ML19345C510
| ML19345C510 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Allens Creek File:Houston Lighting and Power Company icon.png |
| Issue date: | 11/26/1980 |
| From: | Black R NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE LEGAL DIRECTOR (OELD) |
| To: | Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19345C506 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8012050405 | |
| Download: ML19345C510 (4) | |
Text
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'V UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMISSION 11/26/80 BEFORE THE ATOMIC SAFETY AND LICENSING BOARD
- In the Matter of
)
)
HOUSTON LIGHTING & POWER COMPANY
)
Docket No. 50-466
)
(Allens Creek Nuclear Generating
)
Station, Unit 1)
-)
NRC STAFF'S STATEMENT OF MATERIAL FACTS AS TO WHICH THERE IS N0 GENUINE ISSUE TO BE HEARD The following is a statement of the material facts with respect to the con-solidated contention on the NEPA impacts of low level radiation which the Staff contends there is no genuine issue to be heard.
1.
In order for the NEPA balancing of costs and benefits to be altered by health effects considerations, the NRC models used to calculate potential somatic effects (cancer) and genetic effects would have to seriously under-estimate the risks.
2.
The BEIR Committee is generally regarded as one of the most outstanding groups of experts on the medical and biological risks of radiation exposure.
3.
The BEIR Committee has considered and discredited most of the studies that have criticized the conventional wisdom regarding radiation bio-effects.
4.
The BEIR III Report can be considered the latest authoritative guidance or best scientific evidence' available with respect to health effects from radiation exposure.
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2-5.
The validity of the health effects models used by the NRC can be oetermined by a comparison with the BEIR III. Report.
6.
The BEIR III Report (1980) indication of the most probable risk values are onij slightly lower than those currently used by the NRC Staff and thus.
1 confirm the validity of the NRC health effects models.
7.
The NRC health effects models tend to upperbound (overestimate) the attual risk from ' exposure to low level and low LET radiation.
8.
With respect to exposures to individuals, the health risks are proportional to Appendix I doses.
9.
Appendix I design objective doses to individuals are 5 mrem / year (or less) to the total body or 15 mrem / year (or less) to any organ.
10.
Using the NRC health effects models, the lifetime cancer mortality risk per-year of exposure at Appendix I dose levels is less than one chance in a million, as compared to an avcrage annual risk of mortality on the order of 14 chances in 1,000.
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- 11. People are exposed to normal ' variations in background radiation exposure in the U.S. (80 mrem / year to 200 mrem / year) that are 1,000% or more in excess of the Appendix I~ design objective levels.
'- 12. Since background radiation accounts for a few percent or less of the total lifetime risk of cancer death (cancer accounts for about 20% of the total lifetime risk or mortality), the overall risk of cancer mortality would j
not be significantly changed by exposures at Appendix I levels.
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- 13. A reasonable estimate of the cumulative dose to the U-S. population from LWRs operating at Appendix I objectives is about 100 person-rem.
1 14.
Current health effects models would predict on the order of 0.01 potential cancer death among the entire U.S. population during the remainder of their lives.
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15.
If 220 million people lived in the U.S. and were continuously exposed to the radioactivity released from 100 large LWRs for the life of those plants (about 30 years / plant), about 40 people might die from cancer due to the operation of the LWRs among 4.4 million people who would die from cancer due to all other causes (i.e., about 0.0009% of the total from all other causes).
- 16. The collective risk of a genetic defect occurring during the next 5 i
generations is about twice that of the risk of cancer mortality but would be relatively insignificant compared to the current estimated risk of about 6% per generation from all other causes.
- 17. Risks to plants and animals from radiation exposures have been shown to be of secondary importance relative to man.
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18.
Health risks to present day. populations from cancer an'd to future generations from genetic effects associated with normal operations (Appendix I levels) of large LWRs in the U.S. are insignificant relative to naturally occurring events.
- 19. The de minimus nature of Appendix I health risks cannot significantly affect the NEPA cost-benefit balance and result in an unfavorable NEPA conclusion regarding the construction of the facility.
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