ML20150C611

Responds to Opposing Reopening of Subj Facil. Explains NRC Lic Process.Recipient Is Incl in Svc List of Those to Receive Notice Ofhearings on Subj.(See:Ano 7811080056)

ML20150C611
Person / Time
Site:	07000754, Vallecitos  File:GEH Hitachi icon.png
Issue date:	11/17/1978
From:	Harold Denton Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:	Wolch H AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED
References
NUDOCS 7811240117
Download: ML20150C611 (4)

Text

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UNITE D STATES _

fMM NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION i('

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% .~.... f Dockets Nos.- 50-70 and 70-754 l

l Dr. and Mrs. Hiram Wolch '

18313 Pepper Street Castro Valley, California 94546

Dear Dr. and Mrs. Wolch:

This is in response to your letter of October 15, 1978, regarding the Vallecitos Nuclear Center (VNC). You note in your letter that the General Electric Test Reactor (GETR) has been shut down by the Commission's Order to Show Cause issued October 24, 1977. Further-more, you contend that "this Order should be made permanent unless it can be shown that the present reactor and all its operating facilities are, or can be made, proof against the maximum seismic activity expected for the area." The Order requires that General Electric Company show cause why the suspension of GETR operation should not be continued and that such showing must address the issues of the Order as follows:

(1) What the proper seismic and geologic design bases for the GETR facility should be; (2) Whether the design of GETR structures, systems and components important to safety can be modified so as to remain functional considering the seismic design bases determined in issue (1) above; and (3) Whether activities under Operating License No. TR-1 should be suspended pending completion of the foregoing.

Therefore, we believe that the existing requirements of the Order agree With your position. In addition this matter and the posi-tions of admitted parties will be considered by an Atomic Safety and Licensing Board.

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, Dr. and Mrs. Wolch )

With respect to your concern about the release of radioactive isotopes to the environment, some release of radioactivity is anticipated from the operation of nuclear facilities. These releases are limited by the facility license and federal regulations (10 CFR Part 20) to assure a minimal environmental inpact. The limits have specifically been estab-lished for the purpose of protecting the public health and safety.

These regulations also consider the non-threshold effect of radiation exposure and therefore include the "as low as is reasonably acnievable" concept discussed in 10 CFR Part 20.l(c). This concept is in addition to the maximum exposure limits of 10 CFR Part 20. There is an ongoing scientific effort devoted to examining the effects of low level radiation.

To date, a need for further reduction in the limits to assure protection of the public health and safety has not been demonstrated.

With respect to the VNC operations, effluent monitoring has illustrated that releases including tritiun have been routinely kept to a small fraction of the maximun exposure limits of 10 CFR Part 20. If these releases are converted to an environnental dose and compared to the natural background radiation dose in the San Francisco area, the impact due to effluents is demonstratively small.

NRC Region V Inspection and Enforcenent Office has and will continue to evaluate the effluent discharges from the VNC site. This will assure that all potential envirannental radiation doses from the discharges are within the acceptable limits.

In connection with your concern regarding the activities covered under NRC License No. SNM-960, the NRC's Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguard (NMSS) has reviewed and evaluated these activities with respect to the current geological picture. In its evaluation NMSS has shown that continued operation of the current activities do not pose a signif-icant safety hazard to the public. A copy of the preliminary safety evaluation report concerning this subject is enclosed for your information.

NMSS has and will continue to nonitor the special nuclear material activities.

The prinary activity with respect to plutoniun is experimental work per-formed in the nixed oxide fuel development area. This includes develop-ment of clad fuel elements, naterial and property studies on conpounds of plutoniun and uraniun, scrap recovery and nitrate conversions. Further information regarding special nuclear material and activities at VNC can be obtained at the local public document roon at:

Nuclear Regulatory Connission, Region V Of fice of Inspection and Enforcenent 1990 N. California Boulevard, Suite 202 Walnut Creek, California 94596

Dr. and Mrs. Wolch The basic philosophy behind the NRC i is process is the demonstration that the licensed activities are not ii. icol to the conmon defense and security and do not constitute an unreasonable risk to the health and safety of the public. The degree to which activities serve the national interest vs free enterprise is not germane to the rer"latory process.

As requested you will be placed on the service list of those to receive notice of hearings regarding the Vallecitos Nuclear Center. We trust that the information in this letter is responsive to your request.

Sincerely, g tC,(tw g-Harold R. Denton, Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

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General Electric Company bec:

California Department of Health ATTN: Chief, Environmental Radiation Dr. Harry Foreman, Member Control Unit Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Radiologic Health Section Box 395, Mayo 714 P Street, Room 498 University of Minnesota Sacramento, California 95184 Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455 Honorable Ronald V. Dellums Ms. Barbara Shockley ATTN: Ms. Nancy Snow 1890 Bockman Road General Delivery, Civic Center San Lorenzo, California 945P3 Station Oakland, California 94604 Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards Friends of the Earth V. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ATTN: W. Andrew Baldwin, Esquire Washington, D. C. 20555 Legal Director 124 Spear Street San Francisco, California 94105 Jed Somit, Esquire 100 Bush Street Suite 304 San Francisco, California 94104 Edward Luton, Esquire, Chairman Atomic Safety and Licensing Board U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D. C. 20555 Mr. Gustave A. Linenberger, Member Atomic Safety and Licensing Board U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D. C. 20555 George Edgar, Esquire Morgan, Lewis & Bockius 1800 M Street, NW Washington, D. C. 20036

l 18313 Pepper Street Castro Valley, CA 94546 I October 15, 1978 l

l Joseph Hendrie, Chairman United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555 Re: I Vallecitos Nuclear Center (Docket Hos. 50-70 and 70-754) .

j

Dear Mr. Hendrie:

Operation of the General Electric Test Reactor at  ;

the Vallecitos Nuclear Center near Pleasanton, California, has been shut down by order of the Commission. We contend this that order should be made permanent unless it can be shown the present reactor and all its operating facilities are, or can be made, expected for the area. proof against the maximum seismic activity to the general public, In the absence of evidence acceptable we urge - we demand - that the GETR be permanently shut down. se Regardless of the outcome of proceedings to close GETR it is imperative permanently, that G.E. be prohibited from further discharging radioactive tritium isotope into gas. tritipated water or any other the environment. There is mounting evidence that there is no threshold, in humans, for tolerance of ionizing radiation. .. Tritium is objectionable since it readily exchanges with hydrogen of water and organic materials. .

We are at a loss to know (No. SNM-960) why Vallecitos has a License to store up to 150 kg. of plutonium. l

,i residents of this part of California, have a right to knowWe, the what is being done with plutonium at Laboratory, and if this activity is the Nuclear Materials  !;j or solely of commercial interest to G.E.2.n the national interest '; ,

the Vallecitos Nuclear Center.Please advise us of all Hearings to be held regar I f

Sincenely, 'I s hn eic.

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Senator Alan Cranston Dr. 6 Mrs. Hiram Wolch '

Senator S.I. Hayakawa Congressman Fortney P. Stark Calif. Assemblyman Wm. Lockyer 'l Calif. Assemblyman S. Floyd Mori J Senator John Holmdahl c.

Congressman Don Edwards 7' a

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