ML110190645

E-mail from D. Lew, NRC to N. Sheehan, NRC; Subject: Help Need with Media Inquiry

ML110190645
Person / Time
Site:	Indian Point
Issue date:	12/10/2010
From:	David Lew NRC Region 1
To:	Brice Bickett, Mel Gray, Neil Sheehan NRC Region 1
References
FOIA/PA-2011-0045
Download: ML110190645 (2)

Text

Gray, Mel From: Lew, David Sent: Friday, December 10, 2010 2:35 PM To: Sheehan, Neil; Gray, Mel; Bickett, Brice; Catts, Michelle; Tifft, Doug; McCarver, Sammy Cc: Dean, Bill; Clifford, James

Subject:

RE: Help needed with media inquiry Neil, Brice & Mel are not in the office, and Jim Clifford is in a meeting.

We would offer the following messages.

1. The NRC is aware of the issue regarding the inadvertent release of oil to the environment as a result of the main transformer explosion on November 7 th.

2. Shortly after that event, the licensee was in communications with the NRC, the Coast Guard and the State.

3. The aspect of potential releases of oil to the environment is under the purview of the NYS, and as such, anyfollow-up and independent review would be conducted by the State.

4. Information relative to the potential oil release should be discussed with the licensee and NYS.

5. The NRC's focus and independent review are associated with the aspects of the event that fall under the NRC's jurisdiction.

Dave From: Sheehan, Neil Sent: Friday, December 10, 2010 2:10 PM To: Gray, Mel; Bickett, Brice; Catts, Michelle Cc: Dean, Bill; Clifford, James; Lew, David

Subject:

Help needed with media inquiry Importance: High The Journal News has asked the New York DEC for its take on whether oil reached the river after the recent Indian Point 2 transformer failure. The DEC's response is below. DEC is telling reporter that as many as 14,000 gallons of transformer oil may have been released to the environment. (Riverkeeper has said previously that 20,000 gallons were released.)

We have said 50 to 100 gallons of oil were released. How do we respond to this latest information from the DEC?

Have we received any updates from Entergy on the amount of oil released?

I need to respond to the reporter on this this afternoon.

14

"New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is investigating a spill of dielectric fluid, also known as transformer oil, which resulted from the explosion of a transformer at Indian Point Energy Center at approximately 6:39 pm on Sunday, November 7, 2010.

The transformer contained up to 20,000 gallons of petroleum-based dielectric fluid which does not contain polychlorinated bi-phenyls (PCBs). Entergy has provided daily reports to DEC through November 21st on the progress of the clean up. Entergy's Preliminary reports to DEC suggest that as many as 14,000 gallons of dielectric fluid may have been released to the environment (air and water) from the transformer as a result of the explosion.

Subsequent to the November 7, 2010 explosion, an undetermined amount of dielectric fluid escaped the on-site containment systems and entered the nearby cooling water discharge canal and was subsequently released into the Hudson River, where it was observed floating on the water both to the North and South of the Indian Point facility by Entergy and DEC personnel.

At this time, DEC Region 3 enforcement personnel are continuing to investigate the cause and extent of the release to the environment of transformer oil.

DEC Region 3 has contacted Entergy to meet and discuss the incident as part of the investigation, and will consider what further enforcement actions may be warranted for violations of Environmental Conservation Law and regulation.

John Parker Regional Attorney Office of General Counsel, Region 3 Department of Environmental Conservation 21 South Putt Corners Road New Paltz, NY 12561 Ilparker(-)qw.dec.state.nv. us (845) 256-3037 (845) 255-3042 -Fax 2