ML19340E917
| ML19340E917 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 07000754 |
| Issue date: | 12/30/1980 |
| From: | Rouse L NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| To: | Morse S CALIFORNIA, STATE OF |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8101160236 | |
| Download: ML19340E917 (3) | |
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
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DEC 3 01980 Docke No.
0-754
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4 Mr. Stephen Morse
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Area Engineer v
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California Regional Water Quality Control Board 4
E75l San Francisco Bay Region j
C 7S i6 1111 Jackson Street, Room 6040
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Oakland, California 94607
Dear Mr. Morse:
This is in response to your letter of October 24, 1980 regarding the General Electric Company's (GE) Vallecitos Nuclear Center.
Your inquiry referenced an earlier letter dated May 30, 1980 and I regret that we did not acknowledge your request for consideration of the referenced Board resolution. We did review the resolution and discussed pertinent points with staff members of our Office of Inspection and Enforcement, Region V and with a representative of General Electric.
More recently, we have again initiated discussions with GE concerning the renewal of License No. SNM-960, which has been on inactive review status pending conclusion of site seismic evaluations. With respect to l
your particular interest, we specifically discussed the radiological environmental monitoring program conducted by GE for the Vallecitos site.
We have asked GE to review its program for possible revision, taking into account the Board resolution concerning the scope and frequency of environmental samplvig and measurements and co appropriately reflect present and projected future operations. A review of this proposed program will be an integral part of our environmental assessment in connection with our evaluation for renewal of SNM-960, and any license issued will include conditions for conduct of the accepted program. We expect to complete our evaluation by mid-1981, but any proposed renewal may be subject to a public hearing under NRC procedures.
Our review of the environmental monitoring program will include consultation with you and members of the California State Department of Health Services.
With respect to the latter, we have suggested to GE that the proposed radiological environmental monitoring program also be submitted to that l
agency for consideration in connection with the California radioactive l
materials license held by GE for its Vallecitos activities.
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o DEC 3 01980 Mr. Stephen Morse With respect to tritium levels in discharged industrial waste water from the Vallecitos Nuclear Center, by letter dated April 23, 1980 to Mr. R. H. Engelken, Director of the NRC Region V Office, from r
Mr. R. W. Darmitzel, Manager, Irradiation Processing Operation, GE
- J comitted to limiting'the concentration of tritium to an annual average to 20,000 picocuries per liter in accordance with a similar
& mmitment made to the Board. We understand that GE will continue comitment through incorporation in its proposed radiological
.ironmental monitoring program.
With respect to independent NRC audits and sampling, the NRC has in l
its regulations (10 CFR 70.56, Tests) the provision that "each licensee shall perform or permit the Commission to perform such tests as the Commission deems appropriate or necessary...". The Commission, therefore, has the option to audit, sample and analyze as they determine necessary.
We understand a similar provision is contained in the California licensing regulations. Generally, our procedure is to have the licensee perform the necessary tests.
Periodically, the testing and the results are audited by NRC inspectors.
In cases where spurious, abnormal or questionable results are observed or when confirmation of the licensee's results are F
considered advisable, the NRC conducts independent testing.
There p
have been several instances when independent sampling and analysis L
has been performed by the NRC for GE Vallecitos activities with j:
satisfactory results.
The need for future independent audits and sampling will be determined by our Region V Office, taking into g
account the Board's concerns, past performance of the licensee and i
the scope of site activities.
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If you have any further questions regarding this matter, please contact me (301-427-4205).
Sincerely,
[
N Leland C. Rouse, Chief Advanced Fuel and Spent Fuel Licensing Branch
- 3 Division of Fuel Cycle and L
Material Safety L
Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards d
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cc: Mr. Herbert Book USNRC, Walnut Creek Mr. Joseph 0. Ward E
CSDHS, Berkeley Mr. Robert W. Darmitzel GE-VNC Mr. Gene Cunningham GE-VNC a
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