ML19261D027
| ML19261D027 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Wood River Junction |
| Issue date: | 04/02/1979 |
| From: | Jennifer Davis NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE) |
| To: | Donna Ford UNION OF CONCERNED SCIENTISTS |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19261D028 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7904240045 | |
| Download: ML19261D027 (3) | |
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UNITED STATES j
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- ) ggg Mr. Daniel F. Ford Decutive Director Union of Concerned Scientists 1208 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138
Dear Mr. Ford:
I am pleased to respond to your February 9,1979 letter to Chairman Hendrie regarding radiological environmental monitoring at the United Nuclear Corporation (UNC) facility located at Wood River Junction, Rhode Island.
You expressed a specific interest in learning whether the quarterly and monthly analyses for alpha and beta radioactivity in the water from certain wells on or near the facility site are being performed in accord-ance with Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) requirements and if the measured radiation levels are within limits prescribed by the NRC. You also indicated an interest in whether independent monitoring activities have been conducted by the NRC, other government agencies, or independent contractors to determine radiation levels.
Since July 16, 1976, NRC License No. SNM-777 has required the licensee to sample the water from nine wells and analyze the samples for alpha and beta radioactivity at least quarterly.
In addition, samples from one well were required to be analyzed monthly.
On December 27, 1978, as part of an upgraded program to determine monthly fluctuants of chemi-cals and radioactivity in the area, NRC License No. SNM-777 was revised to require that water samples from 25 wells be analyzed for gross alpha and beta radioactivity on a monthly basis.
Based on the results of our inspections we have determined that UNC had complied with NRC requirements pertaining to radiological monitoring of the wells.
The radioactivity levels of the samples were within the limits prescribed by the NRC for release of liquids to unrestricted areas.
In July, 1977, during inspection 77-10, the NRC split samples of airborne particulate effluent with the licensee for comparison of analytical resul ts.
Although there is an unexplained difference between NRC and UNC results for one sample, evaluation of the comparative analysis between the NRC and UNC indicates that the results were generally consis-tent.
Inspection Report 77-13 contains the comparisons of the analysis 1!) o 4 2 4 D o 6
Mr. Daniel F. Ford of these samples.
The NRC inspection results pertaining to the effluent monitoring program are documented in the inspection reports listed in the enclosure to this letter.
Copies of NRC inspection reports are available in the Public Document Room.
The Rhode Island State Water Resources Board drilled eight test 'eells on UNC property in 1976 as part of a program for determining sites for water supply wells to serve the southern part of Rhode Island.
It is our understanding that the radioactivity levels of water samples analysed by Rhode Island were within the limits prescribed by the NRC for release of liquids to unrestricted areas.
We are not aware of other independent confirmatory radioactivity measure-ment programs at or around the UNC facility.
If you have further questions concerning these matters, please let us know.
Sincerely,
[JhnG. Davis Acting Director Office of Inspection and Enforcement
Enclosure:
Listing of Inspections at UNC
Enclosure I Inspections at United Nuclear Corporation Wood River Junction, Rhode Island Inspection No.
Date of Inspection 73-01 January 9-12, 1973 73-03 July 16-18,1973 73-04 September 26-28, 1973 74-07 September 18-20, 1974 75-12 September 15-17, 1975 75-16 December 9-12, 1975 77-08 April 20-22, 1977 77-10 July 6-8,1977 77-14 September 21-23, 1977 78-09 March 22-24, 1978 78-13 May 30-June 2, 1978 78-18 July 25-27, 1978
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