ML20199H702
| ML20199H702 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 01/28/1998 |
| From: | Joseph Holonich NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| To: | Rael G ENERGY, DEPT. OF |
| References | |
| REF-WM-54 NUDOCS 9802050101 | |
| Download: ML20199H702 (2) | |
Text
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' UNITED STATES t4 NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION L
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January 28, 1998 j
- Mr. George Rael, Director ERD /UMTRA U.S. Department of Energy Altmquerque Operations Office P.O. Box 5400 Albuquerque, NM 87185-5400
SUBJECT:
INTERIM LONG-TERM SURVEILLANCE PLAN FOR THE GRAND JUNCTION, COLORADO URANIUM MILL TAILINGS REMEDIAL ACTION DISPOSAL SITE
Dear Mr. Rael:
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff has reviewed the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) interim Long-Term Surveillance Plan (LTSP, dated August 1997) for the Cheney disposal site, located near Grand Junction, Colorado. The subject LTSP was transmitted by DOE letter dated August 25,1997. NRC staff have concluded that the LTSP adequately covers the arsas of geotechnical engineering and erosion protection; however, the staff has identified one issue related to water resources protection monitoring. The following issue needs to be -
4 addrested and resolved prior to NRC's approval of the interim LTSP:
The Grand Junction Remedial Action Plan (RAP) identified the visualinspection of seeps or other occurrences of surface exposures during surveillance inspections as a means of evaluating performance of the disposal cell. In addition, in the RAP, DOE
- committed to installing and monitoring shallow wells in the paleochannels down gradient of the site during construction and through the post-closure period to verify that the disposal cell _is performing according to design. The interim LTSP, dated August 1997, describes the proposed visual inspections, but makes no mention of the paleochannel -
wells or any description of monitoring and inspection of_the wells. DOE needs to revise the LTSP to include the location and a description of the paleochannel monitoring wells.
- The desenption should include the parameters for monitoring,- and any potential actions -
required if monitoring indicates leakage from the disposal cell.
The Public Law 104-259 atnendment to Section 112(a)(B) of the Uranium Mill Tallings Radiation Control Act of 1978 authorizes the continued operation of the Cheney disposal site for receiving and disposing of residual radioactive material urdil the Cheney cell has been filled or September L 30, 2023, whichever is first. By letter of February 24,1997, DOE transmitted the Completion Report (CR) for the Cheney disposal site documenting all site construction activities conducted through August 1994. When DOE resolves all outstariding issues related to the CR, NRC staff
- will concur in cell construction comple'ed through Augot: '094. After the remainder of the cell is filled (September 30, 2023, or sooner), the DOE will sm.N a CR that documents cell I
i construction dating from August 1994 until closure. The NRC staff, ai that time, will not revisit the previous construction or CR, unless the staff identifies issues involving degradation of the bg q D;,
cell's pre-August 1994 construction.
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2 NRC's approval of the interim LTSP for the Cheney site will authorize DOE surveillance and maintena' ice of the por'lon of the disposal cell documented in the August 1994 CR. Aftr closure of the disposal cell and development of the final CR, in which DOE will docums.it pom-August 1994 construction, DOE will update the interim LTSP into a final LTSP for NRC review.
The Cheney disposal site will not be incorporated under the general license until NRC concurs in DOE's final CR and accepts the final LTSP.
If you have any questions regarding this letter, please contact the NRC Project Manager, Charlotte Abrams, at (301) 415-5808.
Sincerely, Original Signed Cy Joseph J. Holonich, Chief Uranium Recovery Branch Division of Wasto Management Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards cc: S. Arp, DOE Alb F. Bosiljevac, DOE Alb E.,rtiglia, TAC Alb DISTRIBUTION :
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OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
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