ML20155B804
| ML20155B804 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Pilgrim |
| Issue date: | 07/25/1988 |
| From: | Costello N MASSACHUSETTS, COMMONWEALTH OF |
| To: | Russell W NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20155B801 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8810070087 | |
| Download: ML20155B804 (4) | |
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SENATOR
// //f.f[.98 REPRESENTATIVE LAWRENCE R. alt.XANDER NICHOLAS J. CO'LTELLO HOUSC cH AIRM AN SEN ATE CHAlmW AN L
July 25,1988 I
Mr. William T. Russell Administrator, Region 1 Nuclear Regulatory Commission 1
King of Prussia, PA 19406
Dear Mr. Russell:
The legislature's Joint Committee on Energy has jurisdiction over various energy matters, including matters related to nuclear power generation.
As House and Senate Chairmen of this Committee, we have been monitoring activities at the Pilgrim nuclear power plant with some concern.
l We are particularly disturbad that since 1983 Boston Edison has consistent ly received the worst rating given by the Nuclear Regulatory Ccemission in SAL} reviews I
for radiological controls.
It has recer.tly cene to our attention that part of ja110,000 cubic foot pile of Iadioactively contaminated dirt at the Pilgrim site has eroded inte a wetland.
According to NRC and Poston Edison reports, resins, dirt, asphalt ard concrete containing low levels of r&dioactive contamination have been accumulated in this ;ile and as fill in a field off the Pilgrim access road.
We would appteciate an ex; nation of what radioactive material is stored it has not been shipped to a licensed low-level i
, 4' onsite, where it came from, and.
1 radioactive vaste f acility for proper disposal.
j More specifically, we are interested in answers to the following quettionsi cubic foot pile.-of dirt ? (C' e
What i
1.
ov much radioactivity
. in the 110,000 l
measurements we made,3 hen were th e surementa made%here were ramples
- T taken frcm, an v were they analped.
Mas there been any additional i
matetial added to the site since neasurements and sar.ples were taken?
2.
ich "small spills of contaminat ed liquid and re',in...during the last v
15 years" is Mr. Bird refe.rin As in his let ter of February 4, 1988 (enclosed) to obert Hallisey?
- .st ounts o' radiation sere in each spill and whe Id each spill oce ar? Y te the original test results still available?
3.
s the dirt been g rotected f rom rain and wind?
If se hat manner of 4
protection has leen used' 1
estoo70007 eso912 gDR ADOCK0500g3
2
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4 How much radiat tor. is in the fill dirt, asphalt and concrete that fillec a gulley in the "lay down" arce off the Pilgrim 4ccess road? Shen and where did this fill come from?+31!aw much fill has been dumped here since the plant ortned?
- 5. ()Have there been any efforts to measure teachate from the contaminated
.A dirt pile or the "lay down" area?
i A
6. 't'Does Yankee Atomic have comparable storage piles of radioactively contaminated j
debris onsite?
- 7. 'Are small spills of contaminated liquid and resins inevitable in nuclear I
power plant operations?
- 8. pHow much radioacti #'y contaminated debris is a licensee allowed to store l
onsite by the NRC?
Boston Edison in comp gee with current NRC waste
[
J disposal standards? If so, which standards ar. Boston Edison ever applied to the NRC for approval of special disposal procedures under 10 CFR 5ec tion 20.3027 We would greatly appreciate your prompt attention to these questions and look forw.ud to your response at your earliest c onve n i er.c e.
l I
B e r. t wishes.
Yours sincerely, j
f b(c N
/
hQ NICHOLAS J. C09TELI.0 AWRENCE R. ALEXA
)ER I
Senate Chairman House Chairman NJC/L%Alkam i
ec Sen. Edward Xennedy Comnissioner Deborah Prothrow-Stith Peter Agnes l
i i
_ _ _ _.- _. _ _,_- _ ___ _ _ _ _ _,._ J
REChlVED BOSTCW EDISON becutw Of fices
[ @ ~ Q 1W3 (N
800 Byston strect Boston. Massacnusetis on n ggg gg PROGRAM Ralph G. aird senior Vice Pres. dent - Nuc! eat february.%.
1988 f
0))W Robert H. Hallisey, Director Radiation Control Program The Commonwealth of Hassachusetts Executive Office of Human Services Department of Public Health 150 Tremont Street, lith Floor Boston. HA 02111
Dear Hr. Hallisey:
In response to your letter of January 22, 1988, I first want to assure you that we at Boston Edison treat all issues regarding r.adiation carefully and with the health of the public and our e.mployees as the primary consideration.
I apologize for any confusion that arose from our efforts to keep you informed regarding incursion into a wetland from a pile of construction dirt on the Pilgrim site.
In the future, we will make Hr. Tom Sowdon, our Chief O Radiological Scientist, your point of contact on such issues.
I hope the Q folio ing information will clarify the present situation.
The Co-60 centainad in the stored dirt is a corrosion product produced by normal operation of a. boiling water reactor.
There was some slight contaminstion in the onsite soil which was excavated during the Course of t
construction activities associated with plant improvements.
It originally cama from small, measured and controlled releases from the reactor building vent and also frem some small spills of contaminated liquid and resin that wire confined to the site' during the last i5 years.
As in the normal procedure during major construction projects, excavated soil was accumulated and stored in a controlled area onsite while the majority of construction activities were compivted.
A M1 wkw Otcut 125 :u. f t.) of very slightly contaminated dirt subsequ)ntly intruded into the wetland.
A small amount of activity in the dirt oile is already covered by our operating license which authorizes us to possess and use quantities of radioactive material and to store such caterial onsite in accordance with the provisions of 10CFR20, paragraphs 101 tirough 409.
The fence around the dirt is not contaminated.
However, if the fence were to be removed from the site area, it would be controlled until completion of surveys, as are all potentially contaminated items and materials in accordance with established station procedures.
f.obert H. Hallissey. 01 rector
,, february 4, 1988
,,,Page Two This particular ite$ is not a public health issue; it is a wetland issue requiring permission from the Town of Plymouth Conservation Commission to perform remedial action. Hay bales were placed around the pile to discourage,.
further migration and the pile of dirt has been covered with weatherproof material to discourage further erosion.
As soon as we have approval from the Plymouth Conservation Commission to proceed, all of the dirt which has intruded into the wetlands will be removed in a manner designed not to damage the wetlands.
Comprehensive surveys will be performed to confirm that no significant Pilgrim generated radioactivity is in the affected area of the wetlands.
In summary, in the course of normal operation, as well as during an outage, many potentially contaminated items and materials are generated. Our existing license authori:es Boston Edison to possess such materials. Such materials are always nre>ent on-site and it it. therefore, not pr3ctical for ua. to notify the MDPH of every such case.
However, we will continue to make every effort to keep you informed of matters of potential public. interest.
Additionally, members of HDPH staff have unescorted access to the Pilgrim site and they are always welccme te monitor our actions.
Boston Edison will, as it does now, open its facilities, practices, and procedures to other authorized members of the MDPH.
Again, I regret the confusion over this item.
He believe all appropriate actions are being taken and I hope this letter addresses your concern.
If you have any further questions, my staff and I area available to provide any additional information you require.
Very truly yours, hth R. G. Bird RGB/mg "ca Meeces v
1, Highfill J. Jens T. l..
Sowdon Ms. E. D. Robir. son l
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