ML20126K557
| ML20126K557 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 12/21/1992 |
| From: | Selin I, The Chairman NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Weld W MASSACHUSETTS, COMMONWEALTH OF |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20126K562 | List: |
| References | |
| REF-WM-3 NUDOCS 9301070175 | |
| Download: ML20126K557 (2) | |
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UNITED STATES 3 / 3,g i
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December 21, 1992 The Honorable William Weld Governor of Massachusetts State House Boston, Massachusetts 02133
Dear Governor Weld:
I am writing to inform you of Nuclear Regulatory Commission activities related to the decommissioning of sites contaminated with radioactive materials located in the Commonweal +h of Massachusetts.
The cleanup of these contaminated sites is a high priority for NRC. We want to ensure that the Commonwealth of Nassachusetts is aware of these cleanup activities.
NRC intends that there will be coordination with the Commonwealth in order that cleanup activities can be managed in an efficient and timely manner.
Since the late 1980's, NRC has continued to st engthen its decommissioning program.
A major item of concern is the decommissioning of contaminated sites that involve non-routine issues, such as large volumes of radiologically contaminatM material, problems with the financial viability of the responsible party, oundwater contamination, and mixed radioactive and hazardous waste.
To focus NRC efforts in this area, NRC staff issued the Site Decommissioning Management Plan (SDMP) on March 29, 1990 (SECY-90-121).
Revision 2 of the SDMP, SECY-92-200, was issued on May 29, 1992 (see enclosure).
The SDMP lists the non-routine sites identified to date and outlines a strategy for accomplishing the cleanup of these sites in a timely manner.
Of the 46 sites listed in the SDMP, six are located in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts:
1.
Watertown Arsenal, Watertown, MA 2.
Engelhard, Plainville, MA 3.
General Services Administration, Watertown, MA 4.
Nucler Metal-Concord, MA 5.
Texas Ir.strur n.s, Attleboro, MA 6.
Wyman-Gordos. North Grafton, MA A summary description of each site, including the concentration and volume of waste present and the cleanup activities conducted to date, is given in the enclosed SDMP.
The oversight of the SDMP site cleanups poses urique challenges to NRC.
One important challenge is to ensure that State interests are taken into account.
We have been working closely with the Office of the Attorney General and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to accelerate cleanup at the Nuclear Metals site. We are also wocking closely with DEP and the Department of Public Health to coordinate our actions at the Wyman-Gordon and Engelhard sites.
We very much appreciate the assistance I
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- that the Commonwealth 'has-provided in these cases.
To help NRC better understand ~your specific interests in regard to the other three sites, we
-would ask youLto inform us of the anticipated areae of Commonwealth involvement that may affect the selection and implementation of cleanup actions at those sites.
We-encourage continued communication-between-the
. Commonwealth of Massachusetts and.NRC so that we may efficiently develop a mutually acceptable strategy and schedule ~ for fulfilling our respective responsibilities.
The NRC contacts for SDMP site cleanup issues are Robert M. Bernero,
- Director, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS), at 301-504-3352, or John H. Austin, Branch Chief, Decommissioning and Regulatory Issues Branch, NMSS, at 301-504-2560. We look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
.4*
Ivan Selin
Enclosure:
SDMP, SECY-92-200 cc: Thomas C. Rapone NRC State Liaison Officer
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