ML063240463
| ML063240463 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Harris  |
| Issue date: | 11/27/2006 |
| From: | Mcginty T Plant Licensing Branch III-2 |
| To: | Baker D Orange County, NC, Board of Commissioners |
| Patel Chandu, NRR/DORL 301-415-3025 | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML063310078 | List: |
| References | |
| 2.206 Petition, G20060861, TAC MD3369 | |
| Download: ML063240463 (5) | |
Text
November 27, 2006 Ms. Donna S. Baker Orange County Board of Commissioners Post Office Box 8181 200 South Cameron Street Hillsborough, NC 27278
Dear Ms. Baker:
Your letter dated October 16, 2006, to Luis A. Reyes, Executive Director for Operations for the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), expressed concerns relating to: 1) the adequacy of emergency planning during a radiological emergency, and 2) compliance with the existing federal fire safety standards and regulations at the Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant (SHNP). Specifically, the Orange County Board of Commissioners submitted the following resolutions:
A Resolution Calling for Coordinated Emergency Management and Evacuation Planning Within the 50-Mile Radius Ingestion Pathway for Potential Discharge of Airborne Nuclear Waste Material from the Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant, and A Resolution in Support of an Emergency Petition to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission by the NC Waste Awareness and Reduction Network, the Union of Concerned Scientists, the Nuclear Information and Research Service, NC Fair Share and Students United for a Responsible Global Environment Seeking Regulatory Action by the Commission to Enforce Existing Fire Protection Standards and Regulations Applicable to the Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant.
The following addresses each of these concerns regarding operation of the SHNP.
Resolution Concerning Emergency Preparedness The resolution submitted by the Orange County Board of Commissioners requested that Progress Energy/Carolina Power & Light, the North Carolina Utilities Commission, the Department of Crime Control & Public Safety, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Environmental Protection Agency and others work with the appropriate local, state and federal government transportation planning, law enforcement and emergency management/response agencies and personnel to develop and coordinate emergency management, response and evacuation plans for the entire 50-mile radius surrounding the SHNP.
NRC regulations in Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Sections 50.33(g),
50.47(c), and 50.54(s), and Appendix E to Part 50, specify an emergency planning zone (EPZ)
Ms. D. Baker of about 10 miles in radius for planning to protect the public from airborne exposure (the plume exposure pathway) and an EPZ of about 50 miles in radius for planning for actions to prevent radioactive material from entering the food chain (the ingestion pathway). The size of the EPZs for nuclear power plants represents a judgment, based on consideration of the probabilities and consequences of a spectrum of postulated accidents, and on the extent of detailed planning required to ensure an adequate response to a radiological emergency.
One of the principal bases for the 10-mile EPZ is that detailed planning within 10 miles provides a substantial base for expansion of response efforts beyond 10 miles in the unlikely event that such response efforts prove necessary. The 10-mile planning basis establishes an emergency response infrastructure that includes State and local government emergency management agencies, trained emergency response personnel, communication linkages, alert and warning capabilities, and response facilities and equipment that will be used to protect the public in the EPZ and beyond in the event of a radiological emergency.
Instances where the EPZ is expanded or contracted are rare and are carefully evaluated by emergency preparedness experts at the NRC and DHS before they are approved. In general, however, it is not prudent or necessary to expand the 10-mile EPZ. Such an expansion could add significant burden to affected parties with limited additional benefit. Furthermore, response resources would be spread over a larger area and may put people nearer to the site at greater risk by diverting those resources. In the absence of a technical rationale to the contrary, the NRC considers that the planning bases for the 10 and 50-mile EPZs are adequate.
In April 1989, the emergency plans for the State of North Carolina and affected local jurisdictions were specifically reviewed and found to be adequate. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (now part of DHS) determined there was reasonable assurance that the plans could be implemented. Additionally, based on the results of an exercise of the offsite radiological emergency response plans for the SHNP conducted on April 5, 2005, no Deficiencies or Areas Requiring Corrective Action were identified by DHS.
Based on this information, the NRC continues to find that there is reasonable assurance that adequate protective measures can and will be taken in the event of a radiological emergency associated with the SHNP. Therefore, should the Orange County Board of Commissioners choose to formally pursue expansion of the 10-mile EPZ, it would need to work through appropriate State and local agencies to develop proposed changes to the existing plans.
Resolution Concerning Fire Protection Issues The resolution submitted by the Orange County Board of Commissioners supported the petition of the NC Waste Awareness and Reduction Network, the Union of Concerned Scientists, the Nuclear Information and Research Service, the NC Fair Share and Students United for a Responsible Global Environment (i.e., the petitioners) to the NRC asking that the NRC compel Progress Energy/Carolina Power & Light to immediately bring the SHNP into compliance with the existing fire safety standards and regulations applicable to nuclear power plants.
The NRC plans to include you on distribution for related NRC correspondence with the petitioners concerning their request. The NRC received similar resolutions from the townships of Chapel Hill and Carrboro and plans to treat them similarly.
Ms. D. Baker If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Mr. Chandu Patel, of my staff, at (301) 415-3025.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Timothy J. McGinty, Deputy Director Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-400 cc: See next page
ML063240463 Package: ML063310078 Incoming: ML062970234 OFFICE LPL2-2/PM LPL2-2/LA LPL2-2/(A)BC NSIR/DPR/DD OGC DORL/DD NAME CPatel RSola DPickett NMamish HBenowitz TMcGinty DATE 11/21/06 11/21/06 11/21/06 11/21/06 11 /21/ 06 11/27/06
cc:
Mr. Cornelius J. Gannon, Vice President Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant Carolina Power & Light Company Post Office Box 165, Mail Code: Zone 1 New Hill, North Carolina 27562-0165 David T. Conley Associate General Counsel II -
Legal Department Progress Energy Service Company, LLC Post Office Box 1551 Raleigh, North Carolina 27602-1551 Resident Inspector/ Harris NPS c/o U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 5421 Shearon Harris Road New Hill, North Carolina 27562-9998 Ms. Margaret A. Force Assistant Attorney General State of North Carolina Post Office Box 629 Raleigh, North Carolina 27602 Public Service Commission State of South Carolina Post Office Drawer 11649 Columbia, South Carolina 29211 Ms. Beverly Hall, Section Chief Division of Radiation Protection N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources 3825 Barrett Drive Raleigh, North Carolina 27609-7721 Mr. Chris L. Burton Manager Performance Evaluation and Regulatory Affairs PEB 7 Progress Energy Post Office Box 1551 Raleigh, North Carolina 27602-1551 Mr. Eric McCartney Plant General Manager Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant Carolina Power & Light Company P. O. Box 165, Mail Zone 3 New Hill, North Carolina 27562-0165 Mr. Robert J. Duncan II Director of Site Operations Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant Carolina Power & Light Company Post Office Box 165, Mail Zone 1 New Hill, North Carolina 27562-0165 Mr. Robert P. Gruber Executive Director Public Staff NCUC 4326 Mail Service Center Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-4326 Chairman of the North Carolina Utilities Commission Post Office Box 29510 Raleigh, North Carolina 27626-0510 Mr. Herb Council, Chair Board of County Commissioners of Wake County P. O. Box 550 Raleigh, North Carolina 27602 Mr. Tommy Emerson, Chair Board of County Commissioners of Chatham County P. O. Box 87 Pittsboro, North Carolina 27312 Mr. Christos Kamilaris, Manager Support Services Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant Carolina Power & Light Company P. O. Box 165, Mail Zone 1 New Hill, North Carolina 27562-0165 Mr. David H. Corlett, Supervisor Licensing/Regulatory Programs Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant Carolina Power & Light Company P. O. Box 165, Mail Zone 1 New Hill, NC 27562-0165 Mr. John H. ONeill, Jr.
Shaw, Pittman, Potts & Trowbridge 2300 N Street, NW.
Washington, DC 20037-1128