ML20216F252
| ML20216F252 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 09/10/1997 |
| From: | Cool D NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| To: | Turi J ENERGY, DEPT. OF |
| References | |
| SSD, NUDOCS 9709110198 | |
| Download: ML20216F252 (2) | |
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UNITED STATES j
,j NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 205SH001
%, *... +,o September 10, 1997 U.S. Department of Energy ATTN: Mr. Jim Turi Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Waste Management Environmental Management Washington, D.C. 20585
Dear Mr. Turi:
As discussed in our telephone conference call on September 5,1997, we are requesting tho assistance of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), on behalf of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region lli office, to store or dispose of one ruptured americium 241 (Am-241) source of indeterminate activity, and an additional unknown small quantity of Am 241, believed to have originated from the ruptured source, contained in a small volume of scrap l
material. The materialis located at Royal Green Recyclers in Temple, Pennsylvania. Based on information gained on site by a DOE response team from Brookhaven National Laboratory, we believe the ruptured source and additional material exceed Class C limits for near-surface disposal of low-level radioactive material. Due to the unknown nature and quantity of the material, EPA is the Lead Agency for the Federal Response to this event.
Royal Green Recyclers is not authorized to possess unsealed Am-241. Inspectors from our Region I office, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) personnel, and DOE Brookhaven personnel have been assisting the facility in the characterization of the material and ensuring the materialis properly secured. Attempts to identify the source and a responsible party or licensee have been unsuccessful. The ruptured source and the site are currently under the control of Royal Green Recyclers, and the situation is (,ontinuing to be monitored by PADEP, EPA Rlli office, and our Region I office. Based on the lack of a responsible licensee and the nature of the spread of material, control over the ma'erial cannot be ensured and the ruptured source and additional Am-241 must be removed from the facility as soon as possible to protect public health and safety. We believe the situation above represents a threat to the public health and safety and, therefore, meets the conditions specified by Mr. Leo P. Duffy in his letter of April 7,1992, for emergency assistance by DOE.
Royal Green Recyclers has indicated that it will procure the services of a contractor to further characterize the situation, package the ruptured source and additional discrete material, and
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qU transport the package to a site of DOE's choosing.
Additional information concerning the ruptured source and additional material can be obtained from either Mr. Joe Wolfson or Mr. Jim Coark of Royal Green Recyclers at (610) 926-4840 or Mr. Duncan White of our Region I office at (610) 337-5042.
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J. Turi 2-If you have any questions concerning this matter, do not hesitate to call me at (301) 415-7197, or Mr. Douglas Broaddus at (301) 415-5847, Sincerely, OrfginalsignedbyDonntd A. Cool Donald A. Cool, Director i
Division of Industrial and Medical Nuclear Safety Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards cc:
B. Belanger, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 111 W. P. Dornsife, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources Distribution:
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