ML20059F516
| ML20059F516 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 01/11/1994 |
| From: | Chamberlain D NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV) |
| To: | Sinclair W UTAH, STATE OF |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9401140051 | |
| Download: ML20059F516 (6) | |
Text
{{#Wiki_filter:/ UNITED STATES pB REGuq 2 4 k NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 'I PI R EGION IV 3 *. 4[ o' e G11 RYAN PLAZA DRIVE, SulTE 400 i ARLINGTON, TEXAS 76011-8064 f JAN I I 1994 Docket: 40-204 License: STB-434 (terminated April 1971) State of Utah ATTN: William J. Sinclair, Director, Division of Radiation Control 168 North 1950 West P.O. Box 144850 Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-4850 The purpose of this letter is to confirm that the State of Utah plans to provide lead regulatory oversight of all activities involving radioactive materials at the Morton Automotive Safety Products factory in Ogden, Utah. The Marquardt Aircraft Company of Van Nuys, California, was issued source material License C-3650 in January 1957 for possession of magnesium-thorium alloy to be used in the manufacture of controls, accessories, and engine parts. In January 1958, License C-3650 was revised to include the Marquardt facility in Ogden at 1000 West 33rd Street. In September 1961, source i material License C-3650 expired and License STB-434 was issued for the Marquardt facility in Ogden. In March 1971, the Murdock Machine and Engineering Company, successors of the Marquardt Company, informed the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) that they had not used or acquired any thorium for at least 2 years and did not foresee any requirement for it; therefore, they -l requested that the AEC cancel the license and the invoice that had been submitted for the license. License STB-434 was terminated on April 12, 1971. The old Marquardt facility in Ogden was eventually acquired by Volvo-White, which was absorbed by General Motors. The facility was eventually sold to Morton International, Morton Automotive Safety Products, which makes automobile air bags. The current address for Morton Automotive Safety Products is 3350 Airport Road, Ogden, Utah, 84405. .) During late August /early September 1993, a consultant for Morton was used to survey the old Marquardt facility in Ogden. Selected areas outside the manufacturing facility were found to have elevated radioactivity readings. Radiation levels identified during the initial survey were reported to be approximately 25 times background levels. A concentration of thorium in excess of 60 picocuries/ gram was discovered in one soil sample. Residual radiaactivity was not found inside the facility buildings. The consultant concluded the contamination levels were below levels considered hazardous to humans. However, the results of the consultant's inspection were determined to t'e significant enough to justify the performance of a more extensive characterization survey, which was scheduled for late October 1993. A copy of l the consultant's letter to Morton which documents the preliminary findings was obtained by the NRC on October 19, 1993. J \\ 9401140051 940111 0 0 PDR STPRQ ESCUT PDR I
I 1 i i State of Utah I An NRC~ inspector visited the Morton facility on November 9, 1993, to independently determine whether radioactive material was still-present at the l facility. This inspector was accompanied by Mr. D. Mitchell, Health i Physicist, Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Radiation Control, j State of Utah. Residual radioactivity was found outside the facility but not inside the production building, which confirmed Morton's findings. In summary, the radiation levels measured were not immediate radiological health l hazards to the general public or the environment; however, residual radioactivity levels were found to be above current NRC guidelines, indicating that remediation activities are warranted at the site. l On November 10, 1993, a member of the Region IV staff, Mr. R. Evans, and Mr. W. Sinclair, Division Director, Department of Environmental Quality, i Division of Radiation Ccntrol, State of Utah, briefly discussed the Morton j facility at the state's office in Salt Lake City. Mr. Sinclair stated that the state would provide regulatory oversight of the Morton facility in Ogden. On November 18, 1993, Mr. C. Jones, also of the Division of Radiation Control, State of Utah, called the NRC to express concerns about oversight responsibilities. Mr. Jones wanted to know whether the NRC considers the old Marquardt site to be the responsibility of NRC or the State. 'This concern apparently came about because the Marquardt facility was previously'an AEC licensed facility whose license had been terminated before the State of Utah became an Agreement State. -{ The State of Utah.became an Agreement State on April 1, 1984. The " Agreement j Between the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the State of Utah j for Discontinuance of Certain Commission Regulatory Authority and' Responsibility Within the State Pursuant to Section 274 of the Atomic Energy-Act of 1954, As Amended," was recently reviewed by the NRC Region IV staff. As a result of that review, the staff believes that the state has clear _ regulatory responsibility for the Morton facility consistent with the above referenced agreement. This position was concurred with by the Region.IV l Regional Counsel and the State Agreements Program Officer. Marquardt also had an acecptance test laboratory located at the Little Mountain Annex of Hill Air Force Base. Based upon information in the i Marquardt docket file, the NRC apects that two abandoned magnesium-thorium alloy disposal pits are located on the 2150-acre site..The NRC has not yet. confirmed whether the land that the pits are located on is federally owned l property or state owned property leased by the Air Force. Tentatively, regulatory oversight of the remediation activities at Little Mountain is assumed to be the responsibility of the NRC because of the Air Force's master material license. A final' decision on who should oversee remediation of the 1 Little Mountain disposal pits will be made when regulatory jurisdiction-over the property is determined. The NRC plans to inform the state of all activities involving the Little Mountain Annex of Hill Air Force Base under different correspondence. -1 i
-O State of Utah In sumriiary, we understand that the State of Utah will be the lead regulatory agency overseeing the remediation of radioactive materials at the Morton Automotive Safety Products facility in Ogden. We would appreciate updates on the status of this facility during NRC state program reviews. Regulatory-responsibility for the disposal pits at the Little Mountain Annex is uncertain, depending on whether the Air Force has exclusive federal jurisdiction over that site. Should you have any questions concerning this subject matter, we will be pleased to discuss them with you. Sincerely, I Els-dL4 ML-pwig D. Char %erl in, f Ac ing Director - Division of Radia 1on Safety and Safeguards
State of Utah, bcc: i DMB - Original (IE-07) JLMilhoan DDChamberlain CJPaperiello, NMSS/IMNS (6E6) JHAustin, NMSS/LLDR (5E4) FCCombs, NMSS/IM0B (6H3) PFGoldberg, NMSS/IM0B (6H3) WLFisher CLCain RJEvans WLBrown, RC RJDoda, SAPO NMLS MIS System j RIV Files (2) 1 l 1 i 1 _RIV:NMLS
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- Previously concurred
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- D:LLWM/NMSS ADdth ODCbbblain JTGreeves
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- Previously concurred
.b. State of Utah : bCC W/ enclosure: DMB - Original (IE-07) JLMilhoan DDChamberlain CJPaperiello, NMSS/IMNS (6E6) FCCombs, NMSS/IM0B (6H3) PFGoldberg, NMSS/IMDB (6H3) WLFisher CLCain RJEvans WLBrown, RC RJDoda, SAPO NMLS MIS System RIV Files (2) L b
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