ML20132B449
| ML20132B449 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 12/13/1996 |
| From: | Joseph Holonich NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| To: | Sena R ENERGY, DEPT. OF |
| References | |
| REF-WM-63 NUDOCS 9612170219 | |
| Download: ML20132B449 (2) | |
Text
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UNITED STATES g
j NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION t
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20666-0001 l
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8 December 13, 1996 l
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l Mr. Richard Sena, Acting Director i
Environmental Restoration Division Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action Project U.S. Department of Energy 2155 Louisiana NE, Suite 4000 Albuquerque, NM 87110
SUBJECT:
VICINITY PROPERTY COMPLETION REPORT FOR THE MEXICAN HAT, UTAH VICINITY PROPERTY NUMBER MH-024
Dear Mr. Sena:
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff has completed its review of the Vicinity Property (VP) Completion Report (CR) for property number MH-024 submitted by letter dated July 29, 1996. The property is a large arroyo (canyon) that runs from north of the former Mexican Hat processing site to the San Juan River. A pipeline from the processing site had discharged contaminated material into the arroyo. The Remedial Action Plan proposed to clean up the upper portion of the arroyo, and to apply supplemental standards to the sparsely vegetated lower portion of the arroyo, leaving approximately 1591 cubic yards of contaminated material. NRC staff concurred on this application of supplemental standards (January 3,1992) based on the high cost of remediation and the low health benefit resulting from the remediation.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is now seeking NRC concurrence on this CR because during remedial action, DOE applied additional supplemental standards for Th-230 contamination. One grid (100 m') in area A-1 (top of the upper portion of the arroyo) was found to have a sandstone ledge containing 85 pCi/g Th-230. The rocky area was backfilled to prevent erosion and ponding of run-off. DOE estimated that the volume of contaminated material is 100 cubic yards. DOE's justification for application of supplemental standards is the risk of injury to workers, the high cost relative to long-term benefits, and
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the existence of radionuclides other than Ra-226 [40 CFR 192.22(a) and (b)]. 4/
The CR contains Th-230 data for only 5 soil samples. One of the samples from Area A-1 was 92 pCi/g.
In order to complete our review of the CR, NRC staff requests that DOE: 1) provide the rationale for this limited amount of Th-230 verification sampling; 2) address how the elevated soil sample of 92 pC1/g was handled; and 3) provide the analytical data for the sandstone sample.
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If you have any questions concerning this letter, please contact the NRC l
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Project Manager, Harold Lefevre (301) 415-6678.
Sincerely,
[ original signed by
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Daniel M. Gillen for]
Joseph J. Holonich, Chief Uranium Recovery Branch Division of Waste Management Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards cc:
R. Edge, DOE Alb S. Hamp, DOE Alb E. Artiglia, TAC Alb J. Virgona, DOE GJP0 DISTRIBUTION:
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