ML20214G625

Summary of 711212-15 Site Visit W/Util & B&R Re Geological Reconnaissance in Hanford,Wa.Attendance List Encl

ML20214G625
Person / Time
Site:	Columbia
Issue date:	03/14/1972
From:	Mcmullen R US ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION (AEC)
To:	US ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION (AEC)
Shared Package
ML20214G618	List: ML20214G615 ML20214G625
References
CON-WNP-0134, CON-WNP-134 NUDOCS 8605220329
Download: ML20214G625 (7)

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o CE0 LOGICAL RECONNAISSNICE IN llANFORD AREA AND MEETING AMONG DRL, DRS AND USGS CONSULTANTS AND WPPSS PERSONNEL, REPRESENTATIVES FROM BURNS NID ROE MID T11EIR GEOLOGIC AND SEISMIC CONSULTANT - DECEMBER 12-15 1971

1. INTRODUCTION The main purposes of the trin were to meet with WPPSS personnel regarding questions which had arisen during our initial review of the PSAR, and to visit the llanford 2 site. Secondary goals of the trip were to participate in a general geologic reconnaissance of the Itanford region, a briefing of the new U.S.G.S. consultants ,

and to visit Grand Coulee Dam in connection with our review of a regional geological analysis to be done by others to deternine the capability of the dam to withstand a local SSE. Inclusive dates of the trip were f rom December 12, 1971, to December 15, 1971.

II. VISIT TO GRAND COULEE DAM

!!r. Ilulman and I had nianned to drive from Seattle to Grand Coulee and arrive by 2:00 p.m. on Decenber 12 to nect representatives f rom the Bureau of Reclamation. Ilowever, roads were iced and we didn't arrive until af ter dark, and the individuals we were to nc et had gone. We did acquire a little information from the PIO attendant which will be helpful in our future review of the analysis of the dan. Two important factors which must be considared in this review are t (1) In order to construct the new bay area, the original north aburner.t had been removed and the new dan is attached directiv to the original structure. With the renoval of the rassive granite abute.ent, a downgrading of the ca, ability of the dan f rom the original design could have resulted.

(2) Blaating was used to break un the north abutment and also those portions of the dan to be removed. This action may have furthet louered the integrity of that part of the dan lef t intact.

III. CE0 LOGICAL RECONNAISCANCE OF TIIE IINiFORD REGION 01 Decenber 13 fless rs II.18 W.*1dron, F. N. Ilouse r, and L. ff. Gard, USGS, and Messrs L.11. liulman and R. D. McMullen, AEC-DPS, engaged in a tour of sow of the more nrocinant geologic features around the Hanford Rese rvation. The purpose was to acquaint ?fr. Ilouser, (3605220329 700314 PDR ADOCK 05000397 A l'DR

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who had recently renlaced Dr. Baltz as consultant to AEC Regulatory, with the general regional geology around Hanford. We j first drove out to the area beyond the northwest corner of the

! reservation near Priest Ranids Dam. At this location the Columbia River had undercut the Umtanun Ridge Anticline exnosing nuch of the interior of the structure. This anticline is a classic example of one of the structural features of the area, namely that

! of an asymmetrical anticline. The dip of the basalt beds comprising the north limb become progressively steeper to the west along the axis of the anticline until they are overturned at the western-most part of this exposure where they are sheared.

Cable Butte and Cable Mountain are outliers of the Umtanum Ridge Anticline and have the same characteris tics. These anticlines, like other such structures in the aren, aren't necessarily asymmetrical throughout their entire length. One end may be asymmetrical in one direction while the other end nay be asymmetrical in the opposite direction. When the overturned limb has become overstressed by the regional forces causing the l deformation, high angle faulting occurs. Such a fault was found on Cable Mountain by Bingham, et al. in 1969. On December 14 af ter our meeting with WPPSS, we examined this feature on Cable Mountain. The break is a thrust fault with the older, and formerly deeper basalt flows thrust out over younger basalt flown.

South of Umtanun Ridge we briefly looked at the Yakima Ridge l

Anticline . There were no exposures of the interior of this

! structure apparent as were on the Umtanun Ridge. The Yakina Ridge I neems to becone several smaller linear hills just west of the I reservation, which plunge beneath the glaciofluvial noll of the Pasco Basin. The structure is probably similar to the Umtanum Ridge Anticline just described except that the surface expression seems to indicate that the Yakima Anticline is more symmetrical.

Uc next drove to the area beyond the southwest corner of the reservation and examined the Horse Heaven Hills structure. This structure is a large asyenetrical and faulted anticline. While in

( this area, we looked at exposures of the Touchet Beds in roadcuts

} near Benton. Many clastic dikes were visible in these cuts. Mr.

l L. M. Gard, USGS, who has worked extensively in this region, i

stated that the clantic dikes are probably the result of cracking during drying periods when the Touchet beds were not under water.

Subsequent flooding filled the open cracks with nediment.

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From the Horse Heaven Hills we went to the quarry on Nine Canyon Road southeast of Kennewick. The excavation had been cut into the northeast flank of the Rattlesnake-Wallula structure, exposing a highly brecciated zone which has been interpreted as part of the Ratt1csnake Wallula Fault, partly because it lines up with possible fault scaros to the southeast and northwest.

The next site visited was the Ringold Conglomerate exposure just east of Wooded Island. Although the matrix of the conglomerate can be crumbled easily between the fingers, the material is slightly cemented and is so dense that it stands on vertical, and even, overhanging slopes. The conglomerate has great energy absorbing capability as evidenced by the attempts nade several years ago to widen the right-of-way by blasting. The explosions were ineffective in breaking un the material and merelv blew out the packing from the drill holes.

IV. MEETING WITli WASIIINGTON POWER ON DECEMBER 14, 1971, IN KENNEWICK, WASilINGTON The purpose of the neeting was to discuss my questions of December 7,1971, which had been transnitted to the applicant by telephone.

A list of meeting participants is attached.

Dr. Coombs, the Annlicant's Geological Consultant, was nresent to answer the geological and seismological questions, and Mr. Mark Ilroncich, Burns and Roe, came to respond to the foundations questions. It was agreed that the questions would be subnitted forna11y at a later date along with questions fron USGS and NOAA.

The applicant would begin right away preparing answers to most of the questions discussed at the meeting and gathering the addt-tional information reques ted. I inforned them that Ouestions Ib(1) and (4), regarding the Yakima Ridge Anticline and the Wooded Island micro-earthquakes were being addressed by DRUT-AEC for the FFTF Project, and suggested that if the analyses in regard to FFTF were adequate, WPPSS could answer the questions by incorporating a brief summary into the PSAR covering the topics and referencing the appropriate FFFF reports.

In oral response to questions 1b(1) and (4), Dr. Coombs discussed at length the Yakima Ridge Anticline and work that others had done in regard to this structure. The main points as I interpreted them were thatt (1) there has not been found any evidence of faulting on this structure; (2) the Yakima earthquakes are not

necessarily associated with the Yakima structure; (3) Dr. Coombs is of the opinion that the Yakima Anticline dies out at the west side of the Pesco Basin; and (4) there is no relation of this structure to the Wooded Island micro-earthquakes.

The questions concerning foundations conditions at the site were discussed in detail and most of the information will be provided in a future amendment. The data include:

(1) description of additional detailed design investigations to be accomplished for major structures and the results of the investigation when completed; (2) foundation details for the Class I emergency cooling reservoirs, which will consist of 2 concrete lined basins, and two pairs of non-safety related cooling towers, and foundation details for Class I service water pipes; (3) relative density results of tests performed on carefully measured sampics taken fron test pits or from trenches to confirm the accuracy of the relative densities given in the PSAR which were based on standard penetration tests; (4) core boring logs from nearby projects referred to in the PSAR and a discussion of their applicability to the site. As no core borings were drilled to bedrock on the site, the applicant's consultant had referred to horings on nearby p roj ects . Mr. Hroncich, Burns & Roe, indicated that the oro-ject referred to was FFTF. I told him that these borinas may not be adequate because of the distance from the site; (5) a detailed description of their settlenent monitoring program of the major structures of the facility. Mr. Hroncich stated that monuments will be installed prior to excavation and will be maintained until af ter comnletion of the structures.

I informed the applicant that onsite trenching was necessary to confirm that there had been no near surface displacements in the foundation soils.

V. VISIT TO THE HANFORD 2 AND FFTF SITES Af ter the meeting we went to the site. The terrain was very flat and there was considerable gravel lying on the surf ace. This is O

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. consistent with the boring . logs.vhich' shb a high grave content in the glacio-fluvial material. The vind blown soils and Touchet

, beds, which covered the FFT[ site were absent here. The glacio-Fluvial soil at the FFTF cnatained essentially no gravel.

From the site we drovs to Gable Mountain and studied the f ault that was described earlier and then visited the FFTP site. The foundation had been installed and the containment steel was up to a height of about 50 feet from the bottom. The side slopes of the excavation were still clearly visible and the USGS personnel spent some time examining the clastic dikes exposed on the excavation walls .

.. This concluded by business at Hanford and I returned to Bethesda on Decenber 15, 1971.

,,; / % ' / ? 's J C ,l0 . i N R. B. McMullen, Geologis t Site Safety Branch 4-Division of Reactor Lic,ensing

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l ATTENDANCE LIST DRL S. Miner D RS L. G. Hulman R. B. McMullen WPPSS D. L. Reneberger

11. A. Coombs (consultant)

L. L. Ilumphreys J. E. Woolsey B&R M. J. Hroncich USGS F. N. Houser H. N. Waldron L. M. Card

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GAR S 1971 i

l Raymond 1., Carroll Accounting Procedures Branch j Office of the Controller j vashington Public Power Fupply System-ifanford Two, Dociet Slo. 50 337 l 1 aF forwarding the "GeneTal Information" Portion of ADendMnt h0 2 i

to the application filed by the above referenced applicant for I authorization to construct a nuclear reactor, designated as Hanford Two, at the AEC Hanford Reservation site, located in l',enton County, kashington.

This information is in response to your memorandum to us dated .

Dece#>er 30, 1971.

A.

Robert A. Clark , Chief i boiling Water Reactors tranch No. 3 Division of Pesctor Licensing

• Attach w nt:

A wndoent ho. 2, Section 15 i

, DiJ tribution:

Wocket Files

BWRf3 Reading i S. Miner l H. Gearin

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e o s covrewena pae a omcs nom-w no Form AEC-Ste (Rev. 9-53) AECM 0240

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