ML20029D170
| ML20029D170 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 04/29/1994 |
| From: | Kenneth Lambert, Mccann G NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III) |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20029D166 | List: |
| References | |
| REF-QA-99990003-940429 99990003-94-23, NUDOCS 9405040106 | |
| Download: ML20029D170 (4) | |
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U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION REGION III Report No. 999-90003/94023(DRSS)
Docket No. 999-90003 License No. Non-Licensee Facility:
Chevron Chemical Company Building C 1000 Harvard Avenue Cleveland, Ohio Inspection Conducted: March 7, 1994 - Onsite March 28, 1994 - In office review of wipe results Inspector:
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Kenneth'J. Lambert
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Radiation Specialist Reviewed By:
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AI W 9[fV George M. McCann, Chipf Dite Fuel Facilities and Decommissioning Section Inspection Summary Inspection on March 7-28. 1994 (Insoection Report No. 040-07604/94001 (DRSS))
Areas Insoected:
This was a special inspection to conduct a radiological scoping survey of Building C and discuss Chevron's inquiry regarding NRC's regulatory authority for decommissioning activities in Building C.
Results: The limited radiological survey identified numerous areas, on building surfaces and on all floors with residual radioactive materials in excess of NRC's unrestricted use criteria. NRC's Office of General Counsel and Division of Low Level Waste are reviewing the issue of regulatory authority for the site.
9405040106 940429 REC 3 GA999 ENVCHEVC 99990003 PDR
1 DETAILS 1.
Persons Contacted
- R. W. Potter, Sr. Environmental Projects Engineer, Chevron Chemical Co.
- G. C. Jobson, Manager, Business Development, Rust Remedial Services
- A. W. Flath, Operations Manager, Rust Federal Services
- D. M. Brown, Senior Project Manager, Rust Federal Services
- W. D. Ulicny, Radiological Engineer, Rust Federal Services
- A. G. Kopas, Manager, Environmental Services, Engelhard Corporation 4
- L. M. Scott, CHP, Louisiana State University 4
- Indicates those present during the exit meeting.
2.
Backaround 1
Chevron's Building C is located on the Engelhard Corporation Facility at 1000 Harvard Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio.
Building C is constructed of brick and concrete and consists of one, two, and three-story sections totalling approximately 66,500 square feet (ft") (6,184 square meters (m') ). The building was originally part of the Harshaw Chemical Company Complex, now owned by Engelhard Corporation. Harshaw Chemical Company j
was under contract with the Manhattan Engineering District (MED) and later the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) for the manufacture of uranium hexafluoride in the 1940's and 1950's.
Building C was the main processing building under these contracts.
During the production of 4
uranium hexafluoride, building surfaces and grounds were contaminated with natural uranium.
The building was decontaminated by Harshaw Chemical Company and released from AEC control in 1960. The US Department of Energy (DOE) review of MED and AEC records indicated that documentation was insufficient to determine if the facility was decontaminated to current unrestricted use criteria. DOE sponsored a radiological survey and assessment by Argonne National Laboratory from 1976 through 1979.
This assessment identified areas with residual radioactive materials above current NRC unrestricted use release criteria of 5000 disintegrations 2
per minute (dpm) (83 becquerels (Bq))/100 square centimeters (cm')
average alpha activity; 15,000 dpm (250 Bq)/100 cm' maximum alpha activity; and 1000 dpm (17 Bq)/100 cm* removable alpha activity.
These criteria are found in NRC's " Guidelines for Decontamination of Facilities and Equipment prior to Release for Unrestricted Use or Termination of Licenses for Byproduct, Source, or Special Nuclear 4
Material," August 1987. As a result of the identified contamination, the survey was extended in 1978 to encompass the entire Harshaw Chemical Company Complex on Harvard Avenue. This survey identified several Harshaw Chemical Company buildings with residual radioactive materials in excess of current unrestricted use release criteria.
In addition, the survey identified contamination in soil and exterior locations throughout the complex.
The report concluded, however, that due to the 2
nature of activities in the buildings that there was no immediate health and safety concerns to members of the public.
In 1992 Chevron contracted with Rust Remedial Services, formerly Chemical Waste' Management, Nuclear Waste Division, to conduct a radiological assessment of Building C.
This assessment confirmed the radiological conditions identified during the Argonne survey.
The building is secured within a fenced area.
No production or plant operations are conducted in the building.
2.
Radioloaical Survev The radiological survey of Chevron's Building C was conducted to assess the radiological conditions at the facility. The survey was performed using a Ludlum Model 3 portable survey meter, Serial Number 105679, last calibrated on February 8,1994, coupled to a Ludlum Model 44-9 Geiger-Mueller (G-M) pancake detector. A background count rate of 50 counts per minute (cpm) was established in the parking lot across the street from the Engelhard Corporation Facility. An efficiency of 18 percent was established for the detector using a strontium-90/ yttrium-90 (Sr/Y-90) check source.
The survey consisted of randomly walking through the building covering less than 10 percent of the floor area and less than 5 percent of the lower walls.
Survey measurements were not obtained above a 3 meter height.
Particular attention was given to floor drains, floor cracks, window ledges, and horizontal pipe runs. Wipes for removable activity were collected and analyzed for gross alpha and gross beta activity.
3.
Survey Results The first floor comprised an area of 45,100 square feet (ft*) (4190 square meters (m )). The first floor mezzanine is comprised of 3700 ft" (344 m ).
Radioactive contamination is located in all areas of this floor.
In the areas surveyed, the average surface activity measured was 444,000 dpm (7548 Bq)/100 cm'.
The maximum surface activity measured was 963,000 dpm (16,371 Bq)/100 cm'.
Three wipes where collected on this floor, two from areas with average activity and one from the area with maximum activity. The maximum removable activity measured was 49 dpm (< 1 Bq)/100 cm' alpha, and 92 dpm (1.6 Bq)/100 cm* beta.
The second floor comprised an area of 14,590 ft* (1355 m*).
The second floor has two separate areas, with the larger area composed of approximately 12,271 ft (1140 m ).
Contamination is located in both second floor areas.
In the areas surveyed, the average surface activity measured was 370,000 dpm (6290 Bq)/100 cm'.
The maximum surface activity measured was 1,296,000 dpm (22,000 Bq)/100 cm'.
Two wipes for removable activity were collected on thi.s floor. The maximum removable activity measured was 21 dpm (<1 Bq)/100 cm' alpha, and 24 dpm
(<1 Bq)/100 cm' beta.
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i The third floor comprised an area of 3,200 ft* (297 m*).
This is directly above the smaller second floor area. Contamination was i
identified on this ' floor also.
Intheareassurveyedtheaverage activity measured was 370,000 dpm (6290 Bq)/100 'cm. The maximum activity measured was 926,000 dpm (16,000 Bq)/100 cm*.
No wipes for removable activity were collected at this location.
The lower roof area of Building C.was surveyed with all measurements indistinguishable fron background.
4.
Exit Meetina H
An exit meeting was held with the individuals indicated in Section 1 of.
this-report at the conclusion of the radiological survey on 1
March 7, 1994. The preliminary results of the survey were discussed.
The Chevron representative discussed their inquiry into NRC's ragulatory authority for this facility. 'The inspector indicated that NRC's Office i
of General Counsel and Division of-low Level Waste are currently reviewing the issues of NRC's regulatory authority.
i The Chevron representative indicated that they have a remediation plan developed and would like to conduct the remediation during the summer of-l 1994.
In addition, the Chevron representative requested NRC's determination be provided in writing, if NRC. claims no regulatory responsibility.
Engelhard representatives were informed that' if NRC assumes regulatory responsibility for the Chevron building, it would most likely assume regulatory responsibility for the Engelhard buildings and grounds that are contaminated.
Chevron and Engelhard representatives did.not identify any information discussed as being proprietary.
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