ML20127H070
| ML20127H070 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Monticello  |
| Issue date: | 01/26/1970 |
| From: | US ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION (AEC) |
| To: | Karth J HOUSE OF REP. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20127H074 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9211180386 | |
| Download: ML20127H070 (2) | |
Text
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DOCKET FILE (50-263)
UNITED STATES
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ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION l
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wAssisovos, o c. rosas j
JAN 2 01970
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Honorable Joseph E. Karth I
House of Representatives I
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Dear Mr. Karth:
Thank you for your letter of January 2,1970, concerning Dr. Tsivoglou's recent report to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency on the Northern States Power Company's Monticello power reactor.
'l The Commission's limits on releases of radioactive paterials'to the environment by nuclear power plants in effluent air and water in 10 CFR Part 20 are based on the recommendations of the Federal Radiation Council, as approved by the President. The FRC has taken into account the reconunendations of the International Conunission on Radiological Protection and the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements.
The AEC limits on concentrations of radioactivity permitted in nucicar power reactor water effluents leaving a plant site, prior to dilution in the stream or other body of water, are such that a member of the public could use the effluent as a source of drinking water throughout his lifetime without exceeding the FRC Radiation Protection Guides for i
an individual in the population. Concentrations in the effluents are, of course, further reduced by dilution in the body of water into which they are discharged.
f Releases of radioactive material in air from nucicar power reactors l
are limited by release rate limits included as conditions in the l
operating license. In specifying such limits the AEC determines that it is highly unlikely that, during normal operation, any individual member of the public vill receive an exposure in excess of the FRC Radiation Protection Guide for an individual in the population, even if that individual is continuously present 365 days a year at a point of highest exposure rate at or near the site boundary.
The limit of 0.48 curies per second for gaseous releases was derived accordingly by.the Northern States Power Company and proposed as their release limit. This proposal is currently under review by the yo f 9211180386 700126
{DR ADOCK 05000263 PDR
ilonorabloJosephE.Parth,
Cocstis s ion s ta f f. The Monticello reactor vill have provisions for a 30-minute holdup for all Caseoup releases. Northern States Poser Company has stated in its application that it expects that typical stack emissions vill be of the order of 0.01 curies per second.
However, upper limits on average IcVels of release during plant operacion, based on the criteria described in the preceding paragraph, i
are established by the Coc:nission staff and incorporated in the technical specifications of each operating license that cuy be issued.
Operating c::perience has shown that actual levels of radioactive cuterials teleased to the environment frcxn nucicar poser reactors have generally been a scull percentage of the applicable limits. In this connection, it is important to recogni::e that the very lou releases presently being achieved in reactor operation can be attributed to the careful design of saste treatment systems, operating practices by nucicar poter reactor licensees, and to total regulatory controls.
These include not only the standards or limito in 10 CFR Part 20, but requirenents and liriitations in other AEC regulations as sell, and various restrictions in plant design and operation included in individus1 operating licenses.
The Conraission's regulations in Part 20 also provide that the Comission cay further limit quantities releaned if it appears that total intakes of radioactive natorial frou air, sater and food by a suitabic cample of the exposed population vould otherwise exceed the FRC Radiation Protection Guide for such groups.
In practice, effluent and environnental levels resulting from. nuclear power plant operation have been sufficiently lov that the Comission has not found it necessary to use this provision of its regulatione.
Ve crpect that releases from poter reactors vill continue to be lov; nevertheless, the Cor:aiosion vill continue to keep its standards and licensing requitecents under close scrutiny to assure that they reunin compatible vith the taost advanced technical hnowledge availabic, and adequate to protect the health and safety of the public as tell as the environment.
Distribution:
Chairnan (2)
EAGM Cordially, HKShapar, OGC PDR (50-263)
Docket File (50-2'[je Consnissioner Ramey J. DiNunno Commissioner Johnson DOS Commissioner Thompson 000 (2)
L. R. Rogers, RPS Commissioner Larson HLFrice, DR J. V. Nehemias, RPS l
General Manager (2)
Secretariat (2) l DGM JCAE (2)
Chaircan ACM Cong. Rel. (2) i
- AGMRD, P. A. Mor ri s, DRL AGM0 RPS: TAB RPS:DIR DRL 000 DR CONG RE orrar >
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hapar JVUehemias :s f LRRogers PAMorris SURHAMr >
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