ML20247H679

Responds to Concern Re Renewal of NRC License Issued to Rocketdyne Div of Rockwell Intl Corp.Nrc Insps Have Identified No Releases of Radioactive Matls to Environ in Excess of Regulatory Limits.Epa Heading Interagency Review

ML20247H679
Person / Time
Site:	07000025
Issue date:	07/25/1989
From:	Cook G NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION V)
To:	Bloom A AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED
Shared Package
ML20247H685	List: ML20247H679 ML20247H699
References
NUDOCS 8907310097
Download: ML20247H679 (2)

Text

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! JUL 2 51999 L

l Alan Jay Bloom 94 Buckskin Road Bell Canyon, CA 91307

Dear Mr. Bloom:

I am writing in response to your expressed concern regarding the renewal of the NRC license issued to the Rocketdyne Division of Rockwell International Corporation. This license permits work with limited quantities of nuclear fuel in a shielded facility, known as a " hot cell," and small scale laboratory operations in other facilities within a limited area at Rocketdyne's Santa Susana Field Laboratory.

Rocketdyne has applied for a license renewal for the NRC-regulated activities at the Santa Susana Field Laboratory. As part of the renmal process, the NRC staff will conduct environmental and safety reviews of the ongoing activities.

The existing license will not expire until the Commission reaches a final decision on the renewal. I have enclosed for your information the NRC's regulations governing opportunities for hearings on renewals of special nuclear material licenses (10 CFR Part 2, Subpart L).

Through various corporate subsidiaries, Rockwell International has held licenses for use of radioactive materials at Santa Susana from the NRC or its predecessor, the Atomic Energy Commission, and fra the State of California.

Most of the formerly NRC-licensed facilities have been decontaminated and released for unrestricted use. The many NRC inspections conducted at these facilities over the years have identified no releases of radioactive materials to the environment in excess of regulatory limits.

Most of the nuclear activities at the Santa Susana Field Laboratory are not licensed or inspected by the NRC. Rather, much of the work done there is conducted under contract to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) on property controlled by DOE, and is outside NRC jurisdiction. Rocketdyne's rocket engine testing area is also adjacent to the Santa Susana Field Laboratory and, to the best_of our knowledge, does not house radioactive materials. For information on activities not licensed by the NRC, you should contact Rockwell, DOE, or the State of California directly.

Finally, you may be interested to know that the Environmental Protection

~ Agency (EPA) is heading an interagency review of the environmental status of the Santa Susana Field Laboratory. NRC, DOE, and the State are cooperating with EPA in this' review.

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Thank you for expressing your concerns. If you need additional information, please feel' free to call me at (415) 943-3809.

Sincerely, Y'lCg N yY Gregory N. Cook Public Affairs Officer  ;

Attachment as stated I cc w/ incoming letter:

G. Bidinger, IMSB J. Davis,'S.F. Operations Office, DOE l

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bec w/ incoming letter:

Docket File J. Martin B. Faulkenberry M. Smith 4

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