ML091630305

NRC Response to Letter from Alison Klein Regarding Indian Point

ML091630305
Person / Time
Site:	Indian Point
Issue date:	06/12/2009
From:	Barkley R NRC Region 1
To:	Klein A - No Known Affiliation
Barkley R
References
Download: ML091630305 (4)

Text

June 12, 2009 Miss Alison Klein 346 East 20th Street, Apartment #8 New York, New York 10003

Dear Miss Klein:

I am responding to a letter you wrote to Mel Gray of this office on May 18th. The letter was sent to our Washington office and took some time to get routed to the office where Mr. Gray and I work, which is just outside Philadelphia. I handle technical communications for our office and reply back to concerned citizens, local officials, and members of Congress who write to us with nuclear safety questions and concerns. To date, you are my youngest author - I am pleased to see you are taking such an interest in matters involving your government at such a young age!

In your letter, you expressed a concern about a recent piping leak at Indian Point. This piping leak occurred from a small hole that rusted through a pipe buried seven (7) feet underground; thus the condition of the pipe was not visible to Mr. Grays inspectors. Once Entergy identified tell-tale signs of leakage, the pipe was promptly dug up and the corroded section replaced in a few days. The pipe which corroded did not perform a nuclear safety function. Most nuclear power plant piping, particularly that which performs a nuclear safety function, runs above ground through buildings and thus is visible and accessible to our inspectors and the Indian Point staff.

As for the safety of nuclear power plants, I urge you to learn more about the matter by visiting the NRCs website at www.nrc.gov. It contains a lot of information about nuclear power plant design, reactor safety features, nuclear security, emergency preparedness, the nuclear fuel cycle, and radioactive waste disposal. Check out the icon marked, For Students & Teachers.

I urge you to learn more about this energy source, as well as the many other alternative energy technologies which do not burn fossil fuels, in school science class in the coming years.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission was established by Congress to enable the safe use of nuclear materials for the publics benefit. These uses not only include the production of electricity, but also its use in nuclear medicine, research, and other industrial processes. Many people (such as you) have very strong opinions for and against the use of nuclear power for electricity production, although I have yet to meet anyone in my 25 year career who strongly opposed the use of nuclear materials for medical tests and radiation therapy for cancer treatment. However, my role, and the mission of the NRC, is not to promote the use of nuclear materials, but rather ensure it is used in a manner that protects public health and safety.

If you have any other questions or concerns, or need any help on a future science paper involving nuclear energy, feel free to give me a call at (610) 337-5065.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Richard S. Barkley, PE Technical Communications Assistant

June 12, 2009 Miss Alison Klein 346 East 20th Street, Apartment #8 New York, New York 10003

Dear Miss Klein:

I am responding to a letter you wrote to Mel Gray of this office on May 18th. The letter was sent to our Washington office and took some time to get routed to the office where Mr. Gray and I work, which is just outside Philadelphia. I handle technical communications for our office and reply back to concerned citizens, local officials, and members of Congress who write to us with nuclear safety questions and concerns. To date, you are my youngest author - I am pleased to see you are taking such an interest in matters involving your government at such a young age!

In your letter, you expressed a concern about a recent piping leak at Indian Point. This piping leak occurred from a small hole that rusted through a pipe buried seven (7) feet underground; thus the condition of the pipe was not visible to Mr. Grays inspectors. Once Entergy identified tell-tale signs of leakage, the pipe was promptly dug up and the corroded section replaced in a few days. The pipe which corroded did not perform a nuclear safety function. Most nuclear power plant piping, particularly that which performs a nuclear safety function, runs above ground through buildings and thus is visible and accessible to our inspectors and the Indian Point staff.

As for the safety of nuclear power plants, I urge you to learn more about the matter by visiting the NRCs website at www.nrc.gov. It contains a lot of information about nuclear power plant design, reactor safety features, nuclear security, emergency preparedness, the nuclear fuel cycle, and radioactive waste disposal. Check out the icon marked, For Students & Teachers.

I urge you to learn more about this energy source, as well as the many other alternative energy technologies which do not burn fossil fuels, in school science class in the coming years.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission was established by Congress to enable the safe use of nuclear materials for the publics benefit. These uses not only include the production of electricity, but also use in nuclear medicine, research, and other industrial processes. Many people (such as you) have very strong opinions for and against the use of nuclear power for electricity production, although I have yet to meet anyone in my 25 year career who strongly opposed the use of nuclear materials for medical tests and radiation therapy for cancer treatment. However, my role, and the mission of the NRC, is not to promote the use of nuclear materials, but rather ensure it is used in a manner that protects public health and safety.

If you have any other questions or concerns, or need any help on a future science paper involving nuclear energy, feel free to give me a call at (610) 337-5065.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Richard S. Barkley, PE Technical Communications Assistant SUNSI Review Complete: RSB (Reviewer=s Initials)

DOCUMENT NAME: G:\ORA\Barkley\Letter to Miss Alison Klein.doc After declaring this document AAn Official Agency Record@ it will be released to the Public.

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