ML20195B108
| ML20195B108 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | WM-00058 |
| Issue date: | 07/16/2020 |
| From: | Dennise Orlando NRC/NMSS/DDUWP/URLB |
| To: | Kautsky M US Dept of Energy, Office of Legacy Management |
| Orlando D | |
| References | |
| Download: ML20195B108 (3) | |
Text
July 16, 2020 Mr. Mark Kautsky, Site Manager U.S. Department of Energy Office of Legacy Management 2597 Legacy Way Grand Junction, CO 81503
SUBJECT:
U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION STAFF REVIEW OF THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY REPORT ENTITLED ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REPORT APRIL 2017 THROUGH MARCH 2018 FOR THE SHIPROCK, NEW MEXICO, DISPOSAL SITE DATED SEPTEMBER 2019 (DOCKET WM-00058)
Dear Mr. Kautsky:
I am writing in response to the U.S. Department of Energys (DOEs) Annual Performance Report April 2017 Through March 2018 for the Shiprock, New Mexico, Disposal Site dated September 2019 (Agencywide Document Access and Management System [ADAMS]
Accession Number ML20097E386). U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff reviewed the report and have the following comments.
This report differs from previous Performance Reports with the suspension of pumping in 2017.
Therefore, there is little groundwater extraction or contaminant mass removal to report. The report does indicate that there have been some increases in constituents of concern (CoCs) in a few wells at the Shiprock site, however, these increases were slight and within historical observations. The NRC staff does not have any comments on the DOEs analysis or conclusion about the slight changes in CoCs The staff is concerned about the status of the Performance Reports for the April 2018 through March 2019 and April 2019 through March 2020 timeframes. Since pumping was suspended in April 2017 (the beginning of this Performance Report cycle), it would be expected that the CoC changes reported in the April 2017 through March 2018 report in the would be minimal.
However, without the April 2018 through March 2019 and April 2019 through March 2020 Performance Reports it is unclear if there has been an impact on CoCs due to the suspension of groundwater extraction. As such, we suggest that DOE expedite the development of the April 2018 through March 2019 and April 2019 through March 2020 reports and provide the reports as soon as possible.
We understand that sampling is scheduled for September 2020 at the site and suggest that as soon as the results are available the DOE notify the NRC and Navajo Nation if significant changes in CoC concentrations are observed without awaiting the development of the April 2020 through March 2021 Performance Reports.
In accordance with Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations Section 2.390 of the NRCs Agency Rules of Practice a copy of this letter will be available electronically for public inspection in the NRC Public Document Room or from the Publicly Available Records
M. Kautsky 2
component of NRCs ADAMS. The ADAMS database is accessible from the NRC Web site at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html. If you have any questions concerning the NRC comments, please feel free to contact me at 301-415-6749 or at Dominick.Orlando@nrc.gov.
Sincerely, Dominick Orlando, Senior Project Manager Uranium Recovery and Materials Decommissioning Branch Division of Decommissioning, Uranium Recovery and Waste Programs Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards Docket No.: WM-00058 cc: Shiprock list serve Dominick A.
Orlando Digitally signed by Dominick A.
Orlando Date: 2020.07.16 11:31:48 -04'00'
ML20195B108 *Via email OFFICE NMSS NMSS NMSS NMSS NAME NOrlando HArlt RvonTill NOrlando DATE 7/13/2020 7/13/2020 7/16/2020 7/16/2020