ML19259A796
| ML19259A796 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Browns Ferry  |
| Issue date: | 01/05/1979 |
| From: | Gossick L NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | Duncan J HOUSE OF REP. |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7901100400 | |
| Download: ML19259A796 (8) | |
Text
'
~
G F
j UNITED STATES g"
7 NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION y
) h WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555
- d'%
- e JM
- 1979
- .+
The Honorable John J. Duncan United States House of Representatives Washington, D. C.
20515
Dear Congressman Duncan:
I am replying to your letter of December 7,1978 with the attached letter that Mr. Brock received from Mr. Ericn Helbig.
In his letter, Mr. Helbig expressed several concerns related to the use of nuclear power plants to generate electrical power. By means of this letter and attachments I shall attempt to address those concerns of Mr. Helbig that are covered by the mandated responsibilities of the Nuclear F.egulatory Commission.
Mr. Helbig's first concern related to tr.e potential danger to the health and safety of the public, especially in the southeastern part of tne United States, that might result from release, through sabotage, of radioactive material from spent fuel that is stored at the Brown's Ferry Nuclear Station.
The spent fuel elements at all nuclear power plants are stored in spent tuel pools that are designed to withstand the effects of violent natural phenomena such as earthquakes or tornadoes without loss of capability to perform their safety functions. The massiveness of these structures also provides substan-tial protection against acts of sabotage by penetration of the walls.
Furthermore, destruction of enough fuel elements to release a significant amount of gaseous radionuclides could be achieved only through use of a very substantial explosive charge that is detonated within the spent fuel pool during a very limited period of time (approximately 30 days) af ter the fuel elements have been removed from the reactor.
In addition to the con-struction requirements, the entire facility is provided with a comprehensive physical protection system that is required by NRC regulations.
A copy of this regulation (Part 73.55 of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations) is enclosed (Enclosure 1). By providing a security plan that meets all the requirements of this regulation, the Brown's Ferry Nuclear Station has provided high assurance that successful industrial sabotage cannot occur thrcugh destruction of spent fuel elements.
The next major concern raised by Mr. Helbig related to the potential hazards involved with transport of the spent fuel elements offsite. An acceptable level of safeguards is maintained during transit through the use of shipping containers that have been designed to retain their integrity under all normal eventualities as well as hypothetical accidents (see Appendix B 10 CFR 71, ).
I am forwarding ender separate cover NUREG 170, Volumes 1 and 2, regarding transportation of radioactive material. Although attempts 780110 0 466 D
2074 283
s Congressman Duncan to sabotage shipments of spent fuel cannot be discounted, the protection provided the public described in these documents will also be applicable to minimizing the impact on the public.
Mr. Helbig's third major concern related to the wisdom of using nuclear power to generate electricity. This subject does not fall within the mandated responsibilities of this regulatory agency. The Commission, however, has studied the relative value of nuclec., power plants as a source of energy versus a source of adverse impacts on the environment in comparison with other sources of energy. To date all proposals for construction and operating nuclear power plants have been found to have an acceptable power cost / benefit ratic both on an absolute scale and relative to all other practical methods for generating electricity.
In addition, the staff has prepared a report on the " Health Effects Attributable to Coal and Nuclear Fuel Cycle Alternatives," (NUREG-0332).
A copy of that report is enclosed for your information.
it is obvious that I have not been able to respond to Mr. Helbigs con-cerns in the detail that he might desire, but I hope this information will be of vclue.
If additional information is required we would be pleased to provide further assistance.
Sincerely, e
.-y f
L n
D
Enclosures:
1.
Part 73.55, Title 10, Code of Federal Regulation 2.
Appendix B, 10 CFR 71 3.
NUREG 0332 Separate Cover:
NUREG 170, Volumes 1 and 2 2,0/4 284
d JOHN J.DUNCAN 2o d. Tact. Tase assas coquiTTErs; WAYS AND MEANS 1458 Ravauses. He.a Orr.cs Bustosses UUdOEI PMoNsi (Amma Caos 202) 225-543s JOINT COM Mi EEON
- COUNTIES, TA X ATION
=
Mottge of Representatibeg
.m. _
Elasfjington,.3.C.
20515 u,voo hec Ms.o.
. corr u
December 7,1978 Congressional Liaison Nuclear Regulatory Commission 1717 H Street, N. W.
Washington, D. C.
20555
Dear Sir:
Attached hereto is a self-explanatory letter I have received from my constituent, Mr. Erich Helbig, of Knoxville.
I shall appreciate your forwarding to me any available information concerning his inquiry.
S'
- erely, IN J.
N AN Member df Congress JJD/11
?0/4
')85 Enclosure
e Oh!
f/Albf/V j
h g,M444 4/
2520 Holbrook Drive l
Knoxville, Tennessee 37918 November 24,1978 Mr. Uilliam Brock, Chaiman t
Republican National Committec 310 First Street S.U.
Washington D.C. 20003 D
Dear Mr,
Drock:
Your Friday-Saturday,Nov.17-18, nationally broadcast comments concerning the Mig-23's in Cuba, and your concern that they not be equiped with nuc-lear weapons /missics, rings with an unaw re, or false, sincerity for our
[
securir.y e che South Central part of th. Nation, for many Knowledgeable and more : 2re citizens, of which I am only one.
l Let me try to enlighten you with some detail,for your knowledge and greater awareness, of far more insidcous threat to us in the Tennessee Valley, and the South in general. Please make the effort to carefully check these mat-ters so that you have honestly satisfied yourself, with the detail firmly confimed in your mind.
At the site of the TVA's Brouns Ferry nuc3 car fuelled clectric power plant i
the spent fuel elements (in fuel bundles like the Boy Scouts looked t on i
Exxon TV comnercials, BEFOPI they were used in a nuclear reactor),fn 't at least one refuelling of each of the three reactors, are stored on site 'n I
the relatively unnardened spent fuel cooling pools. This is a quantity that approximates 300 tons of the nuclear fission process waste products, the renains of the splitting of Uranium-2,5 atoms, along with some materials that have captured neutrons and inturn have become radioactive vastes.
You can con [ ira the quantity of waste materi ls stored in the present vaste inventory. There is no need to believe my words alone.
Recall now that it was only some 2-20 pounds of fission product materials that "fellout" from the first offensive use of the Uranium Bomb, with such vicious long tem results for large number of individuals. There is a diff-crena, pound for pound, between the Bonb's fallout and the reactor's waste j
product materials. The latter are even more vicious, biologically, when dis-persed to men's living space, as you can confim for yourself.
l Of course the nuclear spent fuel unstes stored at Brown's Ferry are not supposed to be dispersed to the living space of men, and childrc1. But as such are a " target of opportunity", in their ucl1 designated storage site, there are many unsavory scenarios in which dispersal occurrs.
One is the direct attack with conventional arns by Cuban Mig-23's, or the private Cousna-182, for the matter of aerial delivery of a dispersing ex-plosive to the storage racks of the spent fuel elements.
Another is the use of a sin",1c,widely distributed, one-man, anti-tank weapon with several rounds, accomplishing the same result. I enclose some copied pages on modern weapons for some small, better, understanding of the numbers and range, penetration capability, weights, sizes, etc. of "cycs-on-the-fries" guided,one-nan, anti-tank weapons.
The point is that a deternined individual, or very small group, desiring to do henious daunce has many options open, when there has been such " layed-on" hazard made accessibic, by such as the Browns Ferry nuclear wastes, in storage
1 I
Brock Page 2.)
November 24,1978 i
l on site, or in transit, or elsewhere stored in the Tennessee Valley.
Dispersion of some 50 pounds of the on site wastes in spent fuel bundles, only 50/600,000 ths or 0.0083% of 300 tons, to the low flying clouds that i
move water to the upper Tennessee Valley could " disembowel" the South Central states of the Nation. That is, " popped" as particles, and entrained gasses which are soluble in water (Kr-85 and various Xe isotopes), to the cloud cover at an appropriate time for the natural winds to carry such upvalley.
There is the realistic chance to disabic four arsenals (Holston in Tn.,
Radford in S.W. Va.,Redstona in Ala.,and Milan in Tn. indirectly) Carried by the clouds that regularly bring the second highest fainfall annually in the continental U.S. to the upper Tennessee Valley, the rainout of dispersed nuclear wastes can stop production in the rich coalfields of Tenn.,
I S.E. Kentucky, and S.U. Virginia, it must be noted to you. Also recognize the damage to lives in the short and long term, and note the later " Flushing" I
of such fallout through New Orleans, (and even Mobile,with the Tom-Bigbee Waterway completed in the future).
Ah yes, just move thcac wastes to a nore secure site, we can say while dribbling words onto paper or into car. Surely it can be donc safely, for l
the TVA,MRC, EPA, DOT, and the industry have told us so, along with Oak Ridge I
spokesmen.
Of course, it is a fact that the railroads have refused the DOT's request l
to include such materials shipnents in regular freight trains. And Ncv York City has won its battle in the courts to not have such shipmen:s moved I
within the city's limits. And Conn.'s Governor has imposed costly police escorts for such shipnents, uhich did not prevent the wedging of one load under an underpass. And sonc Tennesscans have promised some "lessions" for rovernnent scientistu and adninistrators,ctc., should they or ocmbers of their far'ily be passed on the road by any DOT allowed Radioactive Class III
[
load,which shoots Gamna Photons as a radiating load to dose others on the road. All ignoring very possible accidents enroute to where?
l Then too there is the moving target situation presented, with transport l
of spent fuel clenents rods, or bundles. Does the situation change if only a anall hole, instead of a large hole, is nade in the 400 PSI presurized transport container by some " accident prone" hunter, or intent heavier l
weapon wiciding " radical", or cult member, or T-group member?
It may be wise to recognize that there is no simple transport " spill" of such spent fuel material. That is, where it is " cleaned up" and life goes on, even uinus a few lives. Perhaps the matter can be made neaningful for you at the personal level by a question.
Uould you accept conc soll particles,from the site of the non-lcaking noot of another tync of nuclear wastes in less hazardous forn, which curred in August near Chattanooga, Tenn., -- particles sif ted into your family automobile's passenger ventilation ducts? Please answer, "Yes" or "No" forthrightly, as a proper Tennessec gentleman directly answers whan asked a direct question.
If your answer is "Yes", we can proceed to set a mutually agreeabic date and time to visit the site.
o::A :HBL 2
- 287
0 Brock Page 3.)
November 24,1978 Isn't it time to realistically excsine the _i_nefficiency of the process n
that leads to such attractive tarp ts for " dissent" by many individuals throughout the world who have a genuine hatred for the area that gave a home to the Bomb and fallout which has damaged their lives, whether we 8
reject their ideas of the matter or not?
It is a process that is less than 20% efficient for the purpose intended, i
and such has long been known by all sides of the nuclear-electric power issue. Starting with the energy unlocked by splitting, or fissioning, Uranium-235 atoms in a steam generating nuclear reactor, as 100%, there is 5% which is " prompt radiation" (neutrons and gamma photons). Then 11%
remains in the vaste pieces for slow release as radioactivity of the wastes and does no useful heating of water to steam. That leaves 84% as thermal f
(heat) energy which is regularly put into a steam cycle that dumps 70%
of the thermal energy as vaste heat to the local air and water. Thus only 30% of 84% is converted to electric energy at the pick-off connections t
of the generator. But now more than 10% of the electric energy is lost be-fore any customer pays for some at his meter. Such loss exists because of in-plant useage, line losses, and local servicc/ distributor uscage.
So only 21-22% of the unlocked energy gets to the paying user, as you can verify for yourself ciscwhere, and need not accept only my figures here.
I But you can confirm, also, for yourscif that it takes 5-15% of the net electric energy obtained,by the fissioning of Uranium-235 in a nuclear l
reactor, in order to have mined, refined, and enriched, and prepared for use, the Uranium fuel. And pleanc don't forget to get some realistic estimate for the energy consumption necessary to store, transport, process, and store or maintain the nuc1 car vastes.
Even the Republican Party could not continue to operate if such total per-centage of funds were subtracted from cach 100 dollars collected, before i
you could have some to spend, you may agree.
I Perhaps you, and your East Tennessee Republican legislators to whom copics of this letter are sent, will change the absurd pro-nuclear chorus, heard more in the past than the present. Perhaps you and your associates will inquire intelligently about the 60Z cfficient Char-Using Fuel Cell, which uses a natural carbon cycle fuel supply that is realistic and practical, I'
especially in the fundamentally energy rich South. And perhaps there will be recognition of an onconming drive for the private, versus the central, electric pouer nupply, --- that is, such that the political convictions of a Knoxville Mayor cannot turn out the lights that cclcbrate the birth of Christ, as was donc to Knoxville citizcus by a Republican mayor. Do you and yours have the capacity, intellectual and practical capacity, to fathom the technical details of constructive alternate, safe, Tennessee Valley en-riching, TVA disposing, private electric supply system? Uc shall see by your actions.
)
Perhaps there will be recognition of the economic, or other disaster, being imposed on the Tennessee Valley by attempting to use an insidcously damaging imported-into-the-valley fuel. Perhaps there will be the presence-of-mind to start efforts to prevent dis-employment or damage to craftsncn who can and do produce well in the valley arca, by civil actions against central nuclear fuelled electric generation and for private, local fuelled electric generation.
/
Most sincerely,
/
Erich M. liclbig
Cobra 2000 (BO 810)
Gerrnany MILAN France / Germany Lightweight anti-tank missile. In Development and Service inf antry anti tank missile. In production.
current missdes.n be.ng fired from its tran, production and service.
This *ypical one-man ants-tank wearun port conta.ner, wheCh is strnply placed on a system Comprises the Cobra missile, 4 Prime contractors: A arospatWe. Div.s.on En as bct ases Yesserschmot Bothoa-Blonm hghtweight launch and guidance unit when Prune contractor: Me s ser sc h mitt-B olk o *
- control boa and cable links; up to ei..it g
,fdh requ. red for use The 1.itter unit embndies w m 66 hom a sinye p.
- Sol.d.oroacHant rochet motor.
Powered by : Duar-thrust sol d propellant the firing mecninesm. an opt. cal s<ght with Nonert.sonele solid prod *IIAnI Dooster rocket control bon. No launcher es required, as th s rocket motor.
4: magnif' cation. an inf r dre j gomometer Airtrame : Cyl.ndrec ia tbre-pacer bod y. with missde is supported on the ground by th(
Asaf rame : Basically cyl ndr. cal body, with fore and the guid.ince efectronics, it weighs 35;b po ntec comes nose Larq plastic crucifo"n hd which Covers its rear end during trans-and att sections of larger rtiameter than centre (16h g). compared with 24 21b (11kg) for the wings. vach eith spoiler Booster rnounted port. The control box is completely self-poe t,on Four tho out ta4 l'ns.
missde in its container. One man can carry
'" d *' D d'
contained and carries the firing button and Gu. dance and Control: Wire g #dinc e, us."3 the complete weapon system, accompanied Warhead :H H = charge, weighing 5 51b (2 5kg) control stsch.
TC A opt cal aimeng.ntra,,j trac.,1 srstem 5 n ta sea by taa hrs Control t
by a co'lelque carrying tho sDare missdes 4[
'd
More than 120 000 Cobras have been deh-
""M Compared with th.' missiids it will replace.
W um
- n. Mahan, Pabs.
Le t : 3ft
)
Warhead ; Shaced charge.
MIL AN is a high-speed weapon. raducing Body diameter : 3 9'n (10cmL tani and Turkr n anwg the current wesion Length: 2rt S 5.n(0 ism) the opportunity for ettective countpr-bre from Winq span: ??t 7 n (0 43rn).
beisig know.s as the Lubro 2000 to indicate Body diameter: 4 6 n (if 6c m).
the target. Its initial acceleration is 7501.
Launc h weight : 22 5'h tio 2kg).
the entension of its masimum range to Fin span : 10 5.n (0 27m) compared with 15g for hrst. generation wire-h'la s speed : 190?"'TrT*xh m / h).
2,000 m.
Launch weight: 1
($ 3h 3 h guided missdes. Guidanco is by the TCA R ang e laruts : 1.310-6M04 N2.000mL Range I mits:
6 Wit (
00m L system. as described for Rohind (see page
,,,^
f, 104). Oser short rang:s. MIL AN can be use d
,a F
as a recodless rifle..snd claims ha,e been p*
Development and Service made for its effectiveness as a surf ace-to-air MILAN (Missde d1nf anterie Leger A Nti-weapon to protect ground tarr3ats agair +
M., '
d* d e*
g
%g'
- a s.qr cnar) is one of three modern. generation head-on attack by behcooters and low.flyir')
battlefield weapon systems being de eloped fixed-wing aircraf t Doelopment testing of 4
_. d.sq Jointly b, Aerospatiale and MBB. the others the b isic weapon system h.id been comple-
, g '{'(C
.e being HOT and Roland. It is typical of many ted by 1971.
A fp.b1N(.,'
pq.
,. V y
.r_
.. w#' @..,.
% () Q %
~
.~
i
..., c P.,
w a,s.
g, %g,h: &g'.. %
d
~
4
.w e,
. C, f*
'.d.
EE.g ',
f,,..;"s aa.,.~
- .. ~ ~ _,=e@n
&g,^4
=
C W
py f,. % s.e M. f
. c.~ -
ff W.
E
) [ fa.
.h ggg t
h.
i.-
m
.c : e%
w e;
~m e
i z
((f,'f$
gj*f 'g
'f 3
.5
.m1'q.
- ' AJ / j
.,.y ny.
y s
d
~
~
N i
- d.,
M M
,/jg OR.?pai M?
s b.
, ' **kfk{-$.
)
fl
$5$.$Y*L
$h2s
-n eu e
D QpD Q
J
.2-o
_=
o-27 79
I' Mosquito Switzerland / Italy SS.10 (Nord 5203)
Lir)htweight anti-tank missile. In service.
Development and Service France T his simple on e. m an. infantry a n ti.ta r' k Preme contractor: Contra es stat ana Sp A-A"I '3"k mimI*. In service.
Development and Service weapon was deweloped by Contraves-Oer.
Powered by : T ao. stage s ond-propuant hkon of Switzerland but manufactured until C nie porar y with Entac (page 31). and Pnme contractor: Nord Av.ar,on A se f t me CrLndreral classd bre bodd w.th 1971 by Contra es Itafiana. G is s t a r'd.ir d Powered by: Tao. stage sond prop,nant
'O po.need con cal nose Fold.ns cruc.toern wings of equipment in the Smss and Itahan Armies, tock t motor.
was one o the hrst guided mes'sr.es 'to 'te sand.ich construct.on each..tn treng edge who use also a version htted with a p.irachute A" frame: C tindrical body..th rounded og. vat "d 'n action. The Israch Army empford i
veranno spoaev Rea mountad cruciform engs, each it successfully agmnst Egyptian armour. d recovery system. instead of a warhead. for nMe Gu dance and Control: Wire gu <tance, with training. Sin Mosquitos can be carried in
'5"
" 0 ' S " d' C ' d ' ' h ' ' '
- 0 - e d ?,
fighung veh cles during the Suez campaign rois.stiu.hsaten by powder-driven otro Control b r. ora'.no wo.ie's on. not their conta.ner-launchers. ready for firing. by I
Many ther c untries adopted it as G d the Puc h-H af hnger hght cross-country Co ob n oots "e Quided o,'eYh.
V Ph'cle. Mosau'tos have also been bred W a r h e ad H gbeso a standard entantry weapon encludo. <rance. O a d e i n e e e,
,qn,ng ? % p g Sweden and West Germ tny. and p e of ction @
mrew: rt i ) n o n.k,~-
success'ul y from Agusta Bell 47 hehcopters.
Lenntn : 2't 96n (o se,,
was at the rate of 150 500 per mnt. f or a m,
me m o m, or t i
.2 r
h conventional intantry use, the Moscu,to R ody daarneter: 6 5 m (16 5cm) long period. At le N a countrih shli Body d.ameter : A Tbn 0?cm).
is controlled and bred by encans of a smal; W'nq yan : 2f t S r.n (0 hn,,
sncluded SS 10s en their Weng span : 1't it 6m (0 60ml control bon carrying a joyst.ch and optical Launch weight : 3? on (14 8kg) comoit inver' tory Cru.s.no speed: g,;;.m i of 5,g h t.
The contmner-launc her houses the p '"
' U" e i. *
- hl at the start of the 'seventres, affhough the ec f-Launch we.9ht:
y 8 weapon has long been superseded by newer e ro > <3 mm +1
""'t miss,le with its warhead detac hed. and 4 ( M500m)
Ranoe Ismets. t.200 g7( 360 2.3 75 m) ^
types. It was designed to be bred normaff y weighs 48 5.0 (22.0kg).
hom me ground. using Hs boshke contaener C
~-
as launcher it was also t red eif ect.ely from CNJ p-~,-
o n. -
.-,b :e e%,:c 0g 2 2.%., %' w p-Qpp. i Meas, hght aircraf t and behcopters.
y-
. %. ?...v-r M h ! h.w.f h,n %jjnw,,<.r,n,h..,Nk s.xgg g.f-t f
. yvi f
. m Q.f,y p.s R.v.g s.
w t) e k
l 'h $.QG.. &. A.&,..%y
.,?!'. %. Q & M G.,
Q w
s k
t,
~
'. h.).
g q. J.. d. % xQ[g gggQ
,e g
g
.N'% *-h'djQ.gQR,%.m..$.m 2et geg
- m.,
.)
I
.}
,Mi..:r p.g'M g*. igd @-g, ; 2' W.-
% 56
" k g;
'9'
%c @'/ W:W 3 J.m W. C & XX a 4' (87
- A% M Sr..a.& 0-M*':,
d
~
W.M.,n[.?p.;;L;&:,in m;%}w;u.a,.s L..Q v". A
- }' U.
w t
r r.c-5m.
Q r--
..i
~~~*T
. 's a.'. p N. -
74.v.I M w.
m w.i". % : d f'% J. M.7,'*g 3 5,,. -ir@W %g g #r; 5-e
< N-
- WN..1
- Q s) yj, f
.-M: er.p-Cvt WW 7
-Q :w.; !n;Wc }9-~ze.? :n SQ. y4y%. dea -w%
-. m
.y.:
pr=
.e v r.p y T, 4 f ? 4 L. W:;.s g/ S 0.V%.yg,jW;[Qg< y,%
5'
. &yy,,y Lw
~;;: *k-
..o G
t g' '* &g? &.
e, r-
~
g3.
.: 2 n W. W. % f $ 9 [, M. 8 M M,EM, f,. %
l
. 1,
% W N, 4 ~..n 4
y
'.; e'r
~
s D 4_-
c
@M.A,x. A._.W.6 T.4 W
M m d @-,, h w. d o. h. e 42.
sq
-:.- -: / -
,~
1
.P.@
_n m
.a-.o s,'
.. 4..~,
x.
~ ~ -,
- j.., r-..
A.-
Q:..qt g.
. f. p.~ ~.
c ~ g h ~Ae
~
s,.
M W'
.T
,..e: W p.... g.. p,_ p..V
4
+
s>.,.,.
y.,
~ " ew*..:A;.. -.%'..g, -
... ej '...
r 9
D
%~
p mo o
. %.,. :~ -
1 m' %
- ...m~..,w~
e
...-e.
l-
. ":JJ ".~ "..; *.Q&
.a.-'
~'*
.; s o
... - m 1
i 144
.ii.-