ML19345D671
| ML19345D671 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane  |
| Issue date: | 12/11/1980 |
| From: | Hovey G METROPOLITAN EDISON CO. |
| To: | Snyder B Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| References | |
| TLL-644, NUDOCS 8012160452 | |
| Download: ML19345D671 (3) | |
Text
,
a Metropoliun Edison Company Post (Mfice Box 480 g
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Middletown, Pennsylvania 17057 717 9444 041 Writer's Direct Dial Number December 11 1980 TLL 644 d
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TMI Programs Office Attn:
Dr. B. J. Snyder, Program Director U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission En Washington, D.C.
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Dear Sir:
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Three Mile Island Nuclear Station, Unit 2 (TMI-2)
Operating License No. DPR-73 Docket No. 50-320 Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement In response to your letters dated October 23 and November 5, 1980, we would offer the following comments:
1.
The comments provided by Senator P. Sarbanes (October 29, 1980) reflect concern in three basic areas. These include:
a) public participation in the review process governing cleanup, b) lack of financial data relative to the various cleanup alternatives, and c) impacts on Maryland drinking water and the Chesapeake Bay.
To the point of public participation, it should be pointed out that over 30 public meetings have been held in Maryland and Pennsylvania to allow public participation in tue review and discovery process. Additionally, a citizen's review committee has been established to provide input into the cleanup process and the EPA has established a review committee composed of distinguished scientists from around the country to provide an independent review of NUREG-0683.
The lack of financial consideration relative to the various decontamination activities is shared by GPU. GPU believes the costs of the alternati're methods should be taken into considsration.
From information provided by the PEIS and those of other commentors, most notably the Maryland Power Plant Siting Program and Dr. P. L. Zubkoff of the Virginia Ins.itute of Marine Science, no impacts on downstream water users or the Chesapeake Bay are anticipated.
[dli 6/O 8 i312 ] O O Nb '/etrocottan Ed son Company is a Memoer of the General Pub 4c UtAt;es Systern
. December 11, 1980 TLL 664 2.
The concern expressed by S. L. Roudebush (October 3, 1980) over the lack of monitoring stations located outside a 15-mile radius around Three Mile Island is unfounded. The TMI Environmental Controls Group maintains monitors out to a distance of 21.0 miles from the site.
It should be pointed out that distances greater than 10-15 miles are considered by EPA and NRC to be natural background monitoring sites, outside the influence of TMI operations. Data obtained in the preoperational monitoring program as well as subsequent annual reports on the radiological contributions from TMI operation support these findings.
Monitoring downstream water users extends 15 miles below TMI.
These stations insure compliance with NRC discharge limits and EPA drinking water standards.
3.
Comments prc ided by the Maryland Fatermen's Association (October 2, 1980) are in part redut lant to other commentors. In response to concerns over the lack of sufficient public meetings and a request for an independent review of the PEIS document, we would reference the responses provided to Senator P. Sarbanes above.
Both the Maryland Power Plant Siting Team which reviewed the PEIS document for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Dr. P. L. Zubkoff of the Virginia Institute of Marine Science have concluded that no impact should be seeain the Chesapeake Bay water quality or fisheries.
GPU acknowledges the public concern over the decontamination process, however, we feel that it should be a source of considerable reassurance that the analysis performed to support the PEIS clearly indicates that the cleanup can be conducted with negligible impact on the public health and safety.
4.
The comments of E. J. Walsh with respect to the health effects of tritium may be responded to by referencing NCRP Report No. 63, "... it is unlikely that tritium in the form of water in the environment from... nuclear installations... would ever produce deleterious, detectable effects."
5.
The resolution adopted by the County Council of Harford County, Maryland (October 21, 1980), references the lack of information on bioaccumulation of released radionuclides. In response, we would refer the council to page 6-28 of the PE7S where a 1% equilibrium between water-food chain is assumed.
Also, tritium is the principal release isotope and does not bioaccumulate or concentrate.to any appreciable extent.
6.
.The Maryland Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (October 10, 1980) has recommended the initiation of a monitoring program in the Susquehanna River downstream of TMI. The TMI Environmental Controls Group maintain water sampling stations (both surface and drinking) to a distance of 15 miles below TMI and 9 miles upstream. Samples are analyzed for tritium, strontium 89 and 90, and cesium 134 and 137. Additionally, aquatic biota are also sampled and analyzed for strontium 89 and 90 and by gamma spectral analysis. Tritium is not analyzed in these samples since it would not be expected to concentrate in these organisms.
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. December U, 1980 TLL 644 j
t 7.
The comments and resolution provided by the Baltimore Regional Planning Council (October 17, 1980) are somewhat contradicting. The comments section
"... supports the PEIS fir. dings..." with a few conditions, i.e., a speedy cleanup, reuse of cleanup water as much as possible, allay public concern, and upgrade the monitoring program downstream of TMI. The resolution then adopted, opposes the release of cleanup water to the Susquehanna River pre-ferring to ignore the comments provided by the Maryland Power Plant Siting Program. In support of the Siting Program's conclusions, we would refer the Council to the comments provided to Senator P. Sarbanes.
I hope you will find this information acceptable and germane to the review process.
Sincerely,
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G.K.oNy i
Vice-President and Director, TMI-2 GKH:GGB: kit cc: John T. Collins 1'
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