ML17332A401

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Environ Assessment & Finding of No Significant Impact Re Util Request for Approval for Disposal of Licensed Matl Per 10CFR20,section 302
ML17332A401
Person / Time
Site: Cook  American Electric Power icon.png
Issue date: 10/24/1994
From: John Hickman
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:
Shared Package
ML17332A398 List:
References
NUDOCS 9411180069
Download: ML17332A401 (6)


Text

7590-01 UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION INDIANA MICHIGAN POWER COMPANY DONALD C.

COOK NUCLEAR POWER P ANT UNITS ND 2 DOCKET NOS. 50-315 AN 50-316 NVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND F ND NG OF NO SIGNIFICANT MPACT The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (the Commission) is considering the approval of the licensee's request to leave approximately 942 cubic meters of slightly contaminated sludge in place underneath the upper parking lot on the D.

C.

Cook site.

This was proposed by Indiana Michigan Power Company (the licensee) for the D.

C.

Cook Plant, located in Berrien County, Michigan.

ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Identification of Pro osed Action:

The proposed action by the NRC would approve the disposal of contaminated sludge by leaving it in place at the facility, as proposed by the licensee's request dated October 9,

1991, as supplemented October 23,
1991, September 3,
1993, and September 29, 1993.

The request for approval is submitted pursuant to 10 CFR 20.2002.

The total volume of contaminated sludge is estimated to be 942 cubic meters.

The Need for the Pro osed Action:

In 1982, approximately 942 cubic meters of slightly contaminated sludge were removed from the turbine room sump absorption pond and pumped to the upper parking lot located within the exclusion area of the D. C.

Cook plant.

The contaminated sludge was spread over an area approximately 4.7 acres.

The sludge contains a total radionuclide inventory of 8.86 9'4iii800b9 94iii0

+1 PDR ADOCK 050003i5, P

PDR~

millicuries (mCi) of Cesium-137, Cesium-136, Cesium-134, Cobalt-60, and Iodine-131.

nvironmental Im acts of the Pro osed Act o The licensee in 1982 evaluated the following potential exposure pathways to members of the general public from the radionuclides in the sludge:

(1) external exposure caused by groundshine from the disposal

site, (2) internal exposure caused by inhalation of resuspended radionuclide, and (3) internal exposure from ingesting ground water.

The staff has reviewed the licensee's calculational methods and assumptions and finds that they are consistent with NUREG-1101, "Onsite Disposal of Radioactive Waste,"

Volumes 1

and 2, November 1986 and February

1987, respectively.

The staff finds the assessment methodology acceptable.

The table below lists the doses calculated by the licensee for the maximally exposed member of the public based on a total activity of 8.89 mCi disposed in that year.

~Pathwa Whole Bod Dose Received b

Maximall Ex osed Individual mrem r

Groundshine Inhalation Groundwater, Ingestion 0.94 0.94 0.73 Total

2. 61 For perspective, the radiation from the naturally occurring radionuclides in soils and rocks plus cosmic radiation gives a person in Michigan a whole-body dose rate of about 89 mrem per year outdoors, which may be altered as much as 20 mrem per year by the type of construction of

~'

the person's residence (e.g.,

wood frame or brick) and the amount of time spent in it.

On July 5, 1991, the licensee re-sampled the onsite disposal area to assure that no significant impacts and adverse effects had occurred.

A counting procedure based on the appropriate environmental low limit detection was used by the licensee;

however, no activity above background was detected during the re-sampling.

The 1991 re-sampling process used by the licensee confirms that the envir'onmental impact of the 1982 disposal was very small.

The staff finds the licensee's methodology acceptable.

The staff has evaluated the impacts of leaving the contaminated sludge in place, and finds that the potential environmental impacts are insignificant.

With regard to the nonradiological

impacts, the staff has determined that leaving the soil in place has the smallest impact when compared to the principal alternatives discussed below.

Alternatives to the Pro osed Action:

The principal alternative to leaving the contaminated sludge in place would be to dig it up, package it in 55-gallon drums or other suitable containers, and ship it to a disposal facility licensed to dispose of low-level radioactive waste.

This would be costly, requiring, for example, the removal of the parking surface over the disposal

area, and would not provide environmental benefits in that no measurable radioactivity has been detected from the material.

On the basis of the above analysis and evaluations and after weighing the environmental, technical, and other benefits against the environmental

costs, the staff concludes that the action called for under NEPA and 10 CFR Part 51 is the issuance of an

'I approval of the proposed waste disposal.

Alternative Use of Resources:

The principal result of this action does involve the use of resources beyond the scope anticipated in the Environmental Impact Statement issued August 1973, for normal plant operations; however, this additional use of land is not significant, as the area involved is located underneath the upper parking lot.

This action involves no other critical materials or resources.

A encies and Persons Consulted:

The staff consulted with the State of Michigan regarding the environmental impact of the proposed action.

The State had no comments.

FINDING OF NO S IGNI F ICANT IMPACT The Commission has determined not to prepare an environmental impact statement for the proposed action.

Based upon the foregoing environmental assessment, the staff concludes that the proposed action will not have a

significant effect on the quality of the human environment.

For further details with respect to this proposed

action, see the licensee's letters dated October 9,
1991, October 23,
1991, September 3,
3993, and September 29, 1993.

These letters are available for public inspection at the Commission's Public Document

Room, 2120 L Street, N.W.,

Washington, DC 20555 and at the local public document room located at the Maud Preston Palenske Memorial Library, 500 Market Street, St. Joseph, Michigan 49085.

Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 24th day of October 1994.

FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION ohn B. Hickman, Project Manager Project Directorate III-l Division of Reactor Projects - III/IV Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation