ML20002A963
| ML20002A963 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Pilgrim |
| Issue date: | 09/26/1980 |
| From: | Studds G HOUSE OF REP. |
| To: | NRC OFFICE OF CONGRESSIONAL AFFAIRS (OCA) |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8012090255 | |
| Download: ML20002A963 (2) | |
Text
.-
HOU$E CF REFRESENhATIVES, U.S.
e WASHINGTbN, D.C.
- i. -
Septettber~26
, 19 80 i
Respectfully referred to Congressional Liaison
- Nuclear Regulatory Commission 1717 H Street, N.W.
Washington, D. C.
20555 i
i The Congressman would appreciate your response to the attached suggestion that nuclear radia-tion levels be monitored annually in persons living within a five mile radius of a nuclear power plant.
Thank you for your assistance.
4 Andy Schwarz 225-3111 F*ery respectfu: y, t
Gerry E. Studds 12th g,g,, MA X.C.,
l
.so u osva55
8/25/80 The Ecnorable Gerry E. Studds Congress of the United States Ecuse of Representatives Washin6 ten, D.C.
20$15 Lear Congressman Studds:
In thene days of uncertainty with regards to nuclear energy, I would like to see a proposal, supported by yeu, which wculd state; Residents within a $ mile radius of a nuclear power plant, will have the right to have the radiation level in their bodies scnitored annually.
This monitchg device could be jcintly financed by the Govemment and the Electric Company owning the nuclear facility. I believe this veuld serve a double purpose; 1) hesidents close to a nuclear plant eculd have their minds eased as to the safety of nuclear energy and 2) The Electric Company could dispel runors and accusations that nuclear power is unsafe and this could also pave the way for further nuclear expansion.
As a private citizen, I am concerned for my fa=ily as to the effects of livtng within 2 niles of a nuclear plant and I'm sure there is a simple radiation mcuitoring devise that can be inexpensively used, so as we may rerf_ ster the ancunt of radiation in our bodies annually. If our radiation ecunt goes up annually or is abnormally high, then we may have the fore-signt to make the appropiate changes, but this device could possibly dispel all doubts or possioly prevent another ' Love Canal'. Please info:m te of the validity of this proposal.
s 31"C'#'178 am A. Caswell
/
375eaverDan.ddr[
Q@p
'w plyscue, M. D ggg ]g :g0b William A. Caswell L
l
6 DISTRIBUTION:
Central Files PDR (Docket #50-293) y ;n.:...": '.s-...
fy pg SD RDG/ ALPHA LPDR-Pilgrim
.... N i RHS B RDG/SUBJ Docket File (Yellow) u Minogue WDir:ks Smith EDO RDG (#09697) q 9 *_
j Gol1 er SECY 80-1828 (3)
) g
'( g"k g b Gui bert Lunderwood, MPA 64 6
Parsont JHannon, NRR NOV 0S $60 Peterson LSa2P OCA y
gg
- .j The Menorable Gerry E. Studds k
Nh Ntd States House sf5
-M^~
m of Reoresentatives C2-:
ge Washington, D. C.
20515 Eg$
W I
E _=!
- o ca
Dear Congressman Studds:
M ut 0
3 Thank you for forwarding to us the inquiry from your constituent, 'eviliam #
A. Caswell, concerning conitt ring the radiation received oy resicents living near nuclear power plants. While it apoears that Mr. Caswell's princi;;al concern is measuring radioactivity levels in the body, radiation is also received from radioactive materials external to the body.
In fact, in nest instances, external radiation exposure is the greatest contributor to the dose r eceived by individuals.
There is no simole, inexpensive device which would monitor the internal radioactivity levels in residents livina, near nuclear p e er plants, ast excer tence has shown that emissions of radioactive =aterials fro = the o
routine coeration of nuclear peer reactor s are generally too low to result in any measurable increase in the internal r acioactivity levels of nearoy residents.
Internal levels of certain radioactive materials can be monitored by measuring radiation emitted from within th2 cody by a technique known as whole-body counting, requirimj sophisticated, exoensive instrunents.
Such conitoring was done on accroximately 750 residents living within three miles of the Three Mile Island Nuclear Station follwing the 1aren 23,1979 accident.
No abnormal radioactivity levels attributable to radionuclides from either the accident or the normal operation of the 4ree Mile Island clant were found.
There are relatively inexpensive devices that can be used to monitor r adiation doses fror external sources such as rnole gases and other radionuclides.
These devices, call'ed thermoluminescent cosimeters (TLD's), ar e used in the vicinity of nuclear pcwer stations, sucn as the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station, to measure radiation levels around the f acility.
In addition to the ther:ao-luminescent dosimeter s placed by licensees, subsequent to the Til-2 accident the *2C also has increased the number of TLD's that it has placed around ocerating nuclear reactors, including the Pilgrin site.
ather than monitor individual residents, we require nuclear reactor a
licensees to monitor effluents, both orior to release and during release.
We also rea.uire environraental surveillance prograns to measure external doses and the radioactivity levels in air, water, and foods.
A copy of the effluent s<# f h
O- { [
Congressman Studds D**0
- D oc o
o and environmental surveillance recuirements for the Pilgrim Muclear Power Station is enclosed.
The results obtained from the environmental surveillance The local orogram would be available in the local public doctanent ror public document roaa: for the Pilgrim Nuclear Station is locat.ed at:
P1ymouth Public Library North Street Plymouth, Massachusetts 02360 517-746-1923
'ir. Caswell might also be interested in knowing that the issue of r adiation nonitering around nuclear facilities is one of the agenda topics for the Feder al Radiation Policy Council.
A statement of the issues that will be considered in this regard is enclosed.
If Mr. Caswell wishes to provide coments to the Radiation Policy Council he may send them to:
Mr. Carl R. Gerber, Executive Director Radiation Policy Council Staff c/o Office of Science and Technology Policy Executive Office of the President New Executive Office Building Room 3105 Washington, D. C.
20500.
Sincer ely, (Sie;=ed) 2. Kevin 00: nell r William J. Dircks f
Executive Director for Operations Enclasures:
1.
Portions of Pilgrim Technical Soecii, ations (2 copies) 2.
roc Agenda Item RECORD NOTE:
Local Document Room address obtained by telecon with LPDR Br., ADM (10/16/80). Number of people screened by TMI and comments on the whole-body program were confirmed with Dr. R. Gotchy, NRR, the NRC project officer.
That there are NRC TLD's around Pilgrim has been confirmed by telecon with L. Cohen, IE (10/22/80).
7~hC,$f bob 7 C
[,
Task No. J-b x -
DIR:SHSS:SD,.. BOD:_S6
!0IR:SD,;_...d....EQ.Q,M RHSB:
j(A,@PfiSJ:SD onnce,
)Hpet Ql fg l
gQ f
Sua = E *LMAP t
JCGuiber-c XRGotter-.
RGSmith LRBMinocue.--- -1WJDir.cks- - --
Ig/$89 i0/4 /89.
.. 10/gl./.80_.j.10/.T /80....}.10/d 280.
j.1)/.
/. 0 8
mc.
~..._,... m.,m - ~ n,,n
Septa =bar 1972 wz
.b.,b I
fg 6
l A??I:DD: A
_TO FACZ_""Y OP3".AC;G LI:"STSI 0?R-35 TEC'SCCA*, SPECZC.CCN A!!D 3ASE3 7CR FIIO324 NCC'ZA3 PC'4I3 S'_"A"CN FL7KU"'H.
MASSACEUSE"'"S 3CS"tN ED:3CN CCM?.25?
DCCX3*" 270.
50-293 1
DUPLICATE DOCUMENT Entire document previously entered into system under:
hQ ggd Ql)[
ANO No. of pages:
/[)
4
)Y D
3 p >
,,a g /
acam i
-