Document 0LJGDX19bygXmwXzawMmw22vd

To From ( ( PUT IT IN WRITING Date 19 March 1974 T. W. HerbipSubject VCM STATUS - WEEK ENDING 13 MARCH R. W. Mf.fijrmis_______________________________________________________________________________ _ ITakeActlon ( ) For Vour Approval ( } For Your Info ( ) Discuss With Me J For Your Comments { } As Requested ( ) File { ) Note & Return SUMMARY 1. Low VCM exposure of reactor cleaners using Mr. G. B. H. Speed's boilout procedure is verified with this week's personal monitor samples. Four out of five total samples show 9-17 ppm VCM; one sample analyzed about 52 ppm. 2. The reactor building chromatograph is now calibrated; however, indications are tha-t it is still reading too low. 3. The reference gas supplied by Allentown confirms the Calvert Lab calibration procedures. 4. The four chromatograph monitor points on the third floor are satisfactorily located. 5. Reactor building VCM levels increased somewhat this past week over the previous week. The increase appears to be within the normal scatter of VCM levels. 6. Two major reactor building improvements are scheduled for completion by 25 March: activation of first and second level fans and blend tank ventilation. At the completion of these two projects, an intensive four day surveillance comparable to the initial survey will be done. 7. The exhaust fans on the third floor tend to pull up vapors from heavy releases on the bottom floor, when the exhaust fans on the bottom two floors are not operating. PERSONAL MONITOR - REACTOR CLEANING Personal monitor data for the past week continued to show low levels of VCM exposure. The low exposure to the reactor cleaners using Mr. G. B. H. Speed's reactor boilout procedure was maintained. Four of the five samples taken showed 9-17 ppm, although a higher value of 51.5 ppm was observed once. All personal monitor data taken to date are summarized by areas in Table I. AP00040763 Mr. T. VT. Herbig 19 March 1974 Page 2 Subject; VCM STATUS - WEEK ENDING 18 MARCH FIXED CHROMATOGRAPH INSTALLATION - REACTOR BUILDING Receipt of calibration gas from Allentown permitted out reactor building chromatograph to be properly aligned in the instrument response to vinyl chloride. The chromatograph was calibrated at the factory for VCM. Upon installation its readings were roughly 30% of the comparable Century OVA values. Presumably the circuitry was affected by shipment. The chromatograph is now properly calibrated for VCM. However, I question the accuracy of the total system, as the excessively low readings of the chromatograph in comparison to the Century OVA Analyzer (29 ppm average difference), indicates that a small leak is present somewhere in the maze of fittings, pump, etc. Previous comparisons between the laboratory chromatograph and the Century OVA, and also the amounts of VAc and pTopylene indicated by the reactor building chromatograph, show a difference of about 10 ppm is a reasonable contribution by vinyl acetate, propylene and miscellaneous organics. The accuracy of the chromatograph sampling system will be further scrutinized this week. COMPARISON OF LABORATORY CALIBRATION WITH REFERENCE GAS CALIBRATION_______________________ The cyclinder of calibration gas was received. The analysis of this gas (100 ppm) agrees within 3 ppm of our Laboratory chromatograph. This is within the accuracy of the analysis. The independent preparation and analysis of this calibration gas, and confirmation of its content by out Laboratory, both corroborate Mr. M. H. Stermon's analytical method and also verify the calibration gas supplied by APCI at Allentown. CHROMATOGRAPH MONITOR LOCATION The suitability of the chromatograph sampling points on the reactoT building third floor was investigated. The objective of specifying these sampling locations was to obtain fairly representative samples of the room contents. Four monitors are available for the third floor, or approximately one monitor per 1500 feet, excluding the nineteenth reactor. VCM levels at the monitor locations are found to be reasonably representative of the levels on the third AP00040764 Mr. T. W. Herbig 19 March 1974 Page 3 Subject; VCM STATUS - WEEK ENDING 18 MARCH 1 floor, without excessive deviation from surrounding VCM levels. This is best seen by noting the VCM levels on a plot plan, and visually comparing the readings. Figure I illustrates two such comparisons. The monitor locations will be checked for the other two floors when the exhaust fans are activated. This does not indicate that stagnant areas are not present that could have excessively high or low concentrations - such stagnant areas will be identified in future work. It also does not judge whether or not monitors should be located in stagnant areas. The conclusion is reached, however, that the locations seletted have VCM levels comparable to most of the third floor. REACTOR BUILDING VCM LEVELS VCM on all three floors is somewhat higher than last week, largely because of leaks and maintenance. Table II lists the Century OVA readings taken on each shift this past week. REACTOR BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS The next anticipated improvements are scheduled for this week. The absence of conduit has held up activating the exhaust fans for the first and second floors. Conduit arrived as this report is being written and wiring will immediately start. These fans are expected to be turned on within several days. The blend tank ventilation system is likewise scheduled for completion by 2S March. VCM VAPORS RISING FROM LOWER FLOORS The exhaust fans on the third floor do tend to pull up vapors from lower levels. Two known instances of monomer venting on the first floor, and one other period of high VCM levels on the first floor, were accompanied by corresponding rises in VCM on the third floor, A central location on all floors was AP00040765 Mr. T. W. Herbig 19 March 1974 Page 4 Subject: VCM STATUS - WEEK ENDING 18 MARCH selected for comparison (Figure 2). l&y 'UTZ'&frM-i RSl/i. McGinnis RWM:sc Attachments cc: A. R. Adams/Valley Forge J. T. Barr/Valley Forge T. L. Carey/Valley Forge W. D. Draffen W. E. Dunning R. Fleming/Trexlertown/Valley Forge (2) J. D. Kramer D. V. Lowe A. K. McMillan/Pensacola J. C. Novak/Valley Forge E. A. Primeau/Pensacola E. A, Ray/Pensacola W. M. Smith/Allentown Labs G. B. H. Speed E. M. Spurlock/Valley Forge M. H. Stjermon H. L. Watson/Valley Forge AP00040766 ANALYSIS Oh '"ONIIUhL XULAI IONS AP00040767 AP00040768 to X to TO inch 46 1320 i i u r r u7 X IO INCHfct <MM Nl .. emch co. TABLE I DATE PERSONAL MONITOR DATA (1) * SHIFT * FLOOR Reactor Building Operators 2/22/74 2/23/74 2/23/74 2/23/74 3 1 2 3 2/24/74 1 2/27/74 3 2/28/74 2/28/74 2 2 3/ 3/74 1. 3/ 3/74 3/ 5/74 3 2 3/ 5/74 - 3/ 8/74 3/10/74 3 2 2 3/11/74 2- 3A1/74 3 3/15/74 2 Re&cton Cleaners. ^3) 3 2 2 2 2 1 3 2 2 3 1 3 1 2; 3 1 1 3/ 7/74 3/12/74 2 3 3/13/74 3/13/74 3/14/74 1 3 "*'.3 PPM VCM 10*82 5.66 9.20 16.67 15.15 9.69 24.66 23*11 36.79 5.7 57.5 (2) 15.3 16.4 6.95 11.06 9.18 15.6 . 9.6 16.1 51.5 15.4 16.1 AP00040769 TLE II VCM LEVELS - CENTURY OVA ANALYZER 4 DATE/ TIME Outside Main Lab PVC Lab Aisles (Low-High) Reactor Building First Floor - Compressor Area (Low-High) Center Aisle - West End Center Aisle - Center ' Center Aisle - East End Second Floor South Aisle - East End South Aisle - Center South Aisle - West End Stripper - Oper.9 a Desk Middle Aisle - Center Middle Aisle - East End Third Floor Operators De3k If, MiddleAisle - West End N. MiddleAisle - Center N. MiddleAisle - East End S. MiddleAisle - East End S, MiddleAisle - Center S* MiddleAisle - West End 3/U/74 1520 14 31-79 3/11/74 2200 4.0 0.0-22 3/12/74 0645. 40 40-17 79-150 1^0-292 150-292 107-150 14-31 . 22 57 31 79-121 57 50 31 150-221 .. 150 150-292 292 150-292 150 14 64 '4o 40 31 40 14 79 50 64 64 22 121-135 150 121-135 107-121 107-121 135-150 135-150 50 50 40 40 31 31 50 35 40 31 24 16 31-107 40 3/12/74 1510 40, 22-50 3/12/74 2230 14 40-22 22-31 31 22-31 31-50 64-150 93 79 - 40 31 31-40 31 31-64 31 31-40 40 71 64 79 64 79 64-79 65 50-64 107 50-64 121 79-93 93 150-221 64 50-79 93 50-79 79 Pipe broken Maint. repairing 3/13/74 0600 14 <10-14 40-14 150 221 107 135 150 135 135 107 79 221 221 221 221 221 221 292 Vac. Puaip Leak AP00040770 * VCM LEVELS - CENTURY OVA ANALYZER DATE/ TIME Outside Main Lab FVC Lab Aisles (Low-High) Reactor Building First Floor - Compressor Area (Low-High) Center Aisle - West End Center Aisle - Center * Center Aisle East End Second Floor South Aisle - East End South Aisle - Center South Aisle - West End Stripper - Oper,*s Desk Middle Aisle - Center Middle Aiale - East Bid Third Floor Operator^ Desk II. Middle Aisle - West End H. Middle Aisle -- Center N. Middle Aisle - East End S, Middle Aisle - East End S, Middle Aisle -- Center S. Middle Aisle - West End 3/1mVs7..4. 12.5 22-31 3/13/74 2200 % 17-18 150-2,850 107-135 107-135 50-57 40-135 221 57 22 50-64 79-93 79-93 64-79 79-93 79-93 27 46 -% 72 67 31 150-292 107-135 79-107 64 64-79 79-93 150-292 Maint. working on compressor 76 60 60 58 58 93 57 3/14/74 0515 17 14-22 292 50 79 ^ 40 50 71 57 31 64 31 93 107 93 50 50 57 71 3/14/74 1500 14, 22-31 150-577 79-121 107-150 79-107 107 121-135 79-93 79 79-107 64-79 64-79 57-64 64 64-79 50-64 5o 50, 3/14/74 2130 12.5 31-107 3/15/74 0445 <10 22-31 150-292 22 79-93 46 150-292 107 79 31 27 79-93 43 27 27-40 107-121 33 46 50 39 35 43 31 22 79 79 64 ft79 f*57 40 5o 64 40 50 50 31 ! * VCM LS - CENTURY OVA ANALYZER \ DATE/ TIME Outside Main Lab PVC Lab Aisles (Low-High) Reactor Building First Floor - Compressor Area (Low-High) Center Aisle - West End Center Aisle - Center - Center Aisle - East End Second Floor South Aisle - East End South Aisle - Center South Aisle - West End Stripper Opera's Desk Middle Aisle - Center Middle Aisle - East End Third Floor Operator^ Desk N Middle Aisle - West End N. Middle Aisle - Center N. Middle Aisle - East End S. Middle Aisle - East End 5, Middle Aisle-Center S* Middle Aisle - West Ehd 3/1^/714. 2110 17 22-50 79-150 50-61* 65 46 57 05 57 57. 76 61* 79-107 61* 61* 1*0 4S5* 61 3/16/714 oij.30 <L0 <L0-ll* 3/16/74 1330 ao 22-31 50-292 4 150 5o 22-31 64 79 ' 22 . 79 14 64 22 107 50 150 31 150 50 5o 27 150 150 107 0 85 150 150 31 31 50 31 25 31 22 3/16/74 2200 12.5 12.5-40 79-121 12.5 64-79 79 71 79 40 22 93 93 25 35 64 93 107 ' 64 24 3/17/74 0615 OLO 14-22 31-107 22 64 27 31 40 57 107 64 31 50 50 50 64 64 5 50 3/17/74 1400 ao 14-22 . 31-50 40 71 22 17 31 57 50 57 31 40 46 57 40 57 50 40 AP00040772 * VCM CENTURY OVA ANALYZER DATE/ TIME 3/17/714. 2100 3/18/74 0630 Outside Main Lab FVC Lab Aisles (Low-High) <10 14-79- 14 ao Realtor Building 1* First Floor - Compressor Area (Low-High) Center Aisle - West End Center Aisle - Center '*Center Aisle -East Bid 64-107 12.5 50 22 22-292 22-79 6431 Second Floor South Aisle - East End South Aisle - Center South Aisle - West End Stripper Opera's Desk Middle Aisle - Center Middle Aisle - East End 20 57 35 17 50 * 24. Third Floor * t Operator's Desk 20 N. Middle Aisle - West End 31 N Middle Aisle - Center 40 N. Middle Aisle - East End 35 > S* Middle Aisle - East End 3, Kiddle Aisle - Center 35 50 no S. Middle Aisle - West hd 22 O O O 31 107 150 93 93 64 31 4 5o 31 4 S O 4*. ^4 J t i