ML19249B660
| ML19249B660 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Dresden  |
| Issue date: | 08/15/1979 |
| From: | Eisenhut D Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Shurts K AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19249B661 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7909040646 | |
| Download: ML19249B660 (4) | |
Text
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UNITED STATES y '[ 3 e c ' h NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 3.f[
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Docket No. 50-10 Ms. Karan Shurts R. R. 1 Box 96 Henry, Illinois 61537
Dear Ms. Shurts:
This is in esponse to your letter dated July 15, 1979, to Dr. Hendrie which requested that an Environnental Inpact Statenent (EIS) be pre-pared pri;r to the chemical decontanination of Dresden Nuclear Power Station Uni: No. 1.
We are currently reviewing the need for such an inpact statement for the decontamination as a result of a petition by Mrs. Kay Drey dated March 10, 1979.
A copy of our response tc "rs. Drey and the related Federal Register notice are enclosed for your information.
Please be assured that the Dresden decentamination will not go forth until the need for an Environmental Impact Statenent is resolved.
We will provide you with copies of our decision on this natter when we have conpleted our review.
With respect to the specific questions posed in your letter, the following answers are provided:
Ql.
What is the substance that is to be used to flush the piping at Dresden l?
A.
The substance that is to be used to flush the piping at Dresden 1 is a proprietary organic acid developed by Dow Chemical Company with the name Dow Nuclear Solvent 1 (DOW NS 1).
Q2.
How dangerous is it should an accident occur (such as a pipe welding being unable to withstand its corrosive properties).
A.
An extensive naterials test progran has been completed by the licensee to provide assurance that the decontamination solution will not ccuse excessive corrosion to the prinary coolirg system comonents. This program evaluated the corrosion resistance of
-he raterials that will be cleaned by the Dow Solvent.
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- n the results of these studies we have concluded that tre corrosion of the prinary coolant syster corponents will te acceptably Icw.
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Ms. Karan Shurts The NRC staff will require the licensee to closely nonitor the tine, temperature, and chemical composition and concentrations to assure that the actual Dresden 1 cleaning process is perfonned within the range of variables of tne material test program.
In addition, the licensee reports that DOW NS 1 is non-toxic and non-volatile and provides no hazards concerned with inhalation.
Q3.
Where will this solution containing the radioactive crud go, once it has gone through the pipes?
A.
The radioactive crud will be processed through the radioactive waste processing system where it is concentrated and then solidified before it is transported to the waste burial site.
Q4.
How nany people will be directly involved in this operation and how hazardous will it be for them?
A.
Thirty-five Dow Chemical Company and eight Ccemonwealth Edison personnel will be involved in the decontanination operation, this will result in approximately fourteen people each shift.
The decontamination operation is designed to minimize dose rates, hazards, and number of people involved.
As was stated in the answer to Q3. above, the solvent is non-toxic and non-vol a til e.
QS.
What will happen to the wastes -- how will they be disposed of?
A.
The radioactive wastes that are flushed from the system will be evaporated to reduce its volume in the radioactive waste facility.
After evaporation the concentrated liquid waste will be solidified using Dow Chemical's Solidification Process for Low Level Radioactive Wastes.
After solidification the waste will be transported by a commercial radioactive waste disposal carrier in approximately 1200 55 gallon drums.
The waste will be packaged and shielded to meet all applicable transportation requirements.
The solidified radioactive waste will be transported to a commercial low level waste burial site, such as Beaty, Nevada cr Hanford, Washington.
Q6.
How much does this operation cost? Who pays the bill? Is it worth it, compared to the anount of electricity generated by Dresden l?
A.
The operation will cost between 30 and 40 nillion dollars.
The rajority of the cost is being paid by the Connonwealth Edison
& :any and sone of the costs are paid by the Departnent of SWOS;
!!s. Karan Shurts Energy.
The utility has found that it is economically advantageous.
The i;RC would address costs only if an Environmental Impact Statement were issued.
Q7.
How will the procedure affect the environment? Will it add to the ponderous amount of radiation already in the biosysten? Will it heat up the river water excessively? Will it release too nuch heat into the atnosphere?
A.
tiRC did not issue an environmental inpact statement or appraisal in connection with this matter.
However, we did consider the environnantal impact of the decontamination in our December 9,1975 Safety Evaluation. The results of that review were as follows:
Environnental Inpact:
"The chenical decontanination of the Dresden 1 prinary coolant systen will be performed entirely within a closed decontanination systen.
The systen has been designed so that no chemical or radiological wcstes will be released to the environnent from the decontamination process.
All wastes generated in the process will be either solidified for offsite burial at a licensed burial ground or reprocessed for reuse onsite.
The solid wastes produced are similar in type and quantity to those handled routinely at the site. Therefore, no adverse environnental impacts are anticipated due to the decontamination."
The solvent temperature will be 250 F during the decontamination process and since the plant is not producing power, heat will not be intentionally renoved during flushing.
When flushing is complete, the solvent will be cooled, and then concentrated before being solidified.
The evaporation rate during concentration is approxinately 15 gallons per minute. The neximun heat rejection rate during the whole process will be less than 1% the heat rejection rate during normal plant operation and heat up of the river or the air will be insignificant.
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Ms. Karan Shurts A copy of the NRC 1978 Annual Report is also enclosed in response to your request for material on the activities of the NRC.
I hope this information is responsive to your request.
If we can be of further assistance, please let us know.
Sincerely, f' '
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l Darrell G. Eisenhut, Acting Director Division of Operating Reactors 7,
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Enclosures:
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Response to Ms. Drey w/ Notice 2.
NRC 1978 Annual Recort
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Ms. Kay Drey 515 k'est Point Avenue University City,. Missouri 6?130 Decr !'s. Drey:
This letter is ser.t to acknculedce r~eceipt of your petition dited - " " ~
!'. arch 19 1979. askin that ca Environmental Irgact Statenent be prepared cn the 'proscse:i decontaminatien experinents at Dresden Muclear Pcuar Stcticr Unit 1. designed to flush radicactive corrosica products frcn porticr.s of the facility's piping.
Your request is beine: treated un:'er the procecures spccified in 10 CFP.
2.206 cf the Con-ission's regulat tens and acccrdingly, vie will inicm you of our ' ecision on your rccuest within a raasonable d
tir.e.
Enclosed fcr your inicmation is a ccpy cf the notice recarding ycur requast that will be filed fcr publica. tion with the Officn of the Federal P.egister.
Sincerely, Original Signed By
-MCser S, ec.v.d g Harold R. Denton Director Cffice of Nuclear P.cactor ?.egulation tnclosure fs' Ot i C'J
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cc w/cnclosure "r. Cordell Peed
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Assistent Vice President Cemem:calth Edisun Company P.
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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 1
COR'.ONWE ALTH EDISON COMPANY
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Docket No. 50-10 f,
(Dresc'en Nuclear Power Station, )
Unit 1) l REQUEST FOR PREPARATION
.C. ENY3FONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT Notice is hereby given that by petiticn of March 19, 1979, addressed to the Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Ccrmission, among others, Kay Drey of University City, Missouri, requested that an Environ-Irpact Statement be prepared on the proposed decontamination rental experiments at the Dresden Nuclear Fever Station, iccated in Grundy Ccenty, :llinois'. which are designed to flush radicactive cerrosion prcducts frca portiens of the f acility's piping.
The petition is being treated as a request for a: tion under 10 CFR.2.206 of the Cermission's regulati:ns, and accordingly, action will be taken on the petition within a reasonable time.
A copy of the request is available for inspection in the Coriission's Public Document Room,1717 H Street, N. W., Washington, D. C.
20h55,and at the local public document roca for the Dresden Nuclear Power Station,'
located at Morris Public Library, 604 Liberty <treet, Morris, Illinois 60451.
FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY C0". MISSION 9
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