ML20134D793
| ML20134D793 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 11/27/1996 |
| From: | Arp S NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| To: | Joseph Holonich NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| References | |
| REF-WM-39 NUDOCS 9702050374 | |
| Download: ML20134D793 (3) | |
Text
. . .
/ Department of Energy F * '
^ Albuquerque Operations Office P.O. Box 5400 Albuquerque. New Mexico 87185-5400 Nowmber 27,1996 i
Mr. Joseph J. Holonich, Chief Uranium Recovery Branch Office ofNuclear Material Safety and Safeguards MS T7J9 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 11545 Reckville Pike Rockville, MD 20852-2938
Dear Mr. Holonich:
The enclosed letter from the state of Utah is provided to outline oversight that was performed during the excavation of the sewerline constructed across the Vitro processing site.
Discussions with the General Manager of Central Valley Water Reclamation Facility indicate that they continued to oversee the excavat, ton after the state representatives left the site. In addition, all equipment was monitored at completion of the effort. No radioactisity or l radioactive material was encountered during this work. l Ifyou have any questions regarding this infonnation, please give me a call at (505) 845-5668.
Sincerely, Site Manager
/
Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action Team
. Environmental Restoration Division Enclosure cc w/o enclosme:
M. Fliegel, NRC
((/ \U R. Fisher, CVWRF S. Hamp, ERD D yy0,p E. Artiglia, TAC '
S. Cox, TAC 9702050374 961127 I 1
l S ltll e O f C i:! h DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY i DIVISION OF RADIATION CONTROL
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-- MichadILleavitt 4 168 North 1950 West 0"" I P.o. Bo:t 144850 Dianne R. Nielson. Ph.D.
Exece h salt Lake City. Utah 84114-4850 (801) 536-4250 Voice y ggD n Williarn L sinclair g (801) 533-4097 Fax
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l (801) 536-4414 T.D.D.
August 26,1996 Sharon J. Arp, Site Manager United States Department of Energy Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action Project Office 2155 Louisiana Blvd., N.E., Suite 4000 Albuquerque, New Mexico 87110 Dear Ms. Arp; As you know a new sewage treatment intercepter line is being installed at the Vitro Site. This interceptor line enters the site from the south and moves to a collecting box at the Central Valley Water Reclamation Facility. Members of our staff have been onsite to insure that the concerns I expressed by your office and the NRC, relating to potential exposure to contaminated material, were addressed. The construction started by grubbing the surface of the area to be excavated and then digging down the side of the collecting box at Central Valley, or north end, of the line.
The trench then moved to the south and is approaching the edge of the site at this time.
Indications are that any soils that might contain thorium contamination would be at the north end of the excavation. This area is suspect because of the depth and the location of the dig. During the first 10 days of the dig DRC Staff alternated shifts at the site. Inspectors carried micro /R i I
meters and pancake detectors. Prior to start up, background levels were established foi both types of instruments. During the excavation of the first 300 feet of the trench, the material excavated from the trench, as well as the trench itself, were surveyed at least two or three times a day. The material that was previously identified as containing thorium contamination did not look like the lake bed clay or the backfill that was placed after remediation. Therefore, the inspector from our office, and the contractor, kept a constant vigil for material that was hard or crusty in appearance or did not look like backfill or lake bed material. None of the type of materials found to contain thorium contamination at other parts of the site were found during this excavation. The excavation has left the area where problems were anticipated and daily oversite has been discontinued. The contractor has been given instructions to call our office if they find any material that does not appear to be backfill or lake bed type material.
August 26,1996 ,
Page 2 There is no indication that any the soil excavated during this project has been contaminated.
Nevertheless, all of the equipment that has been used for this project will be surveyed for final release to assure the contractor that they do not have any contamination problems associated with work at the site.
A final word of praise to the Contractor, Site engineer, Central Valley personnel, and workers in the area is in order. All of the above mentioned personnel involved in the project were very cooperative and willing to do all that was asked to insure that there were no problems relative to dealing with material that, could have been but apparently was not, contaminated with radioactive material.
We appreciate the help and assistance provided by yc,u and your office to facilitate the instillation of the interceptor line. Should you have any questions pertaining to this matter please contact Ray Nelson at 801/536-4250.
Sincerely,
\
illiam J. Sinci 'r, Jirector Utah Division of adiation Control ec. Reed Fisher Central Valley
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