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Building Number/Name: |
303-F |
PAST OPERATIONS
Description of beryllium activities: This building, one of several 303 buildings known as Fresh Metal Storage Buildings, was built during World War II to store fresh metal (unirradiated uranium), uranium scrap, and chemicals. In 1953 it was upgraded and used as a chemical makeup facility for solutions (mostly acid) used in aluminum cleaning, stripping, and anodizing processes. A 1953 memo identified experimental work where 5% beryllium ingots (95% aluminum) were stored in this building and may have been used in melt pots and and/or cut by saws. Beginning in 1973, it became the pumping facility for the 300 Area WATS operation and served as a pump house for liquid waste going from the south end of the 313 building to 311 Tank Farm. There may have been minor amounts of beryllium in this liquid.
Building monitoring data summary: In 1988, beryllium samples were collected from this building with results all less than 0.003 mg/in2 and below public release levels.
Personnel monitoring data summary: None identified
Specify Engineering/Administrative controls used during operations: Based on recommendations in the 1953 memo, it is assumed that respirators and gloves were used when handling and working with beryllium. Potential beryllium in the liquid waste would have been enclosed in the piping system.
Maximum Estimated Past Be exposure: NONE
CURRENT OPERATIONS
Building still present: YES
Beryllium present: Unknown
Current building occupancy/activity: This building is currently unoccupied. Piping, pumps, and catch basins are scheduled to be removed and the floor scabbled as part of WATS closure in FY98. A few remaining pumps and basins were noted during the 1999 FDH beryllium assessment.
1999 Study Results: An ambient air sample was collected on 6/18/99 in the northeast room of 303F near the hot water tank, and a second ambient air sample was collected on 6/24/99 in the center of the south room. A personal air sample was also collected on 6/18/99 in the breathing zone of a technician while wipe sampling surfaces for beryllium. Results reported for these samples were below the Method Detection Limit (MDL) of 0.004 and 0.017 µg/m3 for the ambient and personal samples respectively. Surface samples were collected from 29 sites throughout the building on 6/18/99. Results reported for these samples were below the MDL of 0.5 mg/100 cm2. Areas that were unable to be sampled but could possibly be contaminated with beryllium include the interiors of the remaining pumps and basins that may have contacted beryllium-containing liquid waste.
Maximum Estimated Current Be Exposure from Routine Activities: NONE
OPERATIONAL CONTROLS: Work activities occurring in this facility will be planned and reviewed with consideration given to the potential for beryllium exposure. Controls will be prescribed when the work activity may potentially enter or disturb an area not yet characterized through beryllium sampling or monitoring. Work will be carefully planned with IH&S professional support to help assure potential exposure risks are identified and minimized through the use of appropriate controls and additional sampling/monitoring as appropriate.
Basis for above information: Stone and Webster report, publication WHC-MR-0388, and interviews with past workers; FDH beryllium assessment report.
Comments, including any additional information needed (specify): 1) The Fuels Manufacturing Operation had very tight rules and monitoring requirements for beryllium. Since there are no records available regarding monitoring or beryllium work permits, it is doubtful that the ingots identified in 1953 continued to be stored in this pump house. It is also unlikely that waste handling operations created beryllium exposures. 2) the absence of beryllium contamination in routinely accessed areas was confirmed by air and surface sampling in June, 1999.
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