ML19207C436
| ML19207C436 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Maine Yankee |
| Issue date: | 07/23/1979 |
| From: | Gossick L NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | Snowe O HOUSE OF REP. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19207C437 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7909110625 | |
| Download: ML19207C436 (2) | |
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UNITED STATES f,,
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION y}
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WASHINGTON. D. C. 20555 g.
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\\; d M 2 31979 Docket No. 50-309 The Honorable Olympia J. Snowe Member, United States i
House of Representatives i
Washington, D. C.
20515
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Dear Congresswoman Snowe:
I am pleased to respond to your letter of June 18, 1979, which enclosed constituent correspondence regarding the Maine Yankee Atomic Power Station.
The concerns regarding operator licensing requirements, release of radio-active materials to the atmosphere and the evacuation plan are discussed bel ow.
Operator Licensing
,9 Section 55.3 of 10 CFR Part 55 states that no person may perform the functions
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of an operator or of a senior operator except as authorized by a license issued by the Commission. Section 55.11 enumerates the requirements for approval of operator and senior operator license applications.
To.our knowledge no person has :erved as an operator or senior operator at Maine Yankee without the appropriate license issued pursuant to 10 CFR Part 55.
In addition a review of the dockets of Maine Yankee operators and senior operators indicates that they have all met the requirements of Section 55.11. A copy of 10 CFR Part 55 is enclosed for your infomation.
Release of Radioactive Materials The releases of radioactivity to the environment fran the operation of a nuclear power plant are limited by the NRC regulations of 10 CFR Part 20 and Part 50 and the individual facility's Technical Specifications. The limits on '.elease of radioactive material are conservatively established taking into consideration all potential enviromental dose pathways to assure that no individual is exposed to levels of radiation in excess of the dose limits in 10 CFR Part 20.
For the Maine Yankee facility, the Technical 5pecifications regarding radioactive effluents require that the release shall not exceed the concentration limits specified in 10 CFR Part 20 on an instantaneous basis.
In keeping with the "As Low As Is Reasonably Achievable" criteria for radioactive effluents, in 10 CFR Part 50, the licensee is further required to maintain total curies released at a small fraction of the 10 CFR Part 20 limits.
Thus, reasonable a::surance is provided that the resulting annual exposure to an individual will not exceed 5 millirem per year.
To demonstrate compliance with the above, the liceasee is required to monitor and control all releases of radioactivity to the enviroment. These releases of radio-activity, as measured by the licensee are reported to the NRC on a semi-annual basis as required in 10 CFR Part 50.38a or an a more timely basis if releases are 7909110 Q 6 ls)
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_2 higher than normal (10 CFR Part 20.403; 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix I;
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and the plant Technical Specification requirements).
These reports are
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also made available to the public through the Local Public Document Rom which, for the Maine Yankee facility, is located at the Wiscasset Public Li b ra ry.
Many radiobiologists assume that there is some risk associated with any radiation exposure, regardless of how small.
We feel the risks frm exposure to the very low levels of radiation associated with the rcutine operation of nuclear power plants such as Maine Yankee are extremely small in relation to the other competing risks associated with living a useful and satisfying life.
j Nevertheless, we recognize that such judgments are value judgments, and others may not always agree with our perception of the risk involved.
j Evacuation Plan The Maine Yankee Emergency Plan meets the Commission's current standards for I
emergency planning (10 CFR Part 50, Appendix E). The Staff reviewed the Maine Yankee Emergency Plan and found it to be satisfF. tory in support of
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facility licensing.
The State of Maine Radiological Incident Plan, prepared by E
Lt. Allan H. Weeks of.the Maine State Police, is included in the table of i
contents of the Maine Yankee Emergency Plan. The State of Maine Radiological Incident Plan includes individual radiological incident plans for the towns of Westport, Boothbay, Wiscasset, Edgecomb and Woolich.
Local plans have a basic
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plan, an increased readiness plan, an emergency evacuation plan, a notification i
list, evacuation routes, and a statement of local police responsibilities and transportation facilities.
The State of Maine is re-evaluating its current plan to improve its planning for emergencies.
Inprovement of emergency planning is of continuing concern to the Commission.
Efforts are underway within the Commission to review all aspects of emergency planning, including the adequacy of present planning and the need for cocrdinaticn with and participation of other agencies in developing emergency planning.
I trust that the information presented is responsive to your request.
Si nce rely, f
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@f %3, j, Lee V. Gcssick, Executive Director for Operations Enc!csure:
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