ML19308C507
| ML19308C507 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Peach Bottom, Hope Creek, Sterling, Crane  |
| Issue date: | 12/21/1979 |
| From: | Lowenberg H NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| To: | NRC ATOMIC SAFETY & LICENSING APPEAL PANEL (ASLAP) |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8001280355 | |
| Download: ML19308C507 (2) | |
Text
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UNITED STATES 9
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION ff
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December 21, 1979
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4 Docket Nos: 50-277, 50-278 50-320 g-;
co 50-354, 50-355 50-485 MEMORANDUM FOR: Atomic Safety and Licdnsing Appeal Board And All Parties FROM:
Homer Lowenberg, Assistant Director for Operations and Technology Division of Fuel Cycle and Material Safety
SUBJECT:
NEW INFORMATION POTENTIALLY RELEVANT AND MATERIAL TO APPEAL BOARD PROCEEDING IN THE MATTERS OF -
PHILADELPHIA ELECTRIC COMPANY et al.
)
(Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station,
)
Docket Nos. 50-277 Units 2 and 3) 50-278 METROPOLITAN EDIS0N COMPANY et al.
)
(Three Mile Island Nuclear Station,
)
Docket No. 50-320 UnitNo.2)
PUBLIC SERVICE ELECTRIC AND GAS CO.
)
(Hope Creek Generating Station,
)
Docket Nos. 50-354 Units 1 and 2)
)
50-355
)
ROCHESTER GAS AND ELECTRIC
)
CORPORATION et al.
)
Docket No. STN 50-485 (Sterling Power Project, Nuclear
)
1 Unit 1)
)
l Pursuant to the Commission Policy on Notification to Licensing Boards, Appeal Boards, or the Commission of new relevant and material information, the enclosed document is submitted because of its relevance to the hearing of radon issues before the Atomic Safety and Licensing Appeal Board.
8001280355 I
Multiple Addressees December 21, 1979 The nature of the information 1s, as follows:
Advance information has been received from the Battelle Pacjfic Northwest Laboratories regarding their latest results from the research measurements of radon releases from underground uranium mines.
Their new data for the most recent measurement period show that, although the total quality of radon released from the underground mines is about the same as measured previously, the ore output from this group of mines has decreased, with the result that the quantity of radon released per ton of ore mined has increased. The new data show a radon emission of 5360 curies associated with the underground mining of ore containing the 182 metric tons of U 038 needed for a year's operation of a typical 1000-MWe LWR nuclear power reactor (1 reference reactor year, RRY).
This new value, 5360 curies /RRY, is about 60% higher than the value previously reported for underground mining.
Since underground mining provides about 50% of the total uranium supply, the estimate of the average quantity of radon released in providing fuel for one year's operation of a typical 1000-MWe nuclear power plant will increase by about 30%.
This information is considered potentially relevant and material to the above proceeding because the new data, if verified in the complete scientific analysis, will increase the radon release estimates above the values given in the testimony prepared by the NRC staff (Ralph M. Wilde) for previous reactor licensing hearings and for this Appeal Board proceeding.
In January 1980, the Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratories will submit a draft report on the new research measurements of radon releases from underground mining.
Copies of this draft will be provided to the Appeal Board and all parties as soon as available.
Until that time the information in the enclosure is all that is available to the NRC staff.
In addition, Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratories is performing research for EPA on radon emissions and other envirbnmental impacts of inactive underground mines.
EPA has made available to the NRC staff a documant containing preliminary results of this research.
It is uncertain whether an EPA report containing a full analysis of the Battelle data will be issued prior to the hearing in this proceeding.
This notice serves, however, to advise the Appeal Board and all parties of the existence of this data, although the data do not result in a change to staff testimony which will be submitted in January.
M mer Lowenberg, Assfs
/e or for Operations and Technodogy Division 'of Fuel Cycle and "- e.al S fety Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards
Enclosure:
Ltr dtd Nov. 15, 1979 l
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