ML21342A276

NRC Contract No. NRC-28-83-606 Dtd 02/09/93

ML21342A276
Person / Time
Issue date:	02/09/1993
From:	Kottan J NRC Region 1
To:	Hallisey R State of MA, Dept of Public Health, Radiation Control Program
References
NRC-28-83-606
Download: ML21342A276 (5)

Text

UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION REGION I 475 ALLENDALE ROAD KING OF PRUSSIA, PENNSYLVANIA 19406-1415 FEB O 9 1993 I Mr. Robert Hallisey Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Public Health Radiation Control Program 305 South Street Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts 02130

Subject:

NRC Contract No. NRC-28-83-606 On** October: v('. 1992, Ms.. L,. *Peiuso 'and I met ith }'OlJ nd ep'resentati.ves_,'of y_our staff.in;, *. :

order to review your performance under the provisions of the subject contract. Enclosed for your information and records is a copy of the subject contract appraisal.

If you have any questions, please .feel free to contact me at (215) 337-5214.

Sincerely, James Kot Laboratory Specialist

Enclosure:

As Stated

FEB O 9 1893_

.,PK,X L..

Memo For: M. :tffill;, Chief, Effluents Radiation Protection Section From: J. Kottan, Laboratory Specialist

Subject:

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Contract Appraisal On October 14, 1992, I met with representatives from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Radiation Control Program to review activities conducted under NRC Contract Number NRC-28-83-606. This contact provides for a cooperative program for measuring concentrations of radioactivity and radiation levels in the environment around the following selected NRC licensed _facilities ithin the om.m.onwealt4: . Yank Roe _Atµiic_ Power: Statioi:i d Pilgrim .

. .. . ** Nuclear*-PoerStic;m. Attendance at.this -tirig is'_presented-in Attach.n:iet.l.. ** ..... * *.

The following areas were discussed and reviewed.

Or2anization Radiological environmental monitoring activities required by the NRC contract were conducted by the Department of Public Health, Radiation Control Program. The analysis of samples was also performed by Radiation Control Program personnel.

Staffin2 The Radiation Control Program had two professional level staff who were primarily responsible for radiological environmental monitoring programs and the NRC contract. Both of the professional staff individuals had M.S. degrees and approximately 10 years of professional experience each. Although the current level of staffing was down from previous years, the Commonwealth has been able to maintain the NRC contract program. The Commonwealth has attracted and retained qualified personnel in support of the NRC contract.

Mana2ement Support The Commonwealth of Massachusetts appeared to provide adequate management support for its radiation programs. Although the Radiation Control Program budget was flat over the previous several years, the Commonwealth has been able to maintain the radiological environmental monitoring program and, in fact, procure new equipment and maintain adequate supply inventories.

FEB D 9 1993 Commonwealth of Massachusetts 2 Trainin1:

Radiation Control Program personnel have, in the past, attended federally sponsored training in the areas of health physics, emergency planning, and radiochemistry. Although there are budget limitations, Radiation Control Program personnel have attended the annual meeting of the New England Radiation Health Committee, attended professional society meetings, and communicated with both industry and government laboratories regarding analytical methods.

Policies* and Standards The Radiation Control Program, in addition to the NRC contract, performed analyses for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Drinking Water Program, performed analyses for other Commonwealth Agencies, and maintained a radiation monitoring network around the Pilgrim facility. The Commonwealth appeared committed to maintaining the capability for radiological environmntal monitoring sampling and analysis.

' : Coinmri"uications * **

In addion to the report to the NRC required by the contract, other communications between the Radiation- Control Program *and* the. NRC have* been* good." The Radiation Control Progtam did_ ... ** *

• not publish a formal report of environmental radiation data which was generated as a result of the NRC contract. However, Radiation Control Program personnel stated that the data, as well as any other radiological environmental monitoring data would be made available to any individual requesting this data.

Facilities and Equipment The laboratory facilities consisted of several rooms off a common corridor. One room was used as a counting room, the other room as a laboratory with adjacent rooms used for offices. The laboratory was adequately equipped. Reagents, chemicals, and glassware were in adequate supply. Nuclear instrumentation included Ge and NaI gamma spectrometry systems, a liquid scintillation counter, and a low background gas flow proportional counter. The Radiation Control Program had made significant improvements in its counting capability including interfacing the NaI detector into an MCA, obtaining NaI-MCA software, the ongoing purchase of a new Ge gamma spectrometry system, the formalization of operating procedures, and the implementation of a results review procedure. These improvements were indicative of the Radiation Control Program's commitment to maintain the capability for radiological environmental sample analysis.

Quality Assurance T1e Radiation Control Program assured the quality of its data through a number of mechanisms including: samples analysis tracking forms and logs, the use of traceable standards, instrument control checks, and participation in the EPA interlaboratory crosscheck program. A review of

FEB O 9 1993 Commonwealth of Massachusetts 3 recent BPA crosscheck data indicated generally acceptable performance, although some of the gamma isotopic results appeared to be erratic. These erratic results may be due to the low concentration of radionuclides present in some of the crosscheck samples. The Radiation Control Program was in the process of procuring a new gamma spectrometry system, including a detector, which will alleviate these problems.

Performance The Radiation Control Program has beei:i meeting the sampling, analysis, and reporting requirements of the NRC contract. The 1991 report submitted by the Radiation Control Program was thorough and coinplete. The Radiation Control Program has been responsive to NRC concerns and continues to upgrade its counting instrumentation even though the budget remained constrained.

Summary and Recommendations "The:Coilimonwealth "*of Massachusetts i- m_eeting* the *sampling and analysis -equirehients of 'the ...-' ...

NRC contract. The recent report submitted 1 by the Commonwealth was thorough and complete.

The Commonwealth continues to be responsive to NRC concerns, particularly with regard to

• . upgrading*the marginally adequate' _Ge* detectot fo_r the gamma spectrometry system.**The*NRC, will follow Commonwealth actions 1.n this area.* I recommend that this contract be continued.

• J. J. Kottan Laboratory Specialist

Attachment:

As Stated

Attachment 1 Attendance at the NRC - Commonwealth of Massachusetts meeting on October 14, 1992.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts - Radiation Control Pro&J1UD R. Hallisey, Director T. O'Connell, Radiation Scientist T. Coulombe, Radiochemist U.S. Nuclear Re2J.1latory Commission - Reeion I

.. Lr. Peluso; .Radiation Specialist. .. : '*

J. Kottan, Laboratory Specialist