If you're interested, there will be an predecisional enforcement teleconference between the NRC and the Army on Tuesday, May 10th 9 AM - 12PM Hawaii Time. The teleconference is open to the public. The toll-free number is: 1-888-455-9746, and the passcode of 51823 . Or they say by internet, https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/879050112
The public will be allowed to ask questions or comment after the meeting portion is complete.
Interesting Article: Nuclear Agency Is Criticized as Too Close to Its Industry http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/08/business/energy-environment/08nrc...
Army Depleted Munitions Get NRC's Attention -- Occupational Health ...
May 10th from 2-5 p.m. CDT (9am Hawai'i time) and be open to the public by telephone or online. Contact Sarah Achten at 301-415-6009 or sarah.achten@nrc.gov for details.
Army Depleted Munitions Get NRC's Attention
A May 10 meeting will discuss apparent violations of NRC licensing requirements, the agency announced.
A May 10 predecisional enforcement conference in Arlington, Texas, will give Nuclear Regulatory Commission officials the chance to discuss apparent violations of NRC licensing requirements with representatives of the U.S. Army Installation Management Command. IMCOM originated in 2006; it is headquartered in San Antonio and oversees the management of U.S. Army installations: construction; barracks and family housing; family care; food management; environmental programs; well-being; soldier and family morale, welfare and recreation programs; logistics; public works; and installation funding.
The meeting concerns the use of depleted uranium spotting rounds that left fragments on training ranges in Alaska, California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, and Washington. The Army applied to NRC for a possession license in 2008, according to the NRC, which said a Hawaii resident also petitioned NRC last year to take enforcement action against the Army if it found the latter possessed or released depleted uranium to the environment without a license.
"Based on NRC's review of the information provided by the Army, it appears that the Army is in violation of NRC regulations on the licensing of source material, which includes DU, at several Army installations," NRC's announcement states. "It also appears that the Army performed decommissioning activities at the Schofield Barracks in Hawaii without NRC authorization."
It says no decision on the apparent violations or any enforcement action will be taken at this meeting, which will take place from 2-5 p.m. CDT and be open to the public by telephone or online. Contact Sarah Achten at 301-415-6009 or sarah.achten@nrc.gov for details.
Replies
Printable Version
The U.S. Army Installation Command has applied to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for a license to possess and manage residual quantities of depleted uranium (DU) at various Army installations where DU munitions – specifically the M101 Spotting Round – were used in training exercises. These installations include the Schofield Barracks on Oahu and Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA) on the Island of Hawaii.
The license, once granted, will require the Army to perform specific functions designed to protect public health and safety and the environment. These include a radiation monitoring program and physical access control consistent with NRC’s regulations for protecting the public against radiation. Should DU be discovered elsewhere on Army installations, the Army will conduct an environmental survey to determine if that area needs to be included in the monitoring and access control programs under the license. These programs will support future site decommissioning and cleanup.
Background
Depleted uranium is a byproduct of uranium enrichment, part of the process of manufacturing fuel for nuclear power plants. When uranium is enriched in the U235 isotope, the leftover uranium is depleted in U235. DU is useful in certain commercial and military applications because of its high density – about twice the density of lead. It is only slightly radioactive, but it poses some chemical toxicity danger to the kidneys if ingested – either through inhaling dust or drinking contaminated water, for example.
A number of Army installations across the United States have residual DU contamination resulting from the testing of the M101 Spotting Round. The M101 was a 20mm low-speed projectile, weighing approximately a pound, which was used with the Davy Crockett recoilless rifle system from 1960-1968.
The Davy Crockett weapons system, including the M101 Spotting Round, was classified in the 1960s, and records of its use were closely guarded. In 2005 the Army discovered tail assemblies from the M101 Spotting Round during a range clearance exercise at the Army’s Schofield Barracks target impact area in Hawaii[1]. The Army then began investigating various sites where the M101 Spotting Round may have been used, and characterization studies have determined that NRC licensable quantities of DU exist at several sites in the form of M101 fragments. Since the Army does not currently possess a Source Material License, as required by NRC regulations, a license application for the possession of DU has been submitted to the NRC.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission Role
Part of NRC’s role as a regulatory agency is the oversight of licensed source material, such as depleted uranium at Army sites. The NRC requested the Army include environmental radiation monitoring plans and security plans as part of its license application. Two generic plans – applicable to all sites where DU has been found – were provided for NRC review titled, “Physical Security Plan for Depleted Uranium From the M101 Spotting Round” and “Environmental Radiation Monitoring Plan for Depleted Uranium From the M101 Spotting Round.” Additionally, two site-specific environmental radiation monitoring plans were provided for Schofield Barracks and the Pohakuloa Training Area. Additional Army sites with residual DU will be added to the license after a site characterization has identified DU and a site-specific environmental radiation monitoring plan has been provided.
As a source material licensee, the Army will be required to comply with NRC regulations and standards for protecting the public and the environment from exposure to radiation. The NRC will provide oversight of the Army’s monitoring programs through periodic inspections and reviews.
[1] Information Booklet, Depleted Uranium (DU) in Hawaii. U.S. Army Installation Management Command-Pacific. Fort Shafter, Hawaii.
[2] Information on Depleted Uranium and the M101 Spotting Round for the Davy Crockett, U.S. Army. May 17, 2007.
Additional References
NRC Regulations:
August 2009
Army Depleted Munitions Get NRC's Attention
A May 10 meeting will discuss apparent violations of NRC licensing requirements, the agency announced.
A May 10 predecisional enforcement conference in Arlington, Texas, will give Nuclear Regulatory Commission officials the chance to discuss apparent violations of NRC licensing requirements with representatives of the U.S. Army Installation Management Command. IMCOM originated in 2006; it is headquartered in San Antonio and oversees the management of U.S. Army installations: construction; barracks and family housing; family care; food management; environmental programs; well-being; soldier and family morale, welfare and recreation programs; logistics; public works; and installation funding.
The meeting concerns the use of depleted uranium spotting rounds that left fragments on training ranges in Alaska, California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, and Washington. The Army applied to NRC for a possession license in 2008, according to the NRC, which said a Hawaii resident also petitioned NRC last year to take enforcement action against the Army if it found the latter possessed or released depleted uranium to the environment without a license.
"Based on NRC's review of the information provided by the Army, it appears that the Army is in violation of NRC regulations on the licensing of source material, which includes DU, at several Army installations," NRC's announcement states. "It also appears that the Army performed decommissioning activities at the Schofield Barracks in Hawaii without NRC authorization."
Mahalo to everyone that participated in the conference. I heard some of it tonight and have sent in my comments. Sorry, I could not join all of you. In listening to all of you that called in I just want to say you were all fantastic!
Important to read and take note of phone number as well as contact person.
At this time the concern for Waianae is not only being in the 3 mile radius of Schofield but too, having offshore ordanace at Maili in Waianae.
Spoke to the fishermen on Waianae Coast for they are our eyes and daily current, fauna, flora observers. They are seeing different changes to the fauna (monk seals, whales, and Nia's) in their behavior patterns. Accordingly, they are trying to stay away from the Ocean debris and a bit disoriented or divertion from their natural instinctual swimming patterns.
Fukushima debris will hit our shores very soon beginning with South Point.
NRC is in my opinion behind the times as far as Fukushima is concern, I'm not waiting around for their Risk Assessments. Obama had appointed Gregory Jazcko as the director in 2009 and he is not all that there yet as far as humanity and its safety. He has done a Risk Assessment but unless one is ma'a to listening to his presentation it is difficult to apply his spill to the real world, in my opinion.
Those of us who are attending 'clandestine' meetings in Waianae are having a difficult time with both Neighborhood Board, and the Native Hawaiian Veterans, LLC that preys, in my opinion--children. The fishermen are no help either because of their contribution to science observation and survey.