ML20002C166

Ack Receipt of 801110 Ltr Transmitting Suppl to Draft Eis. Provides Detailed Comments on Sections Re Groundwater & Uncertainties.Finding of Lewis Rept W/Respect to Uncertainty in Risk of Reactor Accidents Should Be Discussed in Fes

ML20002C166
Person / Time
Site:	Summer
Issue date:	01/05/1981
From:	Rathlesberger INTERIOR, DEPT. OF
To:	Schwencer A Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
ER-80-1338, NUDOCS 8101090497
Download: ML20002C166 (2)

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United States Department of the Interior

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/ OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY k WASHINGTON, D.C. 20240 ER-80/1338 JAN 5 1981 Mr. A. Schwencer, Chief Licensing Branch No. 2 Division of Licensing Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555

Dear Mr. Schwencer:

Thank you for your letter of Movember 10, 1980, transmitting copies of a supplement to the draft environmental statement, operating license stage, for the Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Station, Unit 1, Fairfield County, South Carolina.

Groundwater for the evaluation of the consequences of core-melt accidents, groundwater travel times to the-Broad--River-are estimated to range from 1,140 years in the overburden soils to 7.4 years in the fractured media; the derivation 02 these estimates should be given.

The site area is drained by a number of small channels leading to deeply encised valleys downstream from the site. These channels, either directly tributary to the Broad River or indirectly via Freese Creek and Mayo Creek, are shown as ephemeral in the site area on the Jenkinsville, South Carolina, 7.5-minute topographic map (U.S. Geological Survey, 1969) but, subsequent to the filling of Monticello Reservoir, sustained flow in some or all of these channels appears likely due to the probable rise in groundwater levels. In the event of a core-melt accident, contaminated groundwater from the site would be likely to first reach surface waters in these small channels west and south of the reactor.

It appears that this has been ignored in the estimates of travel times of contaminants to the Broad River. The derivation of these estimates should be made available for review prior to issuance of the final environmental statement.

l Uncertainties This section enumerates "Some of the more significant findings..."

! from the Lewis Report. However, the three findings summarized on page 6-21 excl'ude the final finding of that report which is:

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That finding appears particularly pertinent to the discussion heading. The finding of the Lewis Report that there is a wide band of uncertainty in the risk of reactor accidents should be discussed in the final statement.

i.'e hope these comments will be helpful to you in the preparation of a final statement.

Sincerely, f f

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