ML20236T103

Forwards State of Co to DOE Re Status of Rifle Radioactive Matls License,Per E Hawkins Request

ML20236T103
Person / Time
Issue date:	10/23/1987
From:	NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV)
To:	Lohaus P NRC
References
REF-WM-62 NUDOCS 8712010011
Download: ML20236T103 (3)

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. STATE O::COIBAJO COLORADO DEPARTMENT O 7 .

4210 East 11th Avenue Denver, Colorado 80220 ()

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Phone (303) 320-8333

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,, , e October 2, 1987 l Fi og h Doc m to S noy somer Cov"nor

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Thomas M. Veenon M.D.

James R. Anderson $o,2 V -(,t

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Project Manager \

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Uranium Mill Tailings Project Office occrti citu g . ,,

U.S. Department of Energy N f

P.O. Box 5400 N :, 3 Albuquerque, NM 87115

SUBJECT:

Status of Rifle Radioactive Materials License

Dear Jim:

l This letter is in response to your inquiry concerning the status of the existing radioactive materials license for the "Old" and "New" Rifle sites owned by UMETCO Minerals Corporation. (UMETCO) located in Rifle, Colorado. Colorado Radioactive Materials License No. SUA-679 issued to Union Carbide Corp. authorized the processing of uranium ore at the Rifle millings sites. Milling of uranium ore was discontinued at the Old Rifle site in 1924, and at the New Rifle site in August 1972. I Currently UMETCO, under License No. 660-03S, is authorized to stabilize and store mill tailings and other residuals for the interim until the sites are transferred to the UMTRA Program. This license does not permit processing for the production of uranium or thorium. No such processing has been authorized since Union Carbide's December 1972 shutdown. As of January 1, 1978, therefore, no such processing license was in effect.

Amendment No. 9 of the previous Radioactive Materials License No.

SUA-679, effective from September 13, 1976 to September 30, 1981, authorized limited possession and use of radioactive materials in conjunction with a pilot research operation, whereby approximately 300-500 tons of ore could be processed. However no recovery of uranium or thorium product was authorized, nor was such product ever recovered as a resul't of any such activity.

The State therefore finds, and has verified through recent discussions with representatives of NRC's Region IV Denver Uranium fecovery Office, that there are no areas, aspects or conditions pertaining to the Rifle sites which would be exempted from qualifying for remedial action under UMIRCA as defined by Section 101 of the Act.

8712010011 871023 PDR WASTE WM-62 PDR

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. z .L.;;g b l-Should you have: any ' questions regarding this letter, please feel free 'to -

, contact Al Hazie at 303/331-8480.

Sincerely,

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A. . Hazle, Director.

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Howard Roitman Radiation Control Division - Program Manager, UMTRAP

. cc: _ F. Bosiljevak, UMTRA .

R. Richey, UMTRA J. Frost, UMETCO (GRJ) fo Shortridge, UMETCO (GRJ) r

/ D. Smith, NRC-URF0 T

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