ML20045A784

Advises That Actions Taken to Resolve Concern Re Elevated Gamma Level,Detected on Clean Waste Dumpster,Adequate to Resolve Concern & Documentation Accurately Describes Final Radiological Status of Remaining Waste as Acceptable

ML20045A784
Person / Time
Site:	05000294
Issue date:	01/29/1990
From:	Berger J OAK RIDGE ASSOCIATED UNIVERSITIES
To:	Patricia Pelke NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III)
References
NUDOCS 9306140227
Download: ML20045A784 (8)

Text

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Oak Ridge Energy / j Associated Post Office Bcx t 1 ' Enwonment i Universities Oak Ridge. Tennessee 37831-0117 Systems Division l

January 29, 1990 l l

Mr. Paul Pelke Nuclear Regulatory Commission ,

Region III 799 Roosevelt Road Glen Ellyn, Illinois 60137

Subject:

DUMPSTERS OF " CLEAN" WASTE FROM MSU TRIGA >

REACTOR DECOMMISSIONING i

Dear Mr. Pelke:

ORAU has reviewed the documentation developed by Michigan State University (see  !

attached), describing the actions taken to resolve the concern regarding an. >

elevated gamma level, detected on one of the " clean" waste dumpsters'during our confirmatory survey visit. Both dumpsters were emptied and the waste monitored i item-by-item. The source of the elevated gamma level was identified as a small-  :

metal washer; no other items were found to have associated residual radiation or contamination above ambient background levels. On the basis of the  !

agreement between ORAU and MSU (Chem-Nuclear Systems, Inc.) data on the other ,

portions of the confirmatory survey, it is our opinion that the actions were .;

adequate to resolve the concern and that the documentation accurately describes  ;

the final radiological status of the remaining waste as being acceptable for disposal without restrictions.

If you have any questions, I may be reached at FTS- 626-3305.

Sincerely, r

" iAWf James D. Berger, Director Environmental Survey and Site Assessment Program JDB:jls l l

Enclosures j cc: C. Sjoblom, NRC/6H3 G. LaRoche, NRC/6H3 i D. Tiktinsky, NRC/6A4 i CYTMid pe7YNRC/6A47 i

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9306140227 900129 PDR ADOCK 05000294 i p PDR ,

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MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY COL 11.GE OF ENGINEERING EAST LANSING + MICHIGAN

• 46824-1226 ,

DEPARTMENT Or CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

$17/355 3155 FAX: 517/3361105

.t January 4, 1990 Mr. Jim Berger Oak Ridge Associated Universities Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830 RE: Resolution of the dumpster contamination question at Michigan State University ,

Dear Mr. Berger:

Attached is a summary to recap the events that occurred during the recent inspection that you and your team conducted here at Michigan State  !

University in support of the TRIGA Reactor Decommissioning and ultimate termination of our NRC Reactor License. Also attached are the results of the surveys conducted on the vaste dumpsters after your team demobilized.

As you will recall, there was a question concerning potential radioactive content of the waterial (" clean" waste from the dismantlement operations) stored in these dumpsters located outside the Engineering Building. To resolve this problem, we had decided that the dumpsters should be unloaded and the contents re-surveyed in order to identify the source of the elevated radiation readings.

This operation has been completed on both dumpsters and, as shown in the attachments, the " source" was located and identified. It has since been removed, packaged, and will be properly disposed of as radioactive waste.

Please review the enclosed information and let us know if you have any further questions. We sincerely appreciate your cooperation in this matter.

1 can be reached at (517)355-3444 or 355-5135.

Cordially yourg, b- _-,_

Bruce Wilkinson Reactor Supervisor M5Liu en Affseneatnw Actson Equalopportunstvinststotuon

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MIC111GAN STATE UNIVERSITY .

I college OF ENGINEEUNG EAST LANSING

• MICHIGAN

• 48824 1226

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DEPARTMETR OT OEMICAL ENGIMIUNG {

517/)151135 FAX: 517/3361103 i ' January 4, 1990 l(

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO SUPPORT TIIE VERIFICATION SURVEY / INSPECTION OF Tile MICllICAN STATE UNIVERSITY TRICA REACTOR FACILITY

_(Docket 50-294 License R-115)  ;

i.

On December 18, 1989 the NRC contractor (Oak Ridge Associated Universities -  !

ORAU) cond'n ted a verification survey / inspection of the Michigan State University TRIGA Reactor Facility as required for License termination j following dismantlement / decommissioning operations. During the survey, MSU 4

personnel and the MSU contractor's (Chem-Nuclear Systems, Inc. - CNSI) l Project Manager were on-site to observe and assist as necessary. This }

proved to be helpful since not all areas associated with the reactor facility were immediately obvious / accessible. The secondary pump station  :

and various pipe and conduit penetrations located in the basement (machine  !

shop and services tunnel) and elsewhere about the Engineering Building were made available to the chief inspector, and were included as part of the inspection / survey. i V

Based on preliminary results conveyed to the licensee by. the inspection team, all areas of the Facility are in compliance with the criteria for release; no corrective action was required.

In addition to the surveys in the " remote" locations of the Facility as mentioned above, one other area was expected to be included in the Final .

Inspection. As discussed in Section 6.2 of the " Termination Radiation  !

Survey Summary and Final Report", " clean" (non-radioactive) waste generated j during the dismantlement operations was collected and stored in (2) metal' i dumpsters located outside the Engineering Building (see Attachment 1). '

Since this was donc as a final step in maintaining positive con *.rol of all '

waste from the Project site, it was anticipated that these dumpsters should ,

be surveyed / inspected by the NRC prior to releasing them for disposal in a '

local landfill.

Results of the verification survey (see Attachment 2) indicated that one of ,

the dumpsters (shown as "dumpster No. 1") probably contained radioactive '

material above the limits for release. The other dumpster ("No. 2") ,

exhibited no detectable radiation above background as reported by the i inspector and verified by MSU.

In order to identify the cause of the elevated readings, it was necessary to I unload the dumpster. It was decided that the Licensee (MSU) and contractor would unload and re-survey the entire dumpster (No. 1). In addition, the same operation would be performed on dumpster No. 2 since, although the external survey results were satisfactory, it too was now suspect. A written report of the results was to be forwarded to the chief inspector who would incorporate it into his report to the NRC. This decision was relayed to the NRC Region III office. Results of this task / survey is provided as Attachment 3.

AlW ss an Afhrmatus Aitew f:qn.at oppneruness lossstateon

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The unloading, surveying, and repackaging was conducted on December 19 & 20,. i 1989. Materials, mostly contained in plastic trash bags, were removed in a.  ;

controlled manner and surveyed with a sensitive gamma-scintillometer -

instruments. As indicated in the survey results, the source of the-elevated  ;

readings on dumpster No. 1 was determined to be from a small (1/2"-dia.)  !

steel washer that somehow got into the " clean" waste stream. The radioactivity associated with this item was induced Cobalt-60 which -

exhibited approximately 5 mR/hr on contact and is estimated to contain 5 to .

10 micro-Curies of activity. Although a detailed investigation has been made and several explanations formulated, the true cause for the oversight  ;

can only be speculated. Fortunately, the waste had been retained for this  ;

final evaluation, the mistake was identified, and recovery was made.

The radioactive material has been properly packaged and will be disposed of I as radioactive waste. The dumpsters have been reloaded and will be released to a local sanitary landfill upon notification of License termination'from the NRC.

D i

r 2The survey instrument used was a Ludlum Model 3 ratemeter with a 2" x 2" sodium-iodide (NaI) detector (Ludlum model 44-10)

LON tout *d4 Tron /MSDICTION ft tmYt cuavsv atrow lo .- Dec 19-20,1989 Yet 5'^"'

0945 Twt cm (Ie/20) 1]QQ roc _1_ oF 2 to ~,

wc^' Mich State University MSU:

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• o RaotA1 .suavev Dumpster S torage Area 3.W.Wilkinson CNSI M. Mr.nning covut~rs

,, g Allowable limits are NRC Rec. Guian 1_ M rne c,v r South of Engineering Bldg .

"Attachmcnt 3" Contamination and 5 micro r/hr exposure rate e n avessa r tivrts opence em* AirH A cscA maEA co~taat s tuts demnCO cm* *LPH4 O ovsta release limits) as specified in the MSU decommissioning p'lan (St E CCuutNT$1 comnco cm* 9( TA-O Auun ec*M00 cm' BE Ta.Gauus O No acT.cN aEco CCNt au'N AT CN ' ALN4 BET A-oA pua Eberline FMIT)

SouaCt CHtCK DAT A CONT A u.NaTcN sunwETS ,Nstavu m "' m ano m aA DI ATION W/HP-210 probe #274 At ru. eE,Ac.uu. etT cAuua a ^g','TgN NEUTaON i; BETA 4AuuAludlum MOdel 3 sovactio 99 *5'""" "' "w n. ~ W/44-10_2x2 crystal Tc sovace sTarncTw com 91,019 em 2.2x10" "^oco*"EVEW M. R. Manning, CNSI e,T, 1/2/90

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~ sw-u eETA-cauur O neu Efficiency 26.4% O 7 i.- O racee ""- ' "- sevTaoN O toc %,cN

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cicxcacuNo c,m 20 com 150&

• cpm raoIE Em- Ee's s'co cm""< e w 0 AEASON FOR SURVEY O raocrovaE-No C3 srtciat Re-survey of " clean" waste stored in "  ! I D aoutiNE dumpsters from the Rx dismantlement.  !

• ALPHA BET A-G auu a m,.mn. O " I I sWWE/ B ET A-G auu n O m

EQUav ._._ EoVW , on n g raose NeutacN O toc ^"o" NO enms com> ever cent enope too cm a racee ico em mier, aw O (on contaet) 23 l l t -

l ( 2x Bk'g (5 Materials from Dump uter # 1 (exhept . tem 21- was ler) 2 l l < 5 mr/hr 1/2 inch steel wash e r 2Trem Damhster #1 !

3 I ( 2x Bkh ( 5 Materials from Dump nt rr #2 l l 4

l l 2 l I s I i 2.

I i 6' All Materials ekhibited less tha n twice

l l 7 ba c k},round levels after washer was removed 30 l l om e fromlDumpster #l. Dumpster #2 did not demonstrate s' l l gp 9 overltwice backi;round radiation / contamination levels, u l l

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• THE RNom4G a wtLLFUL RECOADING CF FALSE. FICTICIOUS.Om FaauDULENT $7Aff u(NTS OR ENTR8t$ ON THis DOCUuf MT W AT BE PUNISMA8tt AS A FELONT UNDER FEOtaAL STATUTES.

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ATTACHMENT 2 METAL "DUMPSTERS" USED TO COLLECT / STORE " CLEAN" WASTE (1) from the MSU TRIGA Reactor Dismantlement / Decommissioning Project Capacity: Approx. 8 Cubic Yards Number of Dumpsters used: 2 (See Attachment i for actual location of the dumpsters at ACCESS / LOADING DOORS the Project Site)

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Verification Survey Results(2):

(conducted on 18 Dec 89 by ORAU)

Dumpster No.1: All Background readings except as noted above Dumpster No. 2: All Background readings (satisfactory)

A'OTN-(1) " Clean" waste conshted of mheeHaneous construction debns and routhe/daHy trash generated ,

1 durkg the dhmanuement operations. Refer to Secuon 62 of the MSUDecommbsionmg Plan and/or Thal Report 'for further hjormation.

(2) - SurveyInstrument Used Portable Count-rate Meter w/2"r 2"Na/ Detector 4

P 19 & 20 DEC 89  !-

RE-SURVEY OF Tile MSU CLEAN WASTE DUMPSTERS (No.1 & No. 2) f (Surveys conducted following NRC verfication survey on 19 Dec - see Attachment 2) ']

Trash & trash bags were unloaded from the dumpsters & surveyed (1) , ,

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see Attachment I for actuallocation on h

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\ Ei RADIOACTIVITY ESTIMATE /EVALUATIOR i Gamma Spectroscopy Performed;  ;

• Major Isotope Identified - Cobalt-00 -

Using a Co60 Check Source of known Activity, the a livity of the Washer was estimated as follows:

1/2" Flat Steel Washer Found in check Source Dumpster Activity - 0.5 uCi Number 1 Source Strength' - 0.35 mR/hr gg, b:

Washer ).

(1) - Survey Instruments Used: Radiation Level' - approx. 5 mR/hr i" Estimated Activity 10 uCi p' Ludlum Model 3 w/model 44-10 probe (2"x 2" Nal) & .

0.5uci Eberline PRM-6 w/ IIP-210 probe (thin-window GM lube) x SmR/hr = 7uci 0.35mR/hr g Results were all " background" after the steel washer was removed - i

• - as measured on contact w/an Eberline  ?.

lon ChamberInstrument (