ML19322B443

Responds to Re Circumstances of 770117 Unplanned Release of Contaminated Water to Keowee River. Describes Event in Detail

ML19322B443
Person / Time
Site:	Oconee
Issue date:	03/17/1977
From:	Higginbotham L NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE)
To:	Drey K AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED
Shared Package
ML19322B445	List: ML19322B443 ML19322B448
References
NUDOCS 7912030285
Download: ML19322B443 (2)

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c-MAR 1 1977 ~

Mrs. Leo A. Drey

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515 West Point Avenue N

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University City, Missouri 63130 Deer Mrs. Drey:

TourletterofFebruary25,d9/77concerningareleaseofradioactivity from the Duka Power company's Oconee plant was referred to me.

Ihaveenclosedasummaryofthe[circumarancesandeventsrelatingto the unplatmed release of contaminated water to the Keowee River on January 17, 1977. The' discussion in the enclosure prov6 des answers'to your questions, but there are some points I can clarify.

Question.

Coui,' you please tall me the measured amounts of radioactive materials that were discharged into the Knowee and Hartwell lakes, and.

then into the Keowee River?

Answer.

(The path was actually into the Keoc e. River which flows into Hartwell Reservoir. Keowee Lake is upstream of tb plant discharge.)

The amount of radioactivity entering the river during the period of the release is estimated to be about 3.22 curies of fission and activated corrosion products; iodine-131 comprised about about 84 percent of the total amount, or about 2.7 curies.

(Iodine-131 was the radioisotope of more important concern from a public health perspective.)

Question. Is it true that the contaminated water entered the Clemson, South Carolina water supply? If so, what was its path after that?

Answer. Yes, because the source of Clemson's water supply is the Keowee River. The path after entering the water supply is, of course,

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to public and industrial uses, af ter being processed and tested for public.consumpties according to applicable health regulations.

(The enclosure points out that the concentration of iodine-131 in the river, and thus the water supply,-presented no public health hazard.)

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a Question.(Couldyou~pleashtellmeLtheesumeoftha' occurrence?

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u, Answer. The answer la co.ntafand in the first. paragraph of the enclosure, so I'll not repeat,it hereL p

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Mrs. Leo A. Drey g)g y 7 7977 I appreciate your concern with occurrences like this.

I hope this information will be of some help in your understanding of both the occurrence and its significance.

You may addreas future questions relating to matters like this to the Director, Office of Inspection and Enforcement Nuclear Regulatory

- Commission, Washington, D. C., 20555.

Sincerely, Leo B. H4==4=botham, Chief Safety and Environmental Programa Branch Office of Inspection and Enforcement Enclosures Summgry Report bec: w/ incoming, w/o enclosure (Encl same as w/ltr to Sen. Hollings)

J.G. Davis H.D. Thornburg D. Thompson N.C. Moseley

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