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Building Number/Name: |
313 |
PAST OPERATIONS
Location(s) in facility that contained beryllium materials: Confirmed areas include Canning Area, 7B heat treatment furnace, Measuring Lab, Billet (A033)and Components Inspection (A034) Areas, Engineering Development Lab A035 (EDL), Engineering Hot Lab A032 (EHL), and Waste Acid Treatment System (WATS). All of these are found in the south end of the building.
Description of beryllium activities: This World War II structure known as the Metals Fabrication Building was used to machine and can uranium fuel rods. A 1958 report identified a 1953 canning operation where 0.05% and 0.005% beryllium (by weight) was used. Activities included melt pots; band sawing and brushing ingots, and sweeping. A pilot scale heat treatment operation was identified in a 1961 report; no data was provided. The EDL was used for development of braze processes and the EHL cut into the fuel ends. The WATS-treated acid waste may also have contained minor amounts of beryllium.
Building monitoring data summary: A swipe sample was collected from a heat furnace in Room 7B in 1962. Swipe samples were collected from the beryllium storage area in 1971. Other swipe samples were collected from the Measuring Lab and Inspection Area from the years 1969 through 1982 and from the Engineering Development Lab (EDL) in the mid 1980s. Results reported for the majority of swipe samples collected during the years 1962 through 1988 were below 0.003 mg/in2. Sample results above 0.01 mg/in2 included an exhaust opening in the heat treatment furnace (0.05 mg/in2) in 1961; numerous samples in the Inspection Area (ranging between 0.011 and 0.072 mg/in2); and an end welder sample result of 0.80 mg/in2 in 1986. Air samples were collected in 1953 from the initial canning operation. Sample results of 0.1, 0.14, 1.0, 2.4, 3.3, and 7.5 mg/m3 were reported when using the 0.05% Be. Significantly lower air results were reported when using the 0.005% Be (six were less than 0.001 mg/m3; three were 0.15 mg/m3 or less, and one was 0.690 mg/m3). Exhaust stack samples were collected in the years 1985 (<0.001 mg/m3) and 1986 (<0.37 mg/m3). BHI recently performed characterization of the south end of the building with 44 samples tested for beryllium. The majority of these samples, including ventilation system swipes, resulted in no detectable beryllium. A few samples tested positive at just above the detection limit and well below an action level.
Personnel monitoring data summary: None identified.
Specify Engineering/Administrative controls used during operations: Records of engineering controls were not documented prior to 1984, although gloves, ventilation, and/or respiratory protection were recommended in 1958. In 1984, a Beryllium Work Permit system was implemented and gloves, coveralls, hoods, and rubber shoe covers were always specified on the permits. Respiratory protection was usually (but not always) specified on the permits.
Maximum Estimated Past Be exposure: SIGNIFICANT in the 1950s, LOW since the 1960s
CURRENT OPERATIONS
Building still present: NO
Beryllium present: NO
Current building occupancy/activity: D&D of this facility began on April 20, 2005, and is expected to be completed by August 1, 2005. The facility ceased operations in 1986. Recent activities performed prior to D&D include: The north end of this facility (where there were no records of beryllium processing activities) was partially decontaminated and cleaned and a new concrete floor poured. This portion of the building was leased to an aluminum company from 1996-2002 and the press was used to extrude aluminum products such as baseball bats. This work may have involved alloys containing low levels of beryllium.
1999 Study Results: All samples were collected in the south end of the facility. Four ambient air samples were collected on 6/21/99 in building 313. Their locations were: the southwest corner of the EDL near the south wall, the north wall of the EHL just west of the door to Controlled Maintenance Storage A031, the south end of the Gray Hallway A039 across from Components Inspection, and the north end of the Gray Hallway across from Controlled Maintenance Materials A031. A personal air sample was also collected on 6/21/99 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 0.012 µg/m3 for the ambient and personal samples, respectively. Surface samples were collected from 88 sites throughout the building on 6/21/99. Results reported for all but one surface sample were below the MDL of 0.5 mg/100 cm2. The surface sample that tested positive for beryllium reported a [Be] at the MDL (0.5mg/100 cm2) and was collected from an exhaust hood suspended near the east wall of the EDL. Areas that were unable to be sampled but should be considered as potentially contaminated with beryllium include the interiors of exhaust ducts servicing the EDL, EHL, Billet Inspection, and Components Inspection.
2002 Sampling Results: At the request of DOE, PNNL performed surface sampling of the north end of this facility in March of 2002. A total of 98 surface wipe samples were collected throughout the north end of the 313 facilty, using a detection limit of 0.02mg/100 cm2. Twenty one of these samples exceeded the release limit of 0.2mg/100 cm2 specified in 10 CFR 850. The building has been posted as having beryllium contamination and access is restricted.
2002 Additional Sampling Results: On 8-22-02 eight surface wipe samples were taken on a number of pieces of equipment in the South portion of the facility, resulting in < detectible results at the 0.2 microgram / 100 cm2 release limit. On 10-15-2002, 12 surface wipe samples were taken in various locations throughout the North portion of the facility, resulting in all but three < detectible at the 0.2 micrograms / 100 cm2 release limit. Areas sampled above the 0.2 micrograms / 100 cm2 were: the 440 electrical panel box on the S wall of the mezanine @ .26; the 440 breaker panel near the middle of the E wall @ .23; and the top of the I beam by crane bridge #1 control @ .28. On 11-01-2002, two 400 minute area airborne samples were taken, with results that were < the 0.005 micrograms/m3 detection limit. On 12-16-2002, a personal monitoring was conducted while an employee worked on duct work in the North portion of 313 facility. At the completion of this work, a surface wipe sample was taken on the handrail of the manlift he was working from. Both the breathing zone monitoring and the surface wipe sample resulted in < than detectible @ 0.005 micrograms/m3 and 0.2 micrograms / 100 cm2 respectively.
2005 D&D Activities: An extensive sampling program was performed by BHI during D&D activities.
Maximum Estimated Current Be Exposure from Routine Activities:NONE.
Basis for above information: Stone and Webster report, publication WHC-MR-0388, and interviews with site personnel; FDH beryllium assessment report, conversations with PNNL.
Comments, including any additional information needed (specify): Maximum estimated exposures in the south end of this facility are estimated to be significant in the 1950s and low since the 1960s. A single sample found beryllium at the method detection limit on an exhaust hood in the northeast corner of the EDL. However, recent (post-1999) exposures are estimated as none based on wipe and air sampling results. Activities which could generate beryllium dust are not believed to have occurred in the north end of the facility prior to release to the aluminum company in 1996.
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