ML20197C345
| ML20197C345 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 09/03/1998 |
| From: | Joseph Holonich NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| To: | Plieness R ENERGY, DEPT. OF |
| References | |
| REF-WM-60 NUDOCS 9809110105 | |
| Download: ML20197C345 (3) | |
Text
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20066-4001 o
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- September 3, 1998 l 1
l Mr. Ray Plieness 1 U.S. Department of Energy Grand Junction Office 2597 B 3/4 Road )
Grand Junction, CO 81503
SUBJECT:
REVIEW OF THE FINAL SITE OBSERVATIONAL WORK PLAN AND DRAFT GROUND WATER COMPLIANCE ACTION PLAN FOR THE RIVERTON, WYOMING, TITLE I UMTRA SITE
Dear Mr. Plieness:
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The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff has reviewed the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Site Observational Work Plan (SOWP), which included the Draft Ground j Water Compliance Action Plan, submitted by cover letter dated February 25,1998, for the !
Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action (UMTRA) Project site at Riverton, Wyoming. The review I focused on the proposed ground-water remediation strategy for compliance with 40 CFR Part 192, and the technicalinformation presented in support of this strategy. This review does
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not imply a concurrence in the ground-water cleanup activities at the Riverton site, but is provided as a " fatal flaw" review of the proposed compliance strategy based on collected data and analyses presented in the final SOWP.
The final SOWP summarizes the results from a probabilistic ground water flow and transport model that is used to reduce the uncertainties associated with the proposed ground-water compliance strategy. The model results show that the uncertainty associated with the proposed ground water compliance strategy is acceptable. Therefore, the next step in the UMTRA process, the preparation of site specific ground-water National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) document, can begin.
The ground-water compliance strategy recommended for the Riverton site is natural attenuation with institutional controls to limit exposure to the contaminated ground water during the g recovery period, and verification monitoring to ensure the model predictions are accurate.
Hydrogeologic and geochemical data collected from the Riverton site and the results of the ground-water modeling indicates that the natural ground-water movement and geochemical processes will decrease contaminant concentrations to background levels or maximum Mbg' concentration limits (MCLs) within 100 years. During that period of time, effective monitoring, institutional controls, and an alternative water supply will be maintained to prevent the use ground water in the affected aquifer for domestic consumption, stock watering, or i crop irrigation.
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WASTE '
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R. Plieness '
The NRC staff has no technical objection to utilizing this compliance strategy at the Riverton site. If you have any questions concerning this letter, please contact the NRC Project Manager, Jim Park, at (301) 415-6699.
Sincerely, m ins Joseph J. Holonich, Chief Uranium Recovery Branch ;
Division of Waste Management Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards cc: D. Metzler i
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, R. Plieness . .
The NRC staff has no technical objection to utilizing this compliance strategy at the Riverton site. If you have any questions conceming this letter, please contact the NRC Project Manager, Jim Park, at (301) 415-6699.
Sincerely,
[Signedby]
Joseph J. Holonich, Chief Uranium Recovery Branch Division of Waste Management Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards cc: D. Metzler DISTRIBUTION :
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