ML20236Q306

Requests Expedited Action on Author 2.206 Petition for Full Investigation,Enforcement & Corrective Action Re Lax Plant Security & Illegal Trespassing from Fishermen

ML20236Q306
Person / Time
Site:	Wolf Creek
Issue date:	11/12/1987
From:	Stephens S NUCLEAR AWARENESS NETWORK
To:	NRC
Shared Package
ML20236Q252	List: ML20236Q250 ML20236Q306
References
2.206, NUDOCS 8711190305
Download: ML20236Q306 (2)

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1 November 12, 1987 nucear owareness networc 1347% mossochusetts burence, kansas 66044 .(913)749-1640 US Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D. C. 20555 Ret Inadeauate Security at the Wolf Creek Generating Station, Burlington, Kansas 4

Dear Commissioners:

On October 4, 1987, the Kansas City 5 tar puolisned a front page story entitled " Nuclear Fishing? Anglers want big ones at Wolf Creek." A copy of the story is attached.

The Kansas City Star report indicates the Kansas Gas and Electric Company (KG&E) fails to maintain adequate sbcurity at Wolf Creek to protect the puolic from exposure to radiation.

According to the story, access to the Wolf Creek cooling lake, that contains radioactive effluents dischargec by the plant, is an easy matter. Tne story st ates tnat, "many areas are protected only by weeds or a short barcec-wire fence." it further notes tnat even though it is posted, "all it takes to get to the lake is determination and perhaps a pair of boots."

Adottionally, it appears members of the public routinely eat fish caught in the raaloactive waters. The story auotes Mr. Boo Rainbolt, who operates a local cast shop and presumably talks frequently with local anglers, as saying:

Honest peoole are tne only ones arouound here wno haven' t gotten fish out of that lake. The fishermen sneak in tnere at night. With a full moon, you don' t even need a lantern...Ever_yone I' ve talkea to say there's sometning wrong if you can' t get some nice catches out tnere.

i NAN would also point out that, accorcing to the story, the Coffey l County Attorney has never been cresentec with a case of criminal trespass on the lakeshore. If trespassing is as easy and f req uent as tne story indicates. K3dE neitner mai nt ains recurred security j nor takes legal ac, tion against trespassers to ceter future trespassing. Recorts of lax security coupled with lack of prosecution are ocen invitations for c. c n t .1 n e e d 11]egal treucassinc at tne nuclear #acility.

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Altncuan tne news story asserts tnat 1sning in radioactive waters may be " perfectly safe," we rote trat la racioniiclides are rout i ne l y disenarged into the Wolf Creek lake. Several have radioactive half-lives exceecing ten yers. and ooth Tritium cA nc Cobalt-58 have been cetected in tne lake's vege :at ion and on tte lakeshore.

As stated in tne Wo1f Creek Final Environmental Statement, eating fish from the cooling lake is a cathway "tnrough which persons may be excosed to radiatton originating in a nuclear newer reactor." Such exposure raises serious questions regarding damage to tne oublic health at Wolf Creek, and we woula remind you of the NRC 3tatement tnat:

Exposure to even low levels of radiation...is generally believed to increase the likelihood of certain diseases $

and to increase certain genetic effects. Since these effects may be evidenced many years after the exposure, they are classed as long-term realth effects. these incluce latent cancer fatalities, genetic defects anc tnyroid illnesses.--Reactor Safety Stucy, NURSS 75/014.

NAN celleves that the situation at Wolf Creek, as reported by the Kansas City Star, warrants NRC action. Inerefore, we have filed a 2.206 Petition requesting a full . investigation, wit 9 appropriate enforcement, fines and corrective action, if r.e e c e d .

Considering the serious deficiencies pointed out by toe newscaper, we recuest toac NRC officials expedite action on tme cetition. Failure to excluce occale From restricrea areas wqere exoosure to ractation can occur raises very serious puolic nea'tn c uest ions. Additionally. KG d ti' s failure to main:aln secur ty seriously Inceces its aoility to evacuata areas arcumc tne plant in a r a c .l o l o q 1 c a l emergency. A ecoy of the cetitiori is attachec.

Sincerely, f

hvi N bfGw Stevi Steonens, Director

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