ML20235V049

Discusses 770829 Telcon W/C Hardin & 770825 Meeting W/ Nuclear Engineering Co.Rain Water Accumulation in Trench 46 Had Elevated Concentration of 400 Pc/Ml Co-60.State Ordered Halt to Burials & Cleanup of Trenches 37,38 & 39

ML20235V049
Person / Time
Issue date:	08/30/1977
From:	Kerr G NRC OFFICE OF STATE PROGRAMS (OSP)
To:	NRC OFFICE OF STATE PROGRAMS (OSP)
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ML20235U845	List: ML20235U842 ML20235U895 ML20235V049 ML20235V113 ML20235V136 ML20235V225 ML20235V276 ML20235V311 ML20235V431 ML20235V472 ML20235V558 ML20235V594 ML20235V644 ML20235V780 ML20235V815 ML20235V847 ML20235V880 ML20235V913 PNO-II-75-005, on 751219,J Hollis,Epa Discussed Draft Press Release to Be Made on 751223,stating EPA Position on Paper Presented by L Meyer at Iaea/Erda 751117-21 Intl Symposium on Transuranium Nuclides in Environ
References
FOIA-87-235 NUDOCS 8707230036
Download: ML20235V049 (1)

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3 4 UNITED STATES

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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMiss!ON

$ i o WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555

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AUG .40 1977 Memo to Files FROM: G. Wayne Kerr, Assistant Director for State Agreements Program Office of State Programs l

SUBJECT:

TELECON WITH CHARLES HARDIN, STATE OF KENTUCKY On August 29, 1977, Mr. Hardin informed me of a meeting held with Nuclear

r. Engineering Co. on August 25. Trenen 46 is currently being dug and t prepared for future burials. At.this time no burials have taken place in this trench. However, last week some rain water accumulation at one end of the trench M d some elevated concentration of cobalt 60 , fome wet areas in both sides of the trench and on the south end at.the sandstone layer level (about 12 feet under the surface) resulting in water showing about 400 pc/ml of cobalt 60. A surface reading at these points showed-2-3 mr per hour. The State sent staff members to the site on August 26 and State representatives are there this week also. Soil samples in the

, surrounding area, including off-site, show no evidence of elevated activity.

As of today, August 29, the damp spots have dried up. The State and NECO believe that one or more of trenches 37, 38 and 39 contributed to. the activity since one of those trenches did have a water problem. It should (

be noted that those trenches were'not dug below the sandstone layer. .l Hardin indicated that some heavy rains occurred approximately two weeks 1 ago and may have been the initiating event for the movement of tf,is i activi ty. NECO has made proposals to detennine if the material has moved 4

(-~ any further towards off-site and if necessary to grout the channels. It 1 was also noted that water only emerged at one end of the trench. The State j has'sent a letter to NECO ordering that no material is to be buried in this trench, that efforts be devoted to remove the water from trenches 37, 38 and 39 and that other burials at the site be halted until the problem is resolved.

1 f,DVI G. Wayn Kerr i

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cc:P. Lonaus l

, 8707230036 870717 I PDR FOIA MINTON87-235 PDR

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