ML20126A606
| ML20126A606 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Maine Yankee |
| Issue date: | 05/15/1985 |
| From: | Cohen W SENATE |
| To: | Dircks W NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20126A604 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8506130404 | |
| Download: ML20126A606 (3) | |
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' WILU M 5. COHEN Enited States 5tnatt WASHINGTON, DC 20610 May 15, 1985 Mr. William J. Di rcks Executive Director of Operations Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C.
20555
Dear Mr. Dircks:
I have enclosed a copy of a letter f rom one of my con-stituents dealing with low-level radioactive waste storage. I would appreciate any help you could give me in addressing the concerns expressed in this correspondence.
Thank you for your assistance in this matter.
With best wishes, I am Sincerely Y
Wi llam S7 Co j
/ Un' ted States Senator L
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April 8, 1985 3
k Senator William S. Cohen I
Senator George J. Mitchell
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Representative John R. McKernan, Jr.
Representative Olympia J. Snowe h,
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May I call your attention to the enclosed "back page" article which was recently printed in the local newspaper.
l It is extremely disconcerting to learn that there are no state or federal licensing requirements with which Maine Yankee naast comply in order to build a $1.1 million low-level radioactive waste storade bni m ns. The " fact" that this builrling is to function as an interim storage facility allows Maine Yankee complete autonony regarding design, construction and operation.
The article points out, however, that Maine Yankee has not ruled out ston-age beyond 5 years. It is obvious that once the building is in service, its use will expand to accommodate whatever the current demands are of the plant, the region and the state.
When will leadership require measures, which are not short-si hted and 6
politically expedient, but rather ones which will insure that our decisions have positive long-term results for future generations?
I shall look fozward to your responses.
hu Sincerely, y
<C f 4&b&Q~u Rae J. Bachelder enc.
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- Witih S111 Mi ion RadioactiveWaste:Stdaieluijin
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... By JENNtFElt LA)GAN -
The Man' Faces [0f. Low.-Level Wa y
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Lowlevel waste generally has am!
s Radioactive waste not classified as hlgl m@ahMMargMum alace ng i
~.. Accorsag to building inspector Ray'r'nongy. Iml ra&oactive waste, transura$c waste,w. material. Produc spent nuclear fuel, or by-product material ca a it Dalton, tim I
issued J
's def a
on lle(2).of the Atomic..
Maine Yankee does r.ot need addat I tate -
l or federal licensing because u is for tim Level Radioactive Waste Policy Act.
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and tooli-c taminalad '
E EV temporary storage of the plant's own waste
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- for a five-year period, according to the state ',
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- end federal officials contacted about the.
f ' ' Low level waste frorrt nucleat,jfaibroch fm y
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.-a 4 The hee year only storage period exempts, power planta includes sludges,.. filters,and.
,few level waste ta-everything exc p il&ng ' * -
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- resins, uplaced piping 4.+
Maine. Yankee. Atomic Power' Co. from, decommissioned plant equipment. Some., fuel rods and the liquid w f
meeting stricter statutes an(i guidehnee set
- low level wastes must be isolated frorn the reprocessing fuel roda. It's not just '
up to regulate radioactive wasta storage,.
emdmnment for as inuch as W years gime and buties people wear, it inclu
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' ; a,,',,, ',,,,',beyond 'those stated.in ita current,.NRC before their harmful t effects.. have...ft!! cts and filter sludges. That stuff la radoache 4 can kul you furn % 1
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&aintegrated.
Maine Yankee offletds dtscussed 'their
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away if you,re unshielded."
..t plans for' the -f a'ethty with the' Nuclear ~' ' I"*I"* 1"'/ ***y*8 # ' 'd I bl '
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, Regulatory Commission in an information a I *****
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.only meeting held in tieti enda, Maryland on $
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waste which.would require a more elaborate the earliest.
I C.M6 Mame Yankee's Executive Vice President.
"* "As to whether or not there is a reg lohn B. Randatta and Douglas Whittier from' 'storagefacihty'. f The design, on-site location, construction, groundwater aquifer at Maine Yanked don't know," said Anderson. "I wish the!
' he' plan &'a' licensing dinsion attended the..
. neoling,'according tof,RC project manager and operation of the f acility rests with Maine was more specific og lpeir environrd Yankee. As stated in a 198t NitC letter written l'enneth ifeitner, by the director of the office of. nuclear guidehnes,"he said.
Be Maine ',ankee officials said they based material safety and safeguards, "Recent * "The storage facility doesn't bother i buildmg pecifications on an estimated 12.000 emphasis to staff is that guidance does not, said Anderson. "The thing th cubic f eet of waste generated per year,
'Ihe plant is the state's chief radioactive ', constitute requirements. Staff prefers the use7 dispos of the word 'should' rather than.'abalr.". !"..J ' years." '~-
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. wasta generator, producmg 85 percent of the Meanwnile Maine Yankee has not rul.
stste's traighly 10.000 cubic feet of waste r"* One possible concern is whether the facihty storage beyond a five-yeat period wid be located vu.1,carack aquifer, en arci
[* annually?
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which produces high yields of groundwater.'
lleitner said the Maine Yankee O 1
Maing Yankee has already described the reaffirmed their Octobet' 22, letter,
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factisty as a 67 by 14 foot, concrete ling The" basic engmeering studies"conductedr s
on the site by plant staff apply to foundation. Maine was,te commission'.N~
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, buildmg located near the contractor parking work only, said public affairs officer ' John"
" Maine l Yankee will cooperate 1 h
' lot'and the" railroad on the plant site.,
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Ior interim storage (beyond five yes[sy A
Commission findings that the best alter 1 oConstruction is stated 'to begin in May,.. Arnold.
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, Prehminary design work is bemg done by the ' "The material will be packaged in such a waste generated by othere in the State r1 i Portland architecture and engincering firm 'way that that is the barrier, not the building,",
i for those wastes to be stored t or ne it is the plant's position that' further ' i~ Yankee,"saf
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E C. Jordan.
- Assiptani plant manager Tom Boulette said
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the low level waste (see inset article to be engmeering studies for a temporary storage -
RentalLibrary int stored in the building will include plastic' facihty arenotneeded,said Arnold.
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' bootics, clothing, wipettes, filters and filterf State geologist and commission member Bettsellers.
resins which will be compacted into a soud Walter Anderson said the 8t3,000. regional
.t'allus to renerve yours
. form. " if tudy of bedrock fracture systems now barely
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1-The material will be stored in steel drums underway in Lincoln County is "by no rneans HUCKLEBERRY" Imed with a concrete.hke suptance, adequate for site specific analysis" and won t iM BOOK 5TottE m
' accordingtolleitner:
be completed until the end of the surnmer at Boulette said the plant opted not to store e-.
low-level waste in the liquid form, a type of g
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i CCMMITTEE ON
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WA5H:NGTON, DC 20510 U.S.S.
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4 Mr. William J. Dircks Executive Director of Operations Nuclear Regulatory Commissiort Washington, D.C. 20555 1
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