[Federal Register: October 21, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 203)]
[Notices]
[Page 60097-60098]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr21oc03-59]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Certification of the Radiological Condition of the Ventron Site
in Beverly, MA
AGENCY: Department of Energy.
ACTION: Notice of certification.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE) has completed remedial actions
to decontaminate the Ventron site in Beverly, Massachusetts. This
property formerly was found to contain quantities of radioactive
material from activities conducted for the Manhattan Engineer District
(MED) (and its successor the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC)) from 1942
to 1948. Based on the analysis of all data collected, DOE has concluded
that the property is in compliance with DOE radiological
decontamination criteria and standards and that no radiological
restrictions on the use of the property are required.
ADDRESSES: The certification docket is available at the following
locations:
U.S. Department of Energy, Public Reading Room, Room 1E-190, Forrestal
Building, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585.
U.S. Department of Energy, DOE Information Center, 475 Oak Ridge
Turnpike, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831.
Beverly Public Library, 32 Essex Street, Beverly, Massachusetts 01915.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Donald Mackenzie, Health Physicist,
U.S. Department of Energy, Ohio Office, Office of Site Closure, EM-31/
Cloverleaf Building, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC
20585-2040, Phone: (301) 903-7426, Fax: (301) 903-2385.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The U.S. DOE, Oak Ridge Operations Office
(OR), Office of Environmental Management, has conducted remedial action
at the Ventron site in Beverly, Massachusetts, under the Formerly
Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program (FUSRAP). The objective of the
program is to identify and remediate, or otherwise control, sites where
residual radioactive contamination remains from activities carried out
under contract to the MED/AEC during the early years of the nation's
atomic energy program.
In October 1997, the Energy and Water Appropriations Act, 1998
transferred responsibility for management of FUSRAP to the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers (US ACE). Completion of the certification process
was delayed pending preparation of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
between DOE and U.S. ACE with regard to completed, remediated sites
such as the Ventron property. The MOU between the U.S. DOE and the U.S.
ACE regarding Program Administration and Execution of the FUSRAP was
signed by the parties in March 1999. Funding to proceed with the
completion of DOE closure documentation for several FUSRAP sites,
including the Ventron site, was obtained from U.S. ACE in late 2000.
The closure documentation for these sites will document the cleanup and
inform the public of their successful decontamination of radioactive
contamination.
From 1942 to 1948, the Metal Hydrides Corporation (predecessor to
the Ventron Corporation) conducted natural uranium processing
operations under contract to the MED and its successor, the AEC. The
MED/AEC contract operations at the Ventron site involved conversion of
uranium oxide to uranium metal powder using calcium hydride. In a
process used later at the facility, uranium oxide was reacted with
hydrogen fluoride to produce uranium tetrafluoride, which was mixed
with magnesium and heated to produce uranium metal. Other operations at
the site involved recovery of uranium from scrap and turnings resulting
from operations at a fuel fabrication plant in Hanford, Washington.
Uranium-238 was identified as the primary contaminant of concern
associated with MED/AEC activities. Two of the original buildings,
which housed foundry facilities, were demolished between 1948 and 1950
(after completion of AEC surveying and decommissioning), and two other
buildings (Buildings B and F) were erected at these locations. The
remaining original buildings (Buildings A and A-1) contained furnaces,
leaching facilities, a mixing room, a drying room, and analytical
laboratories. The Alfa Building was used in later non-MED-related
thorium operations, reportedly involving purification of thorium
compounds. The primary radioactive contaminant resulting from this work
was thorium-232.
In 1965, Metal Hydrides Corporation became the Ventron Corporation,
which was acquired by the Thiokol Corporation in late 1976. In 1980,
Ventron became a division of Morton Thiokol, Incorporated (renamed
Morton International in 1990). The site was designated for remedial
action under FUSRAP in 1986.
Site characterization was performed in 1992 using the Streamlined
Approach for Environmental Restoration method, an expedited approach
developed by DOE to quickly and efficiently conduct remedial
investigations/feasibility studies at DOE facilities. This approach
indicated several areas of contamination.
Primary radioactive contaminants were uranium-238, thorium-232, and
radium-226. Residual radioactive contamination (primarily uranium) was
identified in soil and in fill, material beneath four buildings, and
elevated surface contamination was found in Buildings A and A-1. A
Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed by DOE and Morton International in
1996 provided that FUSRAP would decontaminate all buildings containing
radioactivity above DOE Order 5400.5 guidelines in effect at the time
(whether of government or non-government origin) and that Morton would
demolish the buildings.
Before remedial action began, the site was surveyed to delineate
boundaries of radioactive contamination, supplement existing
characterization information, and obtain radiological and chemical data
needed to classify the waste generated during cleanup. Waste profile
information was necessary to establish acceptability of the various
waste streams at the Envirocare of Utah low-
[[Page 60098]]
level radioactive waste disposal facility in Clive, Utah. Cleanup
activities were conducted in full compliance with applicable Federal
and State waste management and transportation requirements.
Radiological decontamination of the Ventron site by the DOE
occurred in two phases: In September 1995, and from May 1996 to March
1997. Supplemental sampling of the site to verify the adequacy of
radiological remediation was performed in July 1997.
In September 1995, the first phase of DOE remediation of site tidal
flats (harbor) adjacent to the seawall began. During this first phase
of remediation, a walkover was performed over the entire harbor down to
the low-tide mark, and areas with elevated levels of radioactive
materials were targeted for remediation. Elevated readings were found
in three areas. Excavations were completed in the first two areas, and
post-remedial action samples were collected. Excavation was halted in
the third area because contamination in that area was too extensive to
be removed by manual methods. During the second phase of the remedial
action, this third area was remediated and post-remedial action samples
were collected.
Pursuant to the MOA between DOE and Morton International, several
onsite buildings were demolished and the crushed building rubble was
sampled. Rubble meeting DOE guidelines contained in DOE Order 5400.5
was stockpiled and used as backfill along the seawall. Building slabs
were surveyed and either decontaminated and left in place or removed
and disposed of with other contaminated material.
Excavation of contaminated materials was the primary remedial
action technique used at the Ventron site. Eleven discrete areas of the
site were excavated and verified for compliance with radiological
cleanup criteria. Excavations occurred beneath demolished buildings, in
the northwest corner of the site, and in the harbor area.
Post-remedial action surveys conducted in 1996 and 1997 have
demonstrated, and DOE has certified, that the subject property is in
compliance with DOE radiological decontamination criteria and standards
in effect at the conclusion of remedial action. These criteria and
standards are established to protect members of the general public and
occupants of the site and to ensure that reasonably foreseeable future
use of the site will result in no radiological exposure above
applicable guidelines. Accordingly, this property is released from the
FUSRAP program. These findings are supported by the DOE's Certification
Docket for the Remedial Action Performed at the Ventron site in
Beverly, Massachusetts. DOE makes no representation regarding the
condition of the site as a result of activities conducted subsequent to
DOE's post-remedial action surveys.
The certification docket will be available for review between 9
a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday (except Federal holidays), in
the DOE Public Reading Room located in Room 1E-190 of the Forrestal
Building, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC. Copies of the
certification docket will also be available in the DOE Information
Center, 475 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, 37831, and the
Beverly Public Library, 32 Essex Street, Beverly, Massachusetts, 01915.
The DOE, through the Office Director, Ohio Office (EM-31), Deputy
Assistant Secretary for Office of Site Closure (EM-30), the Assistant
Secretary for the Office Environmental Management (EM), has issued the
following statement:
Statement of Certification: Ventron Site in Beverly, Massachusetts
The DOE, Oak Ridge Operations Office (OR), Office of Environmental
Management, Oak Ridge Reservation, Remediation Management Group, and
the U.S. DOE Office of Environmental Management (EM), Office of Site
Closure (EM-30), Ohio Office (EM-31), has reviewed and analyzed the
radiological data obtained following remedial action at the Ventron
site in Beverly, Massachusetts, (Deed Book 10091, Page 339, in the
records of Essex County, Massachusetts). Based on the analysis of all
data collected, including post-remedial action surveys, DOE certifies
that any residual contamination remaining onsite at the time remedial
actions were completed falls within DOE radiological decontamination
criteria and standards for use of the property without radiological
restrictions. This certification of compliance provides assurance that
reasonably foreseeable future use of the site will result in no
radiological exposure above DOE radiological criteria and standards for
protecting members of the general public and occupants of the property.
Property owned by: Morton International, Incorporated, 123 North
Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois, 60606.
Issued in Germantown, Maryland.
Sally A. Robison,
Office Director, Ohio Office, Office of Site Closure.
[FR Doc. 03-26517 Filed 10-20-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P