ML20137U258
| ML20137U258 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 04/11/1997 |
| From: | Cain C NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| To: | Virgona J ENERGY, DEPT. OF |
| References | |
| REF-WM-54 NUDOCS 9704160334 | |
| Download: ML20137U258 (3) | |
Text
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April 11, 1997 Mr. Joseph E. Virgona. Project Manager
- . U.S. Department of Energy ;
., Grand Junction Projects Office l
' P.O.130x 2567 Grand Junction. Colorado 81502-2567
SUBJECT:
SUPPLEMENTAL STANDARDS APPLICATION FOR QUIKCRETE CONCRETE PLANT 4 PROPERTY, GRAND JUNCTION. COLORADO. VICINITY PROPERTY GJ-05107-CS 1
Dear Mr. Virgona:
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff has reviewed the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) submittal dated February 11. 1997, in which DOE requested
_ approval of the Radiologic and Engineering Assessment (REA) for the QUIKCREr Concrete Plant property. Grand Junction. Colorado. The REA contains an application for supplemental standards for ap]roximately 156 cubic yards (cy) of residual radioactive materials (RRM). of w1ich approximately 96 cy are potentially commingled with RCRA listed hazardous wastes at a depth of approximately 96 inches. l Based on the information provided by DOE. the NRC staff concurs with DOE's I
proposed' Alternative 2 (partial remediation). Under Alternative 2. DOE proposes to remove the top three feet of RRM and ap)1y supplemental standards (no remediation) for the remainder of the deposit. Jecause the cost of I managing the commingled waste is excessive in comparison to any likely health risk. The staff's Technical Evaluation Report for its review of the REA is enclosed.
If you have any questions regarding this letter or its enclosure, please contact Ms. Charlotte Abrams of my staff at (301) 415-5808.
Sincerely.
(Original signed by)
Charles L. Cain. Acting Chief Uranium Recovery Branch Division of Waste Management Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards
Enclosure:
As stated cc: S. Hamp. DOE Alb ,
E. Artiglia. TAC Alb i
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TECHNICAL EVALUATION REPORT
- APPLICATION FOR SUPPLEMENTAL STANDARDS FOR OUIKCRETE CONCRETE PLANT PROPERTY. GRAND JUNCTION, COLORADO
. SITE:~0VIKCRETE Concrete Plant Property 1
LOCATION: Grand Junction, Colorado
[
l PROJECT MANAGER: Charlotte Abrams
! TECHNICAL REVIEWER: Elaine Brummett I
f
SUMMARY
AND CONCLUSIONS:
- .By a letter' dated. February 11. 1997, the De)artment of Energy (DOE) requested L Nuclear Regulatory Commission approval 'of tie Radiologic and Engineering l Assessment (REA) for vicinity property GJ-05107 CS at 2462 1/2 Highway 6 and
- 50 (OUIKCRETE Concrete Property) Grand Junction. Colorado. . The REA proposes 4 utilization of supplemental standards for residual radioactive materials (RRM)
F Jotentially commingled with RCRA listed hazardous wastes. -The area where the
! RRM is proposed to be left in place is an unpaved access road into the plant 4- site.
, During remediation of the property in 1989. DOE laboratory testing of.
discolored odorous soils indicated the presence of volatile organic compounds
.that may have' derived from solvents used at the paint shop on the property adjacent to.the GUIKCRETE Concrete Plant. The State of Colorado determined .
that this material should be classified as listed hazardous waste: however,.a dis)osal site does not exist that will accept RCRA-listed waste commingled wit 1 RRM-(mixed waste). In addition. DOE's submittal indicates that treatment
. of material to remove the hazardous waste is not always successful and that
. DOE. does not have authority to manage the waste under the Uranium Mill
' Tailings Radiation Control Act.
Based on the information arovided and the alternatives considered by DOE. the NRC-staff conc'urs with DOE's proposed alternative 2 ()artial remediation).
Under Alternative ~2.. DOE proposes to remove.the top t1ree feet of RRM and apply sup)lemental standards (no remediation) for the remainder of the deposit, )ecause the cost of managing the commingled waste is excessive in comparison to any likely health risk.
TECHNICAL EVALUATION:
The: deposit consists of an estimated 156 cubic yards (cy) of RRM 6 to
.126; inches'in depth, of which approximately 96 cy is commingled waste, starting at a depth of approximately 96 inches. . DOE evaluated three
- alternatives for remediation of the OUIKCRETE property.
Alternative 1 was for no' remediation and application of supplemental standards
.for-all materials. The estimated cost for Alternative'1 was nothing and there was.no health risk from gamma exposure, but possible future risk from
' disturbing the surface-material Enclosure a
r ., - ,~..,;--,,-. , .,w,- ., -
- Altdrpative 3 proposed complete remediation at a cost in excess of $100.000.
Under this alternative the health risk at the site would be reduced to U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency Standards.
DOE recommended adoption of Alternative 2 which proposed partial remediation by removing the top 3 feet (approximately 60 cy) of non-commingled RRM. The rest of the deposit would remain in place under supplemental standards based ,
on 40 CFR 192.21 (c), the cost of remedial action is unreasonably high relative to the long-term benefits, and the residual radioactive materials do not pose a clear present or future hazard. The associated health risk with this alternative is none from gamma exposure and the estimated cost is approximately $4.000.
After review of the REA and the alternatives evaluated by DOE. the NRC s:.aff concurs with DOE's recormended Alternative 2. removal of the top 3 feet of RRM and application of <vpplemental standards (no remediation) for the remainder of the deposit, beause the cost of managing the commingled waste is excessive in comparison to any likely health risk.
DOE has agreed to prepare a datacase with detailed information on areas where supplemental standards were a) plied. The database will be provided to the State at the termination of t1e Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action 3rogram.
The NRC staff recommends the inclusion of this property into that data)ase.
} Enclosure
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