ML060060410

Nrc'S Staff Review of Nasa'S Survey Plan and Sampling Results of the Contamination at the Plum Brook Reactor Facility

ML060060410
Person / Time
Site:	Plum Brook  File:National Aeronautics and Space Administration icon.png
Issue date:	01/09/2006
From:	Bernard Thomas NRC/NRR/ADRA/DPR/PRTA
To:	Earls J US National Aeronautics & Space Admin (NASA), John H. Glenn Research Ctr at Lewis Field
Isaac P, NRR/ADRA/DPR/PRT, 301-415-1019
References
Download: ML060060410 (4)

Text

January 9, 2006 Dr. Julian M. Earls, Director NASA Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field 21000 Brookpark Road M.S. 3-2 Cleveland, Ohio 44135

SUBJECT:

NRCs Staff Review of NASAs Survey Plan and Sampling Results of the Contamination at the Plum Brook Reactor Facility.

Dear Dr. Earls:

This letter provides the findings of the NRCs staff related to your submittal, dated December 19 and 29, 2005, via email, of the survey plan and preliminary results of the sampling of onsite and off-site contamination at the Plum Brook Reactor Facility. The staff notes that NASA has taken a phased approach to the soil sampling, employing the recommendations in the Multi Agency Radiation Survey and Site Investigation Manual (MARSSIM) to design surveys and analyze the survey results. The staff has arranged for an in-process, independent evaluation of the NASAs survey methodology by Oak Ridge Associated Universities, and the results of this evaluation will be shared with NASA once it is completed. At the present time, the NRC understands that sampling and radiological analysis of creek bed soil are on hold due to freezing temperatures.

The staff also notes that, so far, most of the areas sampled are at or only slightly above background radiation levels and show little or no contamination. However, the identified hot spots need further evaluation to determine whether remediation is required. Additionally, biological samples taken from the deer harvest this Fall in nearby areas did not reveal any bio-accumulation of known radio-nuclides from past reactor operations at the site.

Therefore, the staff finds that the decommissioning activities at the Plum Brook Site are conducted in accordance with the NRC approved Decommissioning Plan and NRC regulatory requirements. Furthermore, all available radiological data indicates that there is presently no safety hazards to site personnel or the members of the public in areas adjacent to the contaminated sections of Plum Brook.

Currently, we find your actions to be acceptable and no response to this letter is required.

In accordance with 10 CFR 2.390 of the NRC's "Rules of Practice," a copy of this letter and its enclosure will be available electronically for public inspection in the NRC Public Document Room or from the Publicly Available Records (PARS) component of NRCs document system (ADAMS). ADAMS is accessible from the NRC Web site at (the Public Electronic Reading Room) http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html.

Should you have any questions concerning this evaluation, please contact Mr. Thomas Dragoun at 610-337-5373 or Mr. Patrick Isaac at 301-415-1019.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Brian Thomas, Branch Chief Research and Test Reactors Branch Division of Policy and Rulemaking Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-30 and 50-185 License Nos. TR-3 and R-93 cc: Please see next page

Should you have any questions concerning this evaluation, please contact Mr. Thomas Dragoun at 610-337-5373 or Mr. Patrick Isaac at 301-415-1019.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Brian Thomas, Branch Chief Research and Test Reactors Branch Division of Policy and Rulemaking Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-30 and 50-185 License Nos. TR-3 and R-93 cc: Please see next page Distribution PUBLIC DPR/PRT r/f JCameron PIsaac RidsNrrWpcMail CGrimes BThomas JSchlueter EHylton JLynch TDragoun SBurnell RShane BKeeling JStrasma ACCESSION NO.: ML060060410 TEMPLATE #: NRR-106 OFFICE PRT:RI PRT:PM PRT:LA PRT:SC NAME TDragoun PIsaac EHylton BThomas DATE 1/ /2006 1/9/2006 1/9/2006 1/9/2006 C = COVER E = COVER & ENCLOSURE N = NO COPY OFFICIAL RECORD COPY

National Aeronautics and Docket Nos. 50-30/185 Space Administration cc:

Ohio Department of Health ATTN: Radiological Health Program Director P.O. Box 118 Columbus, OH 43216 Ohio Environmental Protection Agency Division of Planning Environmental Assessment Section P.O. Box 1049 Columbus, OH 43216 Mr. J. Eric Denison Bureau of Radiation Protection Ohio Department of Health P.O. Box 118 Columbus, OH 43216 Mr. Hank Pfanner NASA Plumbrook Station 6100 Columbus Avenue Sandusky, OH 44870 Mr. Timothy Polich NASA Plumbrook Station 6100 Columbus Avenue Sandusky, OH 44870 Test, Research and Training Reactor Newsletter University of Florida 202 Nuclear Sciences Center Gainesville, FL 32611