ML19326D589
| ML19326D589 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Browns Ferry  |
| Issue date: | 06/25/1980 |
| From: | Novak T Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Jureko R AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8007020711 | |
| Download: ML19326D589 (3) | |
Text
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'o UNITED STATES
[.[
k NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION D
E WASHING TON, D. C. 20555 G
8 June 25,1980 f
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Docket Nos. 50-259 50-260 and 50-296 Ms. Ruth C. Jurenko 5715 Criner Road Huntsville, Alabama 35802
Dear Ms. Jurenko:
Reference is made to your letter of April 22, 1980 regarding management of low-level waste at Tennessee Valley Authority's (TVA) Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant. TVA has advised us that "our ultimate objective is to provide for the onsite storage of all low-level radioactive waste generated by each of TVA's nuclear plants and to provide this storage through the plant life." The plan for providing storage for all low-level radioactive waste from all TVA nuclear plants has the following three key points:
1.
Design and construct temporary onsite storage facilities, if required.
2.
Design and construct permanent (life of the plant) onsite low-level radioactive waste storage facilities at each nuclear plant site.
3.
Design and construct low-level radioactive waste volume reduction / solidification facilities at each nuclear plant site.
The first step - design and construction of temporary onsite storage facilities has been co@leted.
In response to TVA's application of January 21, 1980, on March 17, 1980, the staff amended the licensees for Browns Ferry Units 1, 2 and 3 to authorize TVA to store low-level waste onsite for a period of up to two years. The waste to be stored will be primarily dry, cogacted trash with low specific activity.
The waste will be stored in an existing building, located onsite, which has been modified by the addition of concrete curbs, enclosed sumps, steel grating shield walls, and additional security fencing.
By the end of the two year period, TVA is required to remove all the metal drums and containers from the building. Under the provisions of 10 CFR 50.59, TVA has also modified the condenser pullout area adjacent to the east wall of the Unit 3 turbine building to store up to 50 liners containing radioactive spent ion exchange resin. To date, neither of these temporay storage facilities have been used. TVA has been able to ship all low-level waste generated at Browns Ferry to Barnwell, South Carolina for disposal.
t 8007020 N. ]
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. June 25,1980 i
As a Federal agency, TVA is subject to the requirements of NEPA. On February 28, 1980, TVA issued a programatic environmental assessment on their conceptual low-level radioactive waste management plans for Browns Ferry, includhg both long-term storage and eventually volume reduction by incineration. The environmental assessment was prepared tu obtain project approval from the TVA Board of Directors.
We under-stand that you have copies of this assessment.
As you probably noted from the environmental assessment, to implement the long-range plans, TVA proposes to construct two facilities onsite -
a storage facility and a processing facility.
The proposed storage building will be used only for storage of low-level waste which is l
drummed or packaged in the plant.
Aside from handling the containers, there will be no processing or treatment of the waste in the storage l
building. The processing facility would be an addition to the existing Radwaste building and is primarily intended to house a volume reduction and solidification system designed to incinerate low-level waste.
Your letter requested that there be a public hearing and environmental impact statement on.the incineration facility. TVA advises us that their proposal schedule is to cowlete construction of the building by the sumer of 1984 and to have the incinerator operational by 1985.
Comissiion Regulations (10 CFR 20.305) specifically require NRC approval for incineration.
TVA is evaluating several incinerator designs tut they have not requested bids on such equipment. Conse-quently, no target date has been established by TVA for submission of an application for approval of incineration.
When we receive an application regarding incineration, we expect to publish a notice of proposal action pursuant to F 2.105 of the Commis-ssion's regulations.
In a proceeding involving a licensing action, any person such as yourself who can demonstrate that his or her interest may be affected, can request a hearing. Until we receive an application regarding the incineration facility, it would be premature to decide whether an environmental impact statement or environmental inact appraisal is indicated. We expect to perform an environmental assessment which will determine the form in which the evaluation will be issued.
The principal regulations that would be involved in the design of the facility would be the requirements in the Code of Federal Regulations, 10 CFR Part 20, regarding allowable radiation exposures and effluent releases,10 CFR Part 30 regarding licensing of byproduct material and m-
. June 25, 1980 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix A, General Design Criteria 60 and 64. Copies of these NRC regulations are enclosed.
Waste treatment or disposal by incineration is specifically addressed in 10 CFR Part 20.305. Any radio-active relea:es from waste storage facilities would also have to meet the Environmental Protection Agency requirements in 40 CFR Part 190, as well as the Comission's Appendix I to 10 CFR Part 50.
Sincerely, Thomas M. Novak, Assistant Director for Operating Reactors Division of Licensing
Enclosures:
1.
10 CFR Part 50, Appendix 1 O
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April 22, 1980 Mr. Harold R. Denton Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation C. S. Nuclear Regulatory Ccunmission Washington, D. C.
20555
Dear Mr. Denton:
The purpose of this letter is to request that there be a Pablic hearing and environmental impact statment on the proposed $71 million low level waste facility for compaction and incineration of low level waste at the T713rowns Perry Plant.
The Huntsville branch of the American Association of University Women (AADW) has been exploring energy-related issues in a study group called Crosstalk. The members of that group believe that the public, the utility, and the RRC necd a public hearing preceded by an enviromental impact statement before such a facility is experimentally installed at Browns Ferry.
Would you be kind encugh to a end us a copy of the
~
NRC regulations which cover the requirments for com NO3 j
struction and operation of such a facility?
Thank you for your consideration.
Yo'v.ra truly A
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pf QG. (/f>bb cc: Commissioners (Mrs.) Ruth C. 8urenko AADW Crosstalk C,haiman Mailing Addresos Second Vice-President, Alabama Division AAUW 5715 Criner Road Huntsville, AL 35802 1