ML19254D047
| ML19254D047 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Dresden  |
| Issue date: | 10/05/1979 |
| From: | Vollmer R Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Sancken I AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19254D048 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7910220094 | |
| Download: ML19254D047 (3) | |
Text
s l fih E c.,,
'c, UNITED s RATES i
i NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 4
I
..A c
v.wsmNGTON D C 20555
,m.....e / f n tober 5,1970 5,q
~ 4j c
. et a.
50-10 Sancker. Agri-Resources, Inc.
ATTN:
Ms. Irr/a Jean Sancken Rcute 4, Box 262 lg'.7 D D
b Gr.kalee, Illi noi s 0U901 g
ha LA b
Deer Ms. Sancken:
Tnis is in response to your letter to Dr. Hendrie, which expressed your concerns related to the chemical cecontamination of Dresden Nuclear Power Station, Unit No.1.
We '1 ave been reviewing this project since Commonwealth Edison's initial wcontamination proposal on Decemoer 12, 1974.
On Decemoer 9, 1975, we issuea a conditional authorization which allowed Commonwealth Edison to initiate the chemical decontamination subject to the completion of three
.tss which would be resolvec as follows:
1.
The testing program will be completec eno the results submittea for the review and approval of the NRC staff prior to performing the proposea chemical cleaning.
I. pre-service inspection program for the primary coolant boundary will be formJlated anG submitteG for 14RC review and approval prior to returning the reactor to service.
3.
A post-cleaning surveillance program.which includes accitional surveillance specimens and a specimen withdrawal and examination schedule will be submitted for NRC review and approval prior to returning.the reactor to service.
I c:-y of our Safety Evaluation in support of these actions is enclosed for cur information.
Sisc.
..r 1: 7. ;
1; ti.. :.
.... : :: :c;;..
.:: :: ;:c:s: ";s at'_?1 1s s t ; rogram anc construction of tne necessary support f acilities to carry
-e cut ;.. --:: c: in ; sa'e a.c c. Siro.: er. ally acceptanie canner.
Our review cf the testa s,.rcs r a c :nd Yt 31ity constructicr. is contirming and will DC :'...le;ec pr'.cr 20 Ine cnr
-Ll JIeanin3 that is Currer*.ly Scr.eGJleL f0r
, lhD.
1190 169 7910220c w
s Sa,cken Agri-Resources, Inc. Octder 5,1079 sith respect to the specific questions posed in your letter, the following answers are provicea:
Ql. Will the people participating in the Dresden decontamination experiment suffer from exposure to the combination of the solvent and the radicactive materials that will De suspended in the solvent?
Al. The occupational exposure to the workers at Dresden 1 is being minimized by carefully planning the decontamination program anc training the workers to carry out their tasks as quickly anc efficiently as possiole. Comonwealth Edison has estinatea the raciation exposure that is expected to be receivec curing each discrete task involved in the cleaning procedure. The nigh exposure tasks have been evaluates to minimize operator exposure by shielding and preplanning.
Emergency procedures have Deen developed to minimize personnel exposure in the event of a malfunction.
We have reviewed the licensee's submittals regarding occupational exposure and have concluded that Comonwealth Edison has taken appropriate measures to assure that occupational exposures will be maintained as low as reasonably achievable during the decon-tamination and waste treatment operations at Dresden Unit 1.
Q2. Will the radioactive wastes migrate faster than normal once the chemical solvent reacts with the wastes?
A?.
The migration of radionuclides will be prevented by solidifying tne waste and disposing of it at dry western desert sites where there will be no interaction with ground water because of the extremely deep water table.
Q3. Will any of this waste remain on site, possibly coming in contact with the soil and then being leached into the ground water?
A3.
No, the radioactive waste that is flushed from the system will be evaporated to reduce its volume in the radioactive waste facility.
Af ter evaporation the concentrated liquid waste will be solidified using Dow Chenical's Solicification Process for Low Level Racicactive nestes. niter solicification tne waste wiii ce transportec oy a ccnaercial raaicactive waste cisposal carrier in approximately 12L. E: ;allon cres. The waste will De packagec and snielcec to cect all applicaole transportation requireiaents. Tne solicified racicactive naste will De transportea to a commercial low level waste curial site, sucn as Beatty, Nevada or Hanford, Wasnington.
k 5%
ff :[d8 F g
1190 170
s 5-ncken Agri-Resources, Inc. October 5,1979 Q4. Will the operation of Dresden 1 become more hazardous in the future due to the process?
A4.
Before returning Dresden I to service following decontamination of the primary cooling system, a comprehensive pre-service inspection will be performed to assure the integrity of the primary coolant system and assess the effect of the chemical cleaning on safety-related components that have been in contact with the cleaning solvent.
Facility Operating License llo. DPR-2, issued to Dresoen Unit 1, requires that Commonwealth Ecison operate the facility in accordance with detailed operating standards called Technical Specifications.
The specifications establish limits on operating parameters related to safety and establish the minimum complement of safety-related equipment needed to assure that these limits are not violated.
Commonwealth Edison must comply with all the requirements of the facility Technical Specifications before returning the facility to service, including all the normal inspections and tests required before returning the reactor to service following each refueling outage.
Based on the above considerations, future operation of Dresden 1 should not oecome more hazardous because of the decontamination process.
I hope that this information is responsive to your request.
Si ncerely,
'f bk-Richard H. Vollmer, Acting Assistant Director for Systematic Evaluation Program Division of Operating Reactors
Enclosure:
Safety Evaluation 90 ill
.