Document QJnppbn1evpwkMbg75OaXpX1E

Chmtea/t PUT IT IN WRITING Data 19 March 1974 To T. W. HerbipSubject VCM STATUS - WEEK ENDING 18 MARCH Prom ft. W. McGinnis______________ ( ) Take Action ( ) For Your Approval ( ) For Your Comments { ) As Requested ( )ForYourlnfo ( ) Discuss With Me I ) File ( ) Note & Return ns-cr^z? SUMMARY MAR 251974 K RIM1NS, V. F. 1. Low VCM exposure of reactOT 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 analysed 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. AP00005887 Mr. T. W. 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 our 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 C29 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 propylene 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 our 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 reactor 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 Mr. T. W. Herbig 19 March 1974 Page 3 Subject: VCM STATUS - WEEK ENDING 18 MARCH 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 selected'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 foT 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 25 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 AP00005889 Mr. T. W. Herblg 19 March 1974 Page 4 Subject: VCM STATUS ` WEEK ENDING 18 MARCH selected for comparison (Figure 2). R^W. McGinnis RWM:sc Attachments cc: A. R. Adams/Valley Forge J. T. Barr/Valley Forge T. L. Carey/Valley Forge W. D. Draffen K. 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. Stermon H. L. Watson/Valley Forge AP00005890 p AP00005891 ANALYSIS OF MONITOR LOCATIONS READINGS IN PPM VCM TABLE X PERSONAL MONITOR DATA (1) DATE SHIFT Reactor Building Operators 2/22/74 2/23/74 2/23/74 3 1 2 2/23/74 2/24/74 3 1 2/27/74 2/28/74 3 2 2/28/74 2 3/ 3/74 3/ 3/74 3/ s/74 1 3 2 3/ s/74 3 3/ 8/74 3/X0/74 3/11/74 2 2 2 3/11/74 3 3/1S/74 2 Reaotor Cleaners (3) 3/ 7/74 2 3/12/74 3/13/74 3 1 3/13/74 3 3/14/74 .3 m.QR 3 2 2 2 2 1 3' 2 2 3 1 3 1 2 3 1 1 PPM VCM 10.82 5.66 9.20 16.67 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 AP00005893 DATE Dryer Building 3/ 6/71). Maintenance 3/ 1/lbr SHIFT i 1 FLOOR pfm vcm 6.5 3.6 (1) Lists all data obtained to date* including that listed in two earlier reports. (2) High readings obtained with Century Analyzer on day shift. (3) Was wearing monitor while cleaning reactor. AP00005894 TABLE II VCM LEVELS - CENTURY OVA ANALYZER i 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*s Desk Middle Aisle - Center Middle Aisle - East End "'bird Floor Operator*s Desk N* Middle Aisle - West End N. Middle Aisle - Center N. Middle Aisle - East End S. Middle Aisle - East End S. Middle Aisle - Center S, Middle Aisle - West hd 3/11/74 1520 14 31-79 79-150 150-292 150-292 107-150 150-221 . 150 150-292 292 150-292 150 121-135 150 121-135 107-121 107-121 135-150 135-150 3/11/74 __ 2200_ CO CO-22 14-31 22 57 31 14 64 -40 40 31 40 50 50 40 40 31 31 50 3/12/74 0645 CO CO-17 79-121 57 50 31 14 79 50 64 64 22 35 40 31 a 31-107 40 3/12/74 1510 CQ 22-50 3/12/74 2230 14 CO-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 85 50-64 107 50-64 121 79-93 150-221 93 64 50-79 93 50-79 79 Pipe broken ! Maint. repairing i 3/13/74 0600 14 CO-14 CO-14 150 221 107 135 150 135 135 107 79 221 221 221 221 221 221 292 Vac. PUIfap Leak AP00005895 VCM LEVELS - CENTURY OVA ANALYZER DATE/ TIME Outside Main Lab PVC Lab Aisles (Low-High) Reactor Building J'irst 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 Ehd Third Floor Operator^ Desk N* Middle Aisle - West End N Middle Aisle - Center N* Middle Aisle - East &id S. Middle Aisle - East End S, Middle Aisle - Center S. Middle Aisle - West End 3/13/74 1445 12.5 22-31 3/13/74 2200 34 17-18 150-2,850 107-135 107-135 50-57 40-135 221 57 22 5o-64 79-93 79-93 64-79 79-93 79-93 27 46 -65 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 1422-31 150-577 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 5o 3/14/74 2130 12.5 31-107 < 150-292 22 79-93 46 27 79-93 43 27 27-40 107-121 33 46 50 39 35 43 31 3/15/74 0445 CO 22-31 150-292 107 79 31 22 79 79 64 79 57 40 50 64 40 50 50 31 AP00005896 AP00005897 VCM LEVELS - CENTURY OVA ANALYZER DATE/ TIME Outside Main Lab PVC Lab Aisles (Low-High) Reactor Building First Floor - Compressor Area (Low-High) Center Aisle - Vest End Center Aisle - Center Center Aisle * East &id Second Floor South Aisle - East End South Aisle - Center South Aisle - West End Stripper Oper.'s Desk Middle Aisle -- Center Middle Aisle - East End '^hird Floor Operator's Desk N. Middle Aisle - West End N. Middle Aisle - Center N. Middle Aisle - East End S. Middle Aisle - East End S. Middle Aisle-Center S* Middle Aisle - West Ehd 3/15/74 2130 17 22-50 79-150 50-64 85 46 57 85 57 57 76 4 79-107 64 64 40 % 61 3/16/71; 0430 4.0 CO-14 3/16/74 1330 <L0 22-31 50-292 64 150 50 22-31 64 79 22 79 14 64 22 107 50 150 31 150 50 50 27 150 31 150 31 107 50 50 1 . 31 85 25 150 31 150 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 ao 14-22 * 31-107 22 64 27 31 40 57 107 64 31 50 50 50 64 64 50 50 3/17/74 1400 CO 14-22 31-50 40 71 22 17 31 57 50 57 31 40 46 57 40 57 50 40 i VCM LEVELS - CENTURY OVA ANALYZER DATE/ TIME 3/17/714. 2100 Outside Main Lab <10 PVC Lab Aisles (Low-High) 14-79 Reactor Building First Floor - Compressor Area (Low-High) Center Aisle - West Bid Center Aisle - Center Center Aisle - East Ehd 64-107 12.5 5o 22 Second Floor South Aisle - East End South Aisle - Center South Aisle - West End Stripper Oper.'s Desk Middle Aisle - Center Middle Aisle - East End 20 57 35 17 50 24 ""-ird Floor Operator's Desk N. Middle Aisle - West End N. Middle Aisle - Center N. Middle Aisle - East End S. Middle Aisle - East End S. Middle Aisle - Center S. Middle Aisle - West Bid 20 31 40 35 35 5o 22 3/18/74 0630 14 ao 22-292 22-79 64 31 31 107 150 93 93 64 31 40 50 31 40 40 31 i AP00005898