ML20198Q688
| ML20198Q688 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Haddam Neck File:Connecticut Yankee Atomic Power Co icon.png |
| Issue date: | 10/30/1997 |
| From: | Shirley Ann Jackson, The Chairman NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Dodd C, Gejdenson S, Lieberman J HOUSE OF REP., SENATE |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20198Q692 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9711130013 | |
| Download: ML20198Q688 (6) | |
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UNITEI) STATES 1;:
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION f,
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WAlsHINGToN, D.C. N4001 e
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October 30, 1997 f
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- The Honorable Christopher J. Dodd b
United States Senate Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Senator Dodd:
I am responding to your October 10,1997, letter regarding the use of soil from ',he Haddam a
Neck site for fill at local properties, including a site formerly used as a day-care center.
As indicated in jour letter, we are working closely with the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection to assess the effect of the soil on public health and safety.
Independent tests of soll from the sits have found trace levels of radioactivity. Both the State and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) hava assessed the radiological hazcM of the scil e.nd have found that the amount of radiation resulting from the contamination is a small fraction of natural background levels of radiation. Such small amounts of radioactive material present no health or safety hazard.
We note your concem regarding the actions taken by the Haddam Neck plant when the soil was released for offsite use. The possibility that the sol:10 question may not have received an adequate survey prior to release was brought to our attention earlier this year. As a result, since July 1'97, NRC staff has been inspecting the licensee's current and past practices relative to radiological monitoring und disposition of radioactive materials. The staf' expects to issue a report on that inspection soon, in addition, the statf has recently initiated a broader historical review of Haddam Neck's performance regarding their control of radioactive materials. The results of that effort are expected by early December.
You specifically asked how this fill could have left the site in the first place. Our pr61iminary review indicates that the licensee had a process for performing radiation surveys of such material at the time this material was released for unrestricted use. It wouki appear this material met the licensee's critena for release. We are continuing to review the licerisee's process and p6ocedures that were established to monitor the material for release and sie comparing them with NRO's existing regulatory practices at that time.
You also asked if procedures would prevent a similar occurrence today. NRC mgulations require licensees to maintain procedures and processes to preclude an unrestricted release of licensed material. Nonetheless, the trac 7 concentrations that have been identifed in this instance cannot be railably detected using state-of-the-art turvey insbumentation, typically used for such purposes. While the dete:: tion of these very low levels of contamination can be achieved by laboratory analysis, such trace levels do not represent a health and safety i
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9711130013 971030 PDR COMMS NRCC CORRESPONDEME PDR h.hk.hk.
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2-My staff will maintain close contact with your staff regarding o.ir progress and findings during the course of NRC's ongeing evaluations. We wn, send you copies of the completed reports when they are availa' ole.
Sincerely, i
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UNITED STATES
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NUCLEAR RECULATCRY COMMISSION 4~
WASHINGTON D.C. 2es06-0&31 r.
October 30, 1997 04Am4AN
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The Honorable Joseph I. Lieberman United States Senate Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Senator Lieberman:
I am responding to your October 10,1997, letter regarding the use of soil from the Haddam Neck site for fill at local properties, incluaing a site formerly used as a day-care center.
As indicated in your letter, we are working closely with the Connecticut Department of Environmenta! Protection to assess the effect of the soil on public health and safety.
Independent tests of soll from the site have found trace levels of radioactivity. Both the State and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) have assessed the radiological hazard of the soil and have found that the amount of radiation resulting from the contamination is a small fraction of natural background !evels of radiation. Such small amounts of radioactive material present no health or safety hazard.
We note your concem regarding the actions taken by the Haddam Neck F...nt when the soil was released for offsite use The possibility that the soilin ouestion may not have received an adequate survey prior to release was brought to our attention earlier this year. As a result, since July 1997, NRO staff has been inspecting the licensee's current and past practices relative to radiological monitoring and disposition of radioactive materials. The staff expects to issue a report on that inspection soon, in addition, the staff has recently initiated a broader historical review of Haddam Neck's performance regcrding their control of radioactive mati rials. The results of that effort are expected by eariy December.
You specifically asked how this fill could have left the site in the first place. Our preliminary review indicates that the licensee had a process for performing radiation surveys of such material at the time this material ms released for unrestricted use. It would appear this material met the licensee's critei,a for release. We are continuing to review the licensee's process and procedures that were established to monitor the material for release and are comparing them with HRC's existing regulatory practices at that time.
You also asked if procedures would prevent a similar occurrence today. NRC regulations require licensees to malrdain procedures and processes to preclude an unrestricted release of licensed material. Nonetheless, the trace concentrations that have tren identified in this instance cannot be reliably detected using state-of-the-art survey instrumentation, typically used fo'r such purposes. While the detection of these very low levels of contamination can be achieved by laboratory analysis, such trace levels do not represent a health and safety hazard.
2-My staff will maintain close contact with your staff regarding our progress and findings during the course of NRC's ongoing evaluations. We will send you copies of the completed reports when they are available.
j Sincerely, Q A -3 Shirley Ann Jackson
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4 UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION e
2 WASHINGTON n.C. 20666-0001
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October 30, 1997
,,g cmnsw The Honorable Sam Gejdenson
- United States House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Congressman Gejdenson:
I am responding to your October 10,1997, letter regarding the use of soil from the Haddam Neck site for fill at local properties, including a site formerly used as a day-care center.
As indicated in your letter, we are working closely with the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection to assess the effect of the soil on public health and safety.
Independent tests of soil from the site have found trace levels of radioactivity. Both the State and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) have assessed the radiological hazard of the soil and have found that the amount of radiation resulting from the contamination is a small fraction of na ural background levels of radiation. Such small amounts of radioactive material present no health or safety hazard.
We note your concem regarding the actions taken by the Haddam Neck plant when the soil was released for offsite use. The possib:lity that the soil in question may not have received an adequate survey prior to release was brought to our attention earlier this year. As a res.llt, since July 1997, NRC staff has been inspecting the licensee's current and past practices relative to radiological monitoring and disposition of radioactive materials. The staff expects to issue a report on that inspection soon. in addition, the staff has recently initiated a broader historical review of Haddam Neck's performance regarding their control of radioactive materials. The resv% of that effort are expected by early December.
You specifically asked how this fill could have left the site in the first place. Our preliminary review indicates that ti:e licensee had a process for performing radiation surveys of such material at the time this material was released for unrestricted use. It would appear this material met the licensee's criteria for release. We are continuing to review the licensee's process and procedures that were established to monitor the material for release and are comparing them with NRC's existing regulatory practices at that time.
You also asked if procedures would prevent a similar occurrence today. NRC regulations iequire licensees to maintain procedures and processes to preclude an unrestricted release of licensed ' material.' Nonetheless, the trace concentrations that have been identified in this instance cannot be reliably detected using state-of-the-art survey instrumentation, typically used for such purposes. While the detection of these very low levels of contamination can be achieved by laboratory analysis, such trace levels do not represent a health and safety hazard.
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. My staff will maintain closo contact with your staff regarding our progress and findings during the course of NRC's ongoing evaluations. Wa will send you copies of the completed reports when they are available.
Sincerely, l
L~
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