ML20248C457
| ML20248C457 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 05/22/1998 |
| From: | Joseph Holonich NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| To: | Real G ENERGY, DEPT. OF |
| References | |
| REF-WM-63 NUDOCS 9806020158 | |
| Download: ML20248C457 (5) | |
Text
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UNITED STATES W
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,j NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION o
' 4" WASHINGTON, D.C. 2055HK101
- ,o May 22, 1998 Mr. George Real, Director U.S. Department of Energy Albuquerque Operations Office ERD /UMTRA P.O. Box 5400 Albuquerque, NM - 8718'i-5400
SUBJECT:
. ACCEPTANCE OF MEXICAN HAT, UTAH VICINITY PROPERTY MH-024 COMPLETION REPORT
Dear Mr. Rael:
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff has completed its review of the Mexican 3
Hat, Utah, Vicinity Property Completion Report (CR) for property number MH-024 submitted by i
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) letter dated July 29,1996, as revised by submittals dated September 23, October 8, and December 4,1997, and May 7,1998. The DOE requested NRC 1
concurrence on this CR because, during remedial action, DOE found Th-230 contamination, some of which would be difficult to remove. As a resu!t of this contamination, an application for supplemental standards is included in the CR.
The property is a large arroyo (canyon) that runs from north of the former Mexican Hat processing site to the San Juan River. A pipeline from the processing site had discharged contaminated materialinto the arroyo. The Remedial Action Plan proposed to clean up the l
upper portion of the arroyo, and to apply supplemental standards to the sparsely vegetated lower portion of the arroyo, leaving approximately 1591 cubic yards of contaminated material.
NRC staff concurred on this application of supplemental standards (January 3,1992) based on the high cost of remediation and the low health oenef;t that would result from the remediation
[40 CFR 921.21(c)).
After remediation, one grid (100 m ) in area A-1 (top of the upper portion of the arroyo) has a sandstone ledge containing 85 pCi/g Th-230. The rocky area was backfilled to prevent erosion and ponding of run-off. DOE estimated that the volume of Th-230 contaminated material is
- 100 cubic yards. DOE's justification for application of supplemental standards is the r;ck of
_l injury to workers, the high cost relative to long-term benefits, and the existence of radionuclides f other than Ra-226 [40 CFR 192.22(a) (b) and (h)).
The NRC staff determined that application of supplemental standards for the Th-230 contaminated areas is appropriate. The partial excavation of the material removed whatever l-small risk could result from the material. Removal of the small residual amount is not warranted based on the cost and risk of injury to the remediation workers. Therefore, the staff concludes.
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G. Rael May 22, 1998 l
that temediation of this property meets the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards.
The NRC Review Form for Supplemental Certification of Vicinity Properties, containing NRC l
concurrence, is enclosed.
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If you have any questions concerning this letter, please contact the NRC Project Manager,
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Harold Lefevre at (301) 415-6678.
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I Sincerely,
[D. Gillen for]
Joseph J. Holonich, Chief l
Uranium Recovery Branch Division of Waste Management I
Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards
Enclosure:
As stated cc: W. Woodworth, DOE Alb l
F. Bosiljevac, DOE Alb l
E. Artiglia, TAC Alb i
l DISTRIBUTION w/ Encl.:
File Center NMSS r/f URB r/f PUBLIC EBrummett CNWRA ACNW w/o Encl.: MFederline MLayton CAbrams DOCUMENT NAME: S:DWM\\ URB \\HEL\\ HAT 024CR.520 l
l OFC URB.
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L URB & f NAME HLefeh[h' D
n JHolo h
DATE 05////98 H
05/2N98 R
05/MJ98 l
OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
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G. Rael -
th'at remediation of this property meets the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards.
The NRC Review Form for Supplemental Certification of Vicinity Properties, containing NRC concurrence, is enclosed, if you have any questions concerning this letter, please contact the NRC Project Manager, Harold Lefevre at (301) 415-6678.
Sincerely, M.
k Joseph J. Holonich, Chief Uranium Recovery Branch Division of Waste Management Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards
Enclosure:
As stated cc: W. Woodworth, DOE Afb F. Bosiljevac, DOE Alb E. Artiglia, TAC Alb
G. Rael
-2 May 22, 1998 that remediation of this property meets the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards.
The NRC Review Form for Supplemental Certification of Vicinity Properties, containing NRC concurrence, is enclosed.
If you have any questions concerning this letter, please contact the NRC Project Manager, Harold Lefevre at (301) 415-6678.
Sincerely,
[D. Gillen for]
Joseph J. Holonien, Chief Uranium Recovery Branch Division of Waste Management Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards
Enclosure:
As stated cc: W. Woodworth, DOE Alb F. Bosiljevac, DOE Alb.
E. Artiglia, TAC Alb DISTRIBUTION w/ Encl.:
File Center NMSS r/f URB r/f PUBLIC EBrummett CNWRA ACNW
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w/o Encl.: MFederline MLayton CAbrams 1
DOCUMENT NAME: S:DWM\\ URB \\HEL\\ HAT 024CR.520 OFC URB.
E U A,s_
L URBCh // _
NAME HLefekh' D
n JHolo h
DATE 05////98 H
05f41/98 R
05tg>98 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY l
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VP No.: MH-024 NRC Review Form for Supplemental Certification of Vicinity Properties q
The Department of Energy (DOE) has determined that the remedial action at the following vicinity property (VP) has been completed and thereby complies with I
supplemental standards invoked by DOE under 40 CFR, Subpart C, specifically Subsections 192.21 and 192.22.
[X]
NRC concurrence for the Radiological Engineering Assessment (REA) was given on: January 3,1992
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Supplemental standards were not in the REA, special circumstances required that supplemental standa s be invoked during remedial action.
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hrank D. BosiIjevac, DOE C fication Officer
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/Date
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Based on the information and certification provided by the DOE, the NRC:
k Concurs that the remedial action at the subject VP has been competed under its -
authority provided by the Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act (UMTRCA),
Section 104 (f)(1) and as described in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), Appendix A, Section 3.4.
[]
Concurs, as above, except for the following conditions:
1.
2.
3.
I 1 See attached sheets for any additional provisions.
[]
Needs additionalinformation to make a concurrence decision. This information consists of:
I1 See attached sheets for any additional informational needs.
N1LI*tA
=
NRC Coricurring Official and Title
Da'te Daniel M. Gillen, Assistant Branch Chief I
Uranium Recovery Branch Division of Waste Vanagement Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards Enclosure L