ML17138B714
| ML17138B714 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Susquehanna  |
| Issue date: | 01/08/1981 |
| From: | Gears G Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML17138B712 | List: |
| References | |
| ISSUANCES-OL, NUDOCS 8101140028 | |
| Download: ML17138B714 (10) | |
Text
UNITED STATES OF AYERICA t<UCLEAR REGULATORY COf'l'ISSIO BEFOPE TH= ATO!':C SAFETY AtiD LICEtiSIti"- BOA."..:
In the Yiatter of PEN'iSYLVANIA PO'~'ER 8 LIGHT COYi?Ati"Y AtiD ALt EGHEtiY ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES It"C.
(Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, Units 1
and 2)
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)
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Docket ti==-. 50-:-". C.L.
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50-388 O.L.
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AFFIDAVIT OF GERALD GEARS I, Gerald Gears~
being duly sworn, dispose and state:
Q:
By whom are you employed, and describe the work you perform?
A:
I am employed by the Environmental Engineering Branch, Division of Engineering, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation~
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
A summary of my professional qualifications and experience was attached to my affidavit dated November 25~ 1980, which accompanied "NRC Staff Answer in Support of Applicants'otion for Partial Summary Disposition of Contention 17 (Ozone)."
Q:
Have you read the "Applicants'otion for Partial Summary Disposition of Contention 17"~ filed December 5, 1980~
and the documents attached thereto, including the affidavit of Robert F.
Lehman'?
A:
Yes.
Q:
l'ould you describe the scope of the subject matter aadressed in your affidavit?
A:
I have been asked to evaluate the following issues, addressed in the Applicants'tatement of Naterial Facts, December 5~ 1980, at the noted paragraphs:
radio and television interference (para.
15 through 18);
shock from fLashover (para.
19 through 23);.magnetic field* effects on human health (para.
28);
and eLectric field effects*
on human health (para.
29 through 33).
Q:
Do you find reason to disagree with any of the Applicants'tatements concerning the above"mentioned issues' A:
Yes.
Applicants'aragraphs 29 through 33 indicate that there wi LL be no measurable effect on the heaLth of the public from electric fieLds generated by the Susquehanna extra high voltage transmission Lines.
Electric fields from EHV transmission lines cause currents to fLow and voltages to be developed within persons, animals and plants.
The possible biologicaL effects of these induced currents and voltages is a very controversiaL aspect of the interaction of EHV fields with Life forms.
The experimentaL Transmission Lines produce both electric and magnetic fields.
Contention 17~
among other things, states that 500 kV transmission lines "...create strong electrostatic and electromagnetic fields that adversely affect Living organisms..."
The Staff's use of the term, electric field,'orresponds to the term, electrostatic field, used in Contention 17.
In a similar manner/
the Staff's use of the term, magnetic fieLd, corresponds to the term, e Lect romagneti c fi e Ld, in Contention 17.
procedures necessary to adequately estabLish the infLuence of such fields on Life forms are highLy complex Various experiments have provided 1
preliminary evidence that some biologicaL subjects may sense, or respond to eLectric fields In some
- cases, response was obtained at quite Low 3
field Levels similar to those found in the vicinity of transmission Lines These preliminary indications of response in test animals are indicative of interaction of the fields with centraL nervous system functions or manifestations of chronic stimulation There is strong disagreement
~
3 among researchers in this area as to the significance of these responses.
Q:
Would you next evaluate Applicants'tatement of Material Facts concerning radio and television interferences, shock from flashover, and magnetic fields?
A:
A.
Radio and Television Interference Applicants'tatement of Material Facts indicates that radio interference from the Susquehanna River wi Ll be experienced by only a few Listeners (para.
17) and that there is not expected to be any noticeable teLevision interference (para.
18).
As explained in more detaiL at page 2 of my affidavit filed November 25, 1980, and at page 2 of my affidavit filed December 15, 1980~
corona discharges W
occur at the surface of the conductors (wires) when the electric field strength intensity exceeds the breakdown strength of air.
There is an
increased corona discharge at the Location of surface irregularities as corparec to the smooth cond-'ctor sur face.
I'hen t.",is occurs'he surroundin-".
air is ionized.
This results in the foLlowing effects:
(<)
Audible noise (refer to Affidavit o-John C. Lehr, filed January 9~ 1981; (2)
Production of Ozone (Affidavits of Gerald Gears, filed November 25, 1980 and December 15, 1980);
and (3)
Radio and teLevision interference which can disrupt AYi radio and television reception.
In certain Locations, under foul weather conditions, AN radio or television interference may become apparent due to operation of the Susquehanna 500 kV Lines.
I conclude, however, that although degradation of AN radio and television reception may occur, the overaLL impact on radio and television reception resuLting from operation of the Susquehanna 500 kV Lines will be negligible because of the Location of these Lines in very sparsely 4,5 populated rural areas '
B.
Shock from FLashovers Applicants'tatement of Naterial Facts concerning shock from flashover (para.
19-23) concludes that the risk of injury to the public from fLashovers from the Susquehanna Lines is negligible.
Flashovers are electricaL discharges occurring around the edge or over the surfaces of a transmission system's insulators.
These disruptive electricaL
discharges at the surface of an insulator or in the surrounding air may cause permanent damage to the insulator.
Therefore, as indicated at page 3 of my Affidavit of December 15, 1980, transmission systems are designed to reduce the probabiLity of fLashovers.
Since the Susquehanna 500 kV Lines undergoing flashovers will be de-energized instantaneously by circuit breakers, I conclude that this design feature aLone makes it highly improbable that a person would experience any adverse heaLth effects (i.e.,
a serious shock) from a fLashover.
Thus, the Staff concludes that the possibi lity of eLectricaL shock from flashover does not pose a significant threat to persons in the vicinity of the transmission lines.
C.
Human Health Effects of Magneti c FieLds Applicants'tatement of Naterial Facts concerning magnetic fields (para.
28) concludes that magnetic flux densities set up by the Susquehanna Lines have been demonstrated to produce no identifiable health effects on humans.
Current fLow in a conductor gives rise to a surrounding magnetic force field.
Nagnetic field strength is described in terms of flux density~ usually t
expressed in units of gauss (G).
Transmission Line magnetic fields are Low.
Extra high voltage (EHV) systems similar to the Susquehanna 500 kV 6
Lines produce a magnetic field at ground Level of 0.3 G or Less Recommended exposure standards are two to three orders of magnitude (100 7
to 1000 times) greater Based upon the extremely Low magnetic fields generated by operating EHV systems in comparison to recommended exposure
standards, I conclude that the magnetic fieLds produced by the Susquehanna l in:- v l nc case a verse bi 0 o.
-='.
e e ts ~
I hereby certify that the above statements are true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief.
G r Ld.E. Gears
"-ubscribed and sworn to before me this 8th day of January, 1981
~7~~
hotary Puo:pc QV, COL1YillSSION EXPIRES JUIXl'
U.S.
Deportment of Energy.
Potential Environmental Effects of 765 kV Transmission Lines:, Views Before the N-w York S-e P b r
- ate ublic Service Commi. io-Cases 2652>
and 26559 1976-1978 DO /"V-00",
c c - 0)6, November 1979.
h
~
U.S.
Deparzment of Energy.
Biolooical Effect f
H h
ec s
o ig Strength Electric Fields on Small Laboratory Animals.
DOE/TIC-10084.
December 1979.
3.
Biological Effects from Electric Fields Associated with High Voltago Transmi ssi on Lines-Project Resumes.
U.S.
Department of Energy~
Offi ce of Electric Energy Systems Contractors Review.
(A. 0. Bulawka).
November 18"19~ 1980 4.
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Draft Environmental Statement Susquehanna Steam E lect ri c Stati on Uni ts 1
a d 2 J
an
~
June 1979.
Appendix B.
5.
Susquehanna Steam Electric Station.
Appl' pp icants Environmental
- Report, "Amendment No. 5"~ July 1976.
6.
U.S.
E v n ironmental Protection Agency Evaluation of H
l h d
ea t an Envi ronmental Effects of Extra High Voltage (EHV) Transmiss'IT ion.
Research Institute~
Chicago, Ill.
February 1979.
7.
A. R. Sheppard and N. Eisenbud.
Biological Effects of Electric and Nagnetic Fields of Extremely Low Frequency (Table 8-$ )
N Y
k ew or University Press.
1977.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION BEFORE THE ATOMIC SAFETY AND LICENSING BOARD In the i)atter of PENNSYLVANIA POWER AND LIGHT CO.
)
ALLEGHENY ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC.
)
)
(Susquehanna Steam Electric Station,
)
Units 1 and 2)
)
Docket Nos.
50-387 50-388 CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I hereby certify that copies of, "NRC STAFF
RESPONSE
SUPPORTING IN PART AND OPPOSING IN PART APPLICANTS'OTION FOR PARTIAL
SUMMARY
DISPOSITION OF CONTENTION 17,"
dated January 9, 1981, in the above-captioned proceeding, has been served on the following by deposit in the United States mail, first class, or, as indicated by an asterisk, through deposit in the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's internal mail system, this 9th day of January, 1981:
- Charles Bechhoefer, Esq.,
- Chairman, Administrative Judge Atomic Safety and Licensing Board U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C.
20555 "Mr. Glenn 0. Bright, Administrative Judge Atomic Safety and Licensing Board U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C.
20555
- Dr. Oscar H. Paris, Administrative Judge Atomic Safety and Licensing Board U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C.
20555 Jay Silberg, Esq.
Shaw, Pittman, Potts and Trowbridge 1800 M Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C.
20036 Bryan A. Snapp, Esq.
Pennsylvania Power 8 Light Company Two North Ninth Street Allentown, Pennsylvania 18101 Dr. Judith H. Johnsrud Co-Director Environmental Coalition on Nuclear Power 433 Orlando Avenue State College, Pennsylvania 16801 Mr. Thomas M. Gerusky, Director Bureau of Radiation Protection Department of Environmental Resources Commonwealth of Pennsylvania P. 0.
Box 2063 Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17120 Ms. Colleen Marsh Box 538A, RDb4 Mountain Top, Pennsylvania 17120 Mrs. Irene Lemanowicz, Chairperson The Citizens Against Nuclear Dangers P. 0.
Box 37?
RD81 Berwick, Pennsylvania 18503
- Richard S.
- Salzman, Esq.,
- Chairman, Administrative Judge Atomic Safety and Licensing Appeal Board U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C.
20555
- Dr. John H. Buck, Administrative Judge Atomic=Safety and Licensing Appeal Board U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C.
20555
- Mr. Thomas S. Moore, Administrative Judge Atomic Safety and Licensing Appeal Board U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C.
20555
+Atomic Safety
& Licensing Board Panel U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C.
20555
+Atomic Safety
& Licensing Appeal Board Panel U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C.
20555
- Secretary U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ATTN:
Chief, Docketing
& Service Branch Washington, D.C.
20555 Susquehanna Environmental Advocates c/o Gerald Schultz, Esq.
P.O.
Box 1560 Wilkes-Barre, PA 18703 Mr. Robert M. Gallo Resident Inspector P.O.
Box 52 Shickshinny, Pennsylvania 18655 Robert W. Adler Dept. of Environmental Resources 505 Executive House P.O.
Box 2357 Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17120 essica H. Laverty Counsel for NRC Staff