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Building Number/Name: |
234-5Z |
PAST OPERATIONS
Location(s) in facility that contained beryllium materials: Confirmed beryllium use in the Standards Lab Rooms 221C, 221D & 221E (Room 221E - standards cabinet on south wall possibly housed beryllium standards) and Analytical Lab (Room 157 - gloveboxes on south wall marked with beryllium contamination signs) until mid-1980s. The Standards Lab still has one-20 gram vial of pure reagent beryllium oxide. The Analytical lab has 37 1-gram vials of mixtures of beryllium and other elements (Fe, Ni, Mn, etc.) with the beryllium being approximately 1% of these mixtures. Facility staff commented that the paths between Rooms 157 and 179 of the Plutonium Process Support Labs (PPSL) may be contaminated with beryllium due to heavy foot traffic and former transportation of beryllium-containing materials between those rooms. Tests using beryllium metal were conducted in 1988 in Room 179. Approximately 10 grams of the beryllium were used for the tests. The remainder of this material (40 grams) is located in Glovebox 179-4. The beryllium is stored in a 3 pound slip lid can. The Tool Crib (Room 194A) cabinets 24, 25 & 28 at one time contained beryllium tools within the drawers. Those suspect tools have been removed with drawers cleaned and sample results indicate no detectable presence of beryllium. Beryllium tools were collected and placed into Connex H for control. Connex H and all its contents were slated for disposal and left PFP protective area in May 2004.
Low levels of beryllium are expected to be found in areas of 234-5Z that processed scrap Rocky Flats Plutonium Oxide until early 2004. The following areas, along with their supportive engineering control system equipment, have the potential to contain Beryllium and are labeled as such: Analytical Lab in Gloveboxes 1, 2, 3 (Room 136) and Glovebox 1 (Room 145). Residues Area in Glovebox HA-40F (Room 169), and Glovebox HC-46F (Room 170) Thermal Area in Glovebox HC-13MD (Room 228B), Gloveboxes HC-18M, HC-18BS, Conveyor Gloveboxes HC-1 and HC-2 (Room 228C), Glovebox HC-21C and Conveyor Glovebox HC-2 (Room 230A), Gloveboxes HC-21A and Conveyor Gloveboxes HC-2 and HC-3 (Room 230B), Gloveboxes 3, 4, 5 and Conveyor Gloveboxes HC-3, HC-4 (Room 230C), Gloveboxes HA-20MB, HA-21I, HA-22B, HA-23S, HA-28, HA-28-1, 235-B2, HA-53BTS and Conveyor Glovebox HC-4 (Room 235-B)
Early in 1973, miscellaneous Pu239-Be neutron sources where machined for Plutonium reclamation in Glovebox HA-39 (thought to be located near the west end of room 235). Glovebox HA-39 was decommissioned and removed in mid 1977.
Description of beryllium activities: The beryllium oxides in the labs were used until the mid-1980s for emission spectroscopy standards. The beryllium oxides were mixed with other oxides using a mortar and pestle on a benchtop, then placed into a glovebox and blended with PuO2 . Fifty grams of beryllium metal were purchased in 1988 for use in experiments regarding the dissolution of pure Pu-Be components from weapons pits. The tests were conducted in Room 179 of the PPSL. There was a proposal in 1961 to test a beryllium operation at 234-5 that included packaging, cleaning, and storage of 100% metallic beryllium blocks. There is no data to confirm this activity, further investigation indicated that beryllium-handling work was never performed. An October 1967 report identified a proposed use of beryllium in a new operation. 100% beryllium blocks were to be received, degreased with acetone, brushed, and subsequently welded and/or machined prior to shipment offsite. There is no data to confirm if this activity occurred.
Rocky Flats Plutonium Oxide contains up to 0.6 wt % Beryllium based on prompt gamma analysis data. Scrap Oxide was sent to PFP for Plutonium reclamation. Beryllium is an impurity captured within the molten salt matrix of the oxide. As the oxides where processed, Plutonium was stabilized for long term storage or disposal as waste. Low levels of Beryllium may potentially remain with Plutonium contamination in the process equipment slated for disposal during D&D Activities expected to be completed by 2007.
The neutron source products typically consisted of an alloy of plutonium and beryllium in a ratio of about two parts of plutonium to one part beryllium by weight basis. The contents of the neutron sources where packaged for transportation to 236-Z building for processing in Gloveboxes MT-1, MT-4. MT-5 and MT-6 (Room 41).
Building monitoring data summary: Additional building characterization sampling data is currently being collected. Beryllium characterization sampling of Standards Lab Room 221D showed no detectable levels of Beryllium per swipe and air monitoring.
1999 Study Results: Ambient air samples were collected on 7/13/99 above a countertop on the north wall of Room 221E, and between gloveboxes 6 and 9 in Room 179. A personal air sample was also collected on 7/13/99 in the breathing zone of a technician while surface sampling the ground floor of 234-5Z for beryllium. A second personal air sample was collected on 8/10/99 while the technician was wipe sampling surfaces on the duct level of the building. Results reported for these samples were below the Method Detection Limit (MDL) of 0.004 µg/m3 for the ambient air samples and 0.007 and 0.012 µg/m3 for the two personal samples, respectively. Surface samples were collected from 59 ground floor sites on 8/5/99 and 28 duct level sites on 8/10/99. Results reported for these samples were below the MDL of 0.5 mg/100 cm2. Areas that were unable to be sampled but should be considered as potentially contaminated with beryllium include: the interiors of gloveboxes in Room 179 of the PPSL, especially glovebox 179-4, and associated exhaust ducts; the interior of the standards cabinet in Room 221E; the interiors of the storage cabinets and gloveboxes in Room 157, especially the interior and exhaust ducts servicing glovebox 157-2; the process exhaust duct and filter box interiors in Rooms 262 and 308 (duct level), which serve Rooms 157, 179, and 221E. Beryllium contamination in exhaust ducts servicing Room 194A is possible, but not likely. General contamination of duct level surfaces is unlikely, but no wipe samples were obtained above 8 feet on the duct level because of radioactive contamination potential.
Maximum Estimated Past Be exposure: None known
CURRENT OPERATIONS
Building still present: YES
Beryllium present: YES
Current building occupancy/activity: The building is being stabilized for decommissioning. The labs are still active, but the beryllium oxide is stored in sealed containers with no current use or exposures and the beryllium metal is stored in a glovebox. Plutonium Oxide with Beryllium impurities are contained within engineered control systems. In the event of an inadvertent containment breach, applicable emergency response procedure will be followed including Beryllium assessment when applicable. Glovebox and other process equipment enclosures will have contamination removed prior to removal and disposal. The removal process will be tightly controlled utilizing sound engineering and good work practices.
Maximum Estimated Current Be Exposure from Routine Operations: None known
Basis for above information: Stone and Webster report and interviews with onsite personnel; FDH beryllium assessment report; PFP Resource Center release of “Update and Status of Beryllium at PFP” Information Bulletin 3 dated March 8, 2004, PFP Resource Center release of “Information of the Status of PFP Be Work” dated May 26, 2004.
Comments, including any additional information needed (specify): 1) 1999 monitoring data do not indicate the potential for significant exposures in the standards and analytical labs; low potential for past exposures are estimated in PPSL. 2) Vials of beryllium oxide are currently properly sealed and stored. The beryllium metal is stored in a glovebox and presents no exposure hazard. The beryllium metal remaining in the PPSL should be properly disposed of as appropriate.
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