ML042670023
| ML042670023 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Millstone  |
| Issue date: | 10/08/2004 |
| From: | Reyes L NRC/EDO |
| To: | Lieberman J US SEN (Senate) |
| Nerses V, NRR//DLPM, 415-1484 | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML042710226 | List: |
| References | |
| G20040618, LTR-04-0565, TAC MC4320, TAC MC4321 | |
| Download: ML042670023 (3) | |
Text
October 8, 2004 The Honorable Joseph I. Lieberman United States Senate Washington, DC 20510-0703
Dear Senator Lieberman:
On behalf of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), I am responding to your August 25, 2004, letter to Nils J. Diaz, Chairman of the NRC, regarding a constituents concern about storage of nuclear waste and chemical and radiologic pollutants at the Dominion Nuclear Connecticut, Inc.s (DNCs) Millstone Power Station (MPS). In your letter, you requested the NRC provide you with a response that addresses the issues your constituent has raised.
As you may be aware, DNC is actively constructing a dry cask storage facility under the general license provisions of NRC regulations in Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR)
Part 72. Under these regulations, a general license for the storage of spent fuel in an independent spent fuel storage installation (ISFSI) at power reactor sites licensed under 10 CFR Part 50 is already authorized. The NRC established the general license provisions for ISFSIs in 1990 in response to Congressional direction in the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982, as amended. The NRC considers both dry cask storage and spent fuel pool storage as robust, safe methods of storing spent fuel.
The NRCs mission includes licensing and regulation activities to ensure adequate protection of public health and safety, promote the common defense and security, and protect the environment. In this regard, the NRC closely monitors nuclear power plants to ensure that they are maintained and operated in accordance with NRC regulations. In particular, NRC regulations set standards for the effective design and safe operation of nuclear power plants.
The NRC periodically inspects the design, fabrication, and use of the dry cask storage system to ensure that the radiation safety requirements, licensing requirements, and other NRC requirements are met. Additional information on dry spent fuel storage can be found on the NRC website at http://www.nrc.gov/waste/spent-fuel-storage.html.
Your constituent expressed concerns about chemical and radiologic pollutants at the MPS.
The amount of radioactive material in the effluents released by MPS is limited by NRC and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations. The NRC periodically inspects the waste processing and radiological effluent monitoring programs at the MPS. Most recently, as part of the NRCs environmental review of DNCs application for license renewal for MPS, the NRC examined the radiological effluent reports for the last several years and noted that the releases were well within the regulatory limits. The amount of chemical pollutants in the effluents released by MPS is limited by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations and by the National Pollutant Elimination Discharge System permit issued by the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection.
J. I. Lieberman On the basis of the utilitys performance to date, and the current results of the NRCs assessment of the utilitys performance, the NRC considers that MPS, Unit No. 2 (MP2) and Unit No. 3 (MP3) are operated safely. Enclosed is the most recent assessment of the MP2 and MP3 performance, which is conducted semi-annually. Additionally, based upon our inspection and oversight of Millstone I (MPI), decommissioning process activities at that unit are being conducted safely. The NRC continues to actively monitor the activities at the MPS, continues to review the licensees periodic radiological effluent reports, and will continue to take measures to ensure the safety of these nuclear facilities.
Sincerely,
/RA Patricia Norry Acting For/
Luis A. Reyes Executive Director for Operations
Enclosure:
Mid-Cycle Performance Review and Inspection Plan - Millstone Power Station Unit 2 and Unit 3 dated August 30, 2004
J. I. Lieberman On the basis of the utilitys performance to date, and the current results of the NRCs assessment of the utilitys performance, the NRC considers that MPS, Unit No. 2 (MP2) and Unit No. 3 (MP3) are operated safely. Enclosed is the most recent assessment of the MP2 and MP3 performance, which is conducted semi-annually. Additionally, based upon our inspection and oversight of Millstone I (MPI), decommissioning process activities at that unit are being conducted safely. The NRC continues to actively monitor the activities at the MPS, continues to review the licensees periodic radiological effluent reports, and will continue to take measures to ensure the safety of these nuclear facilities.
Sincerely,
/RA Patricia Norry Acting For/
Luis A. Reyes Executive Director for Operations
Enclosure:
Mid-Cycle Performance Review and Inspection Plan - Millstone Power Station Unit 2 and Unit 3 dated August 30, 2004 DISTRIBUTION: G20040618/LTR-04-0565 PUBLIC Burns/Cyr K. Johnson PDI-2 Reading S. Collins, RI L. Cox L. Reyes J. Dyer D. Collins W. Kane B. Sheron C. Holden M. Virgilio OGC C. Raynor P. Norry OPA V. Nerses W. Dean OCA C. Anderson, RI E. Merschoff SECY J. Stang NRR Mail Room Accession Nos.: Package ML042710226, Incoming ML042590541, Response ML042670023, and Enclosure ML042440216 OFFICE PDI-2/PM PDI-2/LA TECH ED PDI-2/SC PDI/D DLPM/D NAME VNerses CRaynor PKleene JClifford (DCollins for)
CHolden TMarsh (JLyons for)
DATE 9/24/04 9/24/04 9/24/04 9/24/04 9/27/04 9/28/04 OFFICE NRR/D EDO OCA NAME JDyer LReyes (PNorry for)
DRathbun DATE 09/28/04 10/08/04 10/08/04 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY