.____-- -- - - - --- --- - - - - - -- - -

- UNITED STATES ,

ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSIONMbH L '

WASWNGTON. D.C. 20545

AUG 2 71968

FilesTIRU: Donald-A. Nussbaumer, ChicJ

Source G Special NuclearQbterials BranchDivision of Materials Lit'ensing

RENEWAL OF AEC SOURCE MATERIAL LICENSE NO. SUA-551, PETR0TOMICS COMPANY,CASPER, hTOMING - DOCKET No. 40-6659

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Based on (1) the information contained in the subject licensee's applicationfor license renewal, (2) a pre-licensing visit and (3) the_ licensee's presentstatus of compliance with AEC regulations, it appears that the licensee'sI

radiological safety program is adequate to procect the public health andsafety. Therefore, it is recommended that the subject license be renewed.;

| ANALYSIS AND FINDINGSI'

Circuu. Modifications:

In the application for license renewal, Petrotomics proposes to expand its. processing circuit and facilities to double its average daily ore throughput

i to 1,000 tons per day. Specific changes include addition of a new ball mill,five new vented ore leach tanks, three new thickeners, one new surge tank, anew yellowcake filter, a duplicate solvent extraction circuit and a continuous

j yellowcake precipation system in lieu of the present batch type system. Allj modifications involve wet processes only. Dry operations, such as crushing

and yallowcake drying and packaging, will not be affected except to operate|

!. on e. two-shift basis if required,l

It is not anticipated that the subject wet circuit modifications willsignificantly affect airborne radioactivity concentrations in the licensee'splant. Ilowever, in order to determine the affect of this expansion on air-borne concentrations of radioactivity in the plant, the licensee states thatan . additional comprehensive survey for airborne radioactivity will be made,including new time studies as may be required. Folk wing confirmation thatthe subject expansion will not significantly increase airborne exposures,the licensee plans to continue his routine airborne survey program which haspreviously been reviewed and found acceptable by DML and Co. It is notanticipated that external radiation levels or exposures will be affectedby the subject modifications. In this regard, however, the licensee'sexternal radiation survey program which has been reviewed and approvedpreviously appears satisfactory.

9706180273 680827~

PDR ADOCK 04006659C PDR

_ ,

_ _ _ _ _ _ ___ _ _ _ ____ ___ _ _ _ _ __ -_

O O--

Files * ' -2- MG 2 71968

Waste Disposal:

In its application for. license renewal, Petrotomics states that its presenttailings retention system of 87 acres will handle at least 1,250,000 tonsof waste tailings (about five years production at 1,000 tons per day) withoutincreasing the retention dam height. This capacity is conservatively basedon a present five foot freeboard and 250,000 tons of waste tailings per footof depth uniformly distributed over the 87 acres of the retention system.Actually, however, Petrotomics discharges tailings at essentially one locationwithin the disposal area. Thus, tailings build up at this discharge pointand are not uniformly distributed over the total area. This permits asubstantially larger quantity of tailings to be discharged into the disposalsystem without decreasing the present freeboard or increasing the presentdam height. The structural integrity aspects of the original dam wereevaluated (see memorandum to files dated February 28,1968) and found to beadequate for the licensee's needs to store tailings in a reasonable safemanner.

!

With regard to liquid effluents from the tailings disposal area, there ispresently a small quantity of seepage (25 to 30 gpm) below the retention damwhich contains thorium 230 slightly in excess of 10 CPR 20 limits. In orderto comply with the requirements of Section 20.106 of Part 20, the licenseestates that he has established an automated pumping unit to return the seepageto the main dam. However, the licensee has re20.106 of Part 20 in the case of an emergency, quested an exemption to Section 1

such as pump or power failure. I

In this regard, we have previou.41y granted Petrotomics an exemption toSection 20.106 (see memorandum to files dated December 22, 1964, for specificdetails) to release effluents containing concentrations of radioactivity inexcess of 10 CFR 20 limits. In view of Petrotomics effort to comply withSection 20.106 by installing an automatic pump to return the seepage effluentto the main damp and the unlikelihood of anyone being exposed in excess ofPart 20 limits as a result of this seepage, it appears appropriate to grantPetrotomics an exemption to Section 20.106 for emergency periods.

Except for the potential airborne radioactivity aspects (from both theconcentration and survey standpoint) resulting from the circuit modificationsand the waste disposal aspects the current radiological safety program at thelicensee's mill are essentially as described in the memorandum to files datedFebruary 28, 1962 and appear satisfactory.

|

Don F. HarmonSource G Special Nuclear Materials BranchDivision of Materials Licensing.

j.

i

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

i !i

'

; p, 3 ;

1

:2 -

i-,

i i,

i !,

[j .r

; AUG 2 71968i

Li

!'

4 -

; Files c4d tlped h| 720 Donald A. Nasabeuser, Chief tedd L heniv .

|' Seurse 4 spesial Neelear Materials transh '

Division of Natorials Licensing.

|I

R8MBEL OF ABC SOURCF M4TERIAL LICENSE N0. 32 551, F515010NICS Cole'ANY, !

i CAspaa, Wy0Nins . DoCast No. 40-66s91

CONCW8 IONS AND EDGR89ENMTRNes

j sesed on (1) the informaties sentained in the. subjoet lisensee's appliention| for license renoval, (2) a pre-lisensing visit and (3) the licensee's present ;j status of eempliance with ABC rogstations, it appears that the !!censee's; radiologiest safety progren is adequate to protest the public health andj safety. Thorofore, it is ressemnaded .that the oubject license be renewed.!

I ANALYS15 Ah7 Pl@ lNGS'

|

| C&ranit .NedifientLenet . ,

1

In the appliestion for lisease renewal, Petretentes prope.)vs to expand its:

j prosessing sireult and facilities to double its everage daily are throughput,

j to 1,000 tens per day. spesifie changes Amstede addition of a new ball mill,! five new vented ere losek tanks, three new thickeners, one new anrge tank, a{ new yellowaake filter, a duplients solvent entraction airguit and a sentinuous; yelloweake precipation systen in lieu of the present batch typ9 system. Alli modifiestions involve wet processoa esty. Dry operations.- such as crushing| and_ yellowcake drying and packaging, dl1 not ba affected oncept to operatej en a toe-shift basis if required.

! It is not anticipated that the subject wet skremit modifiestions _wi31; significantly affect sirborne radioactivity eeneentrations in the licensee's!- plant. However, in order to determine the affect of this espansion on. air.i borne eensentrations of radiometivity in the plant, the 11 senses states that ;

i an additional-easyrehensive survey for sirborne radienstivity will be made,{- lasluding new time studies as any be required. - Following eenfirmation that ,

[ the subject espansion will not signitteently-inerosse airborne espesures,_ '

the 11sensee piens to sentinue his routine aarborne survey program which has; 4

..

] '. previously been reviewed and found asseptalble by DDE, and Co. It-is not 'i natteipated that esternal radiation levels or espesures will- be affected; by the_ subject modifications. In this regned, however, the 11eensee'si4 esternal radiation survey program _which han been reviewed and approved|, previously appears satisfactory.. - - - - ~ _ ~ . - -- --

1

!

- _ - - . . - . - _ . - - . - -_ _ -_ -.-.- _ _ ---

- . . _ - _ - - _ _ - ___ . . _ . . _ - _ . ...

p4-.

L14

l.

-

4 . ~

j- J. ,

;- ,

f,Flies 2 AUG 2 7 B68

'

i

!a

Weste Diamenait

!'

la its appliaation for lieease recovel, Petretentes states that its present-tellings retention ' system ef 37 aeres will handle at least

. 1,250,000 temsof waste ta111ess $ bout five years pseemetion at 1,000 tems per day) without,

taeressing the retention das height. This espasity is conservatively based-

!

en a present five feet frooboard and 250,000 toes of waste tailings per feetof depth uniformly distributed over the 37 seres of the retention erstem.)

Actually, however, Petsetentes discharges tallings at essentially one leastianwithin the disposal area. Thus, ta111 ass build up :st this diosharge pelat

;' and are not uniformly distributed over the total area. This permits asubstantially larger p astity of tellings to be disekarged into the disposalsystem without decreasing the present freeboard or increastag the presamt 4dan height. The structuret latogrity aspects of the original das were

_

evaluated (see memorandum to files dated Febmary 13,1963) and found to beadepate for the liosasee's needs te store tailings in a rosessable. safemanner.

With regard to tipid effluents from the tailings disposal aves, there ispresently a emm11 pantity of ocepage (25 to'30 pe) below the retenties dem-which eestains therium 250 &&lghtly la eseess of 10 CFR 20 timits. In orderto comply trith the repirements of Section 20.1M of Part 20, the lieessee_

states that he has established as autensted pumping unit te return the seepage, ,

to the mata dam. However, the licensee has re20.1M'ef Part 20 in the sano of an emergemey, posted an enesytten to Section

*

-such as puay or power fallusu. 11In this regard, we have prevleusly srested Petretenies an esemption to- . .

- Sostion 20.1M (see nousrendum to files dated Doesuber 22. -1M4, for specificdetails) to release effluents sentaining eeneestrations of redienstivity in- -

-eseess of 10 CFR 20 limits. In view of Patretemies effort to comply withSostian 20.1M by installing an antematie pump to soturn the soepage efflusst

,

to the main dame and the unlikelihood of anyone being egesed la eneess of-

Part 20 limits as a result of this seepage, it appears appropriate to greatPetretentes an enesytten ts Sostica 20.1M for emergoney periods.-

Rasert for the potential airborne radienstivity aspects (from both thesententration and survey standretat) resulting from the siremit modificattens

- and the waste disposal aspects the surrent radielegical safety program at the'lleensee's mill are essentially. as described in the memorandum to files datedFebruary 23,1H2 and appear satisfactory.E

a

Original signed by

Don, f. HarmonDISTRIBUTION:Supplement

Den F. HarmenDranch Reading FileDivision Reading File Sourse 4 Special Nualear Materials granch

Division of Materials LicensingDML DML

omer > .. - -- . - - - - ~ ~ ~ - - - - - -~~~~~ ~~~"- '

$.'._....Ill-.- 9b * E. sumar > - - - - - - -- - ~ ~ - - - - - - - - ~ ~ - - - - ~ ~--- -"

DATE > .. - . . - - - - - - - - - * ~ " - - - - " " - * #

,Persa A300*518 (Rev. D-0)-

us .ommurM MMING OFT @ 1966-0 31N '

_.~~ _ .. - - _ _. - .4 - . _ - _ . - - - - - - , _ . - . _ - - . - - , _ . - - - . , _ - _ , , . . . , , . - , , _ . - .

I -p rs + s ~ g.;nu(- ~ +- .,,,,,y.gw__.,_.,,,, _ , , , , , _ ,, _

1 {'

3 3 9'

L

'

lyb -465f '1'

t

File.; February 1, 1963

-J-

'

John J. Word, Investigation Specialist] Region IV, Division of Courp11 mace, Denver

bCOMMANCE INQUIRY M - PE2ROTONICA 000rANY, , Wr0MDCLICENSE NO, SUA-331,10 CFR 20.D - 0053XAULTICH OF; ,

t,

t

P

'

In a letter.to DIA dated January 23,19(O subject licensee hasreported exposure to two employees to 3 7k X syc in airborne ,

concentrations of yellow oake in period December 13-26, 19(A .;*

Corrective"nonsures were taken to prevvat recurrence.! ,

4

Region IV,' vill freview records in next inspection.o

r:i

cc: R.0yPagei DSMA q'

-

,

. J.R.~ Moeder,. co uq,

,. .

~; 5 xA '

'

i ..

V 's

., h, ** *=

! [ w ~.

u t.-.

"3 e

J

.

.

,

e

i

0..

t -

..

. V. )Lt N /OO-> f^ ' |f __ |p,,

4

, ~ . . . , _ . _ . ., . . _ . . . . _ . . . . , . . , . . , . . . . .- %.,, . . , , . , , _ _ _ _ . , , . . , ~ . _ , , .