ML050800545
| ML050800545 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Browns Ferry  |
| Issue date: | 03/20/2005 |
| From: | Kugler A Division of Regulatory Improvement Programs |
| To: | Muse N - No Known Affiliation |
| Nash H, RLEP/DRIP/NRR, 415-4100 | |
| References | |
| Download: ML050800545 (4) | |
Text
March 20, 2005 Ms. Nancy Muse 246 Robinhood Drive Florence, AL 35633-1615
SUBJECT:
COMMENT RESPONSE LETTER REGARDING LICENSE RENEWAL OF BROWNS FERRY NUCLEAR PLANT, UNITS 1, 2 AND 3
Dear Ms. Muse:
This letter is in response to your comments at the January 25, 2005, public meeting in Athens, Alabama, for the license renewal of the Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, Units 1, 2, and 3 (BFN). At the public meeting, you expressed an interest in obtaining references regarding the issue of low-level radiation emissions associated with nuclear plant operations. At the meeting, the U.S.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff mentioned to you that one of the main sources of information used is the International Committee on Radiation Protection (ICRP). You can find information about acceptable radiation emissions and many publications at their website:
http://www.icrp.org. Other easily-accessible resources include organizations such as the National Radiological Protection Board (http://www.nrpb.org), the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (http://www.ncrponline.org), and the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (http://www.unscear.org).
Additionally, we have enclosed a CD containing the full Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal (GEIS) published by the NRC in 1996. In the GEIS, the NRC staff examined the available data about the effects of radiation exposure and concluded that the environmental impact of public radiation exposure is small for license renewal for all plants in the United States. The public meeting you attended was to discuss the draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for BFN license renewal, which is a site-specific analysis to augment the 1996 GEIS, which contains many references to radiation studies.
Public radiation exposure from nuclear power plants is well regulated and controlled. The NRC license renewal staff continuously reviews developments in the field of health physics for generic new and significant information. The NRC license renewal staff examines recent radiological effluent and environmental reports from the applicant to ensure that there is no new and significant information about public radiation exposure. The NRCs license renewal staff also consults with the NRCs Resident Inspectors and Regional Radiation Protection Inspectors and the state governmental organization responsible for radiation protection about any possible new and significant information at the applicants plant. Assuming there is no new and significant information, the staff relies on the GEIS conclusion. The NRC staff also relies on the conclusions by the National Cancer Institute in NIH Publication Number 90-874, ?Cancer in Populations Living Near Nuclear Facilities, dated July 1990, that there is ?no evidence that an excess occurrence of cancer has resulted from living near nuclear facilities. The study addressed nuclear power plants, including BFN, in its review of nuclear facilities. The National Cancer Institute also has a public website: http://www.nci-nih.gov.
N. Muse I hope the information provided addresses your concerns over the release of low levels of radiation from nuclear power facilities. If you have any questions please contact the Senior Environmental Project Manager, Dr. Michael Masnik at 301-415-1191 or via Email at mtm2@nrc.gov or Ms. Harriet Nash of the Environmental Section, at 301-415-4100 or via Email at hln@nrc.gov.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Andy Kugler, Environmental Section Chief License Renewal and Environmental Impacts Program Division of Regulatory Improvement Programs Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos.: 50-259, 50-260 and 50-296 cc w/encl: See next page
N. Muse I hope the information provided addresses your concerns over the release of low levels of radiation from nuclear power facilities. If you have any questions please contact the Senior Environmental Project Manager, Dr. Michael Masnik at 301-415-1191 or via Email at mtm2@nrc.gov or Ms. Harriet Nash of the Environmental Section, at 301-415-4100 or via Email at hln@nrc.gov.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Andy Kugler, Environmental Section Chief License Renewal and Environmental Impacts Program Division of Regulatory Improvement Programs Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos.: 50-259, 50-260 and 50-296 cc w/encl: See next page DISTRIBUTION:
MMasnik REmch HNash AWilliamson AKugler Adam Accession no. ML050800545 DOCUMENT NAME: E:\\Filenet\\ML050800545.wpd OFFICE GS:RLEP LA:RLEP PM:RLEP SC:RLEP NAME HNash YEdmonds MMasnik AKugler DATE 3/ 18 /05 3/16 /05 3/18 /05 3/ 20 /05 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
BROWNS FERRY NUCLEAR PLANT Tennessee Valley Authority cc:
Mr. Karl W. Singer Chief Nuclear Officer and Executive Vice President Tennessee Valley Authority 6A Lookout Place 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, Tennessee 37402-2801 Mr. Ashok S. Bhatnagar, Senior Vice President Nuclear Operations Tennessee Valley Authority 6A Lookout Place 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 Mr. Michael J. Lorek, General Manager Nuclear Engineering Tennessee Valley Authority 6A Lookout Place 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 Mr. Michael D. Skaggs Site Vice President Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant Tennessee Valley Authority P.O. Box 2000 Decatur, AL 35609 General Counsel Tennessee Valley Authority ET 11A 400 West Summit Hill Drive Knoxville, TN 37902 Mr. John C. Fornicola, Manager Nuclear Assurance and Licensing Tennessee Valley Authority 6A Lookout Place 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 Chairman Limestone County Commission 310 West Washington Street Athens, AL 35611 Mr. Kurt L. Krueger, Plant Manager Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant Tennessee Valley Authority P.O. Box 2000 Decatur, AL 35609 Mr. Jon R. Rupert, Vice President Browns Ferry Unit 1 Restart Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant Tennessee Valley Authority P.O. Box 2000 Decatur, AL 35609 Mr. Robert G. Jones Browns Ferry Unit 1 Plant Restart Manager Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant Tennessee Valley Authority P.O. Box 2000 Decatur, AL 35609 Mr. Fredrick C. Mashburn Senior Program Manager Nuclear Licensing Tennessee Valley Authority 4X Blue Ridge 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 Mr. Timothy E. Abney, Manager Licensing and Industry Affairs Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant Tennessee Valley Authority P.O. Box 2000 Decatur, AL 35609 Senior Resident Inspector U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant 10833 Shaw Road Athens, AL 35611-6970 State Health Officer Alabama Dept. of Public Health RSA Tower - Administration Suite 1552 P.O. Box 303017 Montgomery, AL 36130-3017