ML20205F941

Insp Rept 70-0398/86-01 on 860213.Major Areas Inspected: Review of Disposal of Radioactive Matl Into Sanitary Sewage Sys

ML20205F941
Person / Time
Site:	07000398
Issue date:	08/08/1986
From:	Darden T, Kinneman J, Scovill V NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I)
To:
Shared Package
ML20205F930	List: ML20205F925 ML20205F941
References
70-0398-86-01, 70-398-86-1, NUDOCS 8608190363
Download: ML20205F941 (6)

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. i U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION REGION I Report No. 00398/86-01 Docket No. 70-00398 License No. SNM-362 Priority III Category E Licensee: Department of Commerce National Bureau of Standards Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899 Facility'Name: National Bureau of Standards Inspection At: Gaithersburg, Maryland and Blue Plains Wastewater Treatment Plant, Washington, D.C.

Inspection Conducted: February 13, 1986 Inspector : h Van R. Scov111, M@

alth Physicist 7

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d6hh D. Kinheman, Chief, Materials fety Section A

'/ @te Inspection Summary: Inspection on February 13, 1986 (Report No. 070-00398/86-01).

Areas Inspected: Special announced inspection, limited to review of disposal of radioactive material disposed by release into sanitary sewerage system in accordance with 10 CFR 20.303, and its effects on the wastewater treatment facility. Two samples were collected from the licensee's holdup tank and one effluent discharge sample was collected. One influent, one effluent and one sludge cake sample was collected at Blue Plains Wastewater Treatment Facility, Washington, D.C.

Results: A review of disposal records, indicates that all releases to the sanitary sewerage systems during the period January 1, 1981 through December 31, 1984 were made in accordance with 10 CFR 20.303 and the facility licenses.

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DETAILS

1. Persons Contacted Lester Slaback, RSO Joseph Wang, Health Physicist Walter Bailey, Chief, Wastewater Division, Blue Plains Wastewater Treatment Facility David Edelen, Engineer Technician, Blue Plains Wastewater Treatment Facility

2. Background The licensee is authorized to use licensed material for research and development and to distribute National Bureau of Standards calibration or reference sources. The licensee also operates a research reactor at the same location. The principle isotope discharged by National Bureau of Standards into the sanitary sewer system is hydrogen-3. Disposal of radio-active materials include disposal by release into the sanitary sewer system which is processed by the Blue Plains Wastewater Treatment Plant, whose average daily processing is 1.1696E9 liters per day. The plant utilizes a modified activated sludge process. The liquid effluent from the treatment plant is discharged into the Potomac River, and the sludge disposal is by-direct land application and composting. The wastewater plant is located at 5000 Overlook Avenue, S.W. , Washington, D.C.

Liquid utilized at the research reactor facility is collected in a 1.8926E4 liter holdup tank, which is used as a collection point for all liquid which is to be released. Hydrogen-3 from the research reactor facility is released in accordance with License No. TR 5.

3. Sample Collection Two samples were collected from the 1.9 E4 liter holdup tanks located in Buildings 235 and 245.

One effluent sample was collected from a manhole which was located near the licensee's facility. The results of the analysis are provided in Appendix A.

i Three additional samples were collected by the inspectors at the Blue Plains Wastewater Treatment Plant. The samples included approximately one quart influent, one quart effluent, and several hundred grams of sludge cake. The results of the analyses are provided in Appendix B.

Analyses of the samples were conducted by the U.S. Department of Energy, Idaho Operations Office, Radiological and Environmental Sciences Laboratory.

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4. Licensee Discharge Controls Two holdup tanks, each containing about 1.9E4 liters, are utilized to collect liquid radioactive waste to hold for decay.

The holdup tanks are sampled prior to release into the sanitary sewer system and the sample is analyzed using a Tennelec low background counting system for gross alpha and gross beta activity. If any activity is iden-tified above background a gamma scan is performed using a germanium detector. The reactor facility samples prior to each release into the sanitary sewer system, for hydrogen-3 using a Beckman liquid scintillation system. Gross alpha and gross beta activity is determined using a gas proportional counter. Gamma analysis is performed using a germanium detector when necessary.

A summary of the licensee's radioactive liquid discharge during 1981-1984 is provided in Appendix C.

5. Exit Interview At the conclusion of the inspection, the inspectors met with the RSO and discussed the scope and findings of the inspection to date.

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REPORT NO. 070-00398/86 01 APPENDIX A NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS SEWER DISCHARGE SAMPLE COLLECTION DATE: FEBRUARY 13, 1986 10 CFR 20 Limit

, Appendix B Discharge Percent Isotope Table I, Column 2 Concentration Limit Cesium-137 4.0E-4 (2 3)E-8 0.01' Gross Alpha 4.0E-7 (812)E-9 2.0 Gross Beta 9.0E-5 (5.1 1.5)E-8 0.06 (Units for limit and discharge are microcuries per milliliter)

Samples were analyzed by gamma spectroscopy and by counting a suitable sample on a proportional counter.

HOLDUP _ TANK ANALYSIS Isotope Building 235 Building 245 Cobalt-60 (8.8 1.0)E-7 ND Zinc-65 (3.8tl.5)E-7 NO Cesium-137 (2 2)E-8 (2 3)E-8 Gross Alpha (2.610.7)E-9 (812)E-9 Gross Beta (1.97 0.08)E-6 (5.lil.5),E-8 ND = None Detected v .. . _ - - , , ,.-,--,, m- , _ - - . - - _ . ,4.- - <

9 REPORT NO. 070-00398/86-c.1 APPENDIX B J

BLUE PLAINS WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT SAMPLE COLLECTION DATE: FEBRUARY 13, 1986 i Influent Effluent Sludge Istotope Concentration Concentration Concentration Cobalt-60 ND ND (3.8 0.5)E-8 Cesium-137 (4t3)E-8 (313)E-8 (5t7.0)E-9 Lead-212 ND ND (2.93 0.12)E-7 Lead-214 ND ND (1.6210.13)E-7 Gross Alpha (2.010.6)E-9 (3 2)E-10 NM Gross Beta (1.7tl.4)E-8 (4.8 1.5)E-8 NM (Units for Influent and Effluent concentrations are microcuries per milliliter, units far sludge concentrations are microcuries per gram, wet weight)

NM = Not Measured ND = None Detected Samples were analyzed by gamma spectroscopy and by counting a suitable sample on a proportional counter.

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ts REPORT NO. 070-00398/86-01 APPENDIX C NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS ANNUAL SUMMARIES 1981-1985 Isotopes Average other than Concentration Quantity Hydrogen-3 of other than of Water Total Total Hydrogen-3 Hydrogen-3 (microcuries (liters) (microcuries) (microcuries) per milliliter) 1981 Total 3.7E5 3.9E2 7.4E5 1.05E-6 1982 Total 3.9E5 6.0E4 8.4E5 1.5E-4 1983 Total 4.5E5 1.4E5 3.3E6 3.1E-4 1984 Total 3.8E5 7.0E3 2.2E7 1.8E-5 i:

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