ML20127L689

Responds to Re Ltr Received from Constituent .Info Discussed Will Help Toward Better Understanding of How Regulatory Procedures & Regulations Designed to Evaluate,Control & Limit Radiological Effects to Environ

ML20127L689
Person / Time
Site:	Monticello
Issue date:	07/10/1969
From:	Price H US ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION (AEC)
To:	Fraser D HOUSE OF REP.
Shared Package
ML20127L692	List: ML20127L689 ML20127L695 ML20127L699
References
NUDOCS 9211250235
Download: ML20127L689 (3)

Text

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l Neeerable Desaid W. ' - .ser Neuse of RepresentaLas j Dear Mr. presers

! Thie le is response to year letter of May 26, 1969, eencerning a

{ 1atter yee received from Leve11 med Coastamoe Cartoon dated s Hey 13, 1969. I believe that the fatornation discussed below  ;

, will help the Carlsene toward a better understanding of bee our '

regulatory precedures and regulattene are designed to evaluate,

! costrel and limit the radielegical effects to the environe from the Montiaalle Nuclear Generettag plant. w

! Oe Neveeber 8,1968, Werthers states power Company embaitted an i syrliestian to the Atomic Emergy Commission (AEC) for an operating 11eense for the Meatteelle plant. All safety aspects assestated with the proposed operettom of this plant, Ametoding the radio-

! logieal offeats to the environment, are presently under soview j by the ABC's regulatory staff. If an operating 11eense le greeted,

, the plaat would eentines to be under ABC surveillasse and oceld

underse periodie safety inspections by the AgC's Division of Complianos during schedulsd taspection trips to the plant.

l The beste objective of the Commission's regulatory requirements t

is to limit releases of radioactivity from ameh amelear facility se as tm provide reasonable amourance that esposeres to the general pella to testoing radiaties from all omeh releases when r

added to cther sourses of espesure do met eueeed the radiation

! protection guides reeemmended by the poderal Radiation Cesacil i and approved by the president.

This is aceseplished by spee1fying limits os concentratione of I

radioavelides permitted la effisent streams prior to release into the environment and/or previsions for limiting, as necessary, the total quantities of radioactivity that may be released fres l s facility or site in a given time period.

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92112502'*5 690710-PDR ADOcn 05000263:

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Honorable Donald H. Traser 1, .

The limits on concentrations of radioactivity permitted in any nuclear power reactor liquid effluents leaving a restricted area, prior to dilution in a stream or other body of water, are such that a member of the public could, in the absence of other sources of exposure except natural background and medical procedures, use the effluent as a source of drinking water throughout his lifetime ,

- without exceeding the Federal Radiation Council radiation pro-tection guide for an individual in the population. Concentrations in the effluents are. further substantially reduced by dilution in the body of water into which they are discharged.

Our experience to date with some fourteen licensed operating power reactors shows that the radioactivity released in effluents has generally been a small percentage of releases that may be permitted under AEC regulations.

The items discussed below, in response to the Carlsons' specific '

questions, are among the many important items of safety significance that are considered by the AEC's regulatory staff during the review for an operating license.

If grantea, the operating license would specify the location, type, and frequency of sampling and monitoring the river water.

Northern States Power Company since June 1968 has initiated, and would continue throughout plant operations, an extensive environ-mental radiation monitoring program. This program would include taking daily grab samples from the river upstream and downstream of the plant site. Sludge from the bottom of the river would also be analyzed. In assessing the capability of the Monticello plant to handle the discharge of radioactive liquid effluent within the limits which would be permitted and establishing the frequency of campling, the regulatory staff would consider the river cyclic flow characteristics as related to the dispersion and dilution of radioactive material.

If radioactivity above prescribed limits were to be detected in the liquid effluent from the reactor, the Commission would have authority to order the licensee to take any safety measures which might be necessary, including shutting down the reactor. The discharge of radioactive liquid effluent from the plant would not be a continuous operation, but rather would be done on a periodic or batch basis. Northern States Power Company proposes to analyze ,

l the radioactivity level of each batch of liquid effluent prior to l

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i. . Remorable Donald M. Fraser 4-1 disaharge. This preeees permits better sentrol ever the release of lignid affluents. For sameple, all discharse to the river saa be stopped for a persed of time if eensidered advisable, witheet nee-jt esearily shutting does the reseter. ,

i Morthern states Power Company has submitted for our evatustfee, s

plans for coping with emergeneses far the plant. These plass taalede 4 these precedures ascossary to take appropriato proteetive asseures en behalf of offsite perseenal in the event of as seeident. la evaluating en appliesties for an operattag license, personnel withis the ABC's Divistoa of Reacter Licensing review the elements of these I

• plano, such as the availability and adequacy of nearby andleal facilities, the feasibility of eveeustion, and the relationships between the app 11 east and offsite agensias which have the authority to order an evacuation. yollow-up review of the detailed emergency P

precedures, such as for eveeustism, is aseamplished by persensel

' within the ARC's Division of Ceeplianae during seheduled inspection 4 tripe at the facility.

I en emelesing two booklete which may be of internet to the Carlsene, " Licensing of Power Reacters" and "Atomie Power Safety."

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I trust that this information will be helpfat.

.* h n-Sincerely,

( stgned ) Harold L. Prics

$,. : Rarold L. Prise

, Director of Regulation l

' N taeleeures i { '

1. Booklet " Licensing of Power Teacters"

_ 2 Booklet " Atomic Power Safety" Distributions c 11. L. Price J. F. Newell C. K. Beck D. R. Muller fff; 'M. M. Mann D. B. Vassallo i I-? " C. L. Henderson N. M. Blunt l ^V R. L. Doan DR Reading g- gr H. K. Shapar RL Reading

! l i Y- OCR (2) AEC Puh. Doc. Room (/14 N d,j/enn N8847 M

g. pM 'A. Wells, ASLB G. Ertter (DR 2187) N ni'. G4 rm. 'P; A. Hocris Ti l N C'/ d i Joint Committee on Atomic Energy M W ~~~ * - - - * "=' -

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