ML20138D733
| ML20138D733 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 02/01/1993 |
| From: | Dolce K, Kinneman J, Elizabeth Ullrich NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I) |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20138D727 | List: |
| References | |
| REF-QA-99990001-930201 99990001-92-31, NUDOCS 9302230058 | |
| Download: ML20138D733 (4) | |
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U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION REGION I Report No. 99990001/92-031 Docket No. Not Applicable
'l License No. 29-01556-02 (retired)
Licensee:
Allied-Signal Aerospace Company Bendix Electric Power Division 118 Highway 35 Eatontown, New Jersey 07724 Inspection Conducted: - December 9,1992 Inspector:
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Betsy Ullrp, S'enior Health 1 hysicist (late '- ~
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//M/d3 Inspector:
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Kithleen Dolce, Ifealth Physicist date A/i j 93 Approved by:
J hn. Kinne/ nan, Chief date' esea -h, Development and ommissioning Section f
Insocction Summary: Routine, announced safety inspection conducted Decemixt 9,l1992.
(Inspection Report No. 99990001/92-031) s Areas Insoccted:. Organization and scope of activities; review of the' Eatontown site; and
- SEACOR facilities.
Resillis: No violations or safety concerns were identified.
OFFICIAL RECORD COPY arrusti wiam.L f0
-IEi07 REGIOilI
-9302230058 930201" -
REG 1 GA999 EMVALLSI-99990001 PDRf
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1 DETAILS 1.
Egriens_ Contacted Gene LaRose, Allied-Signal, Supervisor of Health, Safety and Environment Dale Evans, SEACOR, Chief Engineer Chuck Price, SEACOR Dave Evans, SEACOR 2.
Org;Ln.iration and Scope of Actly_itics Allied-Signal Aerospace Company, Bendix Electric Power Division is locatui in Eatontown, New Jersey. This facility was formerly authorized by AEC Licerse No. 29-01556-02 to use millicurie quantities of cesium-137 and nickel-63 in any fomi and 2 curies of krypton-85. The license was terminated some time during the late 60's or early 70's. Currently, there are no NRC-licensed activities at this site. The supervisor of the llealth, Safety, and Environment activities for all hazards at the site is Eugene J. LaRose.
During an Environmental Cleanup Responsibility Act (ECRA) survey of the Eatontown site in 1992, elevated radiation levels were detected at two areas on the grounds and in several areas inside the plant building. This survey was performed by EBASCO, contractors to Allied-Signal. Radiation levels outside range from a background of about 8 to 10 microroentgen per hour (uR/h) to several hundred uR/h and very small spots within the elevated areas measure as high as 1,000 uR/h. Soil sample analyses by EBASCO indicate that the contaminated areas outside the building contain cesium-137, strontium-90, carbon-14, and technetium-99. EBASCO perfonned a limited search of old records in an attempt to identify the source of the elevated radiation levels; however, records from that time are few or missing.
Science and Engineering Analysis Corporation (SEAC01,) has been hired by Allied-Signal to irmediate the contaminated areas. A " Draft Work Plan for Radioactive Materials Screening and Remediation" (Draft Work Plan) was submitted by SEACOR to the NRC on December 1,1992. SEACOR mquested that they be pennitted to begin removal of the soil for disposal prior to December 31,1992, without waiting for a comprehensive review of the complete remediation plan. A site visit was performed to evaluate SEACOR's preparation for tlJ.s removal.
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Review of the Eatontown Site The two contaminated areas outside the building are shown on maps in the Dmft Work Plan. Aerial photographs of the site from 1952 to present were ava!!able for review during the site visit. The photographs show that the contaminated areas did not contain buildings and were not used for storage during this time. The two areas were marked in one-meter by one-meter grids. Markers mmain outlining the areas, and a plastic cover spread ever the ground protects t em from water and wind.
h SEACOR representatives plan to cut through the plastic grid by-grid during soil removal in order to minimize contamination of workers and spread of contaminated soil. In addition, a plastic canopy covers each area. Both covered areas are rectangles of approximately 10 to 15 meters on each side. One contaminated area is located just outside the southeast corner of the building; the other is located along the site fenceline. Elevated radiation :evels were measured on the unrestricted side of the fence. The property on the other side of the fence also belongs to Allied-Signal and will be included in the site remediation. SEACOR representatives presented the results of their surveys c. the covered areas, which have radiation levels measuring several hundred uR/h in the center of the area and 10 to 12 uR/h in the grid squares at the edges of the cover. Yellow " Caution" tape at about 1 meter heignt from the ground and 1 meter from the covered anas rurther marks the area to prevent persons from walking through. The areas are located on the southeast side of the building and contain no nonnal traffic areas.
SEACOR representatives also grid-marked a large area of the site and made measurements to determine the average background on the site. The average background is about 6 to 10 uR/h. Confinnatory measurements made by the inspectors were in agreement with SEACOR measurements.
SEACOR representatives accompanied the inspectors through areas of the plant surveyed by EBASCO and SEACOR. SEACOR representatives have been unable to duplicate eles 3d radiation levels in areas marked on EBASCO's map inside the facility, but SEACOR representatives have identiced other areas which may have been improperly marked on the EBASCO map. Elevated radiation levels were measured along the inside wall of the southeastern corner of the building and is believed to result from the contaminated soil outside. Other elevated areas were found along baseboards along a wall in this area, but the cause and isotopes are unknown.
SEACOR representatives were told that this area of the facility was considered classified and was guarded during the war, so information regarding the activities at that time is limited. Elevated radiation levels of approximately 15 to 20 uR/h were also measured along brick walls and in two tile bathrooms inside the building.
4 Allied-Signal and SEACOR plan to identify the source of the elevated radiation levels and detennine whether remediation is necessary.
No safety concerns were identified.
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SEACOR Facijilits SEACOR has an onsite laboratory and office set up in a trailer located on the southeast side of the Allied-Signal building. A multi-channel analyzer with a sodium iodide detector is available for screening samples. Four drying ovens are located in a separate area of the trailer for sample preparation. Samples will be sealed in 1-quart
,.'2 paint cans and placed on an acrylic shelf over the sodium iodide detector for counting.
SEACOR representatives rtated that they have check sourtes ta test the system's operability and will maint:.h daily backgrotmd and operation results for the system.
Survey meters include micron meters and thin-end window GM detectors. The microR meters are used for identifying areas requiring remediation. The GM detectors will be used for surveys of personnel and equipment for potential contamination prior to ! caving the site. Meters in use were operable and calibrated.
SEACOR representatives plan to have four persons involved in the removal of soil from the contaminated areas during the month of December. Protective clothing will be used during the remediation. Soil will be removed using shovels, trowels, and similar hand equipment until radiation levels are near background, unless the contamination extends deeper than currently expected. '"'e December removal is intended to dispose of as much material as possible prior to January 1,1993. Soil analysis for the purposes of confirming that the area may be released for unrestricted use is planned for the next calendar year.
No safety concerr.s were identified.
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EliLintmicw An exit meeting was held with the individuals listed in Paragraph 1. Although the Draft Work Plan release criteria was briefly reviewed at this time, the NRC will request specific infonnation about the plan in writing.
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