ML19319A782

Forwards Info Re NRC Mission & Facility Accidents in Response to Encl to DOE Forwarding Encl Constituent 771215 Inquiry

ML19319A782
Person / Time
Site:	Oconee
Issue date:	03/09/1978
From:	Dircks W NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO)
To:	Thurmond S SENATE
References
NUDOCS 7912120646
Download: ML19319A782 (9)

Text

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Distribution, q

e E. V. Gossick, EDL_/

ED0 Central Files

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W. J. Dircks, ED0 IE Reading File i

E. Volgenau, IE ED0 Reading File yd,f0f J. G. Davis, IE E. L. Jordan, X00S:IE R. C. Paulus, X005:IE L. N. Underwood, X005:IE ib-(H6-1630-H6)

G. Ertter (EDO -3283)

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SECY (3)(78-0245) hD OCA (3)

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IF Files (3)

The Hcnorable Stron Thurmond United States Senate Washington, D.C.

20S10

Dear Senator Thurmond:

This letter relates to your referral to the Department of Energy of an inquiry from your constituents, Everett and Grace Laitala. The Dcoart: tent of Er.argy forwarded your referral to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

I at: pleased to provida you with information relating to the mission of the Nuclear P.cgulatory Co=fssion, accidents at nuclear power plants, and the Oconee Nuclear Station.

Informtion relating to each of these

r. attars is erclosed. Your constituents appear to be concerned about the environnental impact of nuclear power reactors, particularly the Oconee Nuclear Station located near Clemson, South Carolina. There-fore, the er. closed info mation is directed toward these sub,jects.

I trust the enclosed inforniation is responsive to your request.

Please let me know if I can be of further assistance.

Sincerely.

.r.=

Enclosures:

(Seenextpage)

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SEE PREVIOUS YELLOW FCR CONCURRENCES 3/ /78 i

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/78 NRC F4RM lie ($46) NRCM 0240 1If u. s. eovammessur perwri e orpies, ism. us ess

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The Honorable Strom Thurmond 2-

Enclosures:

1. -Mission of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission w/ encl, "1976 NRC Annual Report" 2.

Nuclear Accidents w/encls, (a) Appendix 5 to Regulatory Guides 4.2 ar.d (b) Evaluation of environmental impact for postulated acci-dents FES - Oconee 3.

Oconee Nuclear Station w/ encl Ltr dtd 3/24/77 to Sen. Thurmond Ltr dtd 3/29/77 to Duke Power Co.

Ltr dtd 3/31/77 to Duke Power Co.

with IE Investigation Report Ltr dtd 4/20/77 to NRC from Duke Power Co. with attachments A through F Ltr dtd 6/13/77 to Duke Power Co.

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J Mission of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission The NRC is charged by law with four areas o.f responsibility with respect to civilian nuclear activities:

Protection of the public health and safety Protection of environmental quality Safeguarding nuclear material and facilities Assuring conformity with antitrust laws.

To accomplish its mission, NRC maintains a broad prograia of standards-setting and rulemaking, technical reviews and studies, licensing actions, inspection and enforcement, evaluation of operating experience, and regulatory research.

A description of NRC prograns is contained in the U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Annual Report for 1976, a copy of t-which is enclosed.

Chapter 4 of the 1976 Annual Report addresses the preservation of environmental quality and describes NRC programs and requirements placed on licensees in this area.

This section of the report also discusses the interface between NRC and EPA.

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Nuclear Accidents In its evaluation of the environmental impact of major nuclear facilities pursuant to the provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the NRC analyzes postulated accidents from operation of the facili-ties. ' In the consideration of the environmental risks associated with the postulated accidents at nuclear power reactors, the probabilities of the accidents occurrence and their consequences must both be taken into account.

Since it is.not practicable to consider all possible accidents, the spectrum of accidents is divided into classes ranging from trivial to very serious.

For nuclear power reactors, the classes of accidents are as follows:

1.

Trivial accidents 2.

Small releases of radioactive materials outside containment 3.

Radioactive waste system failures 4.

Radioactive fission products to the primary coolant of a

. boiling water reactor 5.

Radioactive fission products to the primary and secondary systems of a pressurized water reactor 6.

Accidents occurring during refueling operations 7.

Accidents occurring during handling of spent reactor fuel 8.

Loss of coolant accidents, steamline breaks and accidents with similar consequences 9.

Accidents involving sequences of postulated successive failures more severe than Class 8 The postulated accidents are discussed in more detail in Appendix 5 to Regulatory Guide 4.3, " Preparation of Environmental Reports for Nuclear Power Stations". A copy of Appendix 5 is enclosed.

The Final Enviromnental Statement Related to the Operation of the Oconee Nuclear Station Units 1, 2 and 3 was issued by the Atomic Energy Commission (predecessortoNRC)inMarch1972. This report contained an evaluation of the environmental impact from postulated accidents involving the Oconee plant. A copy of this portion of the Final Environmental Statement is enclosed.

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Oconee Nuclear Station

.The Oconee Unit No.1 reactor experienced a leak of radioactively contaminated water in January 1977, resulting in a release to the Keowee River.

The NRC concluded that this release was insignificant from the public health perspective.

Nevertheless, there was substantial public concern about the release and its possible effects, particularly from members of the public residing in the area of Clemson, South Carolina.

This public concern was due to the fact that the potable water supply for the town of Clemson -is drawn from the Keowee River downstream from the Oconee site.

Because of the public concern, news releases were made by NRC and Duke Power Company.

In addition, Duke Power Company officials met with about 200 citizens to discuss the radioactive release.

Represen-tatives of NRC, Environmental Protection Agency and the State of South Carolina attended the meeting.

On March 22, 1977, the NRC responded to an inquiry from Senator Thurmond regarding the release of radioactive w&ter from the Oconee Nuclear

- Station.

Copies of that correspondence and follow-up documents provided to Senator Thurmond are enclosed.

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2Cnited E9!alec Senale W A.sHtN 0?ohe. D.C. 2;1'O January 3, 1978

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FE: Enclosed Correspcndence D

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TO:Dr. John M. Deutch, Director Designate U"

DEPARDF.5T OF DZFGY -

217 Old B:ccutive Office Eniwng 17th and Pennsylvania Avenue, W Washington, D. C.

20500 Sir:

The attached is respectfully referred to you for such censideration as it may dereon in duplicate,

warrant and for a report ti o

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if possible.

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response to ny 9:nst5:!.uent provide a pre.mpt W

FLE.*.SE ddT*JRN is greatly appreciated.

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THIS CORR 55F:NEENCE 'CTH 'l UC Very truly,

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P.? f c M % s Stron Thurr.cnd

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Washington, D.C. 20545 oo FEB c 1970 Honorable Strcm Thurncrd United States Senate Washington, D.C.

20510

Dear Senator Thurnend:

Reference is rade to your recent referral regarding an inquiry frcm your constituents, Dierett and Grace Iai*A.

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Wp have reviewed your referral and believe it relates to a l

prp fer which the following agency has respcnsibility:

1 Mr. Carlton Ka: merer, Director i

Office of Congress 1cratl Affairs Nuclear Pagulatory Cc:nnission

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1717 H Street, N.W.

Washington, D.C.

20555 i

l We are, by ecpy of this letter, referring your M. iry to

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that agency for apprcpriate acticn.

Further irgiries of l

2 this nature shculd be sent to the above adfre.ss.

If we can be of further assistance, please conta:t us.

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l Frederick P. Hit:

Director of Ccngressrral Affairs

Enclosure:

Incaming correspondence cc:

N'che Fogulatory Cennicsion m

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112 Ecowee Tra t1

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Decenher 15, 1977 s

Pres! dont Jirr:y Carter

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20$00 Caar Frosident Carter:

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h'1111am Rowe of EPA I un'arsta:,d that Willian Fowo heads up tle radiation testing pregra Me shculd b3 v:Md to rasi.3n and put in sonet.ne v. ora cor.pctent to do the job of everr.icht

'.n thi s extror.61y sensitivo ar a.

fersonally we th ink a

this resvnsi':131ty sho :1d be dologstad to cn independent ressarch croup with abrelutely no connecticn to any enorr.y interests.

I h1ve rend that noney was ; rnntai te

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Ecyc fcr the sxfansicn of the test.ing pragran, but just ebe :t all of it on fed up in csy : sires for the a ml.yees in his Cupsrt.-art.

Th -e Sne n t o b' a.re

• .nc 1sck o f t ru s tr *.y the users of ele-c tricit

,q =me rs t e d ' ru c le'.r nexq a, in th, r.On r2spe.7si513 fo r te s t in,3 for radia=

tien.

1M y sr2 1.co clocaly tied to the utility :capnies..Psrticu-1arly in tho?e arens -e7rs asta is bain. storad to cane. city, or whe ro co-csilad "-inne,221dwts"

".m ov.trrinc.

To r:.a ss th,.ma he a d inr, u p these tasting v crv s ".r3 sua.h *!?.dicated 'roponSts o f nuclear power thst they..rc ne t, tco tr'st'.:o rth'y in ralassine the facts.

1.'e live nr.r the Ocence **ucinar ?c.er 3% tion, owned by Euka Tc: or Cor.,9ny, which ecm s to hnvn a ge rd ':it o.f difficulty in running their olant.

Lc.r t s r'ar c.t lanst $7,El cellons of radic ae ni va water,,,

drained fron 2 ren ator shut dc~n fo r ra anti s, escscad into the lee wY c'c

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providas ustar to 01msc~n tiniversity. (12,030 student s )

Gas or two of their reactors nre always shut down for rero. irs, and th ) cost of our power gna c n cc.1 : te tly.

They are new askint'.ror an incranse in rates, wh'ch I 9uspect 'n due to the luck of efficisney in opersting their nuclear cower al mt.

W hope permissir_n is never Branted then to build ano the r on.

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Just t' sis W Mk, a t Wtarford, Conn., a plcnt owed by ortheast fewer, had t,:o n: plosions with sn nec27e of radio sctiva.,s s.

Of crurse

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the o r 2 s s r ele ?.31 0111od it s. "m.inor uccident.'

I cop 3 the restdents in tha't area have con 91cta confidence in the ra.'crt that will be made by EF A, bu t T ra t'.er loub t it.

Sin:cr21y, 6M...J % A+L 1.'ve r? t t en d G r:c e Laitc.11' cc: f.9r.a.te r Stron n urroud Senator Fr* tn Hollinga 1 0

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NRC SEC[ETARIAT

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Commissioner

' Date XE Ex.c. oir./oper.

O c n. couns :

C Cong. Li.ison O soiicitor O secretary O Public Aff. irs O

incoming:

Senator Strom Thurmand From: Const4 tuent referral of Everett & Grace Laita' a (Referred to NRC by DOE)

To: OCA via DOE DOE transferral o,te sue dated 2/9/78 Exp,.ct:ressino concern over nuclear power esp.

Duke's Occonee P1 ant. (Error.eousiy charaes EPA with effluent release responsibilities)

M Prepare reply for signature of:

O ca.irm n 0 comm.ssioner _

. XM ogcC. ct. sot. PA, sECY L

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O sign.tur. biock omitt.a L) 0 t>)V O n turn origin.i or incoming witn respons.

0 For eirect rea'v' Suinense: March 8 O For.ppropri.t..crion O Forinformation E

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Cpys to: OCA to Acknowledge.

For tne Commission:

Combs

• send tnree (3, copies of reply to secy Mail Facslity Nac42 ACTION SLIP s

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Ch O CIF 01 W ASMar GrcN. D.C. 20510 January 3, 1978 PE: Enclosed Correspondence TO:Dr. John M. Deutch, Director Designate DEPAP3NEhT OF ENERGY 217 Old Executive Office Building 17th and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW . Washington, D. C. 20500 Sir: The attached is respectfully referred to you for such consideration as it may ~ warrant and for a report thereon.in duplicate, if Possible. S. -> ~- icur as s is tance in er.ablin:~me z-:J.. t ~ "m .=. provide a prompt response te m* -ins :P_uent 9? is greatly appreciated. DLEASE &ETUEN T.u. t..; L' O. '.u' " ~..." '_ "".. : ',' C N ". ". '."_"v.. 0." r. V.. Very truly, s e* Myuw~% CM%T%&y;D Y ~". a r r.c n d Strem United States Ser.ater ST/ xi

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9 ~ .l$ ' r i Department of Energy i Washington, D.C. 20545 FEB e 1970 Honorable Strtrn Thurmond United Stated Senate Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Senator Thurnend:

Reference is : ade to your recent referral regarding an inquiry frcm your constituents, Everett and Grace Iaitala. I We have reviewed your referral and believe it relates to a y@ain for which the following agency has responsibility: 1 i Mr. Carlton Kantnerer, Director Office of (bngress'ional Affairs 3 Nuclear Regulatory Ormission 1717 H Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20555 s We are, by copy of this letter, referring your irqairy to i I that agency for appropriate action. Further irgairies of this nature should be sent to the above address. If we can be of further assistance, please contact us. Sincerely, ~ Frederick p. Hitz Director of Congressional Affairs

Enclosure:

Inccrni:xJ correspendence cc: htclear Pegulatory Cxmission l _W4Aer-y-g-a qw.m mawM M = - -' ,---em----+4wm

i,, 7 ~ ~ 112 Keowee Trail 0g36 Cl rson, S.C. 29631 bg\\ ~ r December 15, 1977 s fresident Jinny Carter -obito Houso Washington, D.C. 20$00 Daar Trosident Carter: Ee: Willian Rowe of EPA I understand that Willian Eowe heads up tre radiation testing progran, He shculd be asked to r3 sign and put in sonsone r. ora cot.petent to do the job of oversicht in thia extronnly sensitive araa. Personally we think this restonsibility should be delegated to cn independent research Group with absolutely no connectlen to any energy interests. I have read that r.oney was.rsnted te Mr. Eove for the expansien of the tes ting program, but just c5 cut n11 of it ended up in sy raises for the emol:yees in his dopsrtrert. The-e scers to b3 a rewinc lack of trust hy the users of electricity ganersted by nucler.r pcwen, in tha non r3spe.7sible for testing for radia-tic 7. They sre too closely tied to the utility companies. .Particu-larly in tho re arc 2s whars waste is balne storad to ca.oscity, or who rs co-eslied ".inor s:cidants" n m o scurrine. Forhaps th a r.en he a d lng up the se te s ting nrrerars '.r3 auch indicated nrogonants of nuclear power thst they are not tco trustuorth'y in calessine the facts. Ye Itve necr the fcence ru: lear Fever Strition, owned by Luke Pcxer Con,9ny, which sonns to hnvm a gc od Sit of difficulty in running their olant. Last 3 rine nt 13nst $3,300 cellons of radio activ wster,, dra inod f ron a rea ctor sh'ut down ' fo r re onirs, escsoed into the 1ske which providos ustar to Clense'n University. (12,030 student s ) One or two cf their rc9ctors are always shut down for rensirs, and di) coat of our power goe s uo cons tsn tly. They are new askin6.for nn increase in rates, wh'ch I suspect is ius to the lack of efficiency in opersting their nuclear cower pisnt. We hope permissicn is never granted then to build anoth7r on*, Just this w ek, at 7tterford, Conn., a pl:nt' owned by Northeast fewer, hid two explosions with an nscape of radio sativa r,ss. Of ccurse the cre'ss releasa es11od it a

• minor uccident."

I cop 3 the restdents in that area hsve con?leta confidence in the report that will he made by EF4, bu t I rather doubt it. Sinecroly, ^ h Ad'. hus Y Everett and Gra:e Laitcla' cc: Senator Strom Thurmond Senatcr Fritz Hollings 's p .s WAJ u L,. N t. ~ _.. ~ _ - _ - ~ ~}}