ML20137H673
| ML20137H673 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 03/21/1997 |
| From: | Callan L NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | Holden T HOUSE OF REP. |
| References | |
| CCS, NUDOCS 9704030020 | |
| Download: ML20137H673 (3) | |
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UNITED STATES 3
E NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINoToN. D.C. 20555-0001 Ih? 1 @7 The Honorable Tim Holden D
United States House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515
SUBJECT:
CONSTil'UENT'S CONCERN REGARDING RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL AT THE POTTSTOWN LANDFILL, POTTSTOWN, PENNSYL\\/ANIA
Dear Congressman Holden:
In your letter dated February 5,1997, regarding radioactivity at the Pottstown i.andfill, you requeated that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission investigate alleged high readings of radioactive materials at the Pottstown Landfill and enclosed background information about the landfill. You also requested that we review and reconsider our position that regulation of the landfill falls under the jurisdiction of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP).
We are aware of the concerns raised in your letter and the enclosures sagarding the Pottstown Landfill, and have looked into the issues raised that relate to NRC-regulated activities. NRC jurisdiction, in accordance with the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 and the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, as amended, extends to commercial nuclear power reactors and nonpower research and training reactors; medical, academic, and industrial uses of byproduct, source and special nuclear materials; and the transport and disposal of NRC licensed materials. NRC seDulations establish requirements for safe operation of the facilities, and limits for radiation levels and radioactivity released to air and water by licensees. NRC jurisdiction does not include naturally-occurring radioactive material, accelerator produced radioactive material, or machine sources of radiation such as X-ray machines. Naturally-occurring and accelerator-produced radioactive materials are under the jurisdiction of the EPA and/or state agencies. The EPA is also tha lead federal agency for radioactive materials found in the public domain which is of unknown origin or cannot be traced to an individual NRC licensee.
We referred the issues raised concerning radioactivity at the Pottstown Lendfill to the EPA, as lead federal agency in a letter dated April 11,1996. We also referred these issues to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP), which has been given jurisdiction (and is, therefore, the lead government agency) by the EPA to oversee implementation of EPA requirements in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in letters dated April 11,1996, and April 19,1996. The PADEP is following up on the concerns raised, and has kept the NRC informed of their findings. On March 11,1997, PADEP held a public meeting to discuss the results of sampling they performed at the Pottstown Landfill. Representatives of the NRC and the EPA were available at the meeting to answer h h,
questions, As a result of the concerns raised about the Pottstown Landfill, we perforrned additional
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review and inspection of the activities of three NRC licensees in the Pottstown area: the
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Limerick Nuclear Power Station which is a commercial power reactor; the Cabot Corporation which extracts rare earth minerals from ores which are considered source material (ores containing more than 0.05% uranium and thorium); and Interstate Nuclear Services Corporation which launders protective clothing used by nuclear power plant workers. These licensees have been routinely inspected for safety practices and compliance with NRC regulations. Our additional review confirmed that these licensees are in compliance with NRC reputations, including those controlling the release of radioactive materials from the facilities. The Cabot Corporation does send waste material from some of their processes to the Pottstown Landfill. These waste products are in compliance with the limits contained in their license for disposal to e landfill. The limits in the Cabot Corporation license are the same limits established by the NRC for the release of facilities for unrestricted use after licensed activities have permanently ceased at a location.
Interstate Nuclear Services releases laundry water te the Royersford Wastewater Treatment Facility in compliance with NRC regulations. As a result, some sludge from the Royersford Wastewater Treatment Facility containing radioactive material has been disposed of at the Pottstown Landfill. This is described in one of the enclosures to your letter. We have carefully monitored, and continue to monitor, this situation and have concluded that no doses in excess of the NRC limits for members of the general public result from disposal of this sludge, including past disposal to the Pottstown Landfi!!.
We are aware of the study performed by the PADEP at the Pottstown Landfill, and will continue to cooperate with them. If they determine that radioactive materials exist at the Pottstown Landfill in unacceptable levels, and that the radioactive materials are from the activities of e particular NRC licensee, we wi:1 reexamine the activities of our licensees and determine what further actions may be necessary.
Your letter also enclosed several documents reporting results of samples of leachate water frorn the landfill. We have reviev'ved these documents and all of the information available to us. There is nothing in this information that indicates NRC has jurisdiction over the activities of the Pottstown Landfill.
We will continue to closely inspect and review the activities of NRC-licensed facilities in the area to ensure that NRC-licensed activities are in compliance with our regulations and do not adversely impact the surrounding communities. We discuss the situation with PADEP frequently and will provide whatever assistance we can if it is requested. We hope that this is responsive to your concerns. Please contact us again if you have additional questions regarding NRC activities.
Sincerely, A_
. dteph Callan Executive Director for Operations cc:
W. Michael McCabe, EPA A. Dickens EPA W. Belanger, EPA
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Distribution:
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