This1 property was purchased during MED operation
and used as a dumping ground for refinery residues generated by Linde Air
Products during their period of participation in the refinery Operations
program. It2 consists of 10 acres in addition to a perpetual
easement right to a strip of land, 10 feet wide and 3600 feet long. The area is
located in North [sic] Tonawanda, New York near the Niagara River. Because of
the growth of adjacent industries, this particular piece of property has
appreciated in value.
During its tenure as responsible property management office,
Oak Ridge Operations determined that disposal of this property with residue
still thereon was a wise move from an economic standpoint for the following
reasons1:
1. These materials could well be abandoned from a uranium
economy standpoint.
2. The cost of removing the residues exceeded the probable
sale value of the property.
Since the health and safety aspects of such a course of
action were in doubt, OROO requested that this office conduct a survey of this
property to evaluate these matters and present findings. A survey was conducted
on October 21, 1957 to evaluate soil and water contamination in the area and
direct radiation emanating from the storage piles.
As responsibility for this property passed to NYOO effective
July 1, 1958, a report of our findings is presented for your use.
Method of Study
Creek3 water was sampled an analyzed for soluble
uranium in 1955. At the time of our survey, October 21, 1957, runoff streams
were completely dried out so that the earlier data could not be confirmed.
Soil samples of the surface (0" - 3") and subsurface (3" -
6" and 6" - 12") were obtained by conventional soil sampling techniques. Each
sample was analyzed for uranium and radium content.
Leo Graup -2- September 29, 1958
An evaluation of the direct radiation emanating from the
storage piles was made with a Lucky Strike (AEC-SGX-49A) survey meter.
Waste Disposal Data2,4
The material dumped on the Haist property during 1944-1948,
is comprised essentially of low grade western ore tailings. Inventory figures
available from book records indicate a breakdown of materials as follows:
1. P78 Iron Cake - The material was a by-product of
western ore processing during 1944-46. Total material on property was about
1,879,000 lbs (dry) containing 0.88% by weight of uranium as
U3O8.
2. L-19 Sludges (U.O.C.) - 1943 western ore tailings
from Moore filters. 1,332,000 lbs (dry) of this material, containing 1.23% of
uranium as U3O8, was segregated in small piles throughout
the area.
3. L-19 Tailings - Moore sludge from western ores.
12,860,000 lbs (dry) of this material containing 0.52% uranium as
U3O8 covered the greater portion of Haist Area.
4. Pilot Plant Sludges - Western sludge and
miscellaneous residues produced during early experimental work and production
by Linde Air Products Research Group. Total material on property was about
268,000 lbs (dry) containing 1.16% uranium as U3O8.
Assuming the material contained about 50% moisture and
weighed approximately 75 lbs per cubic foot, book records would indicate a
total of 16,340,000 lbs of residues containing 87,200 lbs of uranium and
occupying a volume of 430,000 cubic feet. This mass of residue, containing
presumably 0.535% uranium (dry basis), was spread out over roughly 300,000
feet2 to a depth of 1 to 5 feet.
Results
TABLE I
SOIL SAMPLE RESULTS
Average Weight Percent (Dry Basis)
Uranium Radium
Reported in
Material Inventory HASL Analysis HASL Analysis ( x 10-8 ) P-78 Iron Cake 0.745 0.096 2.30
L-19 Sludges (U.O.C.) 1.04 0.246 2.45 L-19 Tailings 0.44 0.084 1.63 Pilot Plant
0.98 0.545 0.50 Sludges Average 0.535 0.175 1.60
Leo Graup -3- September 29, 1958
TABLE II
SAMPLE RESULTS OF CREEK WATER
AT HAIST PROPERTY (1955)
Uranium Conc.
Description of Sample (mg/ml)
East run-off stream directly adjacent to property 100
West run-off stream immediately inside property 0.5
Half way between creek and east branch Niagara River 0.5
Creek water at junction of Niagara Blvd. 0.005
Junction of creek and east branch of Niagara River 0.002
Junction of two run-off streams emanating from Haist 1.0
property.
TABLE III
RADIATION SURVEY RESULTS
beta and gamma Radiation Levels - mr/hr
Material Bore Hole Surface 3' level
P-78 Iron Cake 0.07-0.15 0.09 0.05-0.08
L-19 Sludges 0.12-0.50 0.05-0.18 0.04-0.07
L-19 Tailings 0.07-0.14 0.07-0.09 0.07-0.08
Pilot Plant Sludges 0.45 0.12 0.07
Overall Range 0.07-0.50 0.05-0.18 0.04-0.08
Discussion
Results of analyses of materials deposited on the Haist
property are shown in Figure 1. Table I is a compilation of averages of these
results, together with the best available book record values. The differences
in results are significant and indicate a relatively large reduction in soluble
uranium content due to weathering. As an average, the wastes contain on a dry
basis, 0.175% uranium and 1.6 x 10-8 radium. On the basis of these
results, the residues may be considered to be raw source
materials5.
Table II contains results of uranium analyses of creek water
samples, taken in 1955 at the Haist property. As no additional wastes have been
dumped since 1946, these results probably represent maximum concentrations at
present. CFR Title 10 Part 206 specifies maximum permissible
concentrations of radioisotopes in water, above natural background, for
unrestricted areas. For uranium this concentration is 7 x 10-8 uc/ml
or 10.4 mg/liter. The highest sample obtained was 9.6 MPC at the east run-off
directly adjacent to the property. Uranium concentrations fell off rapidly to
0.1 MPC at the junction of run-off streams emanating from the property and
thence to 0.0002 MPC at the junction of the creek and east Niagara River. This
data presents strong evidence of negligible pollution of river waters due
Leo Graup -4- September 29, 1958
to uranium run-off from the Haist property. Radium compounds
normally found in wastes of this nature are extemely insoluble. Although no
measurements of radium concentration are available, the probability of
significant quantities in the run-off may be discounted. However, additional
creek water samples should be taken and analyzed for soluble radium for
confirmation.
Results of the radiation survey are listed in Table III.
According to CFR Title 10 Part 206, permissible levels of radiation
in unrestricted areas are those resulting in a dose not exceeding 100 millirems
in any seven consecutive days or 0.6 mrem/hr. The data clearly indicates
insignificant direct radiation emanating from the storage piles.
Although no air sample data is available, reasonable
inferences may be drawn as to the likelihood of an airborne hazard. Part 20
specifies maximum permissible concentrations of radioisotopes in air, above
natural background for unrestricted areas. For uranium and radium, these
concentrations are 1.7 x 10-12 and 8 x 10-13 uc/ml
respectively. Dust loadings at the property are probably similar to those
encountered in industrial-district air (7) or 1 mg/M3, and would
contain 1.75 and 1.6 x 10-7 ug/M3 of uranium and radium
respectively. These are equivalent to 1.18 x 10-12 uc of uranium and
1.6 x 10-13 uc of radium per ml of air. Assuming extremely dry
climatological conditions, dust concentrations as high as 10
grams/M3 can occur during a dust storm. These would contain 1.18 x
10-8 uc of uranium and 1.6 x 10- 9 uc of radium per ml of
air. The probability of this occurrence is remote; the duration limited. It is
evident that there is probably no significant airborne contamination at the
site under normal conditions.
Conclusion
1. Wastes contain uranium and radium, probably in
concentrations of 0.175% and 1.6 x 10-8%, on a dry basis,
respectively.
2. There is negligible pollution of river wastes due to
uranium run-off from the property. The probability of significant radium
run-off may be discounted; this should be confirmed by radium analysis of
additional creek water samples.
3. Direct radiation emanating from the storage piles is
insignificant.
4. Under normal conditons, airborne contamination at the
site is insignificant.
From a health and safety viewpoint, the disposal of the
property with residue thereon appears to present no significant problems.
Enclosure: Figure 1
References
1. Memorandum, Sapirie to Eisenbud, 2/26/57, re Haist
Property in North [sic] Tonawanda"
2. Memorandum, F. W. Malone to F. R. Dowling, 5/29/56.
3. Memorandum, Harris to Malone, 2/10/55, re "Sample Results
of Creek Water at Haist Property"
4. Drawing, Hooker Electro Chemical Company, "Approximate
Distribution of Tailings on the Haist Property"
5. Code of Federal Regulations - Title 10 - Atomic Energy,
Part 40 - 40.2
6. Code of Federal Regulations - Title 10 - Atomic Energy,
Part 20
7. Industrial Dust - Drinker and Hatch - 2nd Edition -
1954
