ML20234E087
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J. F. Neve11, Chief, Site-7.avironmental Branch, D1Mt
@. June 21, 1963 1
b; F. N. Watson, Research and Power
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q Reactor Ssfaty Branch, DIAR p,;--
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- f. 8 REPLY TO 1.ETTER FRON J. W. BEDGPETH TO SENATOR T. R. EDCHEL DATED MAY 20, 1963 i
3 In response to your oral request, I have prepared a preliminary draf t of a reply to the third paragraph of
.. i Mr. Redspeth's letter. The draft is as fellowst i
I In the third paragraph of year letter a number of items
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of oostantion ass touched upon. Each of these items are dealt; t
with is a series of items and discussions helmet
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Fear reesters are said te he planned for the
-C:4 Bedega Esad.
As indicated by Title 10 of the Code of M-Fed.ral mes.l.tions, rart too, raragra,k loo.11h, the regatstory staff of the Atomic Beergy Commission esastdars samm1stive effects of f]
hasards and releases of radleestive estarial 2,s.Yg ta evaluating the hasards assectated with a
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.g sessed and suocessive reacters at any site.
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Tha Bodega Emed site is known to be seismically 1
active.
. m.c i-99 The Regulatory Staff has lastigated, through the "d
aid of other severnment agencies and several siv111am f
consultants, a comprehensive evalrettom of the I
seismological eheracter of the site and of the design eriteria that should be employed to insure
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the construction of a facility that will withstand l
the most severe earthquake deemed credible for this site without incurring undue hazard to the health and safety of the publie. A construction permit for the proposed facility will not be issued untti reasonable assurance has been established that issuance cf a construction permit will not, in the epiaton of the Atomic Energy Commission, he inimical to the conson defense and security or to 8709220279 B51217 the health and safety of the public. - (See Title ESbf35-665 PDR orTtct >
SURNAME >
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Foraa AEC.818 (ller. 443)
.. s. eevneness, peintine emes is--asten-a i
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Unusual hasards associated with opening up the reactor and the preliminary treatment of-this material befan it can be moved evey.
It was stated that, "The release of ridte-estivity during this process is four er five -
times as great as during ' normal operation'.
Actually, the release of radioactivity during
,g refueltag is less than during normal operatten.
'A boiling water resetor is open to the atmosphere j
' during operetten in that any evolved gaseous meterial may toeve the resetor through the steam 3
time to the turbins, thence to the condenser and through the Air Ejector to a stack ubich' discharges I
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to the atmosphere. Should a fuel elemsat have en Imperfection skisk alleved osme release of radioactive gaseous fissism products, they would aI flad their way to the atmosphere as deserthed above.
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- .-J Empertense has shoes that when the reacter is
'l shut down..as it must be for refueltag, the rate a
of gaseous finstem prodvet release is greatly reduced.
This alght he expoeted la that when the remeter is
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. abut deva, the feel temperature is greatly redueod 7,
'and, further, the generettom of fission products is virtmally, terminated. ' Some gaseous daughter cc i~" c.
Products are formed af ter shut deva, but, as T.T ~ l sentlened previously, expertense has shown that evolutten of gaseous fission products is greatly reduced ubes the reaetor is shut doen.
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4 The Atante Energy Commisstem was referred to as a
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Prenettag aseary.
Tbs Atomic Emergy Cansdssica is divided inte "g
too parts. One part is responsible for AEC operations and promettaa of the nuclear industry.
j The other part, called the Regulatory Staff, and has a
ne promettonal responsibility. As indicated above, the Reguistory Staff is responsible for the review of the appilcetten for construction permit for this facility. The results of its review in the form i
of a hasards analysis will become a metter of public record. Since the cost of construction and the cost of research and development for this facility is
- being borne by the Pacific Gas and 31eetrie Company, the non-regulatory portion of the AEC is favolved only because it is the vendor of the enriched oranium fuel rhich til! 5: ::1 OmCE >
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Forsn AEC.818 (Rev,%53)
- e. s. sovinemen esiones emer 3.- enten-a 4
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