ML16085A313

Comment (154) of Sandra and Charles Kosterman on ANPR-26, 50, 73, and 140 - Regulatory Improvements for Decommissioning Power Reactors

ML16085A313
Person / Time
Site:	Vermont Yankee File:NorthStar Vermont Yankee icon.png
Issue date:	03/18/2016
From:	Kosterman C, Kosterman S - No Known Affiliation
To:	NRC/SECY/RAS
References
80FR72358 00154, ANPR-140, ANPR-26, ANPR-50, ANPR-52, ANPR-73, NRC-2015-0070
Download: ML16085A313 (3)

Text

1 Rulemaking1CEm Resource From: RulemakingComments Resource Sent: Friday, March 25, 2016 2:37 PM To: Rulemaking1CEm Resource

Subject:

Comment on ANPR-26, 50, 52, 73, and 140 - Regulatory Improvements for

Decommissioning Attachments:

Comment from Kosterman.pdf DOCKETED BY USNRC-OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY SECY-067 PR#: ANPR-26, 50, 52, 73, and 140 FRN#: 80FR72358 NRC DOCKET#: NRC-2015-0070 SECY DOCKET DATE: 3/22/16 TITLE: Regulatory Improvements for Decommissioning Power Reactors COMMENT#: 154

PUBLIC SUBMISSION As of: 3/22/16 10:50 AM Received:

March 18, 2016 Status: Pending_Post Tracking No.

1k0-8okn-cc2o Comments Due:

March 18, 2016 Submission Type:

Web Docket: NRC-2015-0070Regulatory Improvements for Power Reactors Transitioning to Decommissioning Comment On:

NRC-2015-0070-0007Regulatory Improvements for Decommissioning Power Reactors; Extension of Comment Period Document:

NRC-2015-0070-DRAFT-0121 Comment on FR Doc # 2015-32599 Submitter Information Name: Sandra Kosterman Address: 141 Barton Rd.

Greenfield, MA, 01301Email: ckosterman57@comcast.net General CommentWe have serious concerns regarding the decommissioning of Vermont Yankee Nuclear Plant in Vernon, VT and VY's dismantling of the 10 mile Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ). Many State of Vermont officials, as

well asMassachusetts towns in our area, have voiced their concerns, and written letters and resolutions, opposing Vt.Yankee's elimination of the 10 mile EPZ.They also oppose VY increasing the present notification time for an accident at VY from the present 15 minutes to 60 minutes. These safeguards and real

time monitoring of VY will cease April 2016. We believe that the EPZ and all safeguards presently in

existence should continue.Even though VY shut down, the threat to public safety did not end, in fact it may have increased. The temporary spent fuel pool is now holding 5 times the amount of high-level radioactive waste than it was designed to hold, and it will remain in the storage pool at least until 2020, at risk of fire and catastrophic radioactive release. There is over 900 tons of highly radioactive fuel, stored in a pool on top of a 7 story building, covered with a thin metal roof. We believe that untilall of the highly radioactive fuel is moved from the over-packed fuel pool into dry cask storage,the EPZ needs to be maintained and we need to receive

sufficient notification time in case of an accident.Moving the fuel into storage is dangerous and we need to be

protected! With VY downsizing its staff, is there enough security and oversight to protect citizens from terrorist threats?

And if we lose power due to severe weather, or if the grid goes down for any other reason, will the back-up Page 1of 2 03/22/201 6https://www.fdms.gov/fdms/getcontent?objectId=0900006481ecffb2&format=xml&showorig=fals e

generators be sufficient to cool the spent fuel to ensure public safety? These questions are important to consider especially after 9/11 and Fukushimaa plant that was the same Mark 1 Boiling Water Reactor as VY.

When the disaster happened in Fukushima, the US government advised US citizens to evacuate if they were within 50 miles, in part because of concern about Fukushima' spent nuclear fuel. So you do not need to live within the 10 miles EPZ to be affected by an accident at VY. There are close to 3,000 spent fuel rods3 million curies of highly radioactive spent fuelin the temporary spent fuel pool at VY. Hiroshima was only 2,000

curies!

Continued staff downsizing at VY could potentially contribute to "faulty calculations" and problems at VY, as we have seen when the plant shut down on Dec. 30, 2014. This and the fact that VY has had numerous leaks, discoveries of underground pipes, and other discrepancies in the past are very worrisome to those of us who live in the area. During decommissioning is not the time to downsize staff and security. In fact security should

be increased so the public would be protected from outside threats, weather-related disasters, and "faulty

calculations". Public safety should be the number one concern during decommissioning, and the public needs to be protected!

Due to the fact that we have family, friends, neighbors, former and present students living in the Tri-State area, and to ensure the safety and well-being of all citizens within 10 miles of VY and beyond, we are

requesting that the EPZ be maintained, the 15 minute notification time continue, and for real time monitoring

to continue.

We believe that we deserve a public hearing on the elimination of the EPZ, as there has not been one. We live in the area to be impacted and deserve to be able to express our concerns. Also, we deserve to be protected and have the current workforce maintained, not cut, so public safety is not jeopardized. In addition, there should be state oversight of the decommissioning process to ensure that it is done properly. This should include Vermont, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. There should be continued NRC inspections and oversight. Where is the accountability? Inspections should be unannounced, plus there should be a liaison to the Community Advisory Board. This should be mandatory. We sincerely appreciate anything you can do to make these "common sense" requests a reality to protect the citizens of Massachusetts, Vermont and New

Hampshire!

Sincerely,Sandra and Charles Kosterman

141 Barton Rd.

Greenfield, MA 01301 ckosterman57@comcast.netPage 2of 2 03/22/201 6https://www.fdms.gov/fdms/getcontent?objectId=0900006481ecffb2&format=xml&showorig=fals e

1 Rulemaking1CEm Resource From: RulemakingComments Resource Sent: Friday, March 25, 2016 2:37 PM To: Rulemaking1CEm Resource

Subject:

Comment on ANPR-26, 50, 52, 73, and 140 - Regulatory Improvements for

Decommissioning Attachments:

Comment from Kosterman.pdf DOCKETED BY USNRC-OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY SECY-067 PR#: ANPR-26, 50, 52, 73, and 140 FRN#: 80FR72358 NRC DOCKET#: NRC-2015-0070 SECY DOCKET DATE: 3/22/16 TITLE: Regulatory Improvements for Decommissioning Power Reactors COMMENT#: 154

PUBLIC SUBMISSION As of: 3/22/16 10:50 AM Received:

March 18, 2016 Status: Pending_Post Tracking No.

1k0-8okn-cc2o Comments Due:

March 18, 2016 Submission Type:

Web Docket: NRC-2015-0070Regulatory Improvements for Power Reactors Transitioning to Decommissioning Comment On:

NRC-2015-0070-0007Regulatory Improvements for Decommissioning Power Reactors; Extension of Comment Period Document:

NRC-2015-0070-DRAFT-0121 Comment on FR Doc # 2015-32599 Submitter Information Name: Sandra Kosterman Address: 141 Barton Rd.

Greenfield, MA, 01301Email: ckosterman57@comcast.net General CommentWe have serious concerns regarding the decommissioning of Vermont Yankee Nuclear Plant in Vernon, VT and VY's dismantling of the 10 mile Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ). Many State of Vermont officials, as

well asMassachusetts towns in our area, have voiced their concerns, and written letters and resolutions, opposing Vt.Yankee's elimination of the 10 mile EPZ.They also oppose VY increasing the present notification time for an accident at VY from the present 15 minutes to 60 minutes. These safeguards and real

time monitoring of VY will cease April 2016. We believe that the EPZ and all safeguards presently in

existence should continue.Even though VY shut down, the threat to public safety did not end, in fact it may have increased. The temporary spent fuel pool is now holding 5 times the amount of high-level radioactive waste than it was designed to hold, and it will remain in the storage pool at least until 2020, at risk of fire and catastrophic radioactive release. There is over 900 tons of highly radioactive fuel, stored in a pool on top of a 7 story building, covered with a thin metal roof. We believe that untilall of the highly radioactive fuel is moved from the over-packed fuel pool into dry cask storage,the EPZ needs to be maintained and we need to receive

sufficient notification time in case of an accident.Moving the fuel into storage is dangerous and we need to be

protected! With VY downsizing its staff, is there enough security and oversight to protect citizens from terrorist threats?

And if we lose power due to severe weather, or if the grid goes down for any other reason, will the back-up Page 1of 2 03/22/201 6https://www.fdms.gov/fdms/getcontent?objectId=0900006481ecffb2&format=xml&showorig=fals e

generators be sufficient to cool the spent fuel to ensure public safety? These questions are important to consider especially after 9/11 and Fukushimaa plant that was the same Mark 1 Boiling Water Reactor as VY.

When the disaster happened in Fukushima, the US government advised US citizens to evacuate if they were within 50 miles, in part because of concern about Fukushima' spent nuclear fuel. So you do not need to live within the 10 miles EPZ to be affected by an accident at VY. There are close to 3,000 spent fuel rods3 million curies of highly radioactive spent fuelin the temporary spent fuel pool at VY. Hiroshima was only 2,000

curies!

Continued staff downsizing at VY could potentially contribute to "faulty calculations" and problems at VY, as we have seen when the plant shut down on Dec. 30, 2014. This and the fact that VY has had numerous leaks, discoveries of underground pipes, and other discrepancies in the past are very worrisome to those of us who live in the area. During decommissioning is not the time to downsize staff and security. In fact security should

be increased so the public would be protected from outside threats, weather-related disasters, and "faulty

calculations". Public safety should be the number one concern during decommissioning, and the public needs to be protected!

Due to the fact that we have family, friends, neighbors, former and present students living in the Tri-State area, and to ensure the safety and well-being of all citizens within 10 miles of VY and beyond, we are

requesting that the EPZ be maintained, the 15 minute notification time continue, and for real time monitoring

to continue.

We believe that we deserve a public hearing on the elimination of the EPZ, as there has not been one. We live in the area to be impacted and deserve to be able to express our concerns. Also, we deserve to be protected and have the current workforce maintained, not cut, so public safety is not jeopardized. In addition, there should be state oversight of the decommissioning process to ensure that it is done properly. This should include Vermont, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. There should be continued NRC inspections and oversight. Where is the accountability? Inspections should be unannounced, plus there should be a liaison to the Community Advisory Board. This should be mandatory. We sincerely appreciate anything you can do to make these "common sense" requests a reality to protect the citizens of Massachusetts, Vermont and New

Hampshire!

Sincerely,Sandra and Charles Kosterman

141 Barton Rd.

Greenfield, MA 01301 ckosterman57@comcast.netPage 2of 2 03/22/201 6https://www.fdms.gov/fdms/getcontent?objectId=0900006481ecffb2&format=xml&showorig=fals e