ML20195D834

Advises That DOE Documents Do Not Indicate That Formal Determination Has Been Made by DOE Re Whether Spook Overburden Matls Are Residual Radioactive Matl.Recommends That DOE Give Careful Consideration to Consequences

ML20195D834
Person / Time
Issue date:	06/08/1988
From:	Lohaus P NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS)
To:	Arthur W ENERGY, DEPT. OF
References
REF-WM-72 NUDOCS 8806230213
Download: ML20195D834 (3)

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Jlm 8INB W. John Arthur, III, Project Manager Uranium Mill Tailings Project Office Department of Energy Albuquerque Operations Office P.O. Box 5400 Albuquerque, New Mexico 87115

Dear Mr. Arthur:

The DOE remedial action at the Spook, Wyoming, Uranium Mill Tailing Remedial Action Program (UMTRAP) site proposes the split of the site clean-up between UMTRAP and the Wyoming, Department of Environmer.tal Quality, Abandon Mine Lands Program (AML).In accordance with UMTRCA, DOE is responsible for determining the materials that constitute "residual radioactive _ materials" and must, therefore, be dealt with in accordance with the EPA standard.

However, based on our review to date, the DOE documents do not indicate that a formal determination has been made by DOE regarding whether the Spook overburden materials are "residual radioactive material" and the basis for this determination. The use of the overburden as proposed seems to indicate that the DOE has made an informal decision not to include the overburden material I

under the definition of "residual radioactive material". The NRC, in accordance with UMTRCA, requests that DOE make a formal determination in this matter.

i As a result of the review of the draft Environmental Assessment and the preliminary design for the remedial action of the Spook site, the NRC staff expressed concern with DOE's ability to meet the monitoring portion of the EPA ground-water protection standards particularly in light of the proposed use of overburden materials.

Therefore, the NRC staff recommends that ycu give careful consideration to the consequences resulting frcm this determination, including technical, legal and public perception aspects.

If you have any questions regarding the information discussed in this letter please contact Sandra L. Wastler of my staff at extension 492 0582.

Sincerely, ORIGINAL SIGNED BY Paul H. Lohaus, Chief Operations Branch Division of Low-Level Waste llanagement and Deconsnissioning, HMSS DISTUSUTION:

(*See pervious concurrence)

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site little improved with respect to publi: health and safety than before remedial action started may not be well reviewed by the public.

If you have any questions regarding the information discussed in this letter please contact Sandra L. Hastler of ry staft at extension 492-0582.

Sincerely, Paul H. Lohaus, Chief Operations Branch Division of Low-Level llaste Management and Decounissioning DISTRIBUTION:

Central file HMSS r/f LLOB r/f SWastler, LLOB HFliegel, LLOB PLohaus, LLOB JSurnieier, LLTB MBell, LLRB JGreeves, LLWM MKnapp, LLWM RBangart, LLWM R.D. Smith, URF0 0FC: L

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