ML20062B251

Expresses Concern Re Approx Three Dozen Drums Found Near Site in Poor Condition.Listed Questions Should Be Appended to Sierra Club 820326 Petition Re License Change 32 to License CSF-1

ML20062B251
Person / Time
Site:	West Valley Demonstration Project
Issue date:	07/14/1982
From:	Finaldi L Sierra Club
To:	Cunningham R NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS)
References
20978, NUDOCS 8208040401
Download: ML20062B251 (4)

Text

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pa. 2 /u h 78 Elmwood Avenue

• Buffalo, New York 14201 (716)884 1000 Ac 255 Grove Street . White Plains New York 10602 (914) 949-9700 ]Of July 14 1982 lehtD k 9

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YA Richard Cunningham, Director s '

Division of Fuel Cycle Material Safety Office of Nuclear Material. Safety and Safeguards -

7 OECen bh.g.,

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission j! JUL 2 -

Washington, D.C. 20555 y- u.s. we,,,3 lg22. Ol co m ,..,,","d % e,j N'.tss

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Dear Mr. Cunningham:

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It has been brought to the attention of the Sierra Club Radi ]oactive Waste Campaign that approximately three dozen drums (55- and 110-gallon) -

have been found over one half mile south of the state and NRC licensed burial grounds at the West Valley Nuclear Services Center, West Valley, New York. One of the drums was placarded " Nuclear Fuel Services, West Valley, NY, Radioactive Material',' DOT #SP 5061 18/16 110-69." The drums were in very poor condition, breached and rusted throughout. Most appeared to be empty, and an undetermined amount were under water. Some of the drums were smashed and broken into pieces.

Although the New York State Department of Health in Buffalo (William O' Brien) has found the radiation levels not significantly greatar than l backgrnund, there are several unanswered questions regarding the druma l which need to be addressed. The Club is deeply concerned about the l possible legal ramifications this finding may have on the agreeement between NFS and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority regarding the responsibilities at the site. This incident represents a serious violation of the original license NFS held with New York State For this reason, the Club would like to append this information to its petition to the NRC requested on March 26, 1982 ,

regarding the license change #32 to NRC license no. CSF-1.

• The following questions must be answered before all NFS's liabilities can be determined'.

1) When, why, how and by whom were these drums originally dumped? f

2) Why are they situated one half mile south of the facility's " exclusion l area? " Ti

3) Did or do the drums contain radioactive material or were any of them '

radioactive themselves?. What was the level of radioactivi v measured at the drums in epm or mR/hr'.? g s G '

N l n %r-e v r' y d&, L.t s .

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radioactive waste W,. . ~ ?? 'k 23 pa% c-

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NRC page 2

4) Has radioactivity migrated into the creek or its surrounding soil from these drums?

5) Are additional drums buried or dumped in the area outside the exclusion area?

6) What documentation is there to identify these drums and their past use?

7) What action will the NRC take if this is indeed a violation of the NFS license?

We look forward to your prompt response regarding this finding. Thank you for your prompt attention to this important matter.

Sincerely,

.i

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Lisa Finaldi

Diane D'Arrigo Campaign Staff enclosure (NRC only)

CC: William O'Brien, NY DOH John Davis, NRC Marvin Resnikoff, Sierra Club Mina Hamilton, Sierra Club Carol Mongerson, Coalition on West Valley Nuclear Wastes ,

r James Turi, US DOE Ted DeBoer, NYSERDA Karin Sheldon, SCLDF o

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