ML20055D422
| ML20055D422 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 04/29/1987 |
| From: | Harold Denton NRC OFFICE OF GOVERNMENTAL & PUBLIC AFFAIRS (GPA) |
| To: | Bentsen L SENATE |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20055D365 | List:
|
| References | |
| FOIA-TUYL90-36 NUDOCS 9007060287 | |
| Download: ML20055D422 (3) | |
Text
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APE 2 9 tyy J
The Honorable Lloyd Bentsen United States Senator l
961 Federal Building i
Dear Senator Bentsen:
We are pleased to respond to your letter of March 16, 1987 to Secretary Herrington, U.S. Department of Energy which has been referred to this office for reply. The letters from Ms. Agnes Lyssy and Ms. Jo Ann Lyssy are concerned with the conoco-Conquista mill tailings site near Falls City Texas.
This tailings site is regulated by the State of Texas. Texas is an Agreenent State and as such the NRC has relinquished its authority to the State and the State exercises regulatory control over such activitics thrcugh State statute and regulations. Each agreement with a State provides that the State will u:e its best efforts to maintain continuing compatibility with the Nuclear Regulatory Comission program.
The NRC maintains a continuing relationship with each Agreement State to assure continued compatibility of the State's regulatory program and iti; adequoi.y to protect health and safety. The Nuclear Regulatory l
Comission conducts periodic onsite program reviews of the State's radiation control program under the agreement and provides training a,nd, 4
technical assistance to the States.
l Based on other correspondence we received concerning the Conoco tailings, the NRC staff reviewed the regulatory activities of the Texas Health Department pertaining to the conoco-Conquista site. Based upon our examination of the facts, we made two recomendations to Dr. Bernstein, Comissioner, Texas Department of Health. A copy of our L
letter to Dr. Bernstein is enclosed.
l In sumary, we recomended that Texas prepare a written safety and environnental assessment of the tailings pond as a basis for deciding whether or not the current and pro.iected licensed activities at the conoco-Conquista site should be permitted and, if so, under what
.;onditions or restrictions, and that this assessment should be initiated in the near future and not be delayed until the Mtter of license renewal is taken up. We also recomend that the licensee should have a State approved reclamation and stabilization plan and adequate surety prior to Texas approving an application for transfer of the existing license to a new owner.
9007060287 900515 PDR FOIA VAN TUYL90-36 PDR
' 4' The Honorable Lloyd Bentsen 7
Ue believe if Texas adopts these reccmendations, the concerns expressed by your constituants would be addre: sed.
i 51ncer*1y, Harold R. Denton, Director Office of Governmental and Public Affairs Enciesure:
As stated 5
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Department of Energy Washington, DC 20586 MAR ~ 2 i 1987 D
_ Honorable Lloyd Ben en p
L United States sen or 961 Federal Bui ing
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Dear Senator Bentsen:
This vill acknowledge your recent letter in which you referred a letter from your constituents:
j Mrs. Agnes L,yssy and Ms. JoAnn Lyssy Route 2, Box 63A l
Falls City Texas 78113 Because the subject of-your constituents' letter does not fall within the 4
purview of the Department of Energy, we have forwarded your letter to:
ll Mr. Frank Ingram Assistant to the Director Office of Public Affairs Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C..
20555 ll.
Sincerely, L il*6k+L !
fl4Ly t<.
L-Bonnie Betancourt Director of Special Projects office of the Executive Secretariat
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