ML20138D237

Responds to Re Alleged Radioactive Contamination at Nuclear Lake Site in Pawling,Ny & Contract Between RP Densen Contractors,Inc & Dept of Agriculture.Orise Contracted to Perform Addl Walkover Surveys

ML20138D237
Person / Time
Site:	07000903
Issue date:	02/03/1993
From:	Taylor J NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO)
To:	Nadler J HOUSE OF REP.
References
CCS, NUDOCS 9302160179
Download: ML20138D237 (4)

Text

-

'o UNITED STATES g

! o NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 3 I WASHING TON, D. C. 20555

% # February 3, 1993 The Honorable Jerrold Nadler Member, United States House of Representatives 252 Seventh Avenue - 16th Flc'"

New York, New York 10001-7388

Dear Congressman Nadler:

I am responding to your letter dated January 4,1993, about the alleged radioactive contamination at the Nuclear Lake site in Pawling, NY, and the contract between P,.P. Densen Contractors, Inc. (R.P. Densen) and the U.S.

Department of Agriculture (USDA).

In 1990, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff initiated the Site Decommissioning Management Plan (SDMP) to effectively use staff resources to resolve decommissioning policy issues and to prompt or compel timely remediation of approximately 40 materials licensee sites that contained radioactive contamination in excess of limits for unrestricted release. The Nuclear Lake site in Pawling, NY, was included on this list, because of radioactive contamination in two buildings and in soll immediately adjacent to one of the buildings. This contamination was identified in extensive. surveys, at the site, performed by Oak Ridge Associated Universities (0RAU), for the National Park Service (NPS), in 1986. The ORAU surveys also included sampling sediments in the dam area where R.P. Densen was performing construction activities, approximately 300 feet from the contamination identified by ORAU.

No contamination exceeding NRC unrestricted release limits was found in the vicinity of the dam.

In November 1992, NPS investigated underwater objects in Nuclear Lake. This investigation resulted from public concerns that radioactive wastes may have Deen previously disposed of in the lake. This investigation concluded that the objects in the lake wer e rocks, tree stumps, a small boat, and a Jeep. No barrels of radioactive waste were found, nor did radiologic measurements of the objects or the lake bottom detect contamination.

On December 22, 1992, NRC staff met with Mr. Denger of R.P. Densen, his attorney and consultants, USDA staff, and NPS staff, to discuss the alleged contamination and the contractual issues. Following our review of the radiologic measurements taken on October 19, 1992, on the R.P..Densen vehicle, we concluded that no contamination above background levels.was detected. We also reviewed the 1986 ORAU survey data and concluded that there is no contamination exceeding NRC unrestricted release limits in the areas where R.P. Densen was performing work. We have found no data to indicate that R.P.

Densen workers would be exposed to other than background concentrations of radioactivity.

In an effort to resolve the allegations made by R.P. Densen and to supplement the existing survey data in the area of the dam, NRC has contracted with Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (0 RISE) (formerly ORAU) to perform additional walkover surveys and take additional samples in the area of the 0,0 N

9aoatiofr9 va62oa 1 I PDR ADOCK 07000903 C PDR l{O

The fionorable Jerrold Nadler /

j construction activities. Thesesurveysarescheduledtotakeplac[inthe near future. ,

/

-lwanttoassureyouthatNRCiscommittedtoensuringthatdilactivities being performed at the Nuclear Lake site are accomplished'in a manner that protects public and worker health and safety. He are also committed to achieving timely remediation of the identified contamination at the site.

Sincerely, James M. Taylor Executive Director for Operations oc >

(Ticket 93-E- 8476)

DISTRIBUTiOL11 Central File HMSS r/f RBangart .WBrach JAustin JSurmeier .LLWM r/f LLWM t/f Ptohaus TCJohnson MWeber LBell J. Roth, RI ED0 r/f HLThompson JMTaylor Dir r/f CPoland JSniezek JBlaha JLieberman JKnubel

~

- Mark Small Boxes in Concurrence Block to. Define-Distributt'on CopyJPreference in sma11' Box on'"0FCi"'line~ place'a': ' C "= Cover' "E' = Covdr L Enc 1'o'sure ' ' ' N = No ' Copy ~ '

• See Previous Concurrence 0FC

• LLDR *TECHED *LLDR c

• OGC c *CA *LLWM

• LLWM c NAME TCJOHNSON EKRAUS JAUSTIN RFONNER DRATHBUN BBRACH RBAfrART DATE 01/gt/93 01/19/93 01/21/93 01/25/93 01/25/93 01/22/93 01/22/93 0FC NMSS / *NMSS DEDS ED0 NAME GARttfTTO RBERNERO HLTHOMPSON JMTAYLOR DATE /iil/ /93 01/26/93 01/ /93 01/ /93 0FFiCIAL RECORD COPY PDR : YES NO Category: Proprietary or CF Only .

ACNW: YES N0 IG: YES NO _,

Path & Hame of. File: S:\LLWMTYPE\CECILIA\NADLER

-e e- , , - -y w w - c -+._-m-.w

. -----4w-=- e s- s--- -- - - - e-- i- *-

The Honorable -Jei rold Nadler ,

construction activities. These surveys are scheduled to take place later in I January 1993. -

i I want to assure you that NRC is committed to ensuring that all actisities being performed at the Nuclear Lake site are accomplished in a manner that protects public and worker health and safety. We are also committed to achieving timely remediation of the identified contamination,at the site.

Sincerely, James M. Taylor .

Executive Director for Operations .j i

i (Ticket 93-E-8476) 4 DISTRIBUTION: Central File HMSS r/f- RBangart WBrach JAustin JSurmeier LLWM r/f LLWM t/f PLohaus.

TCJohr. son MWeber LBell~ J. Roth, R1 EDO r/f HLThompson JMTay1or Dir'r/f CPoland J5niezek JBlaha JLiebe nnan JKnubel P

~ '

= Mar'k?SnialliBoxes 'in Concurre'nce Block to Dsfine Distribution Copy ' Preference In 'small Box on '"0FC:" ^1ine ' place a: C = Cover 'E i fover b 'Enciosur'd 'N~='No' Copy.

.e JA A 0FC LLDRI 'tkhk LLDfM, b C- J/dd, L L, wit,/ Ldll) C

-NAME T@h0N YfkRAUS JAkTIN 03NER f6kATHBUN NACH NdART

~

DATE 0lG{/93 01/19/93 01/z//93 /

01/~M/93 01/15/93 01/42/93 01A>/93 0FC NMSS' , NKSS$ DEDS ED0 NAME- akRt'$TTO PhhiNERQhHLTHOMPSON JMTAYLOR DATE , [/[l/ /93 01/5/93 01/ /93 01/ /93 0FFICIAL RECORD COPY POR : YES / NO __ Category: Proprietary or CF Only ACNW: YES NO Z 1G: YES NO g Path & Name of File: S:\LLWMTYPE\CECILIA\NADLER ,

f ,

k h'  !

j

. . - . , - , . - - _.a ._ . _ __.;.._

_...w- . _ . . _ _ .

rebnnry 3,1993 The Honorable Jerrold Nadler construction activities. These surveys are scheduled to take place in the near future.

I want to assure you that NRC is committod to ensuring that all activities being performed at the fluclear Lake site are accomplished in a manner that protects public and worker health and safety. We are also committed to achieving timely remediation of the identified contamination at the site.

Sincerely, Unis al 5 ;;ncJ By:

Jamts 15. Taylor James M. Taylor Executive Director for Operations (Ticket E-008476)

DISTRIBUTION: Central File NMSS r/f JSurmeier LLWM r/f LLWM t/f PLohaus MWeber LBell J. Roth EDO r/f Dir r/f CPoland JSniezek JBlaha JLieberman JKnubel Mark Small Boxes in Concurrence Block to' Define Distribution Copy Preference in small Box on "0FC:" line place a: C a Cover E'= Cover L'Enciosure N = No Copy 0FC LLDR* TECHED* LLDR* C OGC* C CA* LLWh LLWM* C NAME TCJOHNS0fl EKRAUS JAUSTIN RFONNER DRATHBUN BBRACH RBANGART DATE 01/21/93 01/19/93 01/21/93 01/25/93 01/25/93 01/22f93 01/22/93_

0FC NMSS _ / NMSS* DEDS ED0 t (dd NAME GA.RL' OTTO RBERNERO HLTHOMPSON JMT[YLOR O/ ~~

DATE /bl/ /93 01/26/93 ORICIAL RECORD COPY 01/ /93 0$[(/93 k3[O PDR : YES _L NO Category: Proprietary or CF Only _.

ACNW: YES N0 X IG: YES __ NO X Path & Name of File: S:\LLWMTYPE\CECILIA\NADLER

_ _ _ .__- . _ . - _ - - _ - _ - - _ - _ _ _ _ _ _ _ - _ _ _ - - _ _ -