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Quehanna (Formerly Permagrain Products, Inc.)

1.0 Site Identification

2.0 Site Status Summary

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania owns the site and had leased it to Permagrain Products, Inc. (PPI) for the operation of a Co-60 irradiator. After PPI declared bankruptcy in 2002, the license was transferred to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in December 2002. Sr-90 is the main contaminant of concern at the facility, and was used in the manufacture of thermoelectric generators. Sr-90 contamination is found in buildings as well as in surface and subsurface soil. Contaminated groundwater is not present at the site. The decommissioning, which started in July 1998 is being performed by Energy Solutions (formerly Scientech). Areas which do not meet NRC criteria for unrestricted use were identified as the six hot cells, their respective isolation rooms, two ventilation systems, an overhead crane system, a number of ancillary rooms, and the wastewater treatment building. Decontamination and demolition of the cell structures was completed in 2004. Decontamination of the service area floor is complete. FSS was initiated and was completed in December 2004. The licensee's FSS Report along with a request to terminate the license was submitted in February 2005. An ORISE confirmatory survey of the facility was conducted in May 2005 after the licensee submitted the FSSR. The ORISE survey identified numerous areas of contamination in excess of the NRC approved limits for unrestricted release. Based on these survey results, the licensee performed additional surveys and concluded that some type of migration of radioactive material is taking place in the concrete at the facility. The licensee plans to monitor this situation until the spring of 2006 before deciding upon a course of action for decontaminating and releasing the site for unrestricted use. On March 13, 2006 NRC received a revised DP from PADEP in which PADEP will depart from their previous RG 1.86 approach and complete site closure under 10CFR20, Subpart E. The revised DP was approved by NRC in October 2006. In December 2006 ORISE conducted a confirmatory survey of the above grade structure and confirmed that the above grade structure met the release limits of the DP. The licensee plans to demolish the above grade structure and dispose of the demolition debris in a commercial land fill. As of March 2007, the licensee will not dispose of the above grade demolition debris in a commercial landfill. The licensee is evaluating disposal options. The total cost of decommissioning to date has been approximately $25 million. The licensee expects that an additional $2 million-$3 million will be needed to complete decommissioning activities.

3.0 Major Technical or Regulatory Issues

In June 2002, the U.S. Department of Justice rejected the Commonwealth's claim that the Federal Government should provide the funding to remediate the site because of a past contract between Martin Marietta and the AEC. The Commonwealth had informed NRC that the portion of the site containing legacy contamination will be placed into a secure, monitored status until this funding issue is resolved. In April 2003, the Commonwealth received $7 million from the Federal Government to continue clean up of the facility. The Commonwealth submitted a license renewal application on March 10, 2003, including a revised DP. NRC completed its review of the application and renewed the license on September 29, 2003. The ORISE confirmatory survey of the licensee's FSS indicated that the facility was contaminated in excess of the limits specified in the DP for unrestricted release. The licensee is evaluating the ORISE confirmatory survey results and performing additional surveys in order to determine the reason for the recontamination of the facility. The licensee will complete this evaluation in the Spring of 2006 and then propose a path forward to complete decommission of the facility. The licensee withdrew their license amendment request for license termination which was submitted along with the FSS. The NRC then voided the the termination amendment request. On March 13, 2006 NRC received a revised DP from PADEP in which PADEP will depart from their previous RG 1.86 approach and complete site closure under 10CFR20, Subpart E. The revised DP was approved by NRC in October 2006. In December 2006 ORISE conducted a confirmatory survey of the above grade structure and confirmed that the above grade structure met the release limits of the DP. The licensee plans to demolish the above grade structure and dispose of the demolition debris in a commercial land fill. The land fill was granted a 20.2002 exemption, but may not accept the demolition debris because of possible public interest in this method of disposal. This issue has yet to be resolved.

4.0 Estimated Date For Closure

03/31/2008

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Monday, April 14, 2008