ML20212F239
| ML20212F239 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Haddam Neck File:Connecticut Yankee Atomic Power Co icon.png |
| Issue date: | 08/11/1997 |
| From: | Farber D CITIZENS AWARENESS NETWORK |
| To: | Shirley Ann Jackson, The Chairman NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20212F188 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9711040222 | |
| Download: ML20212F239 (2) | |
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Cm2 ENS AWARENESS NETWORK Wit Snt: www.shoysnat.com/-con E-man: coneshovinet. com MA: Box 83 SHF.LSURNE FALLS, MA 01370 TtttrHowt/ fax: 413-339-8768/8768 CT: !4 Oto f uekent ROAD, HA00AM. CT 06438 860 345-8431/8431
. VT: c/o PO Box 566 PutHry, VT 0.,346 566 802-307-4626/2667 NH: 7 MtAoow Ls.Mt Exttre. NH 03833 603 772 3439 August 11, 1997 Honorable Shirley Jackson Chairwoman U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555
Dear Chairwoman Jackson:
The Cit i.zens Awareness Network. [hereinaf ter "CAN") is concerned that t:0 Nuclear Regulatory Commission (hereinafter the "NRC") is unwilling to penalize the Connecticut Yankee Atomic Power Company
[ hereinafter the "CYAPC"] despite a series of well documented radiological control violations at the Hadda.t Neck ndelear power station.
Given the recent General Accountir.g Office report highlighting multiple problems with Mnnecticut nuclear reectors and the f act that the decommissionix fund currently on hand is grossly insufficient to cover the.complate site remediation of the Haddam Neck reactor, we find the NRC's new decommissioning rule, which creates an environment of "back seat", post hoc regulatory oversight, disquieting and dangerous.
Giving rise to further concern is the rnent testimony and documentation submitted to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [ hereinafter "FERC")
>y the Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control [hereina.cer the "CDPUC").
The CDPUC testimony indicates the existence of as much as 200,000 cubic feet of contaminated soil, subsoil and asphalt at t.he Haddam neck ranctor, which materials must be removed or otherwise decontaminated at a cost of as much as $100,000,000.
The FERC document contains data showing that the contamination in some areas may be as high as sixty (60) picoeuries per gram of soil, and states that the full oxtent of contamination will not be known until~ excavation begins.
The FERC document also contains testimony questioning the-CYAPC's cost estimates for.
decommissioning, and alleging that the CYAPC intentionally
(
underestimated the cost of soil and asphalt cleanup while
" consistently and systematically" inflating other decommissioning costs.
[For reference please refer to FERC Docket Number l
ER97-913-000).
9711040222 971023 9
PDR ADOCK 05000213 H
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POgo 2 Jackson 8/11/97 Yet, notwithstanding the aforementioned CDPUC testimony and the contents of the FERC document, Mr. Richard Conta of the NRC reported to the Community Decommissioning Advisory Conndttee (hereinafter "CDAC") at its-July 30, 1997 meeting that the site contamination at Haddam Neck is within " normal expectations".
If such is the case, then are we to assume that every reactor site in the country faces a clean up similar in scope and cost as that required at Haddam Neck?
And if so, it appears that the NRC failed to assume such levels of contamination at the time it established its rules regarding estimation of decomadssioning and site remediation costs and environmental impacts.
As such, your agency must investigate this problem forthwith and, if Mr. Conte is correct, revise its decommissioning regulations as they relate to anticipated levels of contamination at the time of decommissioning and planning for the cost--financial and otherwise--of eliminating the same.
Regrettably, CAN once again finds itself asking how the NRC can expect the public to believe in the CYAPC's ability to restore the Haddam neck site to " green fields" in both an environmentally safe and a cost effective manner.
The Connecticut River is a beautiful river with a great history.
The NRC needs to regulate
-in a proactive, rather that post hoc, manner in order to protect both the river and the people living and working in the river valley from future mismanagement by CYAPC.
Only in this way, by insuring a safe and healthy future for the Connecticut River and "its people", can the NRC restore public confidence in both i'.self and the CYAPC.
Sincerel
')
Do as G.
Farber Ci'izens Awareness Network Representative to the CDAC Cct NRC Commissioners Leonard J. Callan, Executive Director of Operations Hubert Bell, Inspector General Senator Joseph Lieberman Senator Christopher Dodd Senator Joseph Biden Senator John Kerry Senator Susan Collins Representative Sam Gejdenson Donald W. Downes,-Chairman CDPUC Richard Blumenthal,_CT Attorney General The New London Day The Hartford Courant