ML20210P895
| ML20210P895 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 05/20/1997 |
| From: | Joseph Holonich NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| To: | Rael G ENERGY, DEPT. OF |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20210P892 | List: |
| References | |
| REF-WM-3 NUDOCS 9708270384 | |
| Download: ML20210P895 (7) | |
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UNITED STATES S
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
'f WASHINQ10N. D.C. 206N@u01
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May 20, 1997 Mr. George Rael. Director U.S. Department of Energy Albu uerque Operations Of fice ERD / MIRA P.O. Box 5400 j
_ Albuquerque. NM 87185 5400 l
SUBJECT:
CLEANUP 0F SITES UNDER TITLE I 0F THE URANIUM MILL TAILINGS RADIATION CONTROL ACT
Dear Mr. Rael:
By letter dated March 28, 1997. the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission stated its commitment to support the U.S. Department of Ener y (DOE) in completing the uranium mill tailings reclamation work required b Title 1 of the Uranium Hill Tailings Radiation Control Act of 1978, as amended (UMTRCA).
A copy of the letter (from J. Callan. Executive Director for Operations. NRC to J. Owendoff. Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management. DOE). in which NRC 1dentified the schedule it could support for licensing Title I sites. is provided as Enclosure 1 for your convenience.
With the exceotion of three sites (Naturita. Maybell, and Slick Rock). NRC anticipates that it will be able to license all Title I sites under the general license for long term care b the end of calendar year 1997.
For the l
remaining three sites. NRC expects t1at one of these sites would be licensed b February 1998, and-the remaining two would be completed by September 1998.
T is schedule does not include licensing of the Grand Junction. Cheney, disposal site which will remain open until 2023. and is based on NRC's belief
'l that 00E cannot support an earlier completion date for the final two sites.
in addition. NRC completion dates for all sites are contingent upon DOE providing timely and complete submittals in support of the NRC review.
The purpose of this lette, is to provide jou with a status of each 3 'e thal.
d 15 yet to be licensed, and to identify for you the steps and schedule NRC
' anticipates will be needed to support the commitments made in NRC's March 1997 letter.
NRC recognizes DOE's desire to accelerate the licensing schedule for all of the Uranium Hill Tailings Remedial Action (UMTRA) Project Title I sites, and NRC believes that there is the possibility of advancing the schedule for the last two sihs from September 1998 to the May-June 1998 time frame. This will allow the UMTRA Project surface cleanup prograin to be completed in advance of the September 1998 deadline.
However, because NRC does not control the submittals it needs to conduct the necessary reviews. NRC must look to 00E as the controlllng organization for completion of the Title I licensing work.
If DOE is able to accelerate completion of the necessar submittals. NRC will in turn be able to accelerate its review schedule, y resulting in an earlier completion date for the licensing-of Title I sites under UMTRCA.
To-this end. NRC has provided in Enclosure 2 a status of each site along with the detailed milestones and schedules that are needed to EDR ASTE WM-3 PDR,
Enclosure-
G. Rael 2
supporttheprojectedlicensingdate.
For the Naturita and Maybell sites. NRC has provided the submittal dates to support the anticipated completion date of September 1998, and the accelerated date of June 1998.
The accelerated dates are shown in brackets.
In closing. I would like to again emphasize the commitment made by NRC in its March 1997 letter.
NRC is prepared to support DOE in completing its UMTRA surface cleanup program by the mandated September 1998 date.
If it is possible for DOE to accelerate its submittals for NRC review. NRC believes that a com)letion date of June 1998 is achievable.
DOE needs to recognize that the NRC cannot accomplish either the accelerated or mandated schedule if DOE does not provide timely and complete submittals that acceptably demonstrate compliance with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards.
However, given the strong commitment by both NRC and DOE to successfully achieve completion in a timely manner. I believe that both agencies can work together to complete the program in Fiscal Year 1998.
If you have any-questions on the overall NRC effort.-please feel free to contact-me at (301) 415-7238.
Questions on the schedule for specific sites should be directed to Ms. Charlotte Abrams, of my staff, at (301) 415 5808.-
Sincerely.
(Originalsignedby)
Joseph J. Holonich, Chief-Uranium Recovery Branch Division of Waste Management Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards
Enclosures:
As stated cc:
R. Lightner. 00E Hqtrs S. Ham). DOE Alb D. Matles. DOE Hqtrs
Status and Schedule for Completing l
Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act. Title i Sites Ambrosia Lake. New Mexico Status:
NRC completed the Completio,1 Report (CR) review and concurred in completion of the site on May 1, 1997.
NRC has no outstanding issues on the Long-Term Surveillance Plan (LTSP), ans is waiting for the land transfer information j
frrm DOE. When that is received, staff will concur in the site LTSP and the si'.e will be licensed under the general license.
Hilestones DOE provides final LTSP 07/97 NRC completes licensing 07/97 f
Falls City. Texas (FCT)
Status:
Staff completed its review of the CR and concurred in completion of the site on A)ril 16, 1997.
NRC notified DOE that there were no open issues related to the TSP on April 16. 1997, and, pending receipt of the land transfer documents, the site-can be licensed under the general license.
Milestones DOE provides final LTSP 05/97 NRC completes licensing 05/97 Grand Junction. Colceado Status:
On March 28, 1997 NRC completed the CR review for the Grand Junction processing site and transmitted its concurrence to 00E.
No licensing action.
is required for the Grand Junction processing site.. The staff is reviewing the partial CR for the Cheney disposal site (site of the relocated Grand Junction residual radioactive materials), and anticipates providing comments to DOE in June 1997.
No licensing action is scheduled for the Cheney disposal site until 2023, 1
I 1
l Milestones NRC provides comments on the Cheney Complction Report 06/97 DOE responds to comments and provides necessary page changes 08/97 l
NRC concurs in Cheney construction completion 09/97 i
Gynnison. Colorado Status:
Staff provided additional cormients on the final CR on April 15, 1997, and is awaiting DOE responses and page changes before it can concur in completion.
Staff is reviewing the final LTSP provided by DOE on April 15. 1997.
Milestones DOE responds to Completion Report Comments 05/97 NRC completes CR and licensing reviews 06/97 Naturita. Colorado Status:
On March 27, 1997, DOE provided the last piece of information needed for the NRC staff to initiate its finai design review of the Remedial Action Plan (RAP).
Staff is currently reviewing DOE's second set of comment responses and is awaiting page changes to the RAP.
Following resolution of NRC's comments and submittal of the page changes NRC will finalize its review of the RAP for the processing and disposal sites and document that review in a Technical Evaluation Report.
Milestones DOE submits RAP 3 age changes 06/97 NRC completes RA) review 07/97 DOE submits CR 03/48[C4/98) 00E submits LTSP 03/98[01/98)
NRC provides comments on CR and LTSP 05/98[03/98)
DOE responds to NRC comments and provides page changes 07/98[05/98)
NRC completes CR review and concurs in completion 09/98[06/98)
NRC completes licensing 09/98[06/98) 2
l 1
L' Mexican Hat. Utah \\ Monument Valiev Arizona l
St'atus:
By letter dated April 16. 1997 DOE transmitted the final CR to NRC.
1he final CR is under review by the staff.
On February 20. 1997. NRC transmitted coments on the LTSP to DOE.
NRC is currently awaiting DOE's response to those comments.
On December 13, 1996. NRC transmitted comments on the Vicinity Property Completion Report for property number MH-024 (arroyo north of former Mexican Hat processing site). and is awaiting responses.
Hilestones DOE provides additional page changes 06/97 NRC completes CR review and concurs in completion 07/97
)
DOE responds to comments on LTSP 07/97 l
NRC completes licensing review 09/97 l
Salt Lake City. Utah. Vitro (Drocessina) site Status:
NRC has raised a concern about the high-level of thorium contamination left in some areas at the processing site DOE proposed supplemental standards for the Th-230, but has not adequately supported that cleanup was aerformed to as-low as-reasonably achievable levels.
The NRC is working with X)E to assess what doses are expected from the concentrations present on the site, and to determine if these doses would allow NRC to concur on the cleanup.
NRC is
-waiting for additional information from DOE to complete the review.
There is no licensing action required for the processing site.
Milestones DOE provides additional information on TH 230 potential doses 07/97 NRC completes review of CR and concurs ir completion 09/97 Salt Lake City. Utah. Clive (disposal) site Status:
DOE transmitted the CR page changes on May 5, 1997, and that information is under review.
Staff has no issues open on the LTSP pending the acceptability of the CR and completion of land transfer.
Milestones NRC completes CR review and concurs in completion 07/97 DOE provides final LTSP information 08/97 NRC licenses site 09/T 3
i 1
O Green River. Utah l
l St'atus:*'
By letter dated April 16. 1997. DOE transmitted additional information in support of its request (RAP modification) for a revised site groundwater protection strategy.
NRC staff proposes to complete its review of the groundwater strategy by early June 1997.
Once NRC concurs on the RAP modification, DOE can make corresponding changes to its site LTSP.
Groundwater r: lated concerns are the major outstanding issues on the LTSP.
Milestones NRC completes review of the RAP modification 06/97 DOE submits revised LTSP 06/97 NRC completes licensing 07/97 Havbell. Colorado Status:
On April 21. 1997 NRC completed its review of the RAP and provided its Technical Evaluation Report for the Maybell site.
DOE will need to provide construction completion documentation and an LTSP for the site in the future.
Milestones DOE submits CR 04/98[12/97)
NRC provides comments on CR and LTSP 06/98[02/98]
DOE provides CR responses and final LTSP information 07/98[04/98]
NRC completes CR and licensing reviews 09/98[06/98]
Rifle Colorado Status On April 3, 1997. DOE Jbmitted the R1 fle Completion Report (CR).
The NRC has begun its review of the CR. and anticipatas completing the review by June 1997, and will identify any additional information NRC would need at that time.
The LTSP for the Rifle site has not been submitted.
Milestones NRC provides comments on CR 06/97 DOE provides responses 08/97 DOE submits LTSP 08/97 NRC provides comments on LTSP 09/97 NRC concurs in CR 09/97 DOE provides final LTSP 10/97 NRC completes licensing 10/97 4
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Slick Roc.k. Colorado DOE needs to submit a CR and LTSP.
Once these documents are recieved NRC will initiate its review, j
Milestones 00E submits CR 07/97 l
00E submits LTSP 08/97 NRC provides comments on CR and LTSP 10/97 DOE-responds-to comments 12/97 00E provides final LTSP information 01/98 NRC concurs in CR and completes licensing 02/98 I
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