ML20126A219

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Application for Amend to License TR-2,transferring Authorization to Possess Retired Wtr Soil Basins & Remaining Residual Radioactivity to License SNM-770
ML20126A219
Person / Time
Site: Waltz Mill, 07000698
Issue date: 12/08/1992
From: Nardi A
WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC COMPANY, DIV OF CBS CORP.
To: Michaels T
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
RS-92-50, NUDOCS 9212180052
Download: ML20126A219 (6)
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Westinghouse Commercial Nucleat Ba 355 Electric Corporation Fuel Division

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  • D # * ' " "2
  • 355 RS 92-50 December 8, 1992 U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Washington, D. C. 20555 Attention: Mr. Theodore S. Michaels Gentlemen:

Subject:

Request for Amendment to License TR-2, Docket 50-22 The Westinghouse Electric Corporation hereby requests an amendment to License TR-2, Docket 50-22, transferring the authorization to possess the retired Westinghouse Test Reactor (WTR) soil basins and remair,ing residual radioactivity to License SNM-770, Docket 70-698. This latter license is a broad special nuclear, byproduct and source grade materials license which covers all operations and facilities on the Waltz Mill Site, except those associated with the retired WTR. No change in the current SNM-770 possession limits will be required as a result of this amendment.

Attached is a description of the soil basins and a justification for making the transfer from the TR-2 possession only license to the SNM-770 site operating license. In accordance with the provisions of 10CFR170.21,~no fee payment is due with this application. If you have any questions or require additional information, please contact me at the above address or telephone '

me on (412) 374-4652.

Ver uly you e ne 2l A. f Naviii, Hada Regulatory Serlices cc: USNRC Region I Copies Transmitted: 3 notarized & 10 conformed COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA)

COUNTY OF ALLEGHENY) ss Sworn and subscribed before me this

[4 day of AMM6M , 1992 - - - - - - - - - - - -

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I TRANSFERRING POSSESSION OF RETIRED WTR S0ll BASINS FROM LICENSE TR-2 TO LICENSE SNM-770 BACKGROUND Subsequent to the fuel element meltdown at the Westinghouse Test Reactor (WTR) in April 1960, it became necessary to store large quantities of contaminated water prior to processing and removal of the radioactivity.

Since it was impossible to obtain tanks having sufficient capacity within a short time, several excavations were made on the site property to create holding basins where this water could be retained. Three (3) basins designated as No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 were used for storage of this contaminated water. The basins are located on the site approximately as shown on Figure 1.

DESCRIPTION Basin No. 1 is approximately 115 ft x 200 ft x 12 ft deep. Following excavation, the clay base of the basin was covered with a koroseal liner and the basin was filled with contaminated water. Basins No. 2 and No. 3 are immediately adjacent to each other and the approximate combined size of the 2 basins is 100 ft x 180 ft x 12 ft deep. Following excavation, -

the bottoms of these basins were covered with a 6-12 inch layer of sand and this surface was cotered with polyethylene sheeting prior to filling with contaminated water.

Subsequently, all contaminated water was removed from these basins and processed through a 2000 gallon per hour evaporation plant. In mid-1963 the basins were backfilled with the earth which was originally excavated.

The resulting soil surface of the area has a gradual slope from north to south which provides good surface drainage from this area.

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CHARACTERIZATION Limited data-is'available on the radioactivity present:in theLbasins at

- the time of backfilling. However,-utilizing what data available, we estimate the following activity to'be present--in the as as of -

September 1992:

d Basin No. 1 - 46 millicuries Basin No. 2 - 0.5 millicuries Basin No. 3 - 15 millicuries l Since the radionuclides present at the time of backfilling (29 years _ago)-

were identified as mixed fission and activation products, the radioactivity remaining in the' basins in 1992 is assumed to be'primarily .

Cs-137 and Sr-90.

In 1979, a number of monitoring wells, identified-as TH on Figure 2, were installed in the vicinity of the backfilled basins. Since the well installation, groundwater samples have been taken on a quarterly basis and -

analyzed for radioactivity. The gross alpha activity in all samples-to date-has been below the NRC identified action level of 15 picocuries per liter. Upon occasion, the gross beta activity in a quarterly well sample ,

has exceeded the NRC identified action level of 50 picocuries per liter - s (to a maximum of 210 picocuries:per liter). Further analysis of these samples has shown the major radionuclide-to be St-90. - Although the' source of this low level contamination has not been definitely confirmed,.-the residual activity _in the backfilled basins is strongly suspected, s

l~ Between 1981 and 1983, -additional. monitoring wells were installed in the

. area of the site low level radioactive waste complex which is_ possessed

i. -
under License SNM-770 and which is-in close-proximity to the-backfilled ,

L - basins. These wells are identified as OHE and MW on Figure 2. Like the TH wells described above,. the OHE and MW wells have been: sampled on a quarterly basis. ' The gross alpha activity in all samples'to date has been-p below the' action level _ of 15 picocuries per liter. However, the gross-beta activity in several of the wells has frequently exceeded the' action

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. . i lev,el of 50 picocuries per liter. As a result, various actions have been taken which have significantly reduced, but not eliminated, the contamination levels in these wells. Sources, other than the backfilled basins, have been identified as the major probable contributors to this contamination.

JUSTIFICATION Westinghouse is in the process of hiring contractors to undertake an assessment and remediation of the soil and groundwater conditions on the Waltz Mill Site. Included in this work scope is a review of the existing data, obtaining additional characterization data as deemed necessary, and preparing and implementing a remediation plan to eliminate the ground u er contamination. Since some of the suspected sources (backfilled basins) of the soil and groundwater contamination are possessed under License TR-2 and other suspected sources (drainlines, underground piping, etc.) are possessed under License SNM-770, implementation of the assessment, characterization and remediation work will be unwieldy and inefficient due to different license conditions and the need to interact with different sections of the NRC. Since most of the suspected sources and the largest areas of significant soil and groundwater contamination are currently possessed under License SNM-770, we request that the backfilled WTR basins be removed from License TR-2 and placed in License SNM-770. Such a transfer to License SNM-770 will have no impact on current possession-limits, scope of operations or license conditions, but will enhance our ability to proceed toward remediation in a more timely and efficient manner.

Furthermore, our objective is to decommission the facilities currently possessed under License TR-2 and to terminate that license. License SNM-770, however, covers all ongoing site activities involving radioactive materials and we anticipate retaining this license into the indefinite future. Therefore, continued soil and groundwater surveillance of the site would be performed under this license.

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