ML081720202

Written Comments Submitted by S. Fracke at May 28, 2008, SSES Draft SEIS Public Meeting: NRC Public Meetings for License Renewal Application for Ppl'S Susquehanna Nuclear Power Plants - Units 1 & 2, Up to the Year 2044.

ML081720202
Person / Time
Site:	Susquehanna
Issue date:	05/28/2008
From:	Fracke S - No Known Affiliation
To:	Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
TAC MD3021, TAC MD3022
Download: ML081720202 (5)

Text

NRC Public Meetings for License Renewal Application for PPL's Susquehanna NuclearPower Plants -Units 1 and 2 Up to the Year 2044 Wednesday, May 28th, 2008 Public Input by Sue Fracke, Sugarloaf ,Pa in 10 Mile-Dead Zone Good Evening Ladies, and Gentlemen Who Sincerely Care About the Health, "Safety and Welfare'oftPeople Everywhere..

For those of you in the nuclear industry, whether government or business, may you conceive the ugly diseases that you have helped innocent people die from or be crippled with for the rest of their lives. I cannot wish you a good anything.The last time I spoke out at one of these type meetings, a man came up to me and said "Sue, you always say the same thing." And, I told him, thatI is because nothing has .changed with the nuclear industry.

Still giving us the same, old load of feces, such as, "I'm not afraid to move my family close by. I wouldn't submit my children to anything that could harm them." And that is what scares me-about you people. You're as Stupid as our appointed president, who thinks he's annointed.

Every year 20,000 people die of cancer from naturally occuring background radiation., You would think that this fact alone would be enough to say "Let us not produce anymore radiation as it will kill more people." With all our other means of mtakin energy especially all the various kinds of, solar energy that we now have the technology to do, it makes no sense to use a source of energy that is. dangerous and will cause more people to die of cancer,, and other degenerative diseases.Even if some people are cured from cancer, they will worry forever that it will come back to them and all the suffering that comes with it and many times it does come back.In the Federal"Register, December 15, 1989, Part II, by the Environmental Protection Agency, 40 CFR Part 61 on National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants; Radionuclides;, Final Rule .and Notice of Reconsideration reiterated -from the Federal Register of December 27, 1979%the EPA listed radionuclides as a hazardous air pollutant.

EPA determined that radionuclides are a known cause of cancer and genetic damage and that radionuclides cause or contribute to air pollution that may reasonably be anticipated to result in an increase in mortality or an increase in.serious irreversible or incapacitating reversible illness, and therefore constitute a hazardous air pollutant within the meaning of section 112(a)(1).

There are three major-types of long-term health impacts from exposure to radiation:

Cancer, hereditary effects, and developmental effects on fetuses such as mental retardation.

In addition, risk distribution from radiation from most of the sources considered for'regulation show that fatal cancers occur much more frequently than.non-fatal cancers and cancers generally occur more often than genetic or developmental effects." It also states that "Numerous studies have demonstrated that radiation is a carcinogen.

'It is NRC Meeting on Susquehanna's

'application 5/28/2008 Page 2, , assumed that there is no-completely risk-free level of exposure, to radiation to, cause. cancer."<'Radiation corrodes metal such as in the .pipes, of nuclear power plants causing holes that constantly emit radiation in our air under the routine operation of the plants. Radiation is cummulative in 6ur bodies and the effects of exposure can sometimes take many years before showing up. And we Were worried that Saddam Hussein had weapons, of mass destruction.

Along with radioactive air. pollutants, the Enviromental Protection Agency reports thaat in 2002 24,379 US. non-nuclear facilities released 4.79 billion pounds of toxins' into the atmosphere.

Of these pollutants, 72 million pounds were known carcinogens. have no concept of the synergistic, effects of these toxins when they are mixed with radioactive pollutants.

These toxins impinge on health, during your entire life, even before birth. A study in New York City shows that the genetic material in fetuses still in their mothers' womb is damaged by air pollution.

, From the Radiation and Public Health Project in Norristown, PA, they have found that "Current'-

rates of infant-deaths, childhood cancer, 'and thyroid 'cancer, all known to be effected by emissions from nuclear reactors,ý are elevated in Luzeme County, the site of the Susquehanna Nuclear plants.The National Academy of Sciences' BEIR Committee in their 1990 Study also published there is no safe dose of radiation.

And, again in their 1995-1996 report they again reported the same but this time said there may be biological' damage in addition.The United States' Department of Energy (DOE) is conducting a ten year program of basic research in microbiology -and these researchers, some in universities and some in government agencies, are finding new unanticipated forms of genetic damage. .A damaged cell may be able to repair itself, but the repaired cell will not be, nor like, the original undamaged cell. There could be, irreversible damage to our species..

These are not decisions to be made by engineers, this should be in the realm of biologists and geneticists.,"These high disease rates should shock all Luzeme County .residents, and they should demand a thorough study of the health risks posed by the Susquehanna plant," said Joseph Mangano MPH MBA of the Radiation and Public Health Project, who presented the data. "If radioactive emissions from the plant have been harmful, people should know this before the government decides whether or not to extend the plant's license.", The 2000-2004 county rate of white infants who died in their first month was 23% above the U.S. rate, based on 55 deaths. In that same period, 43 Luzerne children under age 15 were diagnosed with cancer, a rate 38% above the nation. Data are taken from the'National Center for Health Statistics and the Pennsylvania Cancer Registry.

NRC Meeting on Susquehanna's Application 5/28/2008 Page 3 Thyroid cancer statistics may be most alarming.

In the late 1980's, as the two reactors at Susquehanna were starting, the Luzerne rate was 20% below the U.S. However, in 2000-2003, the Luzeme rate was 100% above (double) the nation. Radioactive iodine found only in nuclear weapons and reactors seeks out the thyroid gland where it kills and impairs cells, leading to cancer.Two large nuclear reactors have operated at Susquehanna beginning

'in 1982 and 1984, respectively.

Virtually all of the 312,000 residents of Luzerne County live within 15 miles of the plant, and would be most likely to receive the greatest radiation exposures.

Like all reactors, Susquehanna routinely emits gases and particles into the air and water, 'which enters human bodies by breathing and the food chain. There are over 100 radioactive chemicals in this mix; each causes cancer, and is especially harmful to fetuses, infants and children.California closed down the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Plant many years ago. Through conservation, solar and other forms of energy, they created over 800 new jobs and lowered their rates. Nuclear Power is only 19% of our energy in the U.S. Through conservation and solar we could close down all the nuclear power plants in our country and save thousands of lives.These findings, and other data on local disease rates, should be part of the federal decision on whether the U.S Nuclear Regulatory Commission should approve the application of PPL Susquehanna to operate the plant until 2044. The current license allows operation until 2024.These plants were originally designed to only operate for 12 to 15 years. PPL and the NRC are pushing our luck.Anyone who wants more nuclear power, plants, and our President wants 55 more in this country, should be considered an insane terrorist.

Our president constantly tries to scare us about terrorists.

Nuke ..plants and high level radioactive waste sites, both now at the Susquehanna site, could be a terrorist dream.'We are also using depleted uranium bombs in Iraq. Both our soldiers and the Iraqis are being exposed. Many of the Iraqi children are getting Leukemia.

Remember the Gulf War Syndrome?Our soldiers~were exposed then, too, and many of their children had birth defects and many of the soldiers got very sick and our government didn't want to tell them why. Who's the terrorists?

SHUT THEM* DOWN! Deny them another license or else I Wish there was a hell for you to go to.Very Sincerely, Sue Fracke 396 Tower Rd., Sugarloaf, Pa 18249

-oV'13 06 02:50p p. I Radiation and Public Health Project Directors Joseph 1. Mangano, MPH, MBA, National Coordinator Robert Alvarez 912 Mill Grove Drive Norristown PA 19403 David Friedson 610-666-2985 odieioeftaolcom Jane S. Gould woorg Judith Johnsrud PhD Joseph Mangano William McDonnell Ernest J. Sternglass, PhD LOCAL CHILD HEALTH THREATENED BY SUSQUEHANNA NUCLEAR PLANT For Immediate Release Contact Joseph Mangano 610-666-2985 Berwick PA, November 15, 2006 -Current rates of infant deaths, childhood cancer, and thyroid cancer, all known to be affected by emissions from nuclear reactors, are elevated in Luzerne County, the site of the Susquehanna nuclear plant.These findings, and other data on local disease rates, should be part of the federal decision on whether the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission should approve the application of PPL Susquehanna LLC to operate the plant until 2044 (the current license only allows operation until 2024). The information was presented at a federal hearing today in Berwick on the application."These high disease rates should shock all Luzerne County residents, and they should demand a through study of the health risks posed by the Susquehanna plant," said Joseph Mangano MPH MBA of the Radiation and Public Health Project, who presented the data. "If radioactive emissions from the plant have been harmful, people should know this before the government decides whether or not to extend the plant's license." The 2000-2003 county rate of white infants who died in their first month was 23% above the U.S. rate, based on 55 deaths. In that same periOd. 43 Luzerne children under age, 15 were diagnosed w*ith cancer, a rate 38% above the nation. Data are taken from the National Center for Health Statistics and the Pennsylvania Cancer Registry.Thyroid cancer statistics may be most alarming.

In the late 1980s, as the two reactors at Susquehanna were starting, the Luzerne rate was 20% below the U.S. However, in 2000-2003, the Luzeme rate was 100% above -double -the nation. Radioactive iodine found only in nuclear weapons and reactors seeks out the thyroid gland, where it kills and impairs cells, leading to cancer.Two large nuclear reactors have operated 'at Susquehanna beginning in 1982 and 1984, respectively.

Virtually all of the 312,000 residents of Luzerne County live within 15 miles of the plant, and would be most likely to receive the greatest radiation exposures.

Like all reactors, Susquehanna routinely emits gases and particles into the air and water, which enters human bodies by breathing and the food chain. There are oyer 100 radioactive chemicals in this mix;each causes cancer, and is especially harmful to fetuses, infants, and children.Advisory Board Research Associates Rosalie Bertell, PhD, GNSH William Reid, MD Samuel S. Epstein, MD Agnes Reynolds, RN John Gofman, MD, PhD Janette Sherman, MD Susanne Saltzman, MD Nov 13 06 02:5Op p.2 INFORMATION ON SUSQUEHANNA NUCLEAR PLANT AND LOCAL HEALTH 1. Susquehanna reactors 1/2 went critical (began producing radioactivity) on September 10, 1982 and May 8, 1984, respectively.

Source: U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

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2. From January 1, 1999 to September 30, 2006, Susquehanna 1/2 operated 91.8% and 93.0% of the time, an all time high. Source: U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, www.nrc.gov.

Reactors operated 62345 and 63193 hours out of a maximum 67919.3. From 2000-2003.

55 Luzerne county whites under 28 days old died out of 11601 live births, a rate of 4.74 per 1000. This rate was 23% greater than the U.S. rate of 3.84.Source: National Center for Health Statistics, httpi/wonder.cdc.gov, underlying cause of death.4. From 2000-2003.

43 Luzerne county children under age fifteen were diagnosed with cancer. Based on an annual average population of 52,567, the cancer incidence rate was 20.45 per 100,000, which was 38% greater than the U.S. average of 14.78. Sources: PA Cancer Registry (www. state.pa.us) and U.S. Centers for Disease Control (h!tp:/2wonder.cdc.gov, National Association of Cancer Registries

-represents 39 states).5. From 1985-1988 the Luzerne county thyroid cancer incidence rate was 3.54 per 100,000, based on 86 cases, or 20% below the U.S. rate of 4.40. From 2000-2003, the counly rate was 16.41, based on 229 cases or 100% above the U.S. rate of 8.20. Sources: PA Cancer Registry (www.state.pa.us) and Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (www.seer.cancer.gyov), representing 9 states and cities.2