ML16173A093
| ML16173A093 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 05000131 |
| Issue date: | 07/22/2016 |
| From: | John Tappert Division of Decommissioning, Uranium Recovery and Waste Programs |
| To: | Burman D US Dept of Veterans Affairs, Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System |
| Conway K 301-415-1335 | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML16173A088 | List: |
| References | |
| Download: ML16173A093 (5) | |
Text
UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 July 22, 2016 Mr. Don Burman, Director Department of Veterans Affairs Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System 4101 Woolworth Avenue Omaha, NE 68105
SUBJECT:
TERMINATION OF FACILITY OPERATING LICENSE NO. R-57 FOR THE U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS ALAN J. BLOTCKY REACTOR FACILITY
Dear Mr. Burman:
By letter dated May 21, 2014 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Package No. ML14150A404), as supplemented by letter dated November 12, 2014 (ADAMS Accession No. ML14335A597), the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) submitted a request to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to approve a license amendment and a revised decommissioning plan (DP) for the Alan J. Blotcky Reactor Facility (AJBRF). The NRC approved the VA revised DP by Amendment No. 12, dated January 8, 2015 (ML14318A872) contingent upon submittal of an acceptable Final Status Survey (FSS)
Plan for the AJBRF.
You submitted the AJBRF FSS Plan on October 15, 2015 (ADAMS Accession No. ML15299A385) for NRC review and approval. The VA also submitted a site characterization by letter dated April 6, 2006 (ADAMS Accession No. ML061140054), as supplemented by letters dated May 2, 2006 (ADAMS Accession No. ML061380584), and August 15, 2011 (ADAMS Accession No. ML11255A334). By letter dated November 4, 2015 (ADAMS Accession No. ML15302A508) the NRC reviewed the FSS Plan, determined that it was consistent with the guidance in NUREG-1757, Consolidated Decommissioning Guidance and the methodology in NUREG-1575, Multi-Agency Radiation Survey and Site Investigation Manual (MARSSIM), and approved it as a supplement to the AJBRF DP.
The licensees decommissioning activities included decontamination, dismantlement, and demolition of various systems, structures, and components followed by MARSSIM-based FSS.
By letter dated February 29, 2016, you submitted the FSS Report for the AJBRF (ADAMS Accession No. ML16068A254) and requested license termination. The NRC staff reviewed the FSS Report, which states that the criteria for termination set forth in VAs license (R-57), and as established in its DP and FSS Plan have been satisfied.
As stated in the report, the facility was divided into six individual survey units. A total of 173 measurement locations were used to assess the final radiological status of the facility, and direct beta contamination measurements and smear samples for removable beta contamination were taken at each location. The FSS Report states that all individual radiological
D. Burman 2
measurement determinations made throughout the facility for surface contamination (both total and removable) were found to be less than the criteria established in the DP and FSS Plan. All beta measurements taken during the FSS were less than the minimum detectable concentration. The average level of residual radioactive material on building surfaces was 11 percent of the applicable screening values which results in a dose to a member of the general public of less than 3 mrem per year total effective dose equivalent (TEDE). The average sum of fractions for the remaining reactor pit concrete results in a dose to a member of the general public of less than 7 mrem per year TEDE.
Additionally, all the radioactive waste has been removed from the facility, and documentation regarding its removal disposition is provided in the FSS Report. Based on the review of the FSS Report, the NRC staff concludes that the survey was conducted in accordance with the guidelines and recommendations presented in NUREG-1757 and NUREG-1575.
Inspectors from Region IV of the NRC conducted a routine safety inspection at the AJBRF on September 21-23, 2015, as documented in NRC Inspection Report 050-00131/15-001 (ADAMS Accession No. ML15316A495). The inspectors followed the NRC's program for overseeing the safe decommissioning of a Research and Test Reactor (RTR) as described in the NRCs Inspection Manual Chapter (IMC) 2545, "Research and Test Reactor Inspection Program.
(available at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/). The inspection consisted of observations by the inspectors, interviews with VA and contractor personnel, and a review of procedures and records. No health or safety concerns were identified during the NRC inspection.
On December 8-9, 2015, Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) performed confirmatory surveys. The survey activities performed included cursory gamma scans, 100% of the facility floor, judgment scans of surfaces (based on unusual appearance, location relative to known contaminated areas, and high potential for residual radioactivity), direct measurements, and smear collection (wet and dry). ORAU provided the results of the confirmatory surveys in a report dated February 24, 2016 (ADAMS Accession No. ML16173A165). The ORAU report showed that results of all samples were less than the volumetric radionuclide concentration criteria established in the DP. One location on the floor near the reactor pit showed elevated activity on the concrete. The location was immediately remediated to background levels of activity. Both VA and ORAU site data support the conclusion that the residual activity levels satisfy the derived concentration guideline levels.
Based on the NRC staffs evaluation of the FSS Report sampling and scanning data, NRC staff inspections, ORAU confirmatory analysis, and comparison to the AJBRF DP and FSS Plan criteria, NRC staff concludes that the AJBRF decommissioning has been performed and completed in accordance with the approved DP, as supplemented by the FSS Plan, and that the facility and site are suitable for unrestricted release in accordance with the criteria for license termination in 10 CFR Part 20, subpart E. Thus, NRC staff concludes that VA has demonstrated that the site meets the radiological conditions for license termination pursuant to 10 CFR 50.82(b)(6). Accordingly, Facility Operating License No. R-57 is hereby terminated.
In connection with the license termination, enclosed are two copies of Amendment No. 10 to Indemnity Agreement No. D-8. Please sign and return one copy to this office.
D. Burman 3
Also enclosed is a copy of the Notice of License Termination, which is being sent to the Office of the Federal Register for publication. In accordance with 10 CFR 2.390 of the NRCs Agency Rules of Practice and Procedure, a copy of this letter will be available electronically for public inspection in the NRC Public Document Room or from the Publicly Available Records component of NRCs Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS).
ADAMS is accessible from the NRC Web site at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html.
If you have any questions concerning this matter, please contact Kim Conway at (301) 415-1335 or kimberly.conway@nrc.gov.
Sincerely,
/RA/
John R. Tappert, Director Division of Decommissioning, Uranium Recovery, and Waste Programs Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards Docket No.: 50-131
Enclosures:
- 1. Two copies of Amendment No. 10 to Indemnity Agreement No. D-8
- 2. Federal Register Notice cc: Docket Service List
Also enclosed is a copy of the Notice of License Termination, which is being sent to the Office of the Federal Register for publication. In accordance with 10 CFR 2.390 of the NRCs Agency Rules of Practice and Procedure, a copy of this letter will be available electronically for public inspection in the NRC Public Document Room or from the Publicly Available Records component of NRCs Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS).
ADAMS is accessible from the NRC Web site at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html.
If you have any questions concerning this matter, please contact Kim Conway at (301) 415-1335 or kimberly.conway@nrc.gov.
Sincerely,
/RA/
John R. Tappert, Director Division of Decommissioning, Uranium Recovery, and Waste Programs Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards Docket No.: 50-131
Enclosures:
- 1. Two copies of Amendment No. 10 to Indemnity Agreement No. D-8
- 2. Federal Register Notice cc: Docket Service List DISTRIBUTION GSchlapper, RIV/DNMS DStearns, RIV/DNMS ML16173A088 (pkg.)
OFFICE DUWP/PM DUWP/LA DUWP/HP DUWP/BC NAME KConway CHolston SGiebel BWatson DATE 6/9/16 6/13/16 6/11/16 6/11/16 OFFICE NRR/IFAIB OGC DUWP NAME ABowers MYoung (NLO)
JTappert DATE 7/20/16 6/29/16 7/22/16 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
cc:
Ms. Jean Stothert City of Omaha Office of Mayor 1819 Farnam Street, Suite 300 Omaha, NE 68183 Jenifer Roberts-Johnson, Deputy Director Division of Public Health Department of Health and Human Services P.O. Box 95026 Lincoln, NE 68509-5026 Test, Research, and Training Reactor Newsletter University of Florida 202 Nuclear Science Center Gainesville, FL 32611 Dr. Frederick Hamel, ACOS Veterans Affairs Medical Center 4101 Woolworth Avenue Omaha, NE 68105 Mr. Will Ackerman, Public Affairs Officer Veterans Affairs Medical Center 4101 Woolworth Avenue Omaha, NE 68105 Mr. Daniel McVicker Veterans Affairs Medical Center 4101 Woolworth Avenue Omaha, NE 68105 Dr. Timothy OLeary, Deputy CRADO Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Research and Development (ORD) 810 Vermont Ave, NW Mail Code 10P9 Washington, DC 20420 Peggy (Margaret) Hannon Director of Operations Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Research and Development (ORD) 810 Vermont Ave, NW Mail Code 10P9CS Washington, DC 20420 Matthew Verna, COTR Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Research and Development (ORD) 810 Vermont Ave, NW Mail Code 10P9F Washington, DC 20420