ML20217A549

Submits Update on Actions Taken by NRC Since 970613 Response Re Portland General Electric Co Request for Approval of 1-time Shipment of Decommissioned Reactor Vessel.Two Issues Identified for Review in Utility Request,Submitted

ML20217A549
Person / Time
Site:	07109271, Trojan  File:Portland General Electric icon.png
Issue date:	03/18/1998
From:	Paperiello C NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS)
To:	Kallberg D AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED
References
NUDOCS 9803250105
Download: ML20217A549 (2)

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The Honorcble Donald L. Kallberg Mayor of St. Helens l P.O. Box 278 St. Helens, OR 97051-0278

Dear Mayor Keliberg:

This is to update you on actions taken by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission since our response to you on June 13,1997, relating to Portland Ger.cral Electric Company's (PGE's) request for approval of a one-time shipment of its ciecommissioned reactor vessel. The vessel with its intemal radioactive component:: intact would be shipped fr'am the Trojan Nuclear Power Plant near Portland, Oregon, to a disposal site at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation near Richland, Washington, in this regard, staff has identified two issues for review in PGE's request.

First, the Commission has asked the State of Washington to determine whether the reactor vessel can be buried at +he proposed disposai site and meet the State's requirements for low level waste disposal. To this end, the State has requested additional technical information from PGE and the burial site operator. Second, staff is actively evaluating PGE's application for an exemption to 10 CFR Part 71. Staff will determine whether the vessel, as proposed by PGE, can be safely transported as radioactive material. Based on a preliminary review, additional information from PGE will be required to complete this determination. The final decision on PGE's exemption rtiquest will be reviewed by the Commission.

in closing, I would like to thank you for your continued interest in the Commission's activities in assuring the safe transport of radioactive material. We will inform you of the final disposition of PGE's request. If I can be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely, (ORIGINAL SIGNED BY)

Carl J. Paperiello, Director Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards \j

\

Dockets: 50-344;71-9271 Identicalletters to The Honorables Chuck Eddings & David A. Stewart-Smith. p Distribution: G970485; G970470; G970511 SECY CRC-97-0648; CRC-97-0712; CRC-97-0639 NRC f/c PUBLIC SFPO r/f NMSS r/f NMSS D/r/f CPoland LGilbert PTressler LCallan AThadani HLThompson PNorry JBlaha SBums RBangart SWeiss TCJohnson EMerschoff File Name: J\brochman\ trojan-8 Itr

• See previous concurrence Proofed By- Division- Date / / op/encorso/rusmuasw as, s one OFC SFPO.TSSS C SFPO:TSSS C SFPO.TSIB C SFPO C DWM C NAME PBrochman

• EEcston

• SShankman

• CHaughney

• JGreeves

• DATE 2/17/98 2/17/98 2/18/98 2/18/98 2/23/98 mammuuna r .. r- . = . ... m smingaggggiiigiiigiging mimm!ignaapurammesu eEiEliMEgME4munus :m -

OFC Tech Editor N NM $ C NAME EKraus (VIA FAX)

• CPa o DATE 2/ 02/98 3/13/98 / 19 8 / /98 / /98 C = COVER E = COVER & ENCLOSURE N = NO COPY 4

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Background Information Last spring and summer the Chairman received numerous letters expressing interest in Portland Generd Electric's (PGE's) request to ship the intact Trojan reactor vessel to a disposal site at Hanford, WA. Letters were received over a 3 month period from five members of Congress, two mayors, one state official, and several union and industry officials. In our responses to the members of Congress and state and local officials we indicated that we would keep them informed of the progress of the NRC's review. Copies of these responses from the Chairman and Director of NMSS are included in this background information These new letters provide a first interim update on the status of the NRC's efforts in reviewing PGE's request. These letters are consistent with the position accepted by the Commission in SECY-97-244. In these letters we are also committing to provide an additional update after the Commission makes a final determination on PGE's request. NOTE. The responses to Congress and the other public officials have been combined into ono package for ease of review, even though signature levels are different.

Separate green tickets were not issued for these interim responses. Instead the original tickets 1 wece reopened with new due dates. The current due date to the EDO of 2/27/98 was approved by Mr. Blaha (via e-mail from P. Tressler dated 12/22/97).

The Green Ticket numbers are as follows:

G970369 Letters from Congressmen Blumenauer and Smith, Congresswoman Farse, and Senators Smith and Wyden G970470 Letter from Mayor Kallberg G970511 Letter from Mayor Eddings G970465 Letter from Administrator Stewart-Smith, Oregon DOE CONTACT:

P Brochman,TSIB:SFPO:NMSS (301) 415-8592

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UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION '

g' e WASHW 2 TON, 0.C. 3IBAH001 Distribution:

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m June 13, 1997 EJordan HThompson PNorry JBlaha CPaperiello, NMSS EEaston, NMSS DRathbun, OCA EMerschoff, RIV 6970369 The Honorable Earl Blumenauer EDO r/f United States House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 20515-6115

Dear Congressman Blumenauer:

This is in response to your letter dated May 15, 1997, concerning Portland l General Electric Company's (PGE) request for approval of a one-time shipment I of its decomissioned reactor vessel from the Trojan Nuclear Power Plant near Portland, Oregon to a disposal site at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation near Richland, Washington. In this regard, I would like to assure you that the l Comission notes the concerns raised in your letter, and that the final '

decision on PGE's request will be reviewed by the Comission. i l

As you know, the final decision on PGE's request must be consistent with the  !

Commission's primary mission to protect public health and safety and the environment. The Comission will consider PGE's request for a one-time shipment and will address potential issues including the appropriate weight to be given to the possible safety and environmental concerns of increased handling before, during and after multiple shipments.

In closing, I would like to thank you for your interest in the Comission's activities in assuring the safe transport of radioactive materials. We will l keep you informed of the progress of our review. If I can be of further '

assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely, Shirley Ann Jackson Originated by: [EEaston,NMSS]

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c % UNITED STATES p  % NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Distribution:

~ o wAsHINGTUN, D.C. 30886 0001 ldCallan 5 '

EJordan July 16, 1997 HThompson k.....

PNorry JBlaha .

CPaperiello, NMSS PBrochman, NMSS RBangart, SP

. EMerschoff, RIV GT970470 EDO r/f l I

De Hworable Donald L. Kallberg Mayor of St. Helens P.O. Box 278 St. Helens, Oregon 970510278

Dear Mayor Kallberg:

I am responding to your letter dated June 18,1997, conceming Portland General Electric Company's (PGE's) request for approval of the shipment of its decommissioned reactor vessel from the Trojan Nuclear Power Plant near Portland, Oregon, to a disposal site at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation near Richland, Washington. In this regard, I would like to assure you that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) notes the concems raised in your letter, and that the final decision on PGE's request will be reviewed by the Commission.

The NRC will consider PGE's request for a one-time shipment and will address potential issues including the appropriate weight to be given to the possible safety and environmental concems associated with increased exposure to radioactive material before, during, and after multiple shipments.

I trust that this reply responds to your concems. I would like to thank you for your interest in the NRC's activities in assuring the safe transport of radioactive materials. We will keep you informed of the progress of our review.

Sincerely, Shiriey Ann Jackson

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. The Honorable Chuck Eddings August 1, 1997 Mayor of Rainier

i. P.O. Box 100 '

Rainier, OR 97048 '

/

Dear Mayor Eddings:

,, at 1F }Ln I am responding to your letter to Chairman Jackson, concoming Portland Gene lectric Company's (PGE) request for approval of a one time shipment of its de -

reactor vessel from the Trojan Nuclear Power Plant near Portland, Oregon to a d' sal site at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation near Richland, Washington. In this regard, id like to assure you that the Commission notes the concoms raised in your lett , and that the final decision on PGE's request will be reviewed by the Commission.

As you know, the final decision on PGE's request must be con nt with the Commission's pnmary mission to protect public health and safety and the on ' ment. The Commission will consider PGE's request for a one-time shipment and will dress the issues which you have raised, including the safety and environmental conce associated with exposure to radioactive material before, during, and after both a sing ipment and multiple shipments.

In closing, I would like to thank you for your interest in Commission's actnrities in assuring the safe transport of radioactive materials. We will p you informed of the progress of our review. If I can be of further assistance, please do t hesitate to contact me.

Since ly, iginal /s/ by ri J. Paperiello, Director os of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards Dockets: 50 344;71-9271 Digirit2W i h9.fi: G970511 ('/ /1 SECY CRC-97 0648' EDO /f NRC f/c SFPO r# P LIC NMSS r# NMSS D/r# CPoland LGilbert PTressler allan EJordan HLThompson PNorry JBlaha SBums Weiss DBangert EMerschoff, RIV SCollins Proofed Sy:Imt .SFPO Date;7/14/97 'See provlous concurrences OPC SFPO.TSSS C SFf0.TSSS* C SFPO.TSIS* C SFPCP C Tech Estor lN NAIRE PSrochman Jhaston S$henkman WKene EMraus DATE OSI /97 / 08/14/97 08/14/97 06/15/97 OSI 197 mmW .

mmmmm OPC NMSS Oph /C DEDF) - EDO f, Chehnen NARIE k M LCaton Jacitson DATE *"[//[/97 7 17"f97 9 f)h $ / l 197 fG GOVER E*GOVER &ENELU5URE N

• NO GOPY OFFICIAF RECORD COPY DISK INCLUDED: YES - NO FILE ME: 02rochmenwojen 4.ltr Last  : July 17,1997 n u In air 10 0 . _ __ _

Mr. David A. Staw:rt Smith July 9, 1997 Administrator, Energy R:sourc:s

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Oregon Dep:rtm:nt cf Energy 625 Marion St., NE i Salem, OR 97310-0830

Dear Mr. Stewart Smith:

I am responding to your letter to Chairman Jackson dated June 12,1997, concerning Portland General Electric Company's (PGE's) request for approval of the shipment of its decommissioned reactor vessel from the Trojan Nuclear Power Plant near Portland, Oregon, to a disposal site at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation near Richland, Washington. In this regard, I would like to assure you that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) notes the concerns raised by your letter, and that the final decision on PGE's request will be reviewed by the Commission.

NRC will consider PGE's request for a one time shipment in a timely manner and wit address potential issues including the appropriate weight to be given to the possible safety and environmental concerns associated with increased exposure to radioactive material before, during, and after multiple shipments.

I trust that this reply responds to your concerns. I would like to thank you for your interest in the NRC's activities in assuring the safe transport of radioactive materials. We will keep you informed of the progress of the NRC's review.

Sincerely, Original /s/ by Carl J. Paperiello, Direct 6r

• Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards Dockets: 50 344; 71 9271 Distribution: G970465 SECY CRC 97-0630 NRC f/c SFPO r# PUBLIC NMSS r# NMSS Dir. Off. r#

LGilbert PTressler LCallan EJordan HLThompson CPoland PNorry JBlaha SBurns SWeiss RBangart EMerschoff, RIV EDO r# CP/PaooFED/ JUNE 30. )997 .

'Please see previous concunence.

OFC SFPO:TS$$ C SFPO:TSSS C SPPO:TSIS C SFPO C Tech Editor N NAME 'PSrochmen 'EEaston 'EPE for: Shankman 'wKene 'EKraus DATE 06/27/97 06/27/97 06/27/97 06/27/97 06/27/97 m -

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OFC NMSS:OD C DEDR EDO Chairman NAME 'CPenriello "HThompson 'LCollen Jackson DATE 07/01/97 07/$ /97 07/3 /97 07/ $ /97 / /97 C = COVER E = COVER & ENCL 0suRE hl = No COPY OFFlelAL RECORD COPY DISK INCLUDED: YES - NO FILE NAME: G:\brochmen\trajen 2.hr Leet Update: July S.1997

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