ML19309H487
| ML19309H487 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Comanche Peak  |
| Issue date: | 04/16/1980 |
| From: | Dircks W NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | Bentsen L SENATE |
| References | |
| FOIA-80-274 NUDOCS 8005130371 | |
| Download: ML19309H487 (3) | |
Text
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
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9 fff 1(o Plf0 The Honorable Lloyd Bentsen United States Senator 912 Federal Building Austin, Texas 78701
Dear Senator Bentsen:
I am pleased to respond to your request of March 5,1980 for information which is pertinent to the concerns about the nuclear plant being built near Glen Rose, Texas. These concerns were expressed to Senator Ron Clower in a lecter from Mrs. Mike W. McNutt of Dallas, Texas. Mrs. McNutt is obviously referring to the Comanche Peak Steam Electric Station, Units 1 and 2, in Glen Rose, Texas.
The applicant estimates that Unit I will be ready to load fuel in 1981 and Unit 2 will be ready to load fuel in 1983.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Staff is currently reviewing the appli-cations for operating licenses for Comanche Peak, which have been filed by Texas Utilities Generating Company, et al. These operating license applica-tions are also the subject of hearings before an Atomic Safety and Licensing Board.
In her letter, Mrs. McNutt expresses a concern that the plant might be the source of radiological contamination of the environment, and its effect on her children and future generations. Before issuing an operating license, the NRC assesses the radiological impact to the public from both the normal operation of nuclear power plants and from postulated accidents. Such assessments are necessary to assure the health and safety of the public and the protection of the environment. From the results of continuing research, as well as from regular monitoring of both the radioactive effluents and radioactivity in the environment, these assessments are regularly upgraded to insure accuracy and reliability.
Routine emissions associated with normal operation of nuclear power plants are kept as low as is reasonably achievable. This general principle has been a central one in the field of radiation protection for many years. Operating licenses include provisions to limit and control radioactive effluents from the plants.
The NRC has set forth numerical guidelines for releases in the Appendix I to Section 10, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 50. The NRC eval-uates each plant, including Comanche Peak, to assure that these releases are very low and the dose rates are only negligibly higher than the natural back-ground radiation levels. Our initial evaluatian of routine emissions that could be expected during normal operation or Comanche Peak was performed during the construction permit review and is contained in our Final Environmental State-ment on Comanche Peak, issued in June 1974. Our second evaluation, as part of the operating license review for Comanche Peak, will be included in the NRC's Final Environmental Statement expected to be published in early 1931. To insure
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The Honorable Lloyd Bentsen that all routine emissions are monitored and controlled in accordance with the guidelines of Appendix I, the NRC has developed a " Radiological Effluent Technical Specification for PWR's."
This document will be made a part of the operating licenses for Comanche Peak Units 1 and 2.
With regard to radiological contamination subsequent to an accident, the NRC condects a detailed review of ali license applications to assure the safe design of each nuclear power plant. Although many things went wrong in the accident which occurred at Three Mile Island Power Plant, Unit No. 2 on March 28, 1979, the plant safety features did limit the release of radioactivity to the environ-ment. The small dose of radiation that was received by people in the area came from radioactive gases that escaped from the auxiliary building. The average dose of radioactivity received by the population within 50 miles of Three Mile Island was approximately 4 millirems. The maximum exposure to any individual was less than 100 millirems, which is less than the yearly dose each person receives as a result of natural background radiation. Natural background radia-tion received by people in the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania area is approximately 125 millirems per year. To put these doses into perspective, note that a traveler flying round trip by jet from New Y wk to Los Angeles receives 5 milli-rems of cosmic rays.
In addition, the NRC Staff is continuing its intensive investigation of the acci-dent at Three Mile Island, Unit 2 (TMI-2). This is best illustrated by briefly describing some of the activities that have taken place and are underway.
As a result of the TMI-2 accident, the effort of the staff is concentrated on evaluating the accident and assessing the remedial measures to be required, i.e., immediate, near-term, and long-term.
In July 1979, we issued NUREG-0578, "TMI-2 Lessons Learned Task Force Status Report and Short-Term Recommendations."
This early guidance by NRC was supplemented by the recommendations contained in the Kemeny Commission Report (October 1979) and the Rogovin Report (January 1980). To provide further detailed guidance to the nuclear industry, the NRC staff developed its draft document in December 1979, NUREG-0660, " Action Plan for Implementing Recommendations of the President's Commission and Other St cies Related to the TMI-2 Accident." Revisions have subsequently taken place to take into consideration the Rogovin work, comments from the Advisory Connittee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS), and many other sources of information.
The Action Plan represents a major ongoing effort on the part of the NRC staff to define all of the new reouirements as a result of the TMI-2 accident and the appropriate methods of implementation. A plan will be established by the Commission in the near future as guidance to industry.
We believe the reports cited above, along with our continuing discussions with the ACRS and industry, will result in stronger safety standards for the pro-tection of the public health and safety.
The Honorable Lloyd Bentsen In view df Mrs. McNutt's concerns about Comanche Peak, she may wish to attend the prehearing conferences and hearings before the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board related to the Comanche Peak operating license applications. A prehearing conference is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on April 30, 1980 at the U. S. Federal Courthouse, 10th and Lamar Streets, Fort Worth, Texas. As the Notice of Hearing issued by the Licensing Board on August 9, 1979, states, the public is invited to attend any of the prehearing conferences as well as the evidentiary hearings.
According to this Notice: "During some or all of these sessions, and in accor-dance with 10 CFR Section 2.715(a), any person, not a party to the proceeding, will be permitted to make a limited appearance statement, either orally or in The number of persons making writing, stating his or her position on the issues.
oral statements may be limited and the time allowed for each oral statement will be limited to five (5) minutes. Persons desiring to make a limited appearance are requested to inform the Secretary of the Commission, U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, D. C.
20555, Attention: Docketing and Service Section.
Written statements supplementing or in lieu of oral statements may be of any length and will be accepted at any session of the proceeding or may be mailed to the Secretary of the Commission."
I would further note that should Mrs. McNutt propose to have written material incorporated in the record as part of her limited appearance statement, it would be helpful if she ha" on hand at that time extra copies of any such written material to give to the court reporter. About thirty copies should meet the reporter's needs.
Sincerely, 7 Signed) T. A. Rehrt William J. Dircks Acting Executive Director for Operations 1
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From:
Constituent referral from Texas State Senator Ron Clower To:
Carl Kammarer OCA o.t.
3/5/80 subi 1 Fvnrettet ennearn nuer safety nf reactor
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March 5, 1980 Mr. Carlton C. Kammerer, Director Office of Congressional Affairs g t-a p The United States Nuclear Regulatory sh N3 Commission w'
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Washington, D.C. 20555
Dear Mr. Kammerer:
Enclosed for your review is a copy of a letter I have.
received from Senator Ron Clower of Austin, Texas.
I c.y-g would certainly appreciate your sending me any g."g G pertinent information that you might have in this regard.
Thank you for your assistance.
Sincerely, f
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Lloyd Be.
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O ggg.g {${N HUMAN RESOURCES INT E RGOV E RNM ENT AL RON CLOWER RELAfs STATE SENATOR February 21, 1980 StArtA ONS
, AIRS DISTRICT 9 Chairmp' OAL LAS.K LLIS. N AV AR RO.
CONSUMER AFF AIRS LaMESTONE COUNTIES SUB40MMITTEE
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The Honorable Lloyd Bentsen U. S. Senator 912 Federal Building Austin, Texas 75201
Dear Senator Bentson:
I have received a letter from Mrs. Mike W. McNutt, 9950 Burnham, Dallas, Texas, expressing her concern over a v.
nuclear power plant which is being built in GJen Rose, Texas.
Since the licensing and regulation of nuclear facilities is the responsibility of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, an agency of the Federal Government, I am forwarding a copy o f Mrs. McNutt 's letter to you for your consideration.
Please let me know if I may be of service to you in any manner.
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