ML060200397

Comments from Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection on Draft EA for Concrete Blocks from the Yankee Nuclear Power Station in Readsboro, VT

ML060200397
Person / Time
Site:	Yankee Rowe
Issue date:	12/21/2005
From:	Gorski M State of MA, Dept of Environmental Protection
To:	John Hickman Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards
References
Download: ML060200397 (2)

Text

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION WESTERN REGIONAL OFFICE 436 Dwight Street

• Springfield, Massachusetts 01103 * (413) 784-1100

• FAX (413) 784-1149 MITT ROMNEY ELLEN ROY HERZFELDER Governor Secretary KERRY HEALEY ROBERT W. GOLLEDGE, Jr.

Lieutenant Governor Commissioner December 21, 2005 US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)

Decommissioning Directorate Office'of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards Washington, D.C. 20555-0001 Attention: John B. Hickman, Project Manager - Yankee Nuclear Power Station

Dear Mr. Hickman,

Thank you for your letter of December 1, 2005 that seeks Massachusetts Department of Environniental Protection (MADEP) comments on the "Draft Environmental Assessment Related to an Approval of Proposed Disposal Procedures in Accordance with 10 CFR 20.2002" at the Yankee Nuclear Power Station (YNPS) in Rowe, Massachusetts. The purpose of the Efivironmental Assessment (EA) is to determine the environmental impacts of Yankee Atomic Electric Company's (YAEC) proposal to dispose of radioactive material from YNPS at a private residence in Readsboro,'Vermont.

The MADEP has reviewed the EA and understands that shield blocks from within the reactor support structure at the YNPS will be disposed at a Readsboro location. The EA indicates that the shield blocks were removed from the site under a MADEP Beneficial Use Determination (BUD) arnd used to construct a retaining wall.

Please be advised that the MADEP issued the March 24, 1999 BUD based on information from YAEC that the shield blocks were "clean" and did not contain any radioactive materials. Upon discovering that the shield blocks contained radioactive materials the MADEP issued an Administ:'-ative Order (AO) to YAEC on June 21, 2005 seeking certain information. A copy of this AO was mailed to the NRC and later faxed to a Ms. Claudia Craig of your staff on June 21, 2005.

After a review of more recent pertinent data on the shield blocks the MADEP has determined that the March 24, ,1999 BUD was not the appropriate permit to remove shield blocks from the YNPS. Regulation'310 CMR 19.000 provides no jurisdiction over the removal, transport or disposal of low- level iadioactive'wastes. -Therefore the March 24, 1999 BUD 'apprval should be viewed as providing inadequate legal'authority for the removal of the shield blocks from This Information Isavailable Inalternate format. Call Donald M. Comes, ADA Coordinator at 617-556-1057. TDD Service 800-298-2207.

DEP on the World Wide Web: http://wwv.mass.govldep Printed on Recycled Paper

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YNPS because the original application for the BUD did not provide important information about the radiological condition of the shield blocks.

MADEP requests that Docket No.50-029 incorporate the above information. Since the EA is about a d'sposal site in Vermont, the MADEP has no official comments at this time regarding the draft EA or any related NRC determination. However, MADEP expects that YAEC shall conform to all applicable Massachusetts Law and Regulations if granted approval by the NRC.

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on this matter. If you have any further questions please contact Mr. David Howland of my staff at 413-755-2280.

ince ely, I, ic ael (3grski, Regional Director Cc Mr. Michael Whalen, MADPH Mr. Marvin Rosenstein, USEPA - Region I Mr. Joseph Lynch, YAEC