ML20147C340
| ML20147C340 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Wood River Junction |
| Issue date: | 11/09/1978 |
| From: | Crow W NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| To: | Dan Warner AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20147C344 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7812180235 | |
| Download: ML20147C340 (1) | |
Text
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4r UNITED STATES p
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j WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555 NOV 0 9197e Dr. Donald L. Warner P. O. Box 781 Rolla, Missouri 65401
Dear Dr. Warner:
United Nuclear Corporation has submitted additional information dated October 13, 1978 regarding an alternate form of construction of the additional lagoons to be used for immediate storage of their liquid wastes.
Enclosed is a copy of the additional infonnation for your review.
Your evaluation and recommendations are requested with respect to the two lagoon design alternatives and the adequacy of the applicant's existing and proposed ground water monitoring pro-gram on both radiological and nonradiological chemicals.
If you have further questions, please call me or Dr. Shu.n at 301-427-4103.
Sincerely, f,
ll).[\\<.. /Ad W. T. Crow, Section Leader Uranium Fuel Fabrication Section Fuel Processing & Fabrication Branch Division of Fuel Cycle and Material Safety
Enclosure:
As stated cc: Mr. W. Allen State Water Resources Board 7812180A3S
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Uf1C ' UNITED Jf1UCLEAR me
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CORPORATION FUIL Rf COVitY OPERAflON/ WOOD AlVit JUNCflON, t. I 02894 gu 0;t 20 m
,q October 13, 1978 g"cy
' 4 CEB 78-192 dg NN a.
,v DOCKtTEUE USNRC U.
S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission A
r,T 2 51978 > E L.
C.
Rouse, Chief V
HMSS
).7 Fuel Process and Fabrication Branch nut act:oN Fuel Cycle and Material Safety Division
'i' "octT CL3K k-7915 Eastern Avenue
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Subject:
Proposed Revisions, License SNM-777, Docket 70-820
Reference:
Letter on Subject, C.
E. Bowers to L.
C.
- Rouse, dated May 10, 1978 (CEB: 78-84)
Dear Mr. Rouse:
The purpose of this letter is to provide additional information regarding lagoon construction, to supplement that submitted to you in the referenced letter.
Pages 3, 4, and 5 of subpart 925.11, Section 900 of SNM 777, docket 70-820 have been retyped, with the additions to our May 10, 1978 submittal identified.
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These additions are minor, describing an alternate form of construction of the sidewall of a lagoon.
A ring of sheet steel, braced by steel posts, supports the impermeable liner.
Use of bentonite clay as an impermeable barrier for the containment barriers is also proposed as an alternative to a buried plastic sheet used as a secondary layer.
These additions do not constitute any basic changes, but rather alternate methods of construction, and hopefully should cause minimal delay in review and approval of our proposed amendments.
Very truly yours, UNITED NUCLEAR CORPORATION C.
E.
ers General Manager Fuel Recovery Operation CEB:DFC:cag
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'C.O R P O R A T I,o N
. FUEL RECOVERY OPE R ATIO N SNM 777 DOCKET 70-820
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SECTION 900:
RECOVERY. OPERATIONS Pre p a red oce, 13, 197 3 PART 925.11:
WASTE LAGOONS USNRC approval j
925.11 Waste Lagoons General Description The waste lagoons are located within the fenced area sur-rounding the Fuel Recovery Operation.
Processed materials 1
from which uranium has been recovered are transferred to these lagoons, after a final analysis has been made for s
uranium content and after neutralization of free acids.
Release of material (up to 30 parts per million of U-235) to waste retention is allowed by signature of the Super-visor, Production; release at U-235 levels between 30 and 100 parts per million requires written approval of the Manager, Operations.
Each lagoon or holding pond has a watertight lining; Hypalon (trade name) cur equivalent material is used.
Older (pre-1977) lagoons used overlapping polyethylene plastic sheets as liners.
The newer lagoons use the Hypalon material and are narrow in design to avoid the need for field-closing a
of seams.
The second impermeable barrier layer (which pro-vides for leak detection and containment) may be either bentonite clay 2-4 inches thick or a plastic sheet.
Note that the ' plastic sheet, being buried, does not require resistance to degradation by ultra-violet light.
The lagoons installed in 1977 allow for settling in each crench, with overflow of supernate (with progressively fewer solids) into the next trench.
When sufficient solids j
have accumulated, they may be transferred to other ponds and allowed to dry, reprocessed to remove trace quantities of uranium, or shipped to an approved burial site for disposal.
4 A layout of the present lagoon system is given in Sketch 925.ll-I.
A system of monitor wells surrounding this area is sampled regularly to detect any seepage into under-ground waters.
Sketch 925.11-II shows the relative loca-tion of these test wells.
The area north of the present lagoon area, between the two fences, is set aside for additional lagoons.
Test wells T-5, 6,
8,'and 9_ intercept the underground water flow as shown-on Sketch 925.ll-II.
These new lagoons are an improved design based on UNC-FRO experience (since 1964).
Provision for detection of any seepage is included in the
-design.
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-P O R A T l 0"N FbEL RECOVERY ' OPERATION SNM 777 DOCKET ~70-820 Page 4 SECTIO N 900:
RECOVERY -OPEP.ATIONS ~
Prepared Oct. 13, 197 3
PART 925.11:- WASTE LAGOONS USNRC approval 925.11 Waste Lagoons (continued)
Drawing MI-092-1 shows the location plan and the profile of these new lagoons. - Berms will be made from onsite material, and will be sloped and covered with sod.
The details of the observation. wells are shown in Drawing MI-092-2.
These provide individual leak detection systems.
Drawing MI-092-3 illustrates the influent piping plan and sections.
The boring plan and logs are provided as Drawing MI-092-4.
An alternative design places the lagoon primary container 1
completely or partially above ground level.
A circular ring of sheet steel is supported by regularly spaced steel posts.
The liner is then supported inside this framework.
Drawings which illustrate this variation in construction are attached.
Nuclear Criticality Safety Concentration control of material entering the lagoons, and regular review of sampling results of material in the 4
lagoons, assure that safe concentrations are maintained.
i In addition to monitoring samples taken of the influent, core samples taken after a settling pond is filled show that the concentration is an average 20 ppm with a maximum of 35 ppm of uranium.
The uranium is converted to inso-luble calcium diuranate during the treatment with excess lime.
IIealth Physics
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Air sampling is provided adjacent to the lagoons to detect any airborne radioactive particulates.
All lagoons are e
within the controlled contamination zone.
Personal pro-tective clothing is required, and all materials or person-nel exiting contaminated zones and going to clean zones i
are monitored.
i Environmental Controls Discharges into the lagoons are. monitored for radioactive and toxic materials.
Periodic samples are taken of the material'in the lagoons.
Monitor wells placed around the area are regularly sampled for radioactivity and toxic,
contaminants.
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c o R P Q R A T l O N FUEL' RECOVERY OPER ATIO N SNM 777 DOCKET 70-820 H.
SECTIO N 900:
RECOVERY OPERATIONS P I d
- PART 925.11:
UASTE LAGOONS Oct. 13, 1978 USNRC approval 925.11 Waste Lagoons (continued)
Environmental Controls (continued)
Removal of the 'supernatant liquor, dilution, and pumping to the river are permitted by written approval of the Manager, i
Nuclear and Industrial Safety only if the effluent at the discharge duct meets federal and state regulations for discharge to unrestricted areas before dilution by the 4
' river.
An additional dilution factor of 10,000,is provided, based on the observed ten-year flow rate of 27.034
. cubic feet.per.second of the river (seven day average),-
and 1500 gallons per day of liquid effluent.
Procedure Liquid wastes containing less than 100 parts per million of U-235 are transferred to holding tanks 1D14-A and -B.
Lime or other basic material is added until all acids have been neutralized; they are then pumped to the lagoons, t
Selected lagoons may be used as settling ponds to allow, 4
solids to settle out for discharge.
Supernatant liquid may be transferred to a' holding pond or tank, analyzed, 4
and discharged upon written approval of the Manager, Nuclear and Industrial Safety.
Discharged liquids are sampled at the duct outlet, and must meet federal and state limits for release to unrestricted areas.
Clean water (from process i
cooling systems or directly from the water supply).may be used to dilute the waste liquor to acceptable levels.
Accumulated solids are sampled and either (1) reprocessed
.(if practical to remove further amounts of uranium),
(2) stored in lagoons and allowed to harden, or (3) transferred. to an. authorized burial site.
l An'a'lternative procedure where radioactivity is minimal (i.e.
i below 30 pico curies per liter measured as gross alpha j
activity) is the use of the high nitrate content as local fertilizer.
The liquid may be sprayed directly on a cover crop or trees to allow the vegetation to consume the nitrate.
Wet or dry solids _may also be' spread as fertilizer on site.
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SNM 777 docket 70-820 SECTION 900 PART 925.il Sketch No. e t li-vn Typical Above Ground Storage Tank By D. F. Cronirdate 13 l
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A typical storage tank is 80 feet in diameter or less, and up to 12 feet tall.
The tank liner is Hypalon 10 X 10, 100 c Danier Scrim Secondary containment below tank bottom is 20 mil IIypalon or equal, or Bentonite clay, 2-4 inches thick.
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SNM 777 docket 70-820 SECTION 900 PART 925,il -
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