ML071570156
| ML071570156 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Indian Point  |
| Issue date: | 05/24/2007 |
| From: | Gruskin S State of NY, Dept of Environmental Conservation |
| To: | Dacimo F, Klein D Entergy Nuclear Operations, NRC/Chairman |
| Shared Package | |
| ML071710613 | List: |
| References | |
| FOIA/PA-2007-0324, G20070402, LTR-07-0393 | |
| Download: ML071570156 (5) | |
Text
EDO Principal Correspondence Control FROM:
DUE: 06/27/07 EDO CONTROL: G20070402 DOC DT: 05/24/07 FINAL REPLY:
Stuart Gruskin New York State Department of Enviornmental Conservation TO:
Fred Dacimo FOR SIGNATURE OF :
GRN CRCNO: 07-0393 Dyer, NRR DESC:
ROUTING:
Concerns Reading of Tritium Concentrations at Indian Point DATE: 06/05/07 Reyes Virgilio Kane Ash Ordaz Burns/Cyr
- Collins, RI Fields, OEDO ASSIGNED TO:
NRR CONTACT:
Dyer SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR REMARKS:
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY CORRESPONDENCE CONTROL TICKET Date Printed: Jun 05, 2007 10:51 PAPER NUMBER:
ACTION OFFICE:
LTR-07-0393 EDO LOGGING DATE: 06/05/2007 AUTHOR:
AFFILIATION:
ADDRESSEE:
SUBJECT:
ACTION:
DISTRIBUTION:
LETTER DATE:
ACKNOWLEDGED SPECIAL HANDLING:
Mr. Stuart Gruskin NY Mr. Fred Dacimo Concerns reading of tritium concentrations at Indian Point Direct Reply RF, SECY to Ack.
05/24/2007 No Immediate release to the public via SECY/EDO/DPC NOTES:
FILE LOCATION:
ADAIVMS 06/27/2007 DATE DUE:
DATE SIGNED:
'EDO
-- G2007 0 4 0 2
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Cfficed"f the Executive Deputy Commissioner, 1 4 th Floor 625 Broadway, Albany, New York 12233-1010 Phone: (518) 402-8560
- FAX: (518) 402-9016 Im Website www.dec.ny.gov Alexander B. Grannis Commissioner MAY 2 4 2007 Mr. Fred R. Dacimo Site Vice President Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.
Indian Point Energy Center 450 Broadway, GSB P.O. Box 249 Buchanan, NY 10511-0249 Re:
Indian Point Energy Center, Buchanan, New York
Dear Mr. Dacimo:
I have recently been advised by staff of the New York'State Department of Environmental Conser'ýation (Department) of elevated concentrations of tritium detected in the Indian Point sewer system. Readings made available on.May 8, 2007 show that tritium concentrations had, in fact, doubled since the site's sewer system came under scrutiny in October 2006. before resuming previously detected concentrations. As you know', the site's seWer system discharges directly to the Village of Buchanan sewers and thus to their waste water treatment plant. Without being able to identify the source(s)! of these higher concentrations there is no assurance that an increase in concentrations will not reoccur.
The Department is greatly concerned that migration of tritium through the groundwater at Indian Point will continue to result in detection of radiological contaminants in unexpected places. Although at present these readings do not exceed regulatory stanidards, the source of the tritium detected in Indian Point's sewer system has not been confirmed., The pathways are.*
clearly not under Entergy's control, and the Department's concern is that additional pathways may be identified and that present concentrations of tritium will increase. The sewer intrusion therefore warrants an aggressive, thorough examination of area hydrogeology relative to the sewer system, as well as the integrity of the sewer system itself.
In the interest of protecting the public health *and the environment, the Department requests that Entergy immediately expand and'intensify its ongoing investigatory efforts to.
identify and remedy the source of the tritium detected in the sewer, system. Currently, the Village of Buchainan's waste water treatment system is not required to monitor for thepresence of radionuclides. The Department also urges that Entergy immediately undertake a
11 program for additional monitoring to locate the source of trifium in the sewer and strongly supports the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's ("NRC") recommendation that you add strontium to the list of radionuclides sampled from the Indian Point sewer.
Entergy's continuing investigation of tritium and strontium in on-site groundwater monitoring wells, conducted to trace leaks associated with two of Indian Point's spent fuel storage pools, has produced a body of information regarding on-site groundwater characteristics that may be useful in detecting and ultimately remedying the source of the tritium readings found in the sewer system. Because tritium (already detected in the groundwater) may be migrating into Indian Point's sewer system, and thus also leaving the Indian Point property, Entergy's overall investigatory efforts must now be redoubled in order to focus on rapidly identifying appropriate responsive measures to ensure that the Buchanan waste water treatment system is not adversely impacted.
By copy of this letter, I am asking the NRC to ensure that the source(s) of the tritium contamination be identified, and to take all necessary action to protect the adjacent community and natural resources.
While I appreciate that Entergy has worked cooperatively with Department staff and others on the groundwater characterization and sampling efforts, this most recent event illustrates the need for a greater level of attention to the possibility of intrusion of radioactive material into the sewer system. We will be carefully monitoring this situation, particularly with respect to the impacts within this Department's jurisdiction, on a going-forward basis.
Sincerely, Stuart F. Gru's-in Executive Deputy Commissioner cc.:
NRC Chairman, Hon. Dale E. Klein V/
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00-00-30 New York State Department of Environmental Conservation MO625 Broadway Albany NY 12233 15L RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED t
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Honorable Dale E. Klein Chairman, Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555