ML20211D353
| ML20211D353 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 06/06/1986 |
| From: | Clark A NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| To: | Hannum W ENERGY, DEPT. OF, IDAHO OPERATIONS OFFICE |
| References | |
| REF-PROJ-M-32 NUDOCS 8606120822 | |
| Download: ML20211D353 (4) | |
Text
DISTRIBUTION:
Project.M-32: ?DR & LPDR NMSS r/f FCAF r/f JUN 06 W RECunningham REBrowning RBoyle JSaraka Project M-32 NDavison LCRouse Dr. William H. Hannum, Director West Valley Project Office g g]"
U.S. Department of Energy-Idaho Operations P.O. Bor 191 West Valley, NY 14171
Dear Dr. Hannum:
In my letter, dated May 29, 1986, I indicated the necessity for keeping the NRC staff current as information on the disposal of project low-level wastes develops.
In a related matter, we recognize that although it may be premature at this time to develop some design details related to closure of the disposal area, the relationship of the previous disposals, including the current plant wastes, to the disposal of project low-level waste must be understood now.
We also recognize that the West Valley Demonstration Project Act does not expressly contemplate that the Department would take responsibility for previously disposed wastes.
We recently provided the Department of Energy and the State of New York with three reports (references in Enclosure) related to the facility disposal area at the Western New York Nuclear Service Center. Two of the reports, prepared by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, recommend that certain tasks be undertaken to assure the continued confinement of radioactive wastes over the life of the dis The third report discusses the mass wasting topic (seepp.28-29)posalarea.
for which stabilization work is necessary.
Some of the work recommended in the reports has already been initiated.
It is important that other tasks of the reports be undertaken soon. These tasks are related to corrective actions needed in the near term, i.e., during the period of time activities at the Center are controlled by the Department of Energy.
The remaining tasks are related more to a comprehensive site closure plan for which later action is necessary, but only planning is necessary now.
In connection with site closure we believe that the comprehensive closure plan should be coordinated with the plan for closure of the state disposal area. We discuss the near-term tasks in the following paragraphs.
8606120822 860606 PDR PROJ PDR M-32
t JUN 06 M Dr. William H. Hannum
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As discussed in Reference 2, active slumping has been occurring along the northeast corner of the facility disposal area.
Furthermore, we believe that the Department may be underestimating the significance and severity of active slumping and the potential for the development of new areas of erosion and gullying within the entire drainage basin system. We recommend that steps be taken to adequately stabilize all areas within the drainage basin against any future mass wasting, gullying, and erosion.
Chapter 4 of Reference 1 discusses the need to identify whether or not there are other solvent plumes. This investigation should be undertaken during this fiscal year.
In addition, the Department should develop a plan that addresses the management of any solvents that would be extracted from the site.
Finally, the effort suggested in Reference 3 to develop a sufficient ground-water model based on adequate field measurements is necessary to support ongoing project disposal activities. At present, the ground-water data base is incomplete and needs to be updated to include the most recent data. A minimum of two years of continuous surveillance is suggested.
We request that the Department confer with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority soon and, in a reply to this letter, indicate to us how you believe the recommendations of the reports can best be achieved. We would be pleased to meet with you and Authority representatives soon to discuss our recommendations.
Sincerely, onIGINAL SIGNED k A. Thomas Clark, Jr.
Advanced Fuel and Spent Fuel Licensing Branch Division of Fuel Cycle and Material Safety
Enclosure:
References cc:
T. DeBoer, NYSERDA
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P ENCLOSURE U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Comission and Oak Ridge National Laboratory Reaorts on Facility Disposal Area at t1e Western New York Nuclear Service Center 1.
" Plan for D$gnosing the Solvent Contamination at West Valley Facility Disposal Area," October 1984, ORNL; i
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"Information on the' Confinement Capability of the Facility Disposal Area at West Valley, N," September 1985, NRC;
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"Research Plan foriInvestigating Radionuclide Migration at the West Valley Facility Disposal' Area " October 1985, ORNL.
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