ML20058N171
| ML20058N171 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 09/07/1993 |
| From: | Taylor J NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | Hoke M HOUSE OF REP. |
| References | |
| CCS, NUDOCS 9310080196 | |
| Download: ML20058N171 (6) | |
Text
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UNITED STATES 4
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION i
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W ASHINGTON, D.C. 205W0001 September 7, 1993 t
The Honorable Martin R. Hoke U.S. House of Representatives t
Washington D. C.
20515
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Dear Congressman Hoke:
j This provides information for your use in response to the letter to you dated May 3,1993, from Joel P. Vujevich, President, United Auto Workers Local 1050, regarding the radiological contamination at the Aluminum Company of America (ALC0A) facility in Cleveland, Ohio. Mr. Vujevich's concerns arose from an April 29, 1993 article in the Cleveland Plain Dealer regarding the discovery of depleted uranium radioactive contamination at ALC0A. Mr. Vujevich questions the exposure to hazards from radioactive materials for Local 1050 members currently working at the ALC0A facility and those that may have worked at the facility in the past.
He also requests data regarding those hazards.
ALC0A used NRC licensed radioactive thorium in its operations during the 1950's and 1960's and the adjacent themetron Corporation facility used NRC licensed depleted uranium in its operation until 1971. Since ALC0A never used depleted uranium, the depleted uranium contamination found at ALC0A Building 65 is believed to have been routine airborne deposits from the Chemetron operations.
In response to the discovery of depleted uranium contamination on the ALC0A Building 65 roof, the NRC conducted a radiological survey of the residential i
and commercial properties in the immediate vicinity of the Chemetron facility.
Our survey confirmed that any areas of contamination at ALC0A or elsewhere
.j posed a negligible risk to the health and safety of residents or employees.
6 The NRC is also requiring that Chemetron conduct additional surveys in the i
area to confirm our conclusions. Chemetron's survey plan is currently being reviewed by the NRC. ALC0A has cleaned up the thorium and uranium contamination identified at its facilities and has submitted its final survey 3
report for NRC review. The NRC plans to conduct independent measurements to confirm that the cleanup was successful.
While it is difficult to reconstruct what may have occurred 20 to 30 years ago, we believe the ALC0A facilities did not pose a risk to the health and safety of ALC0A workers. Airborne releases from the Chemetron facility were required to be monitored and the Chemetron operations were periodically inspected to assure activities were conducted within NRC safety requirements.
From review of the limited records available at this time describing NRC inspections of ALC0A and Chemetron operations, we are not aware of any unsafe use of licensed materials.
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M. R. Hoke We have enclosed several documents that describe the initial levels of contamination at the ALC0A facilities and our surveys of the residential and commercial areas around Chemetron. The inspection reports from the 1960's and 1970's have been archived. We are recovering those documents for our further review and John B. Martin, Regional Administrator of our Region III office will send them to you within four weeks.
We trust that this information will be helpful to you and your consi ttuents.
Please feel free to contact us with any additional questions you may have.
l Sincerely.
/
F.;(ecutive Director for Operations
Enclosures:
1 1.
June 23, 1993 ltr fm l
C. Norelius(NRC) to l
D. Sargent(Chemetron)
I 2.
May 5, 1993 ltr fm M. Gradert(ALC0A) to NRC 3.
November 1992 rpt fm l
W. Adams (0 RISE) to NRC l
4.
March 16, 1992 ltr fm E. Rothfuss(REMCOR) to M. Gradert ALC0A)
(Preliminar(y Radiological Survey) 5.
March 16, 1992 ltr fm E. Rothfuss (REMCOR) to M. Gradert (ALC0A)
(General Radiological Survey)
)
~.
September 7, 1993 H. R. Hoke 1 We have enclosed several documents that describe the initial levels of contamination at the ALC0A facilities and our surveys of the residential and commercial areas around Chemetron. The inspection reports from the 1960's and 1970's have been archived. We are recovering those documents for our further review and John B. Martin, Regional Administrator of our Region III office will send them to you within four weeks.
We trust that this information will be helpful to you and your constituents.
Please feel free to contact us with any additional questions you may have.
Sincerely, Origmalsigned by James M. Taylor l
James M. Taylor Executive Director for Operations i
Enclosures:
I.
June 23, 1993 ltr fm 5.
March 16, 1992 ltr fm C. Norelius(NRC) to E. Rothfuss (REMCOR) to D. Sargent(Chemetron)
M. Gradert (ALC0A) 2.
May 5, 1993 ltr fm (General Radiological Survey)
M. Gradert(ALC0A) to NRC 3.
November 1992 rpt fm W. Adams (0 RISE) to NRC 4.
March 16, 1992 ltr fm E. Rothfuss(REMCOR) to M. Gradert(ALC0A)
(Preliminary Radiological Survey)
Distribution:
JTaylor JSniezek EDO r/f i
ED0-9224 JMartin, RIII SECY OCA RBernero Document Name:
Eb09224.CEJ RIII ED JMartin JTalor 8/27/93 8
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NRC/RIII RAD ID:708-790-5174 AUG 09'93-10:53 No.012 P.02 g
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MAY 07199) 4 UAW F letarnatlanal Unles, United Automobile, Asrespace & Agricshralimplement Workers of Amerina LOCAL 1060 ceu 2CO' Harvard Avenue (Rear) e Phone 218/3417900
- Cleveland, Ohio 44105 Q
JOEL P.VUFVICH.Proewsmt May 3, 1993 The Honorable Martin R. Hoke House of Representatives cannon House Office Building Room 212 Mashington D.C.
20515
Dear Representative Hoke,
UAW Local 1050 represents the Workers of ALCOA. After reading the enclosed articia on radiation at ALCOA, I am concerned about
- te Health & Safety of the Local 1050 Membership.
If there-is no present hazard, what about hazards that may have existed twenty or more years ago?
I aan interested in obtaining all pertinent data you may be ahle to act from the Nucinar Regulatory Cor. mission or other cources you may have.
Please respond as expeditiously as possible.
The Haalth &
safety of UAW Lccal 1050 P: embers may be ut. riuk.
Sincerely, f
h, Y Y
Joel P. Vujevich, President UAW fon=1 1nso one:
CC:
Rich vacovski, Aasintant Director, UAW Region 2 Luic vazquez, Health & safety specialist, International Uninn, UAW JPV/te/opeiu1794
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THUr:GDAY, ATHLCU,1992
& STATE e, -
I Radiation hot spots found at ALCOA:
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Neighbors of plant fear health risks linger
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Jan Strasrra. a spen.csran for th, N NEWM8tC8t HEIGRf$ dpv as mniin ehtc pedretat zuitr, beense it is closn to uhst inieraloi fler father, Tony Musarra. ws U S. flottear Regsfatmy Corumit *
(Mirish M Aknimn C1 of smve.ml t1,* miof the abarriorwd trials say is the sourte of the (co-tiwd in tbc house for Mr yerrs. sion,said tha contaminaticn was les Americis Cicvetane Wtwks hawdis-AIftWL office :ruWrmg deettly tammatiom the armv4funct le thwighout thetimr Ovsmtren vel enough ttiat it pidetty was not atn heattb tinrat to wrkers er nei 1&s tamed radstnt het s#5 cn'ir aesess llarvard Ave. frini her hi-tron Chemicsl Corp, pimt that haJ urinno bcxsftuortdt - t radirac-bora. *Dat agains. ht's someth;ing N rmit and in a r (9ucts in twe of their ty's h<ne.
bcre at 5 10 H ariard A m.
tiw henw rnetd ht t'arnsinto a ga:
tuihiing Y'5erttay. I astilft.who livet isth
"' ley le11 us iCs net hanrthus 1:2 'mkn bEted -in 1ie ma1ufacute se hare ta leelt intci ' he svid.
Da 17e discovery has area ressemis her pereots and tn sung stvs, our hts!th71,assittr t.ad.'Then yos of a chttticalettalyst.
Wh asked of :hoea' living and s -tieg in the arru umid hmt umdcrinsl whethes etnic prtysty nntej to krmr utry no one told ste thest weittirg artmnd ott theic
.h Pr M D h d M h,
ud bndth kre tutu draaged bv tlem abett the contambuton, in the,e white 51 its, nral ye we bmthad in the d eted urarii.rrre Mswa sa.d )cstercay. They stre hm nid 'h t.**
i the doteted uran'neai that ape-which in corse spets uns found to be thme peck this stuff n tants witi
' mtje was fating aurnd the nngh-mere han twice at high as the leve] tbc word 'dange ;us' on tbc sale.
kiling tie petyn artsnd here and g.emetron simv emnts ordv o t pa-
' inytwr4 mort than Tlyttrs ago.
ixrrmthy reciring cleanup.She also "And its not hainedrus to any-they dide't eves tell us-por, as a sutnidiary of the appbrSct 1.nt week. Sue I.assfter said she nomierett why.e ir.e beththed to txxt,T she said in disixter. "It
~;hernettte Frt sadent Mohsel Is-sukerSunteiro Ostes Co.
chrckthe faint, shorn for radation darrnT htyi anytnty'sbedth'~
derrian and o'her ccn!pany otTic als SEE HOT /4-D I, itched frere her srtendstory mn-t D
'C G1 compmy in KenhsW,mid a Qrenri-Td Hot Yal ame. age, asi Am O
t ten worker was atiewed to take spscsfr.n, said yestrrday his coct-g
- taintel lurrher harne for use in a ga-parry is t:Ikirig to Che-netreri ahc=t e
i' rage be wasbmidiaC in Terma.
six will pay to tienn up thedeMal 98 FI4 GINt-D 7
. Eo<ue cf.he tnatetial might have. timelurn on its propety. Ya\\ama-Dut be form'r M erDP3n? been bremed.forirrv empoym snY-vas stressed >esterisy abal the
. For nearly 13 ytars, httC otLcials, con pany's survtys shes the writtn-i it :till respernibic for clNamtg LP wholwased Chmetron's use ef ura' r
tra sites in Newbuch thights W.
nium, have im tr'ing to get the ination LS wt a threat' O
y low-Icvti con amuutloo a bte re-o ympm, io dean rp the rnest After - Ncnirurgh Heights Maytr Kath-(Il suited trem the corTany's illegal at-two hilfd cFarnrp;,-huge rrmvads em' fren Eihtsrds se sm not so sure.
A teinpt to digne of sratavuncontam' 'rarliotetsre ensie sit atthin Feet of 5he said ytstertisy she is cmcetxi insted rubble steen it disraant]c4 its houses as the NRC and the curspmy-for the damts of famiirs vbo liw 6
cncratiens in iM5.
nearby.'
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.Cbemetron elbei:Is pad a father,drizatewhettodoviththsn.
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' The. rnotridsl nrvered ' 117. bh:e
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l and ser 3rtL75 to baus km of e3n hrs, have,been, there for t:castf Ty westionis where else e. Ly s
timinated ruthic to e tra:ty cormpa- 'three years. P#Ments,Vho do:M Idsartis _said. 'Maybe it WJt any M
ryowned duropen Bert A e.without 'they willteter b*lue FieltyNann.
trasmd, have place elm But we doft krts thA cdrising thm of Ibc danger. Con-chibint ihm the "il Iretuse tice hasn't ben any e.hcr taoinated epiprnest was sold.c a tairts?
areas testaL*
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