ML20062J462
| ML20062J462 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane  |
| Issue date: | 10/03/1980 |
| From: | Dircks W NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | Metzenbaum H SENATE |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8010280072 | |
| Download: ML20062J462 (4) | |
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i DISTRIBUTION:
Docket No. 50-320 RHVollmer NRC PDR t;/ incoming Dross LocaLPDR w/ incoming SHanauer ACRA w/ incoming FSchroeder
'I OCT 3 1980 TMIPO r/f w/ incoming Attorney, ELD NRR r/f WDooly I
TMI Site r/f w/ incoming GErtter (ED0# 9521)
BJSnyder SCavanaugh Docket No. 50-320 JTCollins HThompson w/ incoming HRDenton RWeller w/ incoming EGCase Olynch The tionorable Howard M. Metzenbaum BGrimes LBell w/ incoming United States Senate DEisenhut Washington, G. C.
20510
Dear Ser,
ator Metzenbaum:
I am writing in response to your note of August 18, 1980, to the Nuclear Regulatory Comission regarding the letter of July 2,1980, from your constituent, Ms. Frix.
Ms. Frix expressed concern about the purging of radioactive krypton gas (krypton 85) from the Three Mile Island Unit 2 reactor building.
Based upon information contained in a newspaper article (attached to her letter) from the San Francisco Examiner, Ms. Frix questions the safety of the purging operations. Additionally, Ms. Frix questions why the purge was not being con-dacted over a planned time frame of 60 to 90 days which, she assumed the only safe manner for conducting the purge.
With regard to Ms. Frix's concerns about the purging of radioactive krypton gas from the TMI Unit 2 reactor building, the NRC staff evaluated various alternative methods for disposition of the krypton gases, including a slow purge, fast purge, cryogenic processing, selective absorption, charcoal adsorption, and other alternatives. The staff's discussion of alternatives and detailed evaluation and recomendation for dealing with the reactor building atmosphere is contained in NUREG-0662, " Final Environmental Assessment for Decontamination of the Three Mile Island Unit 2 Reactor Building Atmosphere" (Volumes 1 and 2). A copy of this report is inclosed for your i nformation.
From the staff's evaluation process have emerged the following concirsions:
-- The potential physical health impact on the public of using gy, of the proposed strategies for removing the krypton-85 is negligible.
-- The potential psychological impact is likely to grow the longer it takes to reach a decision, get started, and complete the process.
-- The purging method is the quickest and the ',afest for the workers on Three Mile Island to accomplish.
-- Overall, no significant environmental impact would result from use of l
an of the alternatives discussed in the Assessment.
Concerning the question of the 60 to 90 day period for the purge, Ms.-Frix refers to just one, namely the slow purge method, of several purge alternatives considered by the staff in NUREG-0662.
In this report, the staff recommended that the TMI-2 reactor building be purged in a controlled manner assuming that the purge would be.
conducted in accordance with the existing plant. effluent release Technical Specifi-cations (the slow purge method). The time frame estimated to complete the purge omcc)
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4 under the limiting noble gas effluent release rate conditions of the Technical Spec-ifications and anticipated meteorological conditions was 60 days. The existing Tech-
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nical Specifications would not permit higher noble gas release rates (the fast purge method) to take advantage of favorable meteorological conditions (e.g. high winds).
Recognizing the desirability of completing the purge in a pronpt but safe manner to provide needed access to the reactor building and to minimize the psychological stress associated with this action, the Nuclear Regulatory Commis:1on approved the staff recournendation but in a manner which would minimize the total time required to com-plete the purge.
On June 12, 1980, the Commission issued an Order for Temporary Hodification of License authorizing controlled purging of the krypton-85 from the reactor building atmosphere. This order revised the Technical Specifications to express effluent release rate limitations in terms of off-site doses so that the time required to complete the purge would not be unnecessarily delayed.
In a separate Memorandum, and Order, also issued on June 12, 1980, the Comission discussed rationale for their decision. Copies of both Comission issuances are enclosed. Actual purging operations began on June 28, 1980, and were completed on July 11, 1980. The doses resulting from the purge were well within those predicted in Section 7.1 of Volume 1 of HRC's Final Environmental Assessment.
Ms. Frix also questions the accuracy of measurements (e.g. curie release rate) during the conduct of the purge. The 2000-4000 Curie per day Kr-85 release rate cited in the newspaper article is the range for anticipated releases. Releases are cepenaent on the variable meteorological conditions and will vary from day to day.
Additionally, the 15 minute sampling perica for particulate emissions refers to the time period in which particulates are collected on filter paper prior to paper re-moval from the monitoring system for subsequent analysis. No particulates (e.g.
Cs-137) were detected during the conduct of the purge.
We hope that this information will assist in responding to your constituent.
t Sincerely, 75igned)T. A.Rchm i
William J. Dircks Executive Director for Operations i
j
Enclosures:
1.
Volumes 1 and 2 of NUREG-0662 2.
Temporary Modification of License i
.t dated 6/12/80 3.
Memorandum and Order dated 6/12/80 L
4.
Incoming correspondence dated 7/2/80 OCA
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- NOTE: SEE PREVIOUS YELLOW FOR CONCURRENCE 9/ /80 i
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NIC FORM 318 (9-76) NRCM 0240 DU.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1979-289-369 7
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Dana Frix c/o 318 Fallis Road Columbus, Ohio 43214 July 2, 1980 The Honorable Howard Metzenbaum The United States Senate Washington, D.C.
20510
Dear Honorable,
Enclosed is a copy of an article I read in the June 30th edition of the' San Francisco Examiner.'
What in god's name has happened to sanity?
1.
The original commission stated that venti ng could occur safely only if accomplished over a 60,-90 day period.
Why wasn't this report heeded?
2.
D?:sn't the lack of accuracy concerning the whole affair, (2000-4000 curies, laboratory tests only every 15 minutes, the incide nt itself), represent to all of us our inability to adequately control nuclear concerns?
I cannot for the life of ne understand our willingness to play with such uncontrollable fire. It is insanity. I hope my concern for our safety is registering with you.
I would apprecite a reply.
Regretfully,
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-7' Dana Frix
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