ML20245D172

Forwards Response to Item in Senator EM Kennedy to Chairman Lw Zech Re Link Between Cancer & Nuclear Power

ML20245D172
Person / Time
Site:	Pilgrim
Issue date:	03/03/1988
From:	Liza Cunningham Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:	Wessman R Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Shared Package
ML20245D175	List: IA-88-198, Forwards Draft Ltr to G Parker.Ltr Now Inappropriate Due to Barry to Zech ML20245D172 ML20247F968 ML20247F987 ML20247F996 ML20247G007 ML20247G017 ML20247G020 ML20247G026
References
FOIA-88-198 NUDOCS 8803080415
Download: ML20245D172 (2)

Text

.

MAR 0 31988 l e

Docket No. 50-293 l I MEMORANDUM FOR: Richard H. Wessman, Director ',. qI Project Directorate I-3 '

Division of Reactor Projects I/II Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation FROM: LeMoine J. Cunningham, Chief Radiation Protection Branch ~

Division of Radiation Protection and Emergency Preparedness Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

SUBJECT:

RESPONSE TO SENATOR KENNEDY 4

Per your request enclosed is our response to an item contained in a letter from Senator Edward M. Kennedy to Chairman Lando W. Zech dated February 17, 1988.

Original signed by LeMcine J. Cunningham LeMoine J. Cunningham, Chief Radiation Protection Branch Division of Radiation Protection and Emergency Preparedness Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Enclosure:

As Stated

Contact:

Edward F. Branagan, NRR 492-3146 Distribution:

UPStohr, NRR LJCunningham, NRR ODLynch, NRR JEWigginton, NRR RJBarrett, NRR

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• ENCLOSURE RESPONSE TO SENATOR KENNEDY

1. Comment Until we receive satisfactory answers to the question whether there is a link between cancer and nuclear power, the Pilgrim plant should 'not be permitted to re-start.

' Response The staff has reviewed the epidemiological study entitled " Health Surveil-lance of the Plymouth Area" which was performed by the Massachusetts Department of Health and referenced in the enclosure to your letter. The studf reports detecting an increased incidence of leukemia cases in five towns in the vicinity of the Pilgrim nuclear power plant. Since many factors other than the Pilgrim plant could cause this increase, the authors of the study state that the cause of the increased incidence has not been determined.

The staff notes that the effects of radiation on living systems have been studied for decades by individual scientists as well as by select commit-tees that have occasionally been formed to objectively and independently assess the risks from radiation. These extensive :tudies were considered in developing the public health and safety limits that apply to the Pilgrim plant, as well as to other nuclear power plants. Some of these studies have found a statistically significant increase in cancer for doses and dose rates higher than those encountered in the vicinity of nuclear power plants. However, the studies have not detected a statisti-cally significant increase at doses and dose rates normally encountered in the vicinity of nuclear power plants. However, as a prudent measure, the NRC staff assumes that there is a linear relation between cancer and low doses of radiation. NRC limits are selected such that the statisti-cal probability of risk is extremely low.

In conclusion, we think that there is a substantial data base in the area of health effects from exposure to radiation and that it is not appropri-ate to delay restarting the Pilgrim plant pending a more definitive link between cancer and nuclear power.

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