ML20127M045

Ack Receipt of s Re Gaseous Diffusion Plant in State of Mn.Info Re Contamination of St Paul - Minneapolis & Suburban Water Supplies by Monticello & Elk River Atomic Reactors Encl

ML20127M045
Person / Time
Site:	Monticello
Issue date:	12/20/1968
From:	Badalich J MINNESOTA, STATE OF
To:	Price H US ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION (AEC)
Shared Package
ML20127M025	List: ML20127M021 ML20127M045
References
NUDOCS 9211250340
Download: ML20127M045 (5)

Text

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sp-1989

, 04-196h STATE OF MINNESOTA MINNESOTA POLLUTION CONTROL AGENCY 459 BOARD oF HEALTH BUILDING UNIVER$1TY CAMPUS MINNE APOLIS 55440 December 20, 1968 Mr. Harold L. Price Director of Regulations U. S. Atomic Energy Commission Washington, D. C. 20545

Dear Mr. Price:

I wish to acknowledge receipt of your letters dated November 19, 1968, regarding 1) infomation as to a gaseous diffusion plant in Minnesota, and

2) response to my letter of September 3,1968, reganiing various questions submitted by Mr. Steve J. Gadler, with attachments.

l Your comments and that of your staff are greatly appreciated and are now being reviewed by members of the Agency, our staff, and also our con-sultant on radioactivity.

I Since the original submission to you of some 80 questions posed by Mr.

Gadler, he has drafted an additional 27 questions that bear consideration by the Atomic Energy Commission. I have enclosed a copy of these questions-signed by Mr. Gadler and again ask that these be answered in his behalf and as a matter of infonnation to our Agency.

One further question I neglected to ask you at the outset, and for your comment, was a statement that was made by the Congressional Joint Comittee on Atomic Energy in the congressional report under date of February 1968, that states: "Until experience is gained and adequate safeguards are proved out, prudence dictates that large reactor installations be fairly far re-moved from population centers."

If this is true, why, then, was the Monticello nuclear power reactor located only forty miles upstream from the Minneapolis-St. Paul Metropolitan Area, having a population of approximately two million people, and the water supply for in excess of one million people? Would you please clarify for us the statement as it appeared and is quoted in the Congressional Record?

DA-1969 Rec'd Off. Dir, of Reg.

9211250340 690217 Date '/4b 4'N PDR ADOCK 05000263 '-

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Mr. Harold L. Price 12/20/1968 Washington, D. C.

Again I wish to express my appreciation to you and others of the AEC staff for your cooperation in providing the information requested in the past, and I trust that the above request for additional information and answers will be forthcoming in the very near future.

Very truly yours, r-l 9

John P. Badalich, P.E.

Execuiive Director JPB:mmb Enclosure

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COSTAhINATION OF ST. PAUL - MINNSAPOLIS A'O SUBU?3AN WATSR SUPPLIES BY M0" TIC::LLO AND ELK RIVSR ATOMIC RIACTORS

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1. What are the types and a ounts of radioactivo poHutants that win bo discharged into tho Mississippi River by tho Monticello roactor por

, day? Per year? ,

2. In the eventof a serious atomic accidont that would contaminate

tho )dssissippi River with radioactive poHutants will AEC provido the Twin Cities water for drinking and industrial purposos?

l 3 If not, why did the ASC approvo NSP c pordt at Monticono?

4. Is an emergency water supply for the St. Paul and Minneapolis water systems in oxisting U.S. Atomic Snorgy Commission plans if tho -

river is contaminated with radioactivo poHutants? _

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5. Has c.:7 nrobable atomic accident at the Monticeno reactor that j would provcnt utilizing Mississippi River water by St. Paul and, ,_ _

Minneapolis boon discussed with concerned public water officials?

l 6 In the event of the emergency in (4) above how win industrios i dependant upon the hississippi water stay in op3 ration?

7. In the ovent of an atomic or other accident at the Monticano .

reactor that would ponute the Kississippi River water for an down-river users especiany the St. Paul -- Minneapolis residents who win .

nay for thb added water costs if an emergoney sourco of water scomes

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8. Since the health and safetyaf the public which includes integrity .

of the St. Paul. - Minneapolis whler supplies is a responsibility of the .

! Atonic 3nergy Commission-both by law and its oun regulations, how win i the Atomic Enorgy Conmission provent the ponution of the Eississippi River with radioactive pouutants which are a minion to a binion times

more toxic than any chemical known to man) - '

9. .ince the Atomic Energy Commission has permitted the construction of I the Monticeno reactor above the St. Paul and Kinneapolis water intakes

on the Mississippi River win the Atomic Energy Commission carry out the intent of. the congress and provent- the discharging of radioactive raterials into the river thereby providing for tho health and safety of i the down-river residents. ,

, 10. What type of communication networks are to be provided in case _ of

the. inevitable atonic acyident at the Monticallo atonic reactor which

would destroy.St. Paul - Minneapolis water supplies?

l i R. What are the prosent plans or arransoment for t.lorting St. Poul -

I Minneapolis water officials of an accidenal discharge of radioactive .

materials into the Mississippi River at Monticano?

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12. Sinco tho Atode Unnrcy Co r. mission is responsiblo for the "hoalth and safoty" how u3 u they provent s tbotar;o of tho 250,000 gan on radio-

activo unter rotontion tanks at Monticono?

13. In the event of sabatage or accidental bursting of the 250,000 gan on radioactivo unter rotontion tanks who viu adviso St. Paul wator officials about the accident.

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14. Who win adviso St. Paul and Minnonpolis public officials of tho .

serious radioactivo contamination of the rivor?

l 15. , who wiu dotermine the air.ount and ty;ra of radioactivo materials discharged into the river? Who advises who, when and by what roans?

l 10. Since semntics plays such a largo role in nucicar literature and

! torminology and the Atode Energy Cor. mission refers to serious atomic accidents as incidents or occurrences, is it possiblo to withhold ' n-

! formation affecting the safety and health of peopic by reporting an 1 atomic accident at Monticcuo as an incident?

17. . Sinco it is incumbent upon the op3 ration of any atomic facility with*this state to make fun and comploto disclosures concerning types a and amounts of radioactivo materials to bo discharged into the environ-ment, how doos NSP intent to provide the information and to whom?

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18. Does NSP intend to dilute radioactive mterials for discharge into i the Mississippi River at the same ratio used by the U.S. Atomic Energy -

Commission's reactor at Elk River?

19 Does dilution of those radioactive toxic mtorials that NSP desires

• to dischargo into the St. Paul - Minneapolis water supplies reduce their dangers to the drinking populaces?

20. Since dilution of these cumulativo types of radiation does not i reduce their irraversiblo characteristics, how can the NSP or the Atomic Energy Commission protect the public health and safety sinco the

, populace will be drinking radio active water?

21. What win be seving to the KSP stockholders in KG produced by the into the environment 4

i Monticano and therebyatonic reactor polluting thruand St. Paul theFinneapolis discharging $fds,~tead of out-state shipment for burial and perpetual Atomic Energy Commission caro?

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22. Since radioactivo nuclides or radioactive materials are an subject to a law of nature that the rate of physical decay natural to each can-

not be altered to mtko then less radioactivo regardless of the amount of dilution or dispersion or' dejg;t).on, how does the Atomic Snergy .

Commission proposo to preservo the environment and rarevent the radio-active pouution of the St. Paul - Minneapolis water supplies?

23'. Sinco the Mississippi River is the source of water for St. Paul and Minnoapolis and'others doun-river, why does NSP dosire to discharge radioactivo wastes into tho rivor?

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. 4-24, 31nco aTl radiation rogardles." of the deso is cunalativo and irrevor31blo and sinen the radioactive wanto froa the ato:dc reactor at 1.ontico110 if discharced into the rivar wiTL incroase substantially, the re.dionativo dosagos to tho St. Pant and Minr.onpolis water usors why doas lGP want to uso tho Mississippi River for radioactive wasto ,

disposal?

25. Sinco a Tor $g cordos of smill radioactivo insults to tho huwin body rny accunulato to produco long-dolayod serious injury uhy has the U.S. Atorde Snargy Comission affirmod and approved the Monticollo atonde roactor that wants to dischargo radioactivo pollutants into the river and the atmosphoro thoroby incroasin;; tho dosages to down-river residents with its routes of water.and atnosphorio disposal?

26. Sinco the nost tc r.pting and nost econonical radioactivo disposal routo for tho Monticollo roactor is the Mississippi Pdver, uhat assuranses will the MN/, and down-river water usors that USP

• is not " riding the rivor"7

27. Since tho U.S. Atenic Ener6y Cor;7.ission is not concerned with the integrity of the St. Pau'l and hinnonpolis water supplies, uhnt right do they have to polluto timso waters?

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