ML20248F298
| ML20248F298 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 08/13/1997 |
| From: | Chaney D NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV) |
| To: | NUCLEAR CORP. OF AMERICA |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20248F239 | List: |
| References | |
| FOIA-98-19 NUDOCS 9806040183 | |
| Download: ML20248F298 (3) | |
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Augu t 13,1997 Lett:r to Isotope Specialties File:
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Subject:
Isotopes Specialties, Burbank and Glendale, California Site Information
! On August 12,1997, one Roger Caputi visited the WCFO to inquire about radiation and contamination release limits. During the conversation Mr. Caputi indicated that he had worked for Isotopes Specialties when he was i a teenager (1952-1953) at a Glendale site. Our records do not indicate a Glendale site. Mr. Caputi talked tbout workers he knew (owner Dr. Goldstein and Bob Selff-chemist). Mr. Caputi stated he had also worked at i the 703 South Main Street (co'ntaminated) site also and knew of the movement of Isotopes Specialties to the 170 W. Providencia (contaminated) location.
- Mr. Caputi state he knew of a " glory hole" at the Glendale site that housed a variety of large sources and routinely got flooded by seasonal rains. Mr. Caputi was not surprised that we found contamination at both of the Burbank sites since he felt that Goldstein ran a loose and fast money operation (cut a lot of corners in l producing their products). l The location of the Glendale site, as describe by Mr. Caputi:
I l
Source Glory Hole
_X Former Isotopes Specialties B of A Site l3816l l3812l San Fernando Road (south)
Mr. Caputi can be reached at (510) 943-7579 (Walnut Creek, CA)
Denn Chaney, CHP, RIV/WCFO l
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R l ;
9806040183 980529 PDR FOIA If D(
, . FRIEDMAN 98-19 PDR [
i ORNL Score: 7,568 Classification: Non-sealed Source License No.: 04-00580-07 Docket No.: None Licensee: Isotopes Specialties Company Address: 170 West Providencia Street .
Burbank, California 91502 Current Owner / Address: Joseph Thomson 1831 Foothill Drive Glendale, CA 91201 Activity: Byproduct, source and Special Nuclear Material handling for source manufacturing and waste consolidation ORNL Concerns: ORNL's concerns were that there was not suitable information available on the degree of cleanup accomplished, survey reports, etc., to be assured that the subject site met current decommissioning criteria, or that a final AEC/NRC inspection l had been performed at the sites prior to license termination. l They were also concerned that there may have been onsite burial / disposal of radioactive material or abandonment of manufacturing equipment / material in place.
Background:
This is one of two former Isotopes Specialties Co. sites in the Burbank, CA area being investigated. This site (170 W. Providencia Street) used radioactive materials under 1 several AEC licenses that dated back to the 1950's. Licenses I were for radioactive waste collection and storage, waste consolidation for ocean dumping, radioactive source manufacture, and a commercial radiochemical laboratory.
Kilocurie quantities of various long lived radioisotopes were authorized, in both loose and sealed form. .
I Current !
Status: The original facility was found to be pretty much intact and l was being renovated by a former tenant. The current owner i stated that he had owned the property since the mid 1960's and l had been aware that some company had used radioactive materials l at the site before his ownership, but understood that all l radioactive materials had been removed. Mr. Thomson indicated ;
that the buildings on the site had only been slightly modified !
since his ownership, mostly interior walls for offices. Some l small outside buildings had been added, i l
The site was visited on February 23, 1996 by an NRC Region IV/WCF0 inspector and a State of California inspector and cursory radiological surveys of the site were performed.
These surveys indicate that several areas inside of site buildings and outside areas were contaminated above NRC residual release criteria. State of California solid sample 1 analysis determined the primary isotopes of concern were
! thorium 230/232 and cesium-137. General area gamma radiation
exposure rate measurement indicate that source material may have been buried on site. NRC Inspection Report No. 30-90006/96-01 was issued on April 8, 1996. A letter to the State of California, dated April 8, 1996, transferred responsibility for this site to the State.
Recommendation: Close this case.
Contact:
H. Dean Chaney, RIV/WCF0 Phone: (510) 975-0229 i
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