pit 4J and the refinery site property, including areas where previous cleanups have' been done, will be investigated further for

. potential' radiological contamination through a phased program.

The program-includes:

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1) Gridding of the refinery site area to facilitate a complete gamma walkover survey to identify any areas n

showing above general background radiation levels.

2) At those locations where elevated gamma levels are i

found, surface and soil core samples will be taken to identify (a) the material and (b) its extent and e

concentration.

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3) Using applicable Option 1

cleanup

criteria, areas exceeding Option 1 will be cleaned up and material l

properly disposed.

4) Pit 4 will be further cored and analyzed to provide data sufficient to determine the area affected from i

i the placement of the thorium bearing material.

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volume of material will be calculated and compared to the total volume of oily materials in the pit.

The c

average thorium content will be projected based upon mixing of the contaminated and non-contaminated sludges.

Completion of the above program elements will result in a

report describing all radiological impacts associated with the refinery property.

This detailed report will be filed within one year after the effective date of the agreement.

Each of the program 1

elements will be assessed and reported through meetings as they are completed.

The first activity, gamma survey of the entire site is scheduled for the spring of 1990 Coring and analysis of Pit d is scheduled for completion by early summer -1990, along with definition of any impacted site areas.

Cleanup of any identified areas, except for Pit 4, is anticipated to be completed during the fall of 1990.

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Activities associated with Pit 4 will be determined by the results of the coring and analysis program along with the schedule for determining treatment or disposal options for the oily sludges in general and located in the 5 pits.

the RCRA hazardous characteristic of corrosivityThe oily (sludges now exhibit pil less than 2).

This t

characteristic can be addressed by neutralization at which time various processing or - use options for the sludge material may be available.

The solution available for those sludges may also apply i

to the Pit 4 materials.

i The radiological assessment-and cleanup work will be done in accordance with NRC's standards for protection of workers and the public. against. radiation exposure.

The company's h9alth physics and worker protection pro'cedures in place at its NRC licensed activities l

will be 'followed and the

surveys, analyses, monitoring and any required cleanup.will be performed by trained company employees under

-the direction of a certified health physicist.

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Kerr-McGee wishes to assure the NRC-that the Company.

is committed to undertake expediti'ausly-and safely every reasonabic step to complete the cicanup of the low-level waste materials.

We believe our approach is most reaso:able, given the nature of the site and the

' materaals -in the oily s3uag-pits, and that, f or. completeness, the agreement with the State needs ts address our plan for - handling the

- radiological contamination.

We. ask your cooperation in going forward with our plan and welcome

' your input.

Sincerely, 7"

c,K J.C. Stauter, Director Environmental Affaits

~JCS:gw cc:

Paul Brown, OSDH i

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