ML103130324
| ML103130324 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Pilgrim |
| Issue date: | 11/08/2010 |
| From: | Bill Dean Region 1 Administrator |
| To: | Lochbaum D - No Known Affiliation |
| Sieller, N | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML103130321 | List: |
| References | |
| EDATS:RegionI-2010-0431 | |
| Download: ML103130324 (4) | |
Text
November 8, 2010 David A. Lochbaum Director, Nuclear Safety Project PO Box 15316 Chattanooga, TN 37415
Dear Mr. Lochbaum:
I am responding to your letter dated October 15, 2010, in which you made reference to an article that appeared in The Patriot-Ledger, of Quincy, Mass., on October 13, 2010. In that article Mr. Neil Sheehan, of our Public Affairs staff, described NRCs current assessment of Entergys efforts to determine the source of tritiated water sampled from an on-site groundwater monitoring well at Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station. The well has exhibited varied concentrations of tritium ranging from about 1,800 to 25,000 pCi/l since it was first sampled in July 2010.
In cooperation with the NRC, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection have been closely following Entergys investigation efforts since July 2010, and have conducted on-site reviews and independent assessments and analyses. Both the NRC and the State of Massachusetts have reviewed Entergys efforts, including tests, examinations, and analyses of various systems, to determine the source of the tritium. The NRC has confirmed that Entergy continues to be actively engaged in investigating the nature and source of this on-site groundwater contamination. Based on information reviewed to date, the NRC has determined that public health and safety has not been affected by this on-site condition, and plant-related radioactivity has not been detected in any off-site sampling location.
In response to a question relative to potential sources of the tritiated water, Mr. Sheehan indicated that several theories were being explored by the licensee, including precipitation of condensed moisture from normal gaseous releases. These tritium-containing releases could collect on surfaces, such as roofs, and subsequently be washed out through roof drains by rain.
Mr. Sheehan indicated that this was one possible explanation being explored by the licensee for the source of tritiated water. Mr. Sheehan was in no way indicating that this was the NRCs or the licensees conclusion as to the source or cause. He was only indicating that this was one of several potential scenarios being evaluated for its plausibility.
Entergy routinely monitors 18 on-site groundwater monitoring wells and several off-site environmental monitoring locations at Pilgrim. Additionally, the licensee recently conducted sampling and analysis of rain water collected from various roof drains to explore the theory that rain may be washing deposited activity, such as tritium, from building roof surfaces into storm drains and catch basins. Entergy determined that the data, to date, does not support that theory. However, given that they have not completed their analysis, this potential cause has not yet been completely eliminated. The licensee is continuing efforts to collect hydrological data, analyze information from groundwater monitoring wells and environmental samples, and
D. Lochbaum 2
conduct further testing and analysis to determine the cause and resolve this condition. The NRC continues to independently review the licensees efforts to determine the source of the tritium detected in the groundwater monitoring well.
Although Entergys current assessment and the NRCs independent assessment is that tritium precipitation may not be the source of the tritium contamination at Pilgrim, tritium deposition due to gaseous releases from nuclear facilities (sometimes referred to as rainout or washout) has long been recognized as a potential source of tritiated water and is well documented in various technical literature. I have enclosed some on-line links for your information, many of which I am sure you have already reviewed. Additionally, the NRC has discussed some aspects of this matter in Regulatory Issue Summary 2008-03, Return/Re-Use of Previously Discharged Radioactive Effluents, which can be found in ADAMS at accession number ML072120368.
I appreciate your interest in this matter and hope this information is helpful.
Sincerely,
/RA/
William M. Dean Regional Administrator Region I
Enclosure:
As Stated
D. Lochbaum 2
Enclosure conduct further testing and analysis to determine the cause and resolve this condition. The NRC continues to independently review the licensees efforts to determine the source of the tritium detected in the groundwater monitoring well.
Although Entergys current assessment and the NRCs independent assessment is that tritium precipitation may not be the source of the tritium contamination at Pilgrim, tritium deposition due to gaseous releases from nuclear facilities (sometimes referred to as rainout or washout) has long been recognized as a potential source of tritiated water and is well documented in various technical literature. I have enclosed some on-line links for your information, many of which I am sure you have already reviewed. Additionally, the NRC has discussed some aspects of this matter in Regulatory Issue Summary 2008-03, Return/Re-Use of Previously Discharged Radioactive Effluents, which can be found in ADAMS at accession number ML072120368.
I appreciate your interest in this matter and hope this information is helpful.
Sincerely,
/RA/
William M. Dean Regional Administrator Region I
Enclosure:
As Stated Distribution:
EDATS:Region I-20100431 W. Dean, RA D. Roberts, DRS D. Lew, DRP D. Screnci, PAO M. Dapas, DRA P. Wilson, DRS J. Clifford, DRP N. Sheehan, PAO R. Barkley, ORA J. White, DRS T. Setzer, DRP C. ODaniel, ORA N. Sieller, ORA D. Jackson, DRP D. Bearde, DRS U. Shoop, NRR/DIRS SUNSI Review Complete: jrw* (Reviewer=s Initials)
DOC.: G:\\ORA\\Barkley\\Lochbaum Letter w-Attachments\\UCS Response on Pilgrim Tritium rev1 11-01-2010.docx After declaring this document AAn Official Agency Record@ it will be released to the Public.
To receive a copy of this document, indicate in the box: "C" = Copy without attachment/enclosure "E" = Copy with attachment/enclosure "N" = No copy OFFICE RI/ORA KAH/DXB RI/DRS RI/DRP RI/DRS NRR\\DIRS NAME NSieller/NS*
JWhite/jrw*
DJackson/dej*
DRoberts/djr*
MCheok/via email*
DATE 11/02/2010 11/02/2010 11/02/10 11/03/10 11/04/10 OFFICE RI/ORA NAME WDean/
DATE 11/08 /10
- See Previous Concurrence Page OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
Enclosure On-Line References Regarding Tritium Releases from Nuclear Power Plants The Significance of Tritium Releases to the Environment http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?arnumber=04326482 The Distribution of Radioactive (3H, 14C) and Stable (2H, 18O) Isotopes in Precipitation, Surface and Groundwaters of NW Yugoslavia http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6VB2-5167DY7-2&_user=5250395&_coverDate=10%2F08%2F2010&_rdoc=1&_fmt=high&_orig=search&_origi n=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_searchStrId=1519487699&_rerunOrigin=google&_a cct=C000066197&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=5250395&md5=546a7c03a4a859891e5 4154e78a45737&searchtype=a TAM-E.3 08:45 Tritium Recapture Due to Rain and Snow at a Nuclear Power Plant http://hpschapters.org/2010AM/program/singlesession.php3?sessid=TAM-E Monitoring of atmospheric 3H around Kakrapar Atomic Power Station http://www.springerlink.com/content/n6v1874441731136/
Public Health Goals for Chemicals in Drinking Water - Tritium http://oehha.ca.gov/water/phg/pdf/phgtritium030306.pdf Tritium in the Atmospheric Environment http://wwwsoc.nii.ac.jp/jnrs/paper/JN82/jn8217.pdf Report and Advice on the Ontario Drinking Water Quality Standard for Tritium http://www.odwac.gov.on.ca/standards_review/tritium/tritium.htm Tritium Recapture Behavior At A Nuclear Power Reactor Due To Airborne Releases http://journals.lww.com/health-physics/pages/articleviewer.aspx?year=2008&issue=08000&article=00003&type=abstract