ML19259B032
| ML19259B032 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Zion File:ZionSolutions icon.png |
| Issue date: | 12/28/1978 |
| From: | Gossick L NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | Bayh B SENATE |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19259B033 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7901150251 | |
| Download: ML19259B032 (3) | |
Text
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4 NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMisslON WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555 gg Dddie't Nos. 50-295 and 50-304 DEC 2 81978
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I The Honorable Birch Bayh United States Senate Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator Bayh:
I am pleased to provide information related to increasing the spent fuel storage capacity at the Zion Nuclear Station for your use in connection with a November 20, 1978 letter from one of your constituents, Ethel S. Ryan (Mrs. George Ryan), of Chesterton, Indiana.
In her letter, Mrs. Ryan indicates that it seems highly dangerous to her to further consolidate " spent" fuel rods at Zion Station, particularly because of the prevailing winds from that area.
Mrs. Ryan also asked for information on members of the NRC which are domiciled in that area.
With regard to the storage of spent fuel, in March of 1978, the NRC issued NUREG-0404, " Draft Generic Environmental Impact Statement on Handling and Storage of Spent Light Water Power Reactor Fuel" (copy enclosed).
In NUREG-0404, the staff examined the environmental impacts associated with the storage of spent fuel from the country's operating reactors through the year 2000.
Although the final disposition, of spent fuel has not yet been determined, on October 18, 1977, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced that the Federal Government would accept and take title to spent fuel from utilities upon payment of one time storage fees. The interim storage of fuel by DOE (until -
the final disposition is determined) is intended to be at away-from-reactor (AFR) spent fuel storage facilities, which are expected to be available about the mid-1980's.
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Senator Bayh In NUREG-0404, the staff concluded that the storage of spent fuel in water pools has an insignificant impact on the environment, whether at the reactor site (AR's) or at AFR locations. This is primarily because of the physical fom of the material. Sintered ceramic oxide fuel pellets are hermetically sealed in Zircalcy cladding tubes.
Zircaloy is a zirconium-tin alloy which was developed for nuclear power applications because of its high resistance to water corrosion.
Even in cases where defective tubes expose the fuel material to the water environment, there is little attack on the ceramic fuel.
Furthermore, we require that all spent fuel stored at reactors, such as at the Zion facility, be under controlled conditions which will keep it cooled, prevent criticality (nuclear chain reaction),
and keep the release of residual reactivity to very low levels.
Such storage is in sharp contrast to the conditions described in the article Mrs. Ryan attached to her letter (" Disaster in Siberia").
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The staff has not yet completed its review of the application by-Commonwealth Edison Company to expand th5 storage capacity of the Zion Station spent fuel pool and therefore has not reached a finding as to its acceptability.
However, we have reviewed sevs eal proposals for expansion of capacity of existing spent fuel pools (r.. ore compact storage) and have concluoed that ;. hey were acceptable both from a safety and environmental standpoint.
You may also wish to know that we have given public notice that we are considering the Commonwealth Edison Company's proposed action and that the State of Illinois Attorney General's Office has petitioned to intervene with respect to the issuance of amendments to the Zion Station operating licenses.
At a special prehearing conference held on November 20, 1970 in Waukegan, Illinois, an NRC Atomic Safety and Licensing Bocru deci.ded that a public hearing on this catter will be held at a yet to be detemined date, probably in the spring of 1979, near the Zion Station. All NRC and licensee correspondence on this matter is available for public inspection at a 1 col public document room located at the Benton Public Libra'ry, 2600 Emmaus Avenue, Zion, Illinois.
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- Senator Bayh
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With regard to firs. Ryan's request for information concerning NRC nenbers doniciled in her area (within 70 niles of the Zion Station),
I would mention that the tiRC's Region III Office of Inspection and Enforcement (ISE) located in Glen Ellyn, Illinois is much closer to Zion (by hbout 25 miles). Approximately 145 tiRC enployees are located at this office all of when are domiciled in that area.
The f'RC has also initiated a resident inspector program. This vill result in an ILE resident inspector office at the Zion site.
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Pending establishment of'the resident inspector's office, members of the Region III Office will continue visits to the Zion. Station.
I trust this letter provides infonnation responsive to the matters
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discussed. in your constituent's letter.
Sincerely, F.ce:J; r. A, Ps s e 155 " Ors'-
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Enclosure:
- l. Incoming Letter from firs. Ryan
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dated November 20, 1978
- 2. t'UREG-0404
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SEE PREVIOUS YELLOW FOR CONCURRENCES & DISTRIBUTION orr.c. N3.!A; AD SIP..,
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