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Radsafers, need some help here.
This station's radwaste system has an inline charcoal bed,
that had been in service for about six years, processing about one million
gallons of waste water per year. In 1999, the charcoal bed was exhausted
and its contents discharged to the spent resin tank (SRT).
In late 1999, the contents of the SRT were sluiced to a liner
for disposal. This was a mixture of charcoal and demin resins, the demins are
downstream of the demins. A sample was taken for characterization
prior to shipment for diposal. The sample was analyzed for RCRA hazardous
waste as well.
The results on the radiological part, were within expectation,
however the RCRA analysis showed levels of 120 ppb Toluene and Xylene, as well
as the expected benzenes et al. All compounds except Toluene and Xylene
were below RCRA and LDR criteria. Xylene, 40CFR261.3 subpart D was
discounted on the ignitability criteria.
Toluene is a problem here in that the F005 code is listed and
a justification for not classifying this waste as mixed waste is being
sought. Investigation into that history of this charcoal bed and
documentation and interviews of plant personnel have not indidcated any
particular incident that might have resulted in the introduction of organics
into the resin/charcoal mix.
Has anyone in the non-nuclear/nuclear
experienced similar results, is this a mixed was, although < 10% by
volume, and if any facility has handled the same how was it
handled?
Would appreciate a prompt response, the implications for
the nuclear industry are profound.........
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