ML19346F897
| ML19346F897 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 01/17/2020 |
| From: | Stephen Koenick Division of Decommissioning, Uranium Recovery and Waste Programs |
| To: | Hale A US Dept of the Air Force, Office of the Surgeon General |
| S Dembek DUWP | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19346F896 | List: |
| References | |
| Download: ML19346F897 (3) | |
Text
UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 January 17, 2020 Lt. Col. Alan C. Hale, USAF, BSC Chief, Radiation Health Office of the Air Force Surgeon General Defense Health Headquarters ATTN: AFMRA/SG3PB 7700 Arlington Blvd. Suite 5151 Falls Church, VA 22042
SUBJECT:
REQUEST FOR VERIFICATION OF U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION'S CONCLUSIONS REGARDING DEPLETED URANIUM PLAN FINDINGS
Dear Lt. Col. Hale:
As explained in the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commissions (NRC) Implementation Plan to Identify Depleted Uranium on Military Ranges and Determine Its Licensing Status, (DU plan)
(Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession No. ML19072A214) dated February 22, 2019, the NRC was to perform a records review to confirm that all depleted uranium (DU) on active or inactive military ranges is either authorized by an NRC license or addressed through the NRC/U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Coordination on Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) Response Actions on DoD Sites with Radioactive Materials (ADAMS Accession No. ML16092A294).
The NRC has completed its records review and we have not found any DoD DU military ranges that are unlicensed and not address through the MOU. As noted in the DU plan, the NRC is now requesting your review to ensure all sites have been appropriately identified. Please review the attached table and (1) confirm that the list includes all active and inactive military ranges with licensable quantities of DU that have not been completely remediated; (2) confirm whether each site is authorized by an existing NRC license, is subject to the DoD MOU, or is unlicensed; and (3) if you identify any sites in addition to what NRC has identified which are not currently licensed or covered under the MOU, please outline the Air Forces current controls for protection of public health and safety at the site. Once your response is received, the NRC staff will prepare a publicly available report with details on the search criteria used, the results of the searches, and your response to this letter.
The attached table also includes the NRCs understanding of how the listed ranges are monitored and controlled to ensure adequate protection of public health and safety. You are also requested to review this summarized information to check for completeness and accuracy.
If the Air Force identifies any sites that are unlicensed and not addressed through the MOU, appropriate action will be taken as discussed in Step 2(b), Confirm Response through Inspection, and Step 3, Regulatory Oversight of Unlicensed DU, of the DU plan. The NRC
A. Hale 2 does not expect you to conduct radiological surveys try to detect any such unlicensed ranges as part of confirming the information within this letter.
As requested above, please review the attached table and provide any additions and corrections within 90-days of the date of this letter. The NRC appreciates your voluntary cooperation to ensure any unlicensed DU ranges that are not addressed through the MOU are identified and addressed in a timely manner.
If you have any questions on this issue, please contact Stephen Dembek, at 301-415-2342 or stephen.dembek@nrc.gov.
Sincerely, Stephen S. Koenick, Chief Low-Level Waste and Projects Branch Division of Decommissioning, Uranium Recovery and Waste Programs Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards Attachment cc: D. Morefield, DoD
ML19346F896 *via email OFFICE DUWP R IV OGC DUWP NAME SDembek HGepford EHouseman SKoenick DATE 1/3/20 1/6/20 1/9/20 1/17/20