ML19350B726
| ML19350B726 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | West Valley Demonstration Project |
| Issue date: | 03/13/1981 |
| From: | Rouse L NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| To: | Metzler M AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED |
| References | |
| 81-0190, 81-190, NUDOCS 8103230530 | |
| Download: ML19350B726 (3) | |
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I/g % %k Ms. Marilyn Metzler 8^h 6
Special Energy Project Cattaraugus Community Action, Inc.
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200 Erie Street 4
little Valley, New York 14755
Dear Ms. Metzler:
This is in response to your letter, dated February 18,1981, to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) requesting information on the nuclear wastes at West Valley.
In the discussion below, each of your specific requests is taken in turn:
- 1) " Current legal status of NFS site as it applies to NRC (licensing, etc.)"
The Western New York Nuclear Fuel Services Center facility near West Valley, New York, presently in a shutdown condition, is licensed under 10 CFR 50 as a nuclear fuel reprocessing plant. The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is the owner of the site, assuming the long term responsibility for the site, and co-licensee with the site operator, Nuclear Fuel Services, Inc. (NFS), a subsidiary of the Getty 011 Company.
In 1976, after having previously applied for a new construction permit and full term operating license for plant safety improvements and increased capacity, NFS announced its withdrawal from commercial reprocessing. At that time, NFS agreed that it was appropriate for the NRC staff to cease its review of their application to modify the plant.
You are probably aware of recent NFS/NYSERDA litigation concerning their Lease and Waste Storage agreement and their respective responsibilities for the site. The NRC is not a party to their litigation. The NRC's licensing requirements are independent of and in addition to any lease or other contractual arr:ngements between the two co-licensees. Thus, the terms and canditions of the license remain in effect, as applicable to each of the co-licensees, until any request for modification is approved by the NRC.
- 2) "Information about DOE solidification project including finances, EIS, proposal timetables and plans."
Regarding the high-level waste solidification project plans, the U.S.
Department of Energy (D0E) is the agency delegated by Congress with this responsibility.
I suggest you contact the West Valley Demonstration Project Program Office, Mail Station B-107, NE:323, U.S. Department of Energy, Washington, DC 20545 for this infomation.
'8103230530
Ms. Marilyn Metzler 1,'A l' 1331
- 3) "Information about status and future plans of waste burial grounds" I am enclosing a copy of a description of the waste burial grounds (present status) from the DOE Study on West Valley (TID-28905-3),
which may be of interest to you.
There is ongoing research by U.S. Geological Survey /New York State Geological Survey to examine the long term performance of these burial grounds; this research is being funded by NRC.
There are two burial grounds; one is a New York State-licensed waste burial area and the other an NRC-licensed waste burial area. The State-licensed waste burial area was used for disposal of low-level radioactive solid waste from medical facilities, nuclear reactors and some wastes from the NFS reprocessing plant until it was shut down in 1975. We are not aware of any plans to reopen the State-licensed burial ground.
The NRC-licensed burial area has been used for disposal of certain plant solid wastes f.om the West Valley facility. This burial ground is part of the facilities that will be taken over by DOE for concuct of the high level liquid waste solidification project. We do not yet know of future plans.by DOE for any use of this burial ground.
- 4) "The discussion and possibilities of NFS as an AFR" We are aware that DOE previously has identified West Valley as a candidate site for AFR spent fuel storage because of the existing storage pool. However, because of the waste solidification project, we understand that it is not likely that DOE would propose to Congress use of West Valley for AFR storage. Any further information on this topic should be obtained from DOE.
- 5) " Health information relating to nuclear wastes, including pemissible levels of environmental pollution and known effects of the various wastes being released into the environment."
I am enclosing a copy of Battelle study document on " Preliminary Environmental j
Implications of Alternatives for Mommissioning and Future Use of the Western New York Nuclear Fuel Services Center"'(BMI-X698). A discussion of the
- environmental and health aspects-of current conditions at West Valley can be found in section 3.2 of the document.
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s 3-MAR 1 0 i931 Ms. Marilyn Metzler
- 6) " Notification of all NRC planned meetings about West Valley regionally, state and federally as they apply to information needed by residents of this county"
- 7) "To be placed on NRC's mailing list" As per your request, we have placed your organization on NRC's mailing list, Docket No. 50-201. Through it, you will find the announcements of NRC planned meetings concerning West Valley.
Also, you can find a number of other references on the West Valley facility in the local Public Docun.ent Room in the Town of Concord Public Library, Springville, New York.
Sincerely, eland C. Ro se, Chief Advanced Fuel and Spent ~ Fuel Licensing Branch Division of Fuel Cycle and Material Safety
Enclosures:
1.
TID-29805-3 Description 2.
BMI-X698(Rev.)
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