[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 203 (Tuesday, October 21, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60097-60098]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-26517]


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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