ABC Labs
1.0 Site Identification
| Type of Site: | Complex Decommissioning Site |
| Location: | Columbia, MO |
| License No.: | 24-13365-01 |
| Docket No.: | 030-05154 |
| License Status: | Active License |
| Project Manager: | Peter Lee |
2.0 Site Status Summary
The Analytical Bio-Chemistry Laboratory (ABC Labs) facility is located at 7200 East ABC Lane in Columbia, Missouri (Figure 1). The site is approximately 56 acres in size and is located 3 miles northeast of the city of Columbia, Missouri adjacent to Interstate Highway 70. Operations began in 1968. ABC Labs is a contract research organization that conducted research, development, and manufacturing of pharmaceuticals and agricultural chemicals. At the site, there are office, laboratory, and maintenance buildings; greenhouses; and a warehouse and waste storage facility. ABC Labs currently performs research, development, manufacturing and distribution of radioactive materials.
Research and development used radioactive materials that required a license from the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). (The AEC is the predecessor of NRC.) The AEC and NRC license was for laboratory use, animal and field studies, and manufacture and distribution of radiochemicals. The main radioactive elements used at the original campus were carbon-14 (C-14) and tritium (H-3). To support operations at the site, three sanitary lagoons were constructed. Two of the lagoons (historical lagoons) operated between 1968 and 1986. They were approximately 121 m2 and 158 m2 in size. Only incidental disposal of dilute radionuclides are suspected in these lagoons during their operational period. The lagoons were backfilled after 1986. The third lagoon (the west lagoon) and drain field, approximately 5.1 acres in size, was constructed in 1986 and operated until 2004 when the sanitary needs of the campus were diverted to the Boone County Regional Sewer District. The lagoon is approximately 1254 m2 in size. During campus operations, small amounts of C-14, and apparently H-3, were discharged to this lagoon consistent with that permitted by the NRC license. Activities are being conducted to decommission the lagoons for unrestricted release. The west lagoon was backfilled in June, 2012. Following the decommissioning of the lagoons, the use of nuclear materials at the site will continue consistent with the existing NRC license.
In 2010, ABC Labs requested unrestricted release of the two historical lagoons as amendment 43 to its NRC license. Based on the review of additional information submitted on October 13, 2011, NRC determined that these two lagoons meet the unrestricted release criteria as stated in 10 CFR 20.1402. Also in 2011, ABC Labs requested closure-in-place for the west lagoon (the third lagoon) and unrestricted release of adjacent property. NRC is currently reviewing the application and the decision is pending for this third lagoon.
Buildings A, B, D, and F were decommissioned during 2009, 2010 and 2011. Based on the review of final status surveys, NRC determined that these buildings meet the unrestricted release criteria as stated in 10 CFR 20.1402.
3.0 Major Technical or Regulatory Issues
4.0 Estimated Date For Closure
2013
