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Building Number/Name: |
306-E |
PAST OPERATIONS
Location(s) in facility that contained beryllium materials: Confirmed beryllium areas include the East High Bay, Room 180 (tool crib), and the west end of Bay 2 (a steel flammables cabinet with beryllium components stored inside). Room 165 is a suspected beryllium area.
Description of beryllium activities: Beryllium-copper alloy wire was used in the East High Bay in assembly processes. The newer portion of the building was named 306-E in 1970. The only confirmed beryllium activity identified subsequent to 1970 was a QA/QC evaluation of thermocouples that occurred in 1977. An arc melt furnace was formerly located in Room 165 and it is suspected that beryllium may have been used in this area. Beryllium tools may have been stored in Room 180, and beryllium components are currently stored in a steel cabinet at the west end of Bay 2.
Building monitoring data summary: Three swipes were collected from a glovebox in the East High Bay when evaluating thermocouples (99.97% beryllium) with results ranging between 0.005 and 0.047 mg/in2.
Personnel monitoring data summary: None identified
Specify Engineering/Administrative controls used during operations: None identified
Maximum Estimated Past Be exposure: LOW
CURRENT OPERATIONS
Building still present: YES
Beryllium present: YES
Current building occupancy/activity: This building is currently used as an engineering test laboratory and contains offices and shops. Currently, a small quantity of beryllium wire and components are stored at the facility, but not used.
1999 Study Results: Ambient air samples were collected on 6/24/99 at the east end of Bay No. 2 on top of a long table and in Room 163 below the light fixture just inside and east of the entrance, near the north wall. A personal air sample was collected on 6/3/99 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 µg/m3 and 0.005 µg/m3, for the ambient and personal air samples. Surface samples were collected from 60 sites throughout the building on 6/3/99. 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 exhaust ducts servicing Rooms 165 and 180, and the interior of the beryllium wire/component storage cabinet in Bay 2.
Maximum Estimated Current Be Exposure from Routine Activities: NONE
Basis for above information: Stone and Webster report, interviews with site personnel, and publication WHC-MR-0388; FDH beryllium assessment report.
Comments, including any additional information needed (specify): Room 180 currently contains a cabinet that was formerly used for beryllium storage. Beryllium wire is currently stored in a storage cabinet at the west end of Bay 2 outside Room 180. Although beryllium wire is stored in the building, it is no longer used. Therefore, the maximum potential exposure is estimated as none. If the wire is used in the future, industrial hygiene support should be utilized to ensure potential exposures are evaluated.
* Considerable additional information for Building 306 that may or may not be applicable to Building 306-E is present in the Fact Sheet for Building 306.
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