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Hanford Facility Beryllium Fact Sheet


Building Number/Name:
Date prepared:
Responsible Contractor:
Contact:

3712
February 23, 2004
FH-CP
Kenneth Jaten


PAST OPERATIONS
Beryllium brought in facility: YES
Form of beryllium: SOLID
Period of beryllium operations (dates): Start: 1961 End: 1992
Location(s) in facility that contained beryllium materials: Open warehouse

Description of beryllium activities: This building, known as the Fuels Warehouse, was built in 1961 and used to store uranium fuel elements, component parts for fuel fabrication, and uranium scraps from fuel manufacturing processes conducted in the 333 and 313 Buildings. Packaged braze rings were stored in the south portion of this facility. There is no indication of beryllium exposure because the materials were contained in packaging material.

Building monitoring data summary: None identified.
Personnel monitoring data summary: None identified.

Specify Engineering/Administrative controls used during operations: The braze rings were contained in packaging material within crates.

Maximum Estimated Past Be exposure: NONE


CURRENT OPERATIONS
Building still present: YES
Beryllium present: NO

Current building occupancy/activity: This building is currently unoccupied and contains storage of unused N-Reactor fuel. Manufacturing materials, including the braze rings were removed in 1992.

1999 Study Results: Two ambient air samples were collected on 6/18/99 in the western third of the building. A personal air sample was also collected on 6/18/99 from the breathing zone of a technician while wipe sampling surfaces for beryllium. Results reported for these air samples were below the Method Detection Limit (MDL) of 0.004 and 0.017 µg/m3 for the ambient and personal samples, respectively. Surface wipe samples were collected from 29 sites throughout the building on 6/18/99. Results reported for these samples were all below the MDL of 0.5 mg/100 cm2.

2003: On 3/18/2003 in preparation for Fire System maintenance, 14 surface wipe samples were taken resulting in all wipes < the Minimum Detection Limit (MDL) of 0.2 ug/100 cm2.

Maximum Estimated Current Be Exposure from Routine Operations: 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: Interviews with site personnel and publication WHC-MR-0388, and FDH beryllium assessment report.

Comments, including any additional information needed (specify) There is no indication of any beryllium operations in this building other than material storage. The braze rings were packaged and subsequently removed in 1992.


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For questions or comments, please send email to Elton_R_Hewitt@rl.gov

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