ML103230236

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NRC Response to Pilgrim Watch Regarding the Pilgrim Tritium Precipitation Theory
ML103230236
Person / Time
Site: Pilgrim
Issue date: 11/19/2010
From: Bill Dean
Region 1 Administrator
To: Lampert M
Pilgrim Watch
Sieller, N
References
Download: ML103230236 (3)


Text

November 19, 2010 Mary Lampert Director, Pilgrim Watch 148 Washington Street Duxbury, MA 02332

Dear Ms. Lampert:

I am writing in response to your letter, dated October 15, 2010, regarding tritium at Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station and the tritium precipitation theory. The letter was sent to me via email and contained, as attachments, an article from The Patriot Ledger, dated October 13, and a letter from David Lochbaum, dated October 15. Mr. Lochbaums letter addressed the same subject as your correspondence, namely, tritium contamination via precipitation. Your letter, which was co-signed by Ms. Rebecca Chin of the Town of Duxbury Nuclear Advisory Committee, questioned the validity of the tritium precipitation theory as it applies to Pilgrim and requested that the NRC issue an order requiring Entergy to reduce power, increase the monitoring of water bodies outside of the owner controlled area, further evaluate the tritium rainfall theory, and perform a subsurface hydro-geologic study for the Pilgrim site.

I am including, as an attachment to this letter, a copy of the response I recently sent to Mr. Lochbaum regarding his October 15 letter. That response should address the majority of your questions relative to the NRCs assessment of tritium precipitation as it applies to Pilgrim.

As the response indicates, neither Entergys current assessment nor the NRCs independent assessment have established a conclusion regarding the source of tritium identified in the groundwater monitoring well at Pilgrim, including tritium precipitation. Based on our review and oversight activities, we have determined that Entergy is appropriately investigating several potential sources by conducting tests of underground structures and components, hydrologic examinations of the area, analyses of ground and surface water samples collected from various locations, and reviews of plant operations and system interactions. All data and information collected to date support our conclusion that public health and safety has not been, nor is expected to be, affected by this on-site groundwater condition.

This matter is also being closely monitored by representatives of the State of Massachusetts, including the Departments of Public Health and Environmental Protection. Entergy continues to work closely with the State of Massachusetts, including providing data and information and splitting samples for independent analysis.

The NRC has determined, based on information and data reviewed to date, that the licensee is in compliance with all offsite release requirements. Entergy has established, implemented, and maintained radiological gaseous and liquid effluent monitoring and control processes, and a radiological environmental monitoring program, as required by NRC regulations. Data collected to date, including sampling of various media such as surface waters, vegetation, fish and invertebrates, and ground waters, continues to demonstrate that public health and safety has not been affected.

M. Lampert 2 After your consideration of the contents of this letter and its attachment, if you wish to move forward with your requests that the NRC require Entergy to reduce power, expand their monitoring of offsite water bodies, and further evaluate radiological monitoring data, please let me know. I will ensure the requests are submitted through the 10 CFR 2.206 process.

The last request in your letter was that the NRC require Entergy to perform an updated subsurface hydro-geologic study and make the results available to the public. You previously raised this request to the NRC through a 10 CFR 2.206 petition that you and Ms. Chin submitted to R. William Borchardt, U.S. NRC Executive Director for Operations, on August 13, 2010.

Accordingly, this request, as well as the November 15 letter you submitted to Chairman Jaczko, is being handled under a separate NRC process. You will be informed of the NRCs determination in accordance with that process.

I appreciate your interest in this matter and hope I have been responsive to your concerns. If you have any further questions, please contact me or Mr. Donald Jackson of my staff at (610) 337-5306.

Sincerely,

/RA/

William M. Dean Regional Administrator

Enclosure:

As Stated

M. Lampert 2 After your consideration of the contents of this letter and its attachment, if you wish to move forward with your requests that the NRC require Entergy to reduce power, expand their monitoring of offsite water bodies, and further evaluate radiological monitoring data, please let me know. I will ensure the requests are submitted through the 10 CFR 2.206 process.

The last request in your letter was that the NRC require Entergy to perform an updated subsurface hydro-geologic study and make the results available to the public. You previously raised this request to the NRC through a 10 CFR 2.206 petition that you and Ms. Chin submitted to R. William Borchardt, U.S. NRC Executive Director for Operations, on August 13, 2010.

Accordingly, this request, as well as the November 15 letter you submitted to Chairman Jaczko, is being handled under a separate NRC process. You will be informed of the NRCs determination in accordance with that process.

I appreciate your interest in this matter and hope I have been responsive to your concerns. If you have any further questions, please contact me or Mr. Donald Jackson of my staff at (610) 337-5306.

Sincerely,

/RA/

William M. Dean Regional Administrator

Enclosure:

As Stated Distribution:

EDATS:Region I-2010-0448 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. ODaniell, ORA N. Sieller, ORA D. Jackson, DRP D. Bearde, DRS SUNSI Review Complete: DJ (Reviewer=s Initials)

DOCUMENT NAME: G:\DRP\BRANCH5\2-PG\Pilgrim Watch Letter rev 3.docx After declaring this document AAn Official Agency Record@ it will be released to the Public.

ADAMS Document Accession No.: ML103230231 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 lhp RI/DRP RI/DRS RI/DRP RI/ORA NAME NSieller/ns

  • DJackson/dj
  • JWhite/jw
  • DLew/dl
  • WDean DATE 11/15/10 11/15/10 11/15/10 11/19/10 11/19/10 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
  • See prior concurrence