ML20212A027
| ML20212A027 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 10/09/1997 |
| From: | Joseph Holonich NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| To: | Plieness R ENERGY, DEPT. OF |
| References | |
| REF-WM-72 NUDOCS 9710230138 | |
| Download: ML20212A027 (4) | |
Text
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- Mr. R:y Pil:n:ss, Project Min:g:r October 9, 1997 l *
, U.S. Dep;rtm:nt of En:rgy Grand Junction Office 2597 8 3/4 Road Grand Junction, CO 81503 I
SUBJECT:
ACCEPTANCE OF THE FINAL GROUND WATER COMPLIANCE ACTION PLAN FOR THE INACTIVE URANIUM MILL TAILINGS SITE AT SPOOK, WYOMING
Dear Mr. Plioness:
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff hereby concurs with the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Ground Water Cornpliance Action Plan (GCAP), dated March 18,1997 for the Spook Uranium Mill Tallings Remedial Action Project site at Spook, Wyoming. This action completes the remedial action for the Spook site under the Uranium Mill Tallings Radiation Control Act of 1978, as amended (UMTRCA).
l DOE submitted a final Remedial Action Plan and Site Conceptual Design for Stabilization of
, the inactive Uranium Mill Tallings at Spook, Wyoming, dated July,1989. The staff reviewed and conditionally concurred with the proposalin December,1989. The conditional concurrence was based on DOE's deferring compliance with the groundwater cleanup a provisions of Title 40 Code of Federal Regulations Part 192 (40 CFR 192), Subparts B and C.
I DOE's final Completion Report dated October,1991 was reviewed by NRC staff and accepted 2 by letter dated March 4,1992. NRC staff accepted DOE's Long Term Surveillance Plan for the site by letter dated September 21,1993 and the site was transferred to lon0 term care under the generailicense provisions of 10 CFR 40.27.
As discusse1 in the enclosed Techncial Evaluation Review (TER), NRC staff has determined that the GCAP and modification of the Spook Remedial Action Plan satisfies the requirements set forth in the UMTRCA, and the regulations in 40 CFR 192 Subparts B and C for the cleanup of groundwater contamination resulting from the processing of ores for the extraction of uranium. No modifications to the Long Term Surveillance Plan are required.
>= If you have any questions concerning this subject please contact the NRC Project Manager, fA Janet Lambert, at (301) 415-6710.
C3 Sincerely, pg (Original Joseph J. signed Holonich,by)ief Ch 971023013e 971009" Uranium Recovery Branch PDR WASTE Division of Waste Management WM-72 POR y kg Office of Nuclear Material S9fety Cd
Enclosure:
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SUPPLEMENTAL TECHNICAL EVALUATION REPORT TITLE 1 GROUNDWATER REMEDIATION DATE: October 6. 1997 FACILITY: Spook. Wyoming PROJECT MANAGER: Janet Lambert. Uranium Recovery Branch. DWM/NMSS TECHNICAL REVIEWER: Michael Layton Uranium Recovery Branch. DWM/kMSS BACKGROUND:
The U.S. Department of Energy (00E) submitted a final Remedial Action Plan and l Site Conceptual Design for Stabilization (RAP) of the inactive Uranium Mill Tallings at S)ook. Wyoming. dated July 1989. for NRC staff review. Staff reviewed the 1AP and conditionally concurred on the proposed remedial action as documented in the December 1989. Technical Evaluation Report (TER). The
! conditional concurrence was based on DOE's eforring compliance with the l groundwater cleanup 3rovisions of Title 40 Code of Federal Regulations Part 192 (40 CFR 192). Su) parts B and C. DOE demonstrated that there was no
! health, safety, or environmental impact from the groundwater situation at the Spook site. Therefore. DOE proposed to address compliance w n these requirements as part of a separate program for groundwater c aanup.
DOE's final Completion Re] ort dated October 1991 was reviewed by staff and accepted by letter dated iarch 4.1992. Staff accepted DOE's Long-Term Surveillance Plan (LTSP) for the site by letter dated September 21, 1993, and the site was transferred to long-term care under the general license provisions of 10 CFR 40.27.
The groundwater restoration phase of the Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial- Action (UMTRA) Project was initiated by DOE's final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (EEIS)fortheUMTRAGroundWaterProject. The final PEls was approved for distribution on Se tember 19. 1996, and the Record of Decision was approved and published on ril 28,1997.
This supplemental TER documents staff's review of DOE's Ground Water Compliance Action Plan (GCAPL dated March 18, 1997 for the Spook Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action Project site at S)ook. Wyoming: and modifies the conditional concurrence in the December 1989 TER.
SUMMARY
AND CONCLUSIONS:
Staff has determined that the GCAP and modification of the Spook Remedial Action Plan satisfies the requirements set forth in the Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act of 1978, as amended (UMTRCA), and the standards in 40 CFR 192. Subparts B and C for the cleanup of groundwater contamination resulting from the processing of ores for the extraction of uranium. No modifications to the LTSP are required by this action. This action completes the remedial action for this site under the UMTRCA.
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S,upplemental TER 2 DESCRIPTION OF DOE's REQUEST:
DOE requested a RAP modification to revise toe Acuifer Restoration portion of the Water Resources Protection Strategy. The mocification identified DOE's compliance approach for groundwater cleanup, which involves no remediation, based on the u)permost aquifer meeting the limited use classification due to wide-spread am)1ent contamination unrelated to uranium milling operations.
TECHNICAL EVALUATION:
DOE submitted the Site Observational Work Plan (50WP) for the Spook Site to the NRC for an informational and " fatal flaw" review in May,1995 to determined if the approach was technically feasible and consistent with the regulatory requirements. DOE's described compiiance approach of no remedial action was based on the uppermost aquifer meeting the limited use classification, and no apparent risk to human health or the environment from the groundwater because of no known exposure pathway in the uppermost aquifer.
DOE's characterization and analysis showed that there is no discharge of groundwater from the uppermost aquifer to deeper aquifers or surface waters, no one is using or projected to use the uppermost aquifer since it meets the limited use classification, and better quality water is readily available from deeper aquifers.
DOE concluded that the extent of existing contamination may increase with time, but the contaminant concentrations will decrease because of dilution and attenuation within the aquifer. Although groundwater data had not been collected at the site since 1989. DOE further concluded that supplemental data would not be needed because the source of contamination had been minimized, the amount of infiltration through the tailings had been greatly reduced and the existing characterization was adequate to address uncertainties associated with any changes in groundwater conditions beneath or downgradient of the Spook site.
Staff reviewed the 50WP from an informational perspective and concludec. chh DOE's a)proach for com)1ying with the groundwater cleanup provisions in 40 CFR 192. Su) parts B and C 1ad no fatal flaws. Staff's review of the GCAP also concludes that the approach is consistent with requirements in the regulations and DOE's PEIS. Therefore. Lhe NRC staff concurs with the DOE groundwater reclamation for the Spook site.
REFERENCES:
U.S. Department of Energy. 1995. Site Observational Work Plan for the UMTRA Project Site at Spook. Wyoming. DOE /AL/62350-156 Rev 0.
U.S. Department of Energy. 1996. Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for the Uranium Hill Tailings Remedial Action Ground Water Project. October. 1996. DOE /EIS-0198.
U.S. Department of Energy. 1997. Final Ground Water Comaliance Action Plan and Remedial Actin Plan Modification of the Inactive Jranium Mill Tailings at Spook. Wyoming. transmitted by letter dated March 18, 1997.
s Supple, mental TER 3 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.1989. Final Techm 'ai Evaluation Re> ort for the Proposed Remedial Action at the Spook Tailings Site. Spooc. l Wyoming. '
1 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 1995. Fatal Flaw review of UMTRA Project Spook Site Observational Work Plan. Memorandum to Joe Holonich from John Austin. November 20. 1995.
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