ML18026A299

Forwards Comments on Draft Suppl to Des,Addl Comments on Des & Util News Release.Draft Suppl to Des Re Pond Hill Reservoir Is Inadequate & Incomplete.News Release Bolsters Contention That Need for Plant Was Inadequately Assessed

ML18026A299
Person / Time
Site:	Susquehanna
Issue date:	06/10/1980
From:	MANN D, SADE T SUSQUEHANNA ALLIANCE, LEWISBURG, PA
To:	Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
NUDOCS 8006170503
Download: ML18026A299 (49)

Text

SusquehannaAllianceP0Box249Lewisburg,Pa17837June10,1980USNuclearRegulatoryCommissionrFashington,D.C.20555Mt:Director,DivisionofSiteSafety&EnvironmentalAnalysis

DearSm/Madam,

NeareenclosingseveraldocumentswhichwehopewiLLbeofhelpinimprovingthequalityoftheDraftEnvt"onmentalStatementanditsSupplementwhichhavebeenozeparedinrelat'ontotheplannedoperationoftheSusquehannaSteamElect"icStationUnitsL&2(DocketNo's50-387and50-388).OnMay26werequestedandweregranteda15dayextensionoftimeinwhichtosubmit.thesecommentsbyMrSinghBajwa,the%CEnvtzonmentalProjectManagerfortheproject.Thedocumentsenclosedinclude1)asunanazyofthereasonswefeeltheDraftsupplmsenttotheDraftmvtronmentalimpactstatementvithega.rdtothapondHillYR~e'ristnadeguateandincomplete;2)commentsonthaDraftStatmsantitselftosupplementourcommentssubmittedonAugust17whichreinforceourbel'efthatasanEnvironmentalImpactStatementthisdocumentisinadequateandincomplete,and3)acopyofarecentPP&LnewsreleasewhichbolstersourcontentionthataninadequateassessmentoztheneedforthepLanthasbeendone.Nehopethatthesecommentswillbeofvaluetothestaffincontinuingthecrocessoddullyanddiligentlyevaluatingthe.uii~aneodimpactsoftheproposedoperationoftheSusquehannaSteamElectricStation.Ttisouropinionthatinordertoadecuatelyaddesstheazeasofconcernraisedbyusandothercommenters,extensivrevisionstothedzaftmustbemade.Znthiscontextwerequestthatasecondd"aft,be'ssuedandbemadeavailableforfurtherpubliccommentbeforethefinalEZSisadopted.PleaseletusResowifthisrequestwiLLbehonored.Sincezely,fortheSuscuehannaAlliance COMMENTSONDRAFTSUPPLEMZÃ2TODRAFTEISFORTHESUSQUZ2RNNAST~~CTRICSTATIONl)OneoftheconclusionsdrawnbytheStaffofthe%AC'sofficeofNuclearReactorRegulationandofparamountconcerntoresidentsofthevicinityisthatconstructionofthe"PondHill"waterstorageeservoiwillhaveasignificantlynegativeimpactonwaterquality.Znparticular,thesupplementstatesthatnutrientlevels,specificallyphosphorous,"willconsiderablyexceed"thecriteriaestablishedhytheEnvironmentaliProtectionAqencyfornutrientlevelsandthus"NeaatentialthateutzophicconditionswilloccuzinthepondHillreservoirisrelativelyhigh".Missingframthestatement'sapolutionabatementormitigatanplanbytheapplicant.Untilsuchaplanisincluded,thisdaftsupplementisincomplete.2)Thesafetyanalysisoftheprojectisclearlyinsufficient,especiallygiventheunpredictablenatureoftheSusquehannaRiveranditstributaries,andthefactthatseverefloodinghasoccuredintheegiontwicewithinthelasteightyearsasaresultofext"aordinarilyheavyrainsfromt"opicalstormsAgnes(L972)andEloise(l975)inunprecedentedconcentrations.Themaximumflooddangerandimpactsofovertappingthe~idamhavenotbeenadequatelyassessed,arathezglaringammissioninlightoftheNRC'smandatetoarotectthehealthandsafetyofthepublic.Specifically,thestaffnotedinsect'on4.4.2.3that:Zf<<thedamweretoheovertoppedthestaffbelieves<<thatthedamcouldfail.TheloadingthatwouldresultfromfailureofthedamwouldpzoducerapidlyrisingwatereLevationsdownstreamofthedamsite.Theaotentialexiststotaaanddrownaersonsandwildlifeinthedownstearnfloodlaindurinsuchflo~d~cl(emphasisadded).ThepotentialforhearntopattensusingRoute239andtherailroadduringsuchfloodingalsoexists.TheissueofsafetyshouldhesettLedon<<theconservativeside,withthemaxi@nunbenefittoandozotectionofthepublictheoveidingconsideration.Thesehazardsazenotacceptableandaplantomit'gatethesedangersshouldheincluded.3)Thereportdaesnotadequatelyaddresstheconsiderationofalternativestatheconst=actionofthePondHillReservoir.TheuseoftheAnyCorpofEnqineersCowanesqueReservoirnowunderconstwctioninPennsylvaniahasnotbeenullyexplored,espec'allyinLightoftheaaplicant'sownadmissionthatthecostsofthisalternativeovera30yearper'adwouldbe$12million"(ascomparedwiththe$48-50millioncastofPandHill,$63mil'ionifaropertytaxesareteatedasanadditionalprojectcost).InfacttheStafhasconcludedthat:Thebesteconomicalternativewouldageartobetheuse-an-existina-zeservoir-alternative(emphasisadded).Basedontheinformationavailable,Cowanesqueappearstobethemosteconomicamongallalteznat'vereservoizs,givenhatconcernedauthoritiesgranttheuseofwaterforf'owaugmentat'an.TheBaltimoreDist=ictCarpsofEngineersiscurrentlystudyingthefeasibilityafmadiyingtheexistingprojecttoincludewatersupplystorageasaprojectpurposeinadditontofloodcontolandrecreation.ZtiseltthatAxismodificationwouldincreasetheeconomicefficiencyof<<theCowanesqueLakePoject.Preliminaryfindingsindicatethat"Mscouldbedonewithoutaffectingthefloodcontrolcapabilities,thatsubstantiaLreleasescouldbeazovided'ntotheSusquehannaRiverduringlawstreamflowperiodsandthesereleaseswouldgenerallyimprovetheriverineenvionmentduringnaturaLLyLowsteamflowperiods.Ratherthanexpendover$63milliononwhatmaybecomeaput=id,stinkinglakeatPondHill,"heutili"yand"Nepublicwouldbebetterservedhytheapplicant'sagqzessive.investigationoftheesourcesrequiredtoeffectuate SUPP'~CCMHEHTSCONTXNUEDthenecessaryapprovalfoztheiruseoftheCowanescgxepro)ect.ZnadditiontothefoxegoingciticismregardingalternativestoDeproposedIQpro)ect,theapplicantandstaffhavenotfairlytreatedthe"NoAction"oz"RiverFollowing"alternative,wherebySSESwouldmerelyshutdownduringtimesoflowflowintheSusquehannaRiver.BasedonanaverageannualoccurenceofLowflowof4days(aroughly904pxobabilityaccordingtotableSs3)"thecostofPondHiLLReservoiralternativewealdbeveryclasstatbereplaaeseatcastadelsctrlaltycadettberivex'ollowingalternative".Given<<theexcesscapacityfiguresofboththeapplicantandthePJMinterconnection,thestaffconcludedthat"PPQcouldprovidereliablesezvicetoitscustomersevenduringashortintervalofshutdownofSSES".TheattachedpressreleasefzomPPQ.providessupportforthisstatement.4)ThefinaLareaofcommentinregardtothispro5ectconcernstheimpactofthepro)cotontheculturalresourcesofthearea.AlthoughtheappLicantiscommittedtocdoutanarcheologicalsurvey"andcertainpreventativemeasuresiresourcesarediscovezed,theapplicant.doesnotspecifyinsufficientdetailwhatthosemeasureswillbeandwhat,ifany,actionwillbe<<Men(includinghaltingconstruction)ifsubstantiaLresourcesareinfactdiscovered.ThissuxveyshouldbeperformedbeforeanEZSispreparedandtheresul<<tsincluded.Theapplicanthasillust"atedinthecons~motionundertakenattherecreationazeaneartheplantthatithasnoregardforcuLtuzalesources.Arepeatofthisperformancemustnotbeallowed.

1h~1 ADDZTXONhLCOMMENTSONDRAPEKVTERONMENTALSTATEMENTFORSSESQl$g((-1)Thereportdoesnotadecpxatelyaddressthecont'nuingandevenescalatingcontx'ovezsyregardingthehealtheffectsofcontinuedexposuretolowlevelradiation.Znaddition,"nomentionisgiventowhathasbeendubbedthe"HeidelbergReport"whichhasalsobeent"anslatedandprintedbytheNRCas"RadioecologicalAssessmentoftMWhylNucleazPowerPlant".lnstudyingexistingdataonthetansferactorstoplantLife(andultimatelyhumantissue)ofcertainradioactiveisotopesemanatingfromoperatingnuclearpowex'eactors,thaauthorsofthereportconc3.udedthattheNRC'sjudgmentsonhowmuchplutonium,cesium,st"ontium,etcwaspickedupfromthasoilwere"between10and1,000timestolow".Evenmoraout"ageousthantheerrorfactorcalculatedbytheWGermanscientistsistheircontentionthattheoLdAECinanattempttomoLLifyciticsofearliernucLearpolicy,deliberatelyriggedtheexperimentstominixdzethehightransferfactorsinherentintheisotopes.Thestepsinc3.ude,butwezanotLated.toea.pze-testingandselectionofsoi3.ssoastochoosethosewhichabsorbedtheminimumamountoftheisotopeb.addingradiotoxicsubstancestothesoilshort3ybeforehazvestinggtherebyavoidingrealisticconditions,whereplantswouldgrowfromseedsinthecontaminatedsoilc.cookingthesoilinovenstoreducethehactexiologicalefectuponthaisotopeandthusassuxelowerreadingsTheHeidelbergReportisthefirsttimetMtindependentscientistshaveexaminedtheVRC'ssafetyassurancesaboutroutineemmissionsfromoperatingplants.Although,inallairness,itshouldbenotedthatthereportmayhavecomeintotheNRC'shandsafteroronlyshort3.ybeforethereleaseoftheDraftEnvironmentalStatementforSSES,itsconclusionswa=antathoroughreviewoftheissuesraised,notonlybythaKC,butenvionmentbeforeitcanheconsideredcomplete.2)ItisinterestingtonotethatintheDraftSupplementtotheDraxtEZS,theapplicantorcmisesthatitis"committedtocarryoutanaxchaeologicalsurvey"andtotakewhateverpreventativemeasuresarenecessarytoprotectculturalresources.The'ronyinherentinthatpositionisthatnosuchsurveywasundertakenorevenalludedtofortheor'ginalprojectitself,onethatinvolvesconsiderablemoraexpense,area,andintensityofconstzuctionthanthePondHillReservoi.Inaddition,partoftheplant'ssecondaryconstrue<<d.oninvolvesestablishmentofarecreationareaontheLow-Tyingflat3.andsadjacenttotheSuscg:ehannaRiver,similarareasofwhichhaveproventohearcheoLogicalmotherlodesofinformationonandrelicsofpre-ex'tingindigenouspopuLations.AstheapplicantitselfnotesinAppendix8totheDraftSupplement...Suchassessments(inventoriesofhistoricorarcheologicalresourceswhichmayheimpactedbytheproposedconstactionazetohemadeoursuantto36~800,Section106oftheNationalHistoricPreservationActof1966asamended(16USC470).hyExecutiveOrdex11593,May13,1971,"Protectionand~ancementoftheCultuzalEnvironment",andbythePresident'sMemorandumonEnvironmentalQualityandWaterResourcesManagement,July12,'78.TheappLicantshouldhezecpxizedtoconduct,suchaninventoryincompliancewiththe lf CGMKWZSQNDRAFTEISCQNTZHUEOofarenewedanthxaciteindustryontheregion.InananalysispreparedrecentlyxotheSusquehannaAllianceentitled"Economi.,,Social,andEnvi"onmentalImpactsofRenewe)MiningintheAntMaciteRegion",itwasfoundthatarevitalizationofthis'ndus+,especiaLlyoneemployingnewopen-pitminingtechnolcgies,couldremoveal3.econocallyext"actablecoalandxestorepxesentlyunusableareastoproductivelanduses,rovewatercualitybeyond~JoerequirementsofthePennsylvaniaCleanStreamsLaw,create1500newjobsinminingandrelatedindusties,andstemtheoutmigzationofyoungpeoplezomthearea.Allofthiscouldbeaccomplishedintheprocessofproducingafuelcost-competive(basedonBTUequivalents)withthosecurrentlyinuse.AgainwestateourbelieftMttheoperationofSSESwillprecludetheneedforsuchanindustryandthelossofthesebenefitsshouldbeindludedinthecost-benefitanalysis.above-citedLegislation,regulations,andexecutivepronouncements,beforeconstmctioncontinuesandanopera~~glicenseisgranted.Inadditionaplanormitigatingthedamageonebyconst~ctionshouldbeimplemented.3)TheStaffandapp3icant'scost-benefitanalysisdonotadequatelyreflecttheimpactr4)Aswithallothex'nvi"onmentalImpactStatementsrelatingtotheconstzuct'onof.nuc3.earpowerplants,theStaffandtheutilityconcernedhavedismissedoutofhandthepossiblityofaserious,orClassIXaccidentandthehealtheffectsofsuchacatastropheonDeLocalpopulation.Althoughth'somissionwillbeaddressedshortlyasuaanazyofthePresident'sCouncilonEnvironmentalQuality'sgenericcriticismsof,theentireEZSprocess,itisespecialLyglaringbothinLightoftherecenteventsatT.'GandSSES'sproximitytothatcxippledreactor,whexeintheStaff'sownestimation(madeinconjunctionwithaproceedingdealingwiththeSalemplant)aClassZXaccidentdidoccur.AthorougheviewofthepossibilitiesofsuchanoccurrenceatSSESshouldbemade<utissite-specificnotonlytothenatureof"".etechnologyemployedbyDeapplicantintheconstwctionoftheplantandcertaingeographicandgeologicfeaturebutwhichalsot."aroughlyreviews,analyxes,andassessestheprobabi3.'tyofsuccessofaLaxge-scaleevacuationofarearesidentsshouldsuchameasurebenecessitatedbyex"aozdinazyeventsatthesite.ZftheNRC'stoevenbegintoestozepublicconfidenceinitsabilitytosafelyregulatethenuclearindust~,theattitudethat"itcan'thappenhere"mustnolongerbestandardoperatingproceduze.5)Inax'ecentlettertoJohnAhearne,ChairmanoftheNRC,GusSpethofthePresident'sCouncilonEnvizonmentaLQualityoutLinedsevera3.genericdeficiencies,whichhecharacterisedas"disturbingintheNRCImpactStatementProcessofnuclearpowereacors.ThemostdamningofCQ'scxiticismswasthatthe,discussionofpotentialaccidentsandtheirenvironmentalimpactsinthese~<actstatementswas"perfunctory,remarkablystandardized,anduninformativetothepublic".Spethfoundthatdespitewidevariationsinthesi"e,locat'on,anddesignofnucLearpowerplantsthathavebeen(.licensedbytheSEC,"viN:nallyeveryEyacnntainsessentiallyidentiaal"beilesylate"'anguagewritteninanunvaryingformat".Theailuretoconsidertheworstcase,ox'lassZXaccidentisexemplifiedintheStatementpreparedfortheLicensingofTNZUnitsI5IZ,wherenoconsiderationisgiventotheC3.assZXscenar'o.hisomissionloomsquitelargeinviewoftheStaff'sownviewthatsuchanacc'dentdidoccuronNarch28,3.979.SpethalsourgestheCommissionto"broadenitsangeofvariables(e.g.rad'at'onpathways)indeterminingaccident'simpacts,andexpand'tsdiscussionsinEZS'softhe CCK2KNTSQNOBAPTEISCONTINUEDimpactsofnuclearaccidentsonhumanhealth,thenaturalenvironment,andLocaleconomies".Onceagain,t&scriticismseemstostemfromthebeliefthatEZS'sascurrentlypreparedaresimplygeneralzegurgitationsofpre-existingdataandpositionsthatbearLimitedifanyrelevancetoparticularanduniquesite-specificinformation.Theinabilitytotanslatethisinformationinnon-technicaltermseasilycomprehensibletothegeneralpublicalsomeetswithCQ'sdisapproval."-inally,Soethsuggeststhatthe%Cvigorouslypursuethegoaloffulfillingtotheu'costextenttherequirementsoftheNationalEnvionmentalProtectionActandthe"Legi~tepublicinterestinfulldisclosureofnuclearplanthazards"(emphasisadded)intheobviousbeliefthatsuchdisclosurehasnotbeenatoppriorityoftheNRC'sagendainpzeparingEnvironmentalImpactStatementsfortheoperationofnuclearpowezplants.Webelieveitisthe'responsibilityoftheNRCtobringtheEZS'stheypzeparewit~theguidelinessetbyCEQ.Untilthisisdonefcrthed"aftEISinquestionhere,itemafnswhollyinadequateandincomnlete.

V091979FRO!t:f\iVIEHORAffDUliFOR:.DonaldE.Sells,ActingChiefEnvironmentalProjectsBranch2,DSE//I'ho-asD.Yiurphy,Chic'f=,'adiologicalAssessnentBranch,DSEs

SUBJECT:

'.RESPO"!SETOCOlf~IE!fTSOf'/DINFTEfl'JIROÃi~iEHTAL.STATEt",E;"TOrfSUSgUEHAf,tfAU.'fITS1R."fo2~'r'InresponsetoyourmemorandumdatedSeptember20,1979,enclosedareourresponsestocor.".-,entsontheDraftEnvironmentalStatement'QES)onSusquehannaUg~and2(IIUREG-0564);Severalchangesareneeded,intheradiologicalsectionsoftheFinalEnvironmentalStatementbecauseofachangeinsourceterms.ChangestoSections4.5and5.3ofthe.DESwillbosenttoyou.afterwereceivenewsourcetermsfromETSB.*ThomasD.fiurphy,ChiefRadiologicalAssessmentBranchDivisionofSiteSafetyandEnvironmentalAnalysis,ERR./I!ote:Stoneourresponsetocorn.;est(i5-IIsalsodependentonthe~newsourceterm,itwillbesent'fithourmarked-upcopyofSections4.5and5.3oftheDE."\

Enclosure:

asstatedcc:0.ffullerH.KregerF<.Congel~~BIanagan'...'<:/4)/g-jDISTRIBUlIONDocketFileNRRReadingRABReadingT.HurphyOCPICCWISSSASSC~OATC+..HBB.:.NK....Branagan.:p10/31/79RRS,O55...;.f..FCoo,gaJ........II/Q/79~~~~~\~...R..:.NK.r.phd......../r/~7ri"""~~~~~~~~~~~~t'~~~~~~~~~

RESPONSETOCOHHENTSONDRAFTENVIRONMENTALSTATEHENTON'US(UEHANNAUNITS1AND2Comment85-4,H.L.HersheyIstronglydisapprove'theissuanceofanylicensetooperatetheSusquehannaplantuntilyouhave:...canbesurethroughindependentstudiesthattheeffectsoflowlevelradiationemittedfromtheplantoverthe30to40yearlifespanwillnotharmthepublic.ResponseSeeresponsetocomment85-1.Comment88-2,T.A.DrazdowskiSierraClubApreliminaryreviewfindsthereportflawedandincompleteinthefollowing:...2.Discussionofthehealtheffectsofradiationandradioactivewastedisposaldonotnotethepresentcontroversyamongscientistsconcerningrisks,safedosage,andwastedisposaltechniques.ResponseTherisksfromwastedisposalareaddressedinSection4.5.5"UraniumFuelCycle"ofNUREG-0564.Seeresponsetocomment85-1foradditionalinformationonpotentialhealtheffectsassociatedwitheffluentsfromSusquehannaUnits1and2.Comment$9-1EPA)v'erequesttheNRCtoexplainthechangeswhichallowedafivetosevenfoldincreaseinprojectedgaseousiodinereleases(foundbycomparisonoftheStatementsof1973and1979)andtoexplainwhytheincreasesdidnotresultinanysubstantialchangeintheassociateddosestoachild'sthyroid.(Fordetails,seetheDraftStatement,page4-16versuspageG-56,and4-18versusG-75,77.)Insupportofthisrequest,itmaybenotedthatour1973commentsonprojectedgaseousiodinereleasesandassociateddosesweresharplycritical,andwerecommendedtheuseofengineerediodinecontrolsystemsandotherdesignmodificationstoreduceiodinereleasesuchthattheoffsitedosetoachild'sthyroiddidnotexceed5milliremperyear.OurcommentsarereproducedintheDraftStatement,pagesG-151,152.

Comment89-1,EPA-cont'dThe1973responsetothosecomments,shownonpageG-123,item11.13,stipulateduseofdesignmodifications,andreferencedarevisedradiologicalimpactasdescribedonpageG-77,section5.4.1.Eventhoughsection5.4.1notedtheexistenceofuncertaintiesinthecal-culationalmodel,andthedoseimpacthasnowbeenrecalculatedusingnewsource-termcalculations,perpage4-1,buttheStatement.doesnotcontainanyspecificdiscussionoflessenedimpactperunitofiodinerelease.ThisdiscussionoflessenedimpactperunitofiodinereleasemustbeincorporatedintheFinalEnvironmentalImpactStatement.ResponseThemodelsusedinestimatingdosesintheenvironmentaIstatementfortheoperatinglicensearestate-of-the-artmodels.Thesourceterm,meteorologicaldosimetrymodelshavebeenimprovedsincetheissuanceoftheconstructionpermit.ThesemodelshavebeenreviewedbytheU.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgencyinregardstoimplementingtheUraniumFuelCycleStandard(40CFR190).Thedosescalculatedbythesemodelsarethoughttobeconservative(i.e.,themodelsprobablyoverestimateactualdoses).Commentf9-3,EPAHeareencouragedthattheNRCisnowcalculatingannualpopulationdosecommitmentstotheU.S.population,whichisapartialevaluationofthetotalpotentialenvironmentaldosecommitments(EDC)ofH-3,Kr-85,C-14:iodinesand"particulates."ThisisabigsteptowardevaluatingtheEDC,whichwehaveurgedforseveralyears.However,itshouldberecognizedthatseveraloftheseradionuclides(parti-cularlyC-14andKr-85)willcontributetolong-termpopulationdoseimpactsonaworld-widebasis,ratherthanjustintheU.S.Totheextentthatthisdraftstatement(1)haslimitedtheEDCtotheannualdischargeoftheseradionuclides,(2)isbasedontheassumptionofapopulationofconstantsize,and(3)assessesthedosesduring50yearsonlyfollowingeachrelease,itdoesnotfullyprovidethetotalenvironmentalimpact.Assessmentofthetotalimpactwould(1)incor-porate...byestimatingthehealthimpactforaperiodreflectingmulti-generationtimes.

Response-Comment89-3,EPAThestaffdoesnotbelievethatpresentlyavailableworldwidedosemodelsarecapableofmakingsuchprojectionswithmeaningfulresults.ThestaffhasdeterminedthatpresentmodelsfortheU.S.sufficientlyrepresentthepopulationexposureduetooperationofthisplant.EnvironmentalimpactsfromuraniumminingandmillingareaddressedinSection4.5.5,"UraniumFuelCycleImpacts",ofNUREG-0564.Commentf9-7,EPATheassessmentofthedirectradiationfromthenitrogen-16isnotdiscussedinsufficientdetailtoallowmeaningfulinterpretation(seepages4-16to4-21).Forexample,itisstatedthattheapplicantcalculatedadirectradiationdoseof2.7mrem/yearperunitat0.55kmsouthoftheplant...thereforeshouldbemorefullydiscussedinthefinalEIS.ResponseThecalculatedvalueforthedirectradiationdose(20mrem/yratatypicalsiteboundaryof0.6kmfromtheturbinehuilding)giveningiVEtheBraunSafetyAnalysisReportisforastandardimplantdesign.Thedirectradiationdoseof2.7mrad/yrinNUREG-0564isanestimateddoseforthespecificdesignincorporatedintheSusquehannaplant.Sincethedirectradiationdoseisdependentontheshieldingincor-poratedinthespecificplantdesigntheabovevaluesarenotdirectlycomparable.Nonetheless,sincetheactualdirectradiationdosecouldbehigher(orlower)than2.7mrad/yrasurveywi11berequiredatthetimeofplantoperations.Ifthesurveyindicatesthatthelimitsof40CFR190couldbeexceededthenstepswillbetakentoreducethedose.

Comment89-8,EPAThehealthriskconversionfactorslistedonpage4-27appearlowandareinconsistentwiththefactorsusedintheGenericEISonUraniumMilling(NUREG-0511).ThesevaluesshouldbemadeconsistentwiththoseusedinNUREG-0511.~ResonseThebasisfortheriskestimatorsonp.4-27ofNUREG-0564ismorefullydescribedinCh.4,Section3,Appendix8,"HealthRisksfromIrradiation",oftheFinalEnvironmentalStatementontheUseofRecyclePlutoniuminMixedOxideFuelinLightplaterCooledReactors"(NUREG-0002).AsstatedinNUREG-0002,ThoughtheseriskestimatesaretheupperboundestimatesgivenintheRasmussenReport,higherestimatescanbedevelopedbyuseofthe"relativerisk"modelalongwiththeassumptionthatriskpervailsforthedurationof'life.ThiswouldproducerjarvaluesuptosevenfoldgreaterthanthoseusedinGESNO."Consequently,theriskestimatorsinNUREG-0511areconsistentwiththoseusedinNUREG-0002.Comment<10-4,D.Mann,SusquehannaAllianceThereportdoesnotfairlyrepresentthegrowingcontroversyovertheeffectsoflowlevelradiation.Timeaftertime...federalstandardsbelowered.~Resonseliearenotawareofanystudiesthathaveestablishedthatthereisnosafelevelofradiation.However,asaconservativeandprudent;jdT.rkde~assumption,~assume/thatnoamountofradiationissafe.Formore~~~

'F 5ResponsetoComment810-4-cont'dthanfourdecades,radiationhasbeenthemostthoroughlystudiedcarcinogen.Numerousmajorbiologicalresearchprogramshavebeenwelldocumentedandmaybefoundintheopenliterature.WhiletheUnitedStateshasbeentheforerunnerinradiationresearch,manyothercountriesalsohavepursuedsimilarprogramsandhavecontributedsubstantiallytotheknowledge.Whiletherelationshipbetweenionizingradiationdoseandbio1ogicaleffectsamonghumansisnot~recise1knownforalllevelsofradiation,theprincipaluncertaintyexistsatverylowdoselevelswherenaturalsoucesofradiation(cosmicandterrestrial)andthevariationsinthesesourcesarecomparabletothedosesbeingevaluated.Themostimportantbiologicaleffectsfromradiationaresomaticdiseases(principallycancer)andhereditarydiseases.Bothoftheseareidenticaltothosewhichoccurnormallyamonghumansfromothercauses.Itisthislastpointincombinationwithotherconfoundingfactors,e.g.,magnitudeandvariations(1)innormalincidenceofdiseases,(2)indosesfromnaturalradiationsources,(3)inradiationdosesfromman-madesourcesotherthanthenuclearindustry,and(4)inexposurestoother(non-nuclear)carcinogens,whichisresponsibleformuchoftheuncertaintyinthedose-riskrelationshipatlowdoselevels.Datafromstudiesofanimalsandhumans,arereviewedcontinuouslybyteamsofscientificexpertswhichevaluateradiologicalinformationandproviderecommendations.IntheUnitedStates,theprincipalexpertiseinradiologicalmatterslieswiththeNationalCouncilonRadiologicalProtection(NCRP)andtheNationalAcademyofScience/NationalResearchCouncil(HAS/NRC).Federalagenciesalsoretaint,s~~~

'4IIt4' ResonsetoComment~$10-4-cont'dexpertiseintheradiologicdisciplinesinordertofulfilltheirresponsibilities,however,theseagenciesrelyheavilyonrecommendationsoftheseadvisoryorganizations.OthercountrieshavenationaladvisoryorganizationssimilartothoseoftheUnitedStates.Further,therearecooperativeinternationalorganizationswhichevaluatedatafromallsourcesandpresentrecommendationsandconclusions,forexample,theUnitedNationsScientificCommitteeontheEffectsofAtomicRadiation(UNSCEAR)andtheInternationalCommissiononRadiologicalProtection(ICRP).Insummary,notonlyhavetheradiologicaldatabeenascertainedbytheworld'soutstandingbiologistsandepidemiologists,butthedatahavebeenevaluatedindependentlybytheir.peers.Inlieuofpreciseknowledgeofthisrelationship,alinearnon-thresholdextrapolationfromhighradiationlevelstothelowerlevelsisassumedforradiationprotectionpurposes.Thismeansthatitisassumedthatanydoseofradiation,nomatterhowlow,maybeharmful.Severalfederalagencies,principallytheEnvironmentalProtectionAgency,OccupationalSafetyandHealthAdministrationandtheNuclearRegulatoryCommission,haveresponsibilitiesforregulatingexposurestoradiationorradiop'activematerial.Inallcases,thestaffsoftheseagenciesarewellawareofthepotentialhealtheffectsandhaveexpertiseinbiologyandtheotherdisciplinesneededeitherwithinthestafforavailabletothem.

Comment811-3,F.L.ShellUraniumFuelCycleImpacts-Radon-222IreferyoutothetranscriptoftheTNI-2OperatingLicenseHearingJuly5,1977,page2890andthetestimonyofOr.ChauncyKepfordandOr.ReginaldGotchy...Thenaturallyoccurringcostsarebadenoughwithoutaddingtothem.~ResonseIWithregardtoDr.Kepford'stestimonyregardinguseof$1,000perman-remforenvironmentalhealthcosts,theStaffwouldliketomakethefollowingpoints.(1)The$1,000perman-remvaIuewasselectedbytheCommissionersastheupperboundofallthenumericalestimates,intheliterature.Thepurposewastoestimatethepotentialmonetarycostsofhealtheffectsduringthelifetimesofpersonslivingwithin50milesofanuclearpowerplant(nootherfacilit)sothatthosepotentialcostscouldbecomparedwiththerealcostsofaddingadditionalradiologicalwastetreatmentsystemstoeachproposednuclearpowerplanttodetermineiftheoperationoftheplantwouldresultinmeetingthe10CFRPart50,AppendixI"aslowasreasonablyachievable"rule.ItwasnevertheintentoftheCommissionerstousethatmonetaryvalueforanyotherpurpose,suchasestimatingthemonetarycostsoffuturehealtheffectsfromothersourcesontoday'spopulationsorfuturepopulations.Theobsurdityoffuturemonetarycostscanbedemonstratedverysimply~assuminhumaninstitutionsandthehumanracepersistintothefutureinthesamemannerastoday.Ignoringtherealpossi-bilitythatradonhealtheffectsmaynotoccurinthefuturedue totechnologicaladvancesinthecureandpreventionofsucheffects,itispossibletocalculatehowmuchmoneywouldhavetobedepositedinasavingsaccountnowtomeet"futuremonetarycosts"of10billiondollarsperreferencereactoryear.Asaconservativeestimate,itwasassumeda5percentsimpleinterestratewoulddemonstratethemeaninglessnessofsuchcalculations.ConservativeStaffestimatesindicateonlyafewhealtheffectsmightoccurwithin1,000years.ItisobviousthatessentiallyallofDr.Kepford's"healtheffects"wouldoccuroverperiodsoftimewhichexceedtheprobablelifeexpectancyofthehuman-raceandoursolarsystem.Nevertheless,tongue-in-cheek,itcanbeshownthatiftheutilityweretodepositone-centinaperpetualsavingsaccounttopayforanyfuturehealthcoststhatmightoccur,thatfundwouldcontaincontainnearly'$16million-trillionafteronly1,000years.Clearly,one-centwouldnotsignificantlymodifythefuturecostsof..,..-,,electricalpowergeneratedtoday.WithregardtoDr.Kepford'sestimatesofmillionsoffuturedeathsfromradon-222perReferenceReactorYear,theStaffresponsetocomment16-1arealsorelevanthere.

v Commentgl6-1...LochstetTheLongTermHealthConeauencesofSusquehannaSteamElectricStationbyWilliamALochstetThePennsylvaniaStateUniversit+August1979ThcNuclearRegulatoryCommissionhasattemptedtoevaluatethehealthconsequencesofppcrationofthcSusauehannaSteamElectricStation,Units1and2initsdraftenvironmentalstatementHURB-0564'hehealthconsequenceso8radon-222release'sfromtheuraniumfuelc~cleareestimatedforthcfirst1000yearsinsection4.5.5.Inevaluatingtheradon-222emissionsfromthecoalfuelcycleinsectionS..4.4.,(itemg7onpageS-10),thestaffrecognizesthattheemissionscontinuefor"millionsofyears"~Neitherapproachiscorrect.Footnote12ofNRDCv.USNRC,547F.2d633(1976)reouiresthatth~astesbeconsiaeredfortheirentiretoxiclife.Thus,theonlyproperevaluationissrLthnetemporalcutoff.Suchanevaluaticnisattachedasanappendixtothisstatement("CommentsonNUREG-0332").ThisevaluaticnshowsthattheStaffhasunderestimatedthehealthconseauencesofboththecoaLanduraniumfuelcycles.TheHRCapparently5ustifiesi¹allowingohealthconsauencsbycomparisonwithbackound(P.4,-27to4<<2S).Thisistot"llyirrhlevantandcontr"rytoHZPA.N"P.reauiresanevaluationofthebenefitsandallofthecostsofthFederalactionunderconsider"tion(Susquehanna1Ec.2).Backgroundradiationisnotajustifiedfederalacticn.The.harmcausedbybackgroundcannotjustifyotherham.TMsimpropercomp-'risonofcoststobackgroundiscontrarytothedecisoninCalvertCliffsCoordinatingComitteev.USA'".449F.2dLLO",12.15(1971)~Theopi.-:=ansandcalculationspresen"edhercaremvoem;.n1,notnecks"s.-.;r"ly.thoseofThePennsylvaniaStateUniversit-..Nyaffil:;=.tionisgivenhereforidentifica-'onpurpoec'~'.,--

I1D'I~~

10.eCommentsonlERM-0332byDr.ViilliamL-LochstetThePennsylvaniaStateUniversityNovember1977XnthdocumentNURZG-0332(Draft),theNRCestimatestheexcessdeathsper0.8gigawat-yearelectric(CVy'(e))tobaabout8.5foranallnucleareconomyandabout15.to120f'rtheuseofcoal(Ref.1)~Theseestimatesaremuchtoosmallbecausetheyigno~thehealthef'fectsduetotheslowreleaseofradon-222resultingfromthedecayof'.'.radioactivecomponentsofthecoal,uraniummilltailings,andofthetai1"ngsfromtheuraniumenrichmentprocessXfthenealtheffectsa=estimated,by'heprocedureusedbytheERG~thenthecxcesde"ths=reabout600,000inthenuclearcaseand.'twentythousandfc=coal.Theestimatespresentedhereareallbasedontheprodu-.'.o.'.:of0.8G'.fy(e)~RadonProducedbytheUranium~~'..'.i:":cleT!.eproducionof0.8G3'i'yof*..'etricitybya5~reouir>>abou~29metrictonso="..:-.--'..hedurani~.fcrfuel.Vitnur.n~en='eh=en=lants".::.tingwitha0.2,~tilsassa.r,ll.6metrictonsonatura..:::=-niunwillbereauired.,XntheabsenceoftheL~.;."BR,117m.=.-.rictonsofdepleteduranium>i~uldbeleftover.pithauranizmil1whichexracts96/of'

~~theuraniumfromtheore(Ref.2},atotalof90,000metrictonsoforeismined,containing152metrictonsofuraniumTheuraniumm%11tailingswillcontain2.6kiXogramsof'horium-230and6metrictonsof'ranium@.AsPohlhaspointedout(Ref.3)thethorium-230decaystoradium-226,whichinturndecaysCoradon-222.Thisprocessresultsinthegenerationof3.9xlOcuriesofradon-222,withthetimescaledeterminedby'he8xl0~yearhalflifeof'horium>>230.The6.metrictonsofuraniumcontainedinthemilltailingsdecaybyseveralstepstoradon-222thruthorium-230.ThisprocessoccursonatimescalegovernedbyCheA.~5x10yearhalflifeofuranium-.238>themajorisotopepresent{99.3+F3Thetotalamountofradon-222whichwillresultfromthisdecayis8.6x1011curies.The117metrictonsofdepla-eduraniumfromtheenrichmentprocesssalsomainlyuranium-23SwnichalsodecaysThedecayo."theseenricIenttaiIingsresultsi"-totalof1,.7xl0"'..uriesofradon-222.ThisisIi::";:.:8nTable1,along~.i-;'-..theotheradonyields.instructivetoco;;-aretheseG::=:..esofactivitytothe:-:..".'vityothefissionproducts~:hi...-esultfromtheue:.;"thefuelwhichtheyareassoci"-::=':.ith.Thetotalrfissionr.:.oductinventoryresultingf"om0.':"':y(e)withhalfliveso"25yearsormoreisabout10curies,ThisismuchlessthananyofthenumbersinTablel.':ieshouldbemorecarefulwiththesetailings.

RadonProducedbytheCoalFuelCycleItem2iofAppendixAofNUTMEG-0332(Ref')assumesa75$capacityfactor,whichfora1000Mfeplantvuuldproduceonly0.75GYy(e).hcapacityfactorof'0fowi2Q.beusedhereTheproductionofO.SG'.vy(e)byacoalplantoperatingat40/.efficiency,using12,000BTUperpoundcoalwouldreouire2.5millionshorttonsofcoal.Thisisclosetothevalueof3milliontonssuggestedonpage9ofNUREG-0332(Ref.I).Thereisgreatvariabilityintheamountofuraniumcontainedincoal.AnanalysisofcoalsamplesatoneTVAplantreportedbytheEPA(Ref.4.)indicatesarangeofalmostafacorofteninuraniumcontent.Eisenbudand.Petrow(Ref.5)..port"~fluofaboutlpartpermillion.Arecentsurveyb-.theUSGSbasedonseveralhundredsamplessuggeststhatintheUni-.'ratescoalconuinsanaverageof1.Spart.permillie.-".;.ura~ium(Ref.6)~'othvaluesof1.0and1.Sp~>i'llbeus(i!:;::"e,.'~us2~$milliontonsofcoal>d.llcontainv,'~,.usandbetwen2..';".:-;;L!.1:':.ilo~sofuranium.Using';heas~o~ionl,ofHUR"=G-03'::.{:-'.e~',.'.)thatthereis99/partic~lr~teremovalfromplan-.c::.:'..sior.=-,I',4ofthisuraniumvillbe='disp-sedintotheaindth~remaindercartedawayasa'hasforlandburial.TableIin"cates'hatwith1.0ppmcoaltheuranium1intheresul"ingashwilldecaytoatotaloi3.2xlOcuries 13ofradon-222,whilethestackemissionswillleadto3.2xl.Ocuries.For'l.8ppmcoalthevaluesare5.8x>0curiesfromash11and5'x10curiesfromemissionsEvaluationoftheHealthEffectsXtisnecessarytoevaluatethenumberofdeathswhichresultfromthereleaseofonecurieofradon-222.-~orthepurposeof'h'sevaluationthepopulationandpopulationdistributionsareassumedtoremainatthepresent:values.ThisshouldprovideagoodfirstestimateNUR~-0332(Ref.1)suggeststhatareleaseof4,800curiesofradon222fromthemines(page11)wouldresultin0023excessde"ths(Tablela,page18).Thisproxdesaratioofg.gx10dea"hspercu='.DatafromChapte=ZVofGER)0(Ref.7)suggestsavalueof1.7-=0deathspercurieasalover1'z:it.Thevalueofl.8xlOd-:.="hsprcuries~U~beusedhere:-.:theL~Cestimate.ltis~..-=-=-toodthatthisisveryappro--~.r-=.'..:.:.TheEp'se-,1-;":.-:'"'hehealtheffec-sofamodel'...umJmilltailingspile.Ti.".:.!'stimateatotalof200healthc"...ts(Ref.8,pe73)fo=.:,.'lewhichemitsatnos20,000c".'.s-oradon-222for10C.ars.Theresultingestimateis~ldeathspercu=ieand~d.llbeusedhereastheEP::.estimate.

lI 145'valuationofHealth:"ffects-NuclearAtpresentsomerecenturaniummilltailingspileshave2feetof-dirtcoverin~.XnthiscasethePAestimate(Ref.8)isthatabout1/20oftheradonproducedescapesintotheair.Thisfactorof20islistedin"'.Table1andisuse'dtofindtheeffectivereleases.Thusthe3.9x10curiesof.'vadonwhichresults8fromthoiuminthemilltailinsresultsina.releaseof1,9x107curiesintotheamosphere,whichw'ththNRCestimateof48x10deathspercurieresultsin90deaths.".'iththeEPA,estimate1900deathsresult.Asimilartreatmentappliedto896x10curiesofradonfromtheuraniuminthem.11tailingsresultsin200,000deadfor.the)BCestimateand4..3millionfortheSPAestimate.Itishereassumedthatnofutuegeneationwillseefittotakeanybettercareofthemilltailingsth"nispresentlypracticed.Theuraniumenrichmenttailingsarepresentlylocatedintheeasempartofthecountry.Itisassmedthattheseareburiednea;theirpresentloc'-'tions.Radonwillnotescapesoeasilyhcu-gchwecsoll.Prc.!actionfactorof100iscse6toestimatet.".i~effect.Theacc:."-cyofthisestimatedpendsontheparticul:".:otheburialwhichcanonlvbeprojected.An"ad='itionalfactorof2isused,toreducetheefeetduetothefactthatmuchofthisradonwoulddecayovertheoceanratherthanpopulated

]5landareas.Nocompensationistakenforthegreaterpopulationdensitynearthepointofreleaseascomparedtotheuraniummilltailingspilesofthewesternstates.M.ththistotalreductionfactorof200theNRCestimateis400,000deadwhiletheEPAva:lueis8million.EvaluationofHealthEffects-Coalltisassumedthattheashesfromthe'c'oalplantswillbeburiedinamannersimilartothe'tailingsfromtheuraniumenrichmentprocess.Thusa.reductionfactorof200isusedinthiscasealso.-Againthehigherpopulationdensityisignored.Theparticulatewhichisreleasedintotheairbyth.coalplantistakentocontainlpof'hecontaineduranium.Sincemostsuchplantsareintheeas"empartofthecountryitisestiraedthathalfvo.llfallintotheoceanratherthanontoland.I.secondfactorof2isusedtoreducethefectoftheresultingradonduetothefactthatsomeofthisradonwe'llecay'veroceanaswiththeradonfromtheu;aniumintheeric"..i.'icnttailings.Againnocompensationistakenforthe~c:=";-.:.rpopulationdensityne"rthepointofrelease.'hisg=v:".=.hetotalreductionfacto'f4sho"~intable1.'::.ththesereductionfa";;o=sapplic'otheradonreleasedby'.::eashesandemissions,nthetwoc-..sesof'.0ppmand1.6'v-:..uraniumcontentcoal,thehealthe:"fectsarecalculated.;Theseareshownintable1,andrangefrc;7,700deadfromashesand3,800additionaldeadfromairbornemissions.for1.0ppmcoalintheNHCestimateto2o0,000deadfromashesand140y000deadfromairbornreleasesinthecaseof1.8ppmcoalintheZPAestimate.

thhII"4~3\4 I~~16DiscussionItisobviouslyverydifficulttoestimatewithanyprecisionhowmanyhea'1theffectsresultfromthereleaseofagivencurieofradon-222fromsomespecificsiteinthewestTheestimatespresentedheredifferbyafactorof20.Thismightbestbeusedasarangeofexpecteddeaths.Thereduction'factorsusedherearecrudeestimatesinsomecases,andcouldbeimprovedupon.Changesinpublidpolicycouldalsochangethem="nnerinwhichthismaterialisdisposed.,thusgreatlyc~ginthese'actors.Inparticulardeepburialcouldpracticallyeliminatetheescapeofradontotheatmospnere(Ref.8)~EItisimportanttocompareTable1herewithTable1ogNUP~~-0332(Ref.1),,whichshows0.47deadforthenuclearcaseandatmost120deadforcoal~Theselastnumberstotallvignorethee=ectsoflongtermradonemissions,whichresultin1atleas-100timeshighermortality.Theselongtermeffectsarenotonlysignigicant,butdominatetheeffect::-:simportanttouseTable1tocomparethere1ativers'-:i-:."-'enucl'"=andcoaloptioninthe'rpresentforms.1n-h='.-csede;-.'hsduetoallcausesconsideredinI&K-0332ca:.'-...'-.,=..nore.".-:insignificant,sincetheyareso~'.Thr;-".l:-.~luten>alc.rofdeathspercurierelasedisrrelevantsi.-.c:-,,'nter.;3"..bothcases.Therelativ:.riskidetermindso".'.'vtheor.n'titiesofradon-222generatedandthereductionfact"::.UnlessthereisacleardecisiontoNreat-coalas..asdi~er=-ntlyfromuraniumenrichmenttailin=s,thehealtheffectsfromthetailingswillbe50timesgreatesincetheeis~~~~C45yaSg~ovw 1750timesmoreuraniumthere.ThenuclearoptionremainsmorehazardousthancoalunlessthereleasesfromallofthetailingspilescanbgreducedbelowthereleasesfromtheairbornIparticulatesofthcoalplant.ThisisnotthepresentpolicyrAdditionalCommentThereis8typographicalerroronpage25."ofNURSE>--0332Referencef33islistedthereasbeinginvolume14.8ofSciance,sheeasitappearsinvolume14'.Acknowledgment.Theabovecomments~ereinspiredbythe5Julyl977testimonyofDr.ChaunceyR.Kepfordinthematterof'heThreeiH.leIslandUnit2(DocketNo.50-320)operatinglicenseentitled:"FealtheffectsComparisonforCoalandNuclearPo~'er"~

IrIh0*4P 18TablelEnergySourceExcess1IortalityperO.SGÃy(e)duetoRadon-222emissionsOriginofRaconprtlclBR-RadonGeneratedCuriesFactorHRC-ReductionDeathsThoriuminRillTailsUraniuminRillTails3.9xlpS.6xloll202090200~000l9004.3xlpUraniuminEnic?~entTails1.7x1013200400,000Sx106Co=-11.0p~UAshesAi=Particulate~011";..2xl097~7003,800l.6xl05Sxl04Coal~taO~I~lgBDpzUAshes5.8xlp20014,0"..02.9"10-5AirParticulate5.8xl096,8M1.4x105 19References1"HealthEffectsAttributabletoCoalandNuclearFuelCycleAlternatives"NURG-0332,Draft,U.S.NuclearRegulatoryCommission(September1977)vironmentalAna3.ysisofTheUraniumFuelCycle,PartI-FuelSupply"EPA-520/9-73-003-B,U.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgency,(October1973)R.O.Pohl,"HealthEffectsofRadon-222fromUraniumP~ing"Search,7(5),345-350(August1976)P.H.Bedrosian,D.G.Easterly,andS.L.Cummings,"RadiologicalSurveyAroundPo~erPlantsUsingFossilFuel"EERL71-3;U.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgency',(July1970)5I$.Eisenbud,andH.G.Petrow,"Radioactivityin.theAtaospheQcEffluentsofPowerPlantsthatUseFossilFuels,"Science'1114,:288-289(1964)6V.E.Swansonetal,"Collection,ChemicalAnalysis,andEvaluatio:ofCoalSamplesin1975",Open-filereport;76-468'S.Depart-entofthI:.terior,GeologicalSurvey,(1976)7"FinalGenericEnv'"~nmentalStatementontheUseof.=.ecyce.lutoniur.='..-H.xedOxideFuelinLightVaterCooled:?cactors,"HURD-".,',":C:.".U.S.NuclearRegulatoryCommissio",iAugust1976)8:-i?ef.2~-gpss4' J

20ResponseOr.Lochstet'scommentsareinaccurateanderroneousinsomanyareas,itwouldbeimpossibletorespondcompletelyinameaningfulway.Ourmajordifferencescenteraround:(1)Or.Lochstet'sinsistenceoncalculatingradon-222releases(bothcoalandnuclear)andresultanthealtheffectsoverperiodsoftime~exceedingthelifeexpectancyofthesolarsystemmuchlesstheprobablelifeexpectancyofthehumanspecies.(2)Incorrectuseofprev'iousNRCestimatesofcancermortalitypercurieofRn-222released.(3)IncorrectlyequatingEPAestimatesofhealtheffectswithcancermortality.(4)ImproperassumptionsofRn-222releasesfromuraniummilltailingsanduraniumenrichmenttailings.Itisthestaff'spositionthatthecureand/orpreventionofcancerislikelytooccurwellwithinthe100to1,000yearperiodevaluatedbythestaffintheSummerOL-OES.Althoughpopulationdosecommitmentsmaycontinueintothefuture,thestaffdoesnotbelievetherewillbeanysignificantcancermortalityassociatedwithsuchdosecommitments.Therefore,itisreasonabletotruncateestimatesofcancermortalityat100to1,000yearsfromthepresenttime.Or.Lochstetincorrectlydrived4.8X10deathsperCiofRn-222releasedtotheatmospherefromdraftNUREG-0332.Heassumedthatthe0.023cancerdeathslistedintheNUREGcamefromreleaseof4,800CiofRn-222,alsomentionedintheNUREG.The0.023cancerdeathestimate 21ResponsetoComment816-1-cont'dactuallycomesfromtheestimated1130curiereleaseduringactivemillingonly.Therefore,amoreappropriatevaluewouldbe20X10deathsperCi(i.e.,aboutafactorof4higherthanheassumed.)Or.LochstetmisusedtheEPAestimateofhealtheffects(hisRef.8)byequatingitwithcancermortality.Inaddition,theEPAlater(1975)reducedtheirestimateofhealtheffectsintheEasternU.S.from120to30givingatotalof.110healtheffects.Stilllater,EPAconcludedtheirestimateof80healtheffectsintheNorthernHemispherewastoohigh.MorerecentEPAestimatesofcancermortalityareincludedinthePerkinsHearingrecordintestimonybyOr.R.L.Gotchy,authorofNUREG-0332.InMarch,1978,Or.W.H.Ellet,U.S.EPA,providedOr.Gotchywithhislatestestimates,whichresultedinabouttwiceasmanycancerdeathspercurieofRn-222releasedasshownintheSummerOES.Finally,Or.LochstetchoosestoignorecurrentNRClicensingandindustrialpracticewhichwillresultinmuchsmallerreleasesofradon-222thanheassumedforhiscalculations.Infact,deeplyburiedmi11tailingsmayresultinlong-termradonreleaseswhicharelessthancouldoccurinnaturehadtheuraniumnotbeenmined,milledandusedtogenerateelectricity.Thisisbecauseover90%ofthelong-livedU-238andU-234isremovedfromanore-bodywhichgeologicprocessescouldeventuallybringtothesurfaceoftheearth.Onceonthesurface,theradon-222releasescouldoccurundiminishedovermillionsorbillionsofyears.

22ResponsetoComment>16-1-cont'dFurthermore,Or.Lochstet'sassumptionofradon-222releasesfromuraniumenrichmenttailingsarewithoutanyfactualbasis.SuchtailingsIarebeingheldforuseinbreederreactors.IntheeventtheU.S.doesn'tusethisvaluableresourcedomestically,othernationswillbepurchasingthedepleteduraniumfortheirownbreederprograms.Intheinterimperiod,noradon-222willbereleasedfromenrichmenttailings.Inconclusion,thestafffindsOr.Lochstet'sevaluationoftheradon-222impactstobeunrealisticandincorrect,bothphilosophicallyandtechnically.~~'

023Comment817-3,M.HuntintonAnothermajorpointthatIcontendinthisreportistheestablishmentoftheuraniumminingandmillingnecessaryforthisplantashavingan"acceptable"impactupontheenvironment...ofanothergroupof1.2millionpeopleperyearinthissituationtoo.ResponseThecontenti'onbyMr.Huntingtonthat"TheNRCitselfhasbeenunabletodisagreewithOr.ChaunceyKepford'sfindingsthat1.2millionpeopleperyearwilldieinthefuturefromtheeffectsofradongasemittedfromthetailingsproducedjusttofuelTMI",isincorrect.TheNRCStaffhasrefutedsuchclaimsinseveralhearingsasmeaninglessformanyreasons.Someofthemoreimportantreasonsarediscussedinresponses11-3totlr.Shelly,and16-1toOr.Lochstet,andneednotberepeatedhere.Comment-,".18-2,S.LauhlandRadiationcausescancer.Thisisanacceptedmedicalfact.TheUnitedStateshasasurplusofpowerplant,sowhyaddtheBerwickplanttothelonglistofenvironmentalandhealthhazardsofthiscountry.ResponseSeeresponsetoCommentf10-4.Comment819-13,N.i<.Curtis,PennslvaniaPowerandLihtComanENVIRONMENTALMONITORING1.Table5.1,pg.5.3-Thistablehasbeenupdatedtoreflectchangesinsamplinglocationsandstationnomenclaturecorrections.ThelowerlimitsofdetectionhavealsobeenrevisedperNUREG-0473.Acopyofthetablewithcorrectionsindicatedwillbeforwardedunderseparatecover.ResponseTheaboverevisionswillbeusedinestablishingthattheenvironmentalradiationmonitoringprogrammeetsthestaff'spositiononenvironmentalmonitoring.Lowerlimitsofdetectionwillbeincorporatedintheapplicant'stechnicalspecifications.

~~g+C1 24Comment-..20-2C.L.JonesOet.ofEnvironmentalResourcesCommonwealthoPennsvan>aSentFuelStoraeSection4.5.5-RadioactiveWastes-Thissectionshouldbeexpandedtoincludecontingenciesforthelong-termstorageofspentfuel'onsite.Thismayberequiredifadecisionhasnotbeenmadeonthefinaldispositionofspentfuelaftertheplanthasbeenoperatingforafewyears.Response'EhestorageofspentfuelisaddressedinanNRCdocumententitled"FinalGenericEnviornmentalImpactStatementonHandlingandStorageofSpentLightWaterPowerReactorFuel"(NUREG-0575).ThestorageofspentfueladdressedinNUREG-0575isconsideredtobeaninterimaction,notafinalsolution.Thecommissionhasclearlydistinguishedbetweenpermanentdisposalandinterimstorage.OneofthefindingsofNUREG-0575isthatthestorageoflightwaterreactor(LWR)spentfuelsinwaterpoolshasaninsignificantimpactontheenvironment,whetherstoredatareactororawayfromareactor.Primarilythisisbecausethephysicalformofthematerial,sinteredceramicoxidefuelpelletshermeticallysealedin7ircaloycladdingtubes.Zircaloyisazirconium-tinalloywhichwasdevelopedfornuclearpowerapplicationsbecauseofitshighresistancetowatercorrosioninadditiontoitsfavorablenuclearproperties.Evenincaseswheredefectivetubesexposethefuelmaterialtothewater,\environment,thereislittleattackontheceramicfuel.

i+~~25ResonsetoComment020-2-cont'dTYhetechnologyofwaterpoolstorageiswelldeveloped;radioactivitylevelsareroutinelymaintainedatabout5X10~Ci/ml.MaintenanceofthisApurityrequirestreatment(filtrationandionexchange)ofthepoolwater.Radioactivewastethatisgeneratedisreadilyconfinedandrepresentslittlepotentialhazardtothehealthandsafetyofthepublic.TheremaybesmallquantitiesofKrreleasedtotheenvironmentfromdefectivefuelelements.However,forthefuelinvolved(fuelatleastoneyearafterdischarge),experiencehasshownthistobenotdetectablebeyondtheimmediateenvironsofastoragepool.Therewillbenosignificantdischargeofradioactiveliquideffluentsfromaspentfuelstorageoperationaswasteswillbeinsolidform.Thisstatementsupportsthefindingthatthestorageofspentfuelinaway-from-reactorfacilitiesiseconomicallyandenvironmentallyacceptable.References'I.NaturalResourcesDefenseCouncil,DenialofPetitionforRulemaking,July5,1977,42FR34391.AvailableintheNRCPublicDocumentRoom.Comment820-3aC.L.Jones

DeartmentofEnvironmentalResources,

CommonwealthoPennslvaniaRadiationReleasesSection4.5.2-DirectRadiation-Thedirectradiationdoseof2.7mrad/yrcalculatedbytheapplicantcouldbelowbyaboutanorderofmagnitudebasedonamore...measurementstakennearseveraloftheoperatingboilingwaterreactors(BWR's).ResponseSeeresponsetoComment89-7.

26Coment~20-4,C.L.Jones,Det.ofEnvironmentalResources,CommonwealthoPennsvanyaThecalculatedradionuclidereleasesinliquideffluentsisdiscussedintermsofdosecommitments(pages4-14,4-15).TheDepartmentbelievesthattheimpactofradionuclidereleasesandresultingriverqualityconcentrationsshouldbecomparedtotheNationalDrinkingWaterStandards.~ResenseAnnualdosespersitefromliquideffluentsweregiveninTable4.10.Theestimateddosetothetotalbodyoranyorganofthehypotheticalmaximumindividualfromallpathwayswasabout1.0mrem/yr.Thisdoseincludesthedosefromingestionoffishaswellasconsumptionofwater.Thedosetotheaverageindividualusingthenearestcomunitywatersystemwouldbelessthan1.0mrem/yr,~heEnviron-almentalProtectionAgency'.sNationalInterimPrimaryDrinkingHaterRegulation"statesthat"theaverageannualconcentrationofbetaparticleandphotonradioactivityfromman-maderadionuclidesindrinkingwatershallnotproduceanannualdoseequivalenttothetotalbodyoranyinternalorgangreaterthan4millirem/year",(Sect.141.16).TheannualdosesfromliquideffluentsfromSusquehannaUnits182arebelowtheabovelimits.Comment>21-4,T.R.DuckThestatementsinSection4whichstatethatradioactivereleases,bothoccupationallyandenvironmentally,willhavenosignificantenvironmentalimpactaremisleadingwhenoneconsidersthattheeffectsoflowlevelradiationareunknown.GroupssuchastheNationalAcademyofScienceshesitatetoplaceacceptablelowdoselimitsonhumanhealtheffects.ResponseSeeresponsetoCommentsg5-1and10-4.

27Comment821-8,T.R.DuckThetablesinSection8dealingwiththeeffectsofcoalversusnuclearplantspresumablyusedcoalinthegeneralsense.TheSESSislocatedneartheheartoftheanthracitecoalregion.Anthracite,becauseitisacleanerburningcoal,hasbeenexemptedfromanyEPAairpollutionregulations.SincethisisthecoalthatshouldbeusedatSESS,itisthecoalthatshouldbeusedinanycomparativestudies.Response'IAsstatedinNUREG-0564,thereisaconsiderableamountofuncertaintyinestimatinghealtheffectsoverlongperiodsoftime(greaterthan100years).Theoveralluncertaintyinthenuclearfuelcycleisprobablyaboutanorderofmagnitude(increasedordecreasedbyafactorof10)over100yearsandabouttwoormoreordersofmagnitudeover1000years.Theuncertaintyassociatedwiththecoalfuelcycletendstobemuchlargerbecauseoftheinabilitytoestimatetotalhealthimpactsfromallthepollutantsreleasedtotheenvironmentfromthatcycle.However,ifoneassumesmostofthepublicimpactoveraperiodofseveraldecadesiscausedbyinhalationofsulfurcompoundsandassociatedpollutants,thereisasmuch-asatwo-order-of-magnitudeuncertaintyintheassessmentofthecoalfuelcycle.Inviewofthelargeuncertaintiesinanycomparisonofthehealtheffectsofcoalversusnuclearpowerplants,asitespecificcomparisonisnotwarranted.Comment;"'.23-1,L.E.llatsonTherewasquiteabitofdatacollectedonfishandwildlifebuttherewasnonecollectedonhumans-nohealthpictureofthehumanpopulationwithin10milesoftheplant--beforethestartupofoperation.Ifeelthisshouldhavebeendone-tohavesomecomparisonwithdatathatmightbetakenafewyearslater,withrespecttoeffectsofradiation 28Commentf23-1-cont'detc.,withnormaloperationoftheplantandalsoincaseofanaccidentsuchasatT.M.I.ResponseAnimalandfoodcropsamplesweretakenpriortothestartupoftheplant.Thebackgroundactivityinthesesamplesisdeterminedbydestructivemeans.Similardestructivetestingofhumanswouldnotbepossible.Althoughwholebodycounting(anon-destructivetest)couldbedoneofhumansnearthesite,thiswouldnotbeeffectivebecauseofthemobilityofthehumanpopulationandthecostofwholebodycounting.Comment823-3,L.E.WatsonOnpageG87,6.2.2intheEnvironmentalStatementofJune1973,thestaffcomments"theapplicantdoesnotappeartohavemadearrangementsforinterchangeofdataasyet,withnearbyradiologicalmonitoringprogramsatPeachHottom,TMI,OysterCreek,IndianPoint,Shoreham,ForkedRiver,NewboldIsland,Salem,orLimerick.IntherevisedDraftStatementofJune1979,thisomissionhasnotbeencorrected.ResponseResultsofenvironmentalmonitoringprogramsatnuclearpowerreactorsareroutinelymadeavailabletothepublic.Forexample,seeanNRCdocumententitled"RadioactiveMaterialsReleasedfromNuclearPowerPlants,AnnualReport1977"(NUREG-0521).

29Comment,823-4,L.E.WatsonInthesection4.5.5onUraniumFuelCycleImpacts,weobjecttotheconclusionthatboththedosecommitmentandhealtheffectsoftheuraniumcycleareinsignificantwhencomparedwithdosecommitmentandpotentialhealtheffectstotheU.S.populationresultingfromallthenaturalbackgroundsources.Theeffectsareadditive,andeventhenaturalbackgroundsourcesareconsideredersponsibleformutations,cancer,andotherdiseases.Justbecauseonemusttoleratenaturalbackgroundsourcesitdoesnotfollowthatradiationfromtheuraniumfuelcycleisharmless.Itcouldbethe"strawthatbreaksthecamel'sback"..ResponseSeeresponsetocomments<5-1and10-4.Comment825-5L.E.Meierotto,U.S.Dept.ofInterior~Pae5-2Weagreewiththestaffthattheapplicantshouldmonitorgroundwaterbothupgradientanddowngradientonamonthlybasis.WenotethatthepotentialforradionuclidecontaminationofgroundwaterisimpliedonpageD-lofAppendix'0(item1.6);however,figure4.1(p.4-13)doesnotindicategroundwaterasanexposurepathwaytohumans.ResponseTheapplicantstatesthat"Ingeneral,groundwaterinthePaleozoicrockformationsoftheAppalachianHighlandsflowsfromthetopographicallyhigherareas(rechargeareas)tothevalleys(Ref.2.4-25).Thisground-water,itisbelieved,dischargestospringsandtothestreamsandriversoftheregion,exceptatfloodstage."*Consequently,thedosesfromingestionofgroundwatershouldbenogreaterthanthedosesfromingestionofwaterfromtheriver.Anyuseofgroundwaterasadrinkingwatersupplyshouldbebalancedbyadecreaseinriverwaterasadrinkingwatersupply.+SusquehannaSES-ER-OL,p.2.4-12