ML20211L495

Summarizes 830406 Investigation of Allegation Re Burial of Pu Waste Along Banks of Cimarron River.Region III Records Indicate Licensee Did Not Bury Wastes Onsite

ML20211L495
Person / Time
Site:	07001193
Issue date:	04/03/1983
From:	Peck C NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III)
To:	NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III)
Shared Package
ML20211L396	List: ML20211L392 ML20211L398 ML20211L419 ML20211L423 ML20211L440 ML20211L452 ML20211L460 ML20211L472 ML20211L477 ML20211L482 ML20211L495 ML20211L510
References
FOIA-86-281 NUDOCS 8607020094
Download: ML20211L495 (2)

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• • • • • APR 3 s3 MEMORANDUM FOR: Re ion III Files THRU: L. R. Greger, Chief. Facilities Radiation Protection Section FROM: C. C. Peck, Fuel Facility Inspector

SUBJECT:

ALLEGATION - BURIAL OF PLUTONIUM WASTE AT KERR-MCGEE (CRESCENT, OK)

(DOCKET NO. 70-1193)

L. R. Greger and.I investigated the attached allegation on April 6, 1983.

3 Our . investigation consisted of a review of past inspection reports and

! discussions with the licensee (W. Shelley), the individual (M. Motsenbocker) l named by the alleger, and NRC inspectors (K. Ridgway and L. Hueter), We i

found no evidence to support the allegation that plutonium wastes were buried along the banks of the Cimarron River near the Crescent Oklahoma Kerr-McGee facility.

Region III records indicate that the licensee did not bury plutonium wastes onsite even though burial of small quantities of plutonium in soil was permitted by 10 CFR Part 20 until about 1973. During a routine in-spection in 1978 (Inspection Report No. 70-1193/78-03), L. J. Hueter visited the single radioactive waste burial site at the Crescent Kerr-McGee facility and examined the records of materials buried. The pit was covered with soil, fenced, identified by signs, and is on relatively high land. The records show that wastes containing about 400 millicuries of depleted uranium, enriched uranium, and thorium were buried from 1968 until mid-1970 when the practice was discontinued.

Mr. W. J. Shelley, Vice President and Licensing Coordinator for Kerr-McGee Nuclear Corporation, discussed burial practices with me in a telephone interview. His recollections agree with the information in the preceding paragraph. In addition Mr. Shelley recalled an incident in the early 1970's when several hundred fish died from heat and were buried on the bank of the Cimarron. There was some public speculation at the time about radioactivity being the cause.

8607020094 860701 PDR FOIA CANTREL86-281 PDR N

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. R gion III Files I?S 7 IS 3 We concluded the investigation with a telephone conversation with Mr. Duane Motsenbocker, now employed by the Weyerhaeuser Company. He confirmed his former employment by the State of Oklahoma and appeared cooperative in trying to remember information relevant to the allegation.

Although he recalled some of the rumors, allegations, and hearsay associated with Karen Silkwood, he did not remember any conversation with anyone about plutonium burial. He stated that he was quite certain that he had never been approached by a Kerr-McGee employee for the purpose of discussing alleged plutonium burial.

SCWA C. C. Peck Fuel Facility Inspector

Attachment:

As stated cc w/ attach: G. Roy