ML20217F293
| ML20217F293 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 03/25/1998 |
| From: | Joseph Holonich NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| To: | Tucker M ENERGY, DEPT. OF |
| References | |
| REF-WM-54 NUDOCS 9803310338 | |
| Download: ML20217F293 (4) | |
Text
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March 25, 1998 Mr. Michri K. Tuck:r U.S. Department of Energy l
+,
Grand Junction Office 2597 B 3/4 Road Grand Junction, CO 81503 i
SUBJECT:
REVIEW OF SUPPLEMENTAL STANDARDS APPLICATION FOR VICINITY PROPERTY GJ-00673-CS, SOUTH AVE.
i The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff has completed its review of the Radiologic and Engineering Assessment (REA) for Vicinity Property GJ-00673 at 531 South Avenue, Grand Junction, Colorado. The subject supplemental standards application was submitted by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) by letter of November 10,1997, and i
supplemented by information provided by DOE's letter of December 19,1997. The REA proposes utilization of supplemental standards for two deposits of surface residual radioactive material (RRM) on the South Avenue property: 1) RRM commingled with Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) characteristic and listed hazardous wastes on the exterior of a building at that location; and 2) RRM with RCRA and Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) hazardous waste in the basement of the unoccupied building.
DOE recommends that the deposits remain in place under supplemental standards based on 40 CFR 192.21 Criteria e and d, "the cost of remedial action... is unreasonably high relative to the long-term benefits, and the residual radioactive materials do not pose a clear present or future hazard." In its REA, DOE evaluated three remedial action altematives (no remediation, complete remediation, and partial remediation) and the associated health risks and determined that no significant health risks would occur from the application of a supplemental standard of "no remediation."
Based on its review cf the data provided by DOE, the NRC steff concurs with the proposed application of supplemental standards for the South Avenue Vicinity Property. The staff's review is documented in the enclosed Technical Evaluation Report. If you have any questions concerning this letter or the enclosure, please contact Ms. Charlotte Abrams, of my staff, at (301) 415-5808.
Sincerely,
.fohepb.#SloM, Chief Uranium Recovery Branch Division of Waste Management Office of Nuclear Material Safety
Enclosure:
As stated 31O M
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March 25, 1998 Mr. Michael K. Tucker U.S. Department of Energy Grand Junction Office 2597 B 3/4 Road Grand Junction, CO 81503 f
SUBJECT:
REVIEW OF SUPPLEMENTAL STANDARDS APPLICATION FOR VICINITY PROPERTY GJ 00673-CS, SOUTH AVE.
I The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff has completed its review of the Radiologic and Engineering Assessment (REA) for Vicinity Property GJ-00673 at 531 South Avenue, Grand Junction, Colorado. The subject supplemental standards application was 4
submitted by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) by letter of November 10,1997, a u supplemented by information provided by DOE's letter of December 19,1997. The REA proposes utilization of supplemental standards for two deposits of surface residual radioactive material (RRM) on the South Avenue property: 1) RRM commingled with Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) characteristic and listed hazardous wastes on the exterior of a building at that location; and 2) RRM with RCRA and Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) hazardous waste in the basement of the unoccupied building.
DOE recommends that the deposits remain in place under supplemental standards based on 40 CFR 192.21 Criteria c and d, "the cost of remedial action... is unreasonably high relative to the long-term benefits, and the residual radioactive materials do not pose a clear present or future hazard." In its REA, DOE evaluated three remedial action attematives (no remediation, complete remediation, and partial remediation) and the associated health risks. and determined that no significant health risks would occur from the application of a supplemental standard of "no remediation."
Based on its review of the data provided by DOE, the NRC staff concurs with the propcsed application of supplemental standards for the South Avenue Vicinity Property. The staff's review is documented in the enclosed Technical Evaluation Report. If you have any questions i
conceming this letter or the enclosure, please contact Ms. Charlotte Abrams, of my staff, at l
(301) 415-5808.
Sincerely, 4
N Joseph J. Holonich, Chief Uranium Recovery Branch Division of Waste Management Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards
Enclosure:
As stated cc: E. Artiglia, TAC Alb R. Edge, DOE GRJ
q a
TECHNICAL EVALUATION REPORT REVIEW OF SUPPLEMENTAL STANDARDS APPLICATION FOR VICINITY PROPERTY GJ-00673-CS, SOUTH AVE.
DATE:
March 20,1998 PROJECT MANAGER: Charlotte Abrams TECHNICAL REVIEWER: Elaine Brummett
SUMMARY
AND CONCLUSIONS:
On November 10,1997, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) submitted the Radiologic and Engineering Assessment (REA) for Vicinity Property GJ-00673 at 531 South Avenue, Grand Junction, Colorado. The REA was supplemented by information provided by DOE's letter of December 19,1997. The REA proposes utilization of supplemental standards for two deposits of surface residual radioactive material (RRM) on the South Avenue property: 1) RRM commingled with Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) characteristic and listed hazardous wastes on the exterior of a building at that location, and 2) RRM with RCRA and Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) hazardous waste in the basement of the unoccupied building.
DOE recommends that the deposits remain in place under supplemental standards based on 40 CFR 192.21 Criteria c and d, "the cost of remedial action... is unreasonably high relative to the long-term benefits, and the residual radioactive materials do not pose a clear present or future hazard." in its REA, DOE evaluated three remedial action alternatives (no remediation, complete remediation, and partial remediation) and the associated health risks, and determined that no significant health risks would occur from the application of a supplemental standard of "no remediation." Based on its review of the data provided by DOE, the NRC staff concurs with the proposed application of supplemental standards for the South Avenue Vicinity Property.
TECHNICAL EVALUATION:
The REA for Vicinity Property GJ-00673 at 531 South Avenue, Grand Junction, Colorado, proposes utilization of supplemental standards for two deposits of surface residual radioactive material (RRM) on the South Avenue property: 1) RRM commingled with Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) characteristic and listed hazardous wastes on the exterior of a building at that location; and 2) RRM with RCRA and Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) hazardous waste in the basement of the unoccupied building.
The property is the site of the former Public Service Company steam plant and maintenance facility, and is now owned by the City of Grand Junction. The former property owner had some of the commingled material removed in 1990 (6-to-18 inches from two exterior deposits and approximately 10 inches from the interior deposit). Currently, three exterior deposits (in the northwest corner of the lot near loading dock), consist of an estimated 9 cubic yards (cys) of Enclosure
e RRM 6 inches in depth, containing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) regulated under TSCA.
The maximum estimated Ra-226 concentration of the exterior deposits is 28 pCi/g. The interior deposit consists of an estimated 7 cys of RRM commingled with RCRA wastes (volatile organic compounds), as well as with PCBs. This deposit is up to 11 inches deep and the estimated maximum remaining Ra-226 activity is 34 pCl/g.
l DOE's REA indicates that a disposal site does not exist that will accept RCRA listed waste or TSCA regulated waste commingled with radioactive material. Treatment of such waste would require treatability studies and permits, and the treatment of material to remove the hazardous waste is not always successful. DOE also indicated that it does not have authority to manage the hazardous waste under the Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act because the waste is not related to the milling process, but was spilled on the tailings at the vicinity property.
DOE recommends that the deposits remain in place under supplemental standards based on 40 CFR 'i92.21 Criteria e and d, "the cost of remedial action.. is unreasonably high relative to the long-term benefits, and the residual radioactive materials do not pose a clear present or future hazard." DOE evaiuated three remedial action alternatives (no remediation, complete remediation, and partial remediation) and the associated health risks and determined that no significant health risks would occur from the application of a supplemental standard of"no remediation." An additional health risk assessment provided by DOE on December 30,1997, l
indicated a potential dose of 40 mrem /yr from the contaminated dirt basement floor, if the building were occupied. Further, a dose of 4 mrem /yr could occur if a slab were placed over the dirt.
Based on its review of the information provided, the NRC staff concurs with DOE's recommended alternative, application of supplemental standards for no remediation, because the cost of remediation is excessive in comparison to any likely health benefit that might result j
from remediation.
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