ML093060088

Us Army Corp of Engineers Letter, Jan 29, 2009, from T. Daly Re Vincent Dam, Schuylkill River

ML093060088
Person / Time
Site:	Limerick
Issue date:	11/02/2009
From:	Daly T - No Known Affiliation
To:	NRC Region 1, US Dept of the Army, Corps of Engineers, Philadelphia District
KROHN P, RI/DRP/PB4/610-337-5120
References
Download: ML093060088 (2)

Text

November 2, 2009 MEMO TO Letter to US Army Corp of Engineers from T. Daly. dated Re: Vincent Darn, Schuylkill River, 1-29-09 District Engineer US Army Corp of Engineers Regulatory Branch Wanamaker Boulevard 100 Penn Square East Philadelphia, PA 19107 Vincent Dam, Schuylkill Chester I Montgomery Counties,

Dear District Engineer,

This letter is about the dredaing involved in a project to remove the remains of the Viocent Dam. We need to know if the "sediments" are the potential dredge spoils. . We understand that sediments have been testflld.

We need to know the location from which the test samples were taken, the dates, who did the testing, and who paid for the testing and repan. We need to lenow if the dredge spoils were tested for all radio nuclides, including aH types of alpha, beta, and gamma radlonudides.

We belie"e this dam is the first Impediment downstream from limerick Nudear Power Plant's radioactive discharges.

Limerick Nuclear Power Plant appears to be about 3 miles upstream from the Vincent Dam. This nuclear plaAt has a pennit that arlows radiollctive discharges into the Schuylkill River. For decades, limerick Nuclear Power plant has been discharging into the SchuylkitllUver, over S blUion sallons per year of radioactive wastewater.

We know the water and sediment are contaminated with nKliation from Exelon's own Annual Radiological Environmental self-monitorfng reports to NRC for Umerick Nuclear Power Plant. In fact, for 2001, Exelon reported 12 radionucfldes above background in water and 8 radionudides above background in sediment.

There are likely many other radionuclides associated with nuclear power operations in both water and sediment, which may have been determined by Exelon to be below background.

It is these spoils are radioactive.

Will dredging stir up morl'! radioactivity than what is removed? The SChuylkill River is a source of drinking water for vast numbers of people. Many use the river for . recreation.

Even though there are warnings about eating ftsh from this contaminated water. some still eat the fish they catch ffom the river. Because there are so many kinds of radionucJldes assodated with operating a nuclear power pfant, it is Imperative to test spoils for alllcinds of radionuclides.

including aft f:ype$ of alpha, beta, and gamma. Minimally, full disclosure of potential radiation exposure 15 important in order to alert and protect workel'S.

The National Academy of SCiences report states there is NO SAfE dose or lever of t!XpOsure to radiation. . Page 1

\ Will landfills be permitted to receive spoils from this project if t hey are r adioactive?

I spoke with Brenda i Schrecengost 1/28/09. She indicated these spoils might go to a landfill. If so , which landfill?

If not, might they go to a mine? If so, which mine? Landfills and mines are no t end pOints. Landfill and ga s can become contaminated with radiation. leachates go to treatment plants and on into sludge often used as fertilizer to grow food we eat. Landfill gas goes into the a i r and into our lungsI These are the kinds of problems one gets when toxic materials are disposed of improperly, as i n discharging radioactive materials into a river. We need prompt replies because we may need to comment further PRIOR to permit issuance. 'look forward to hearing f r om you. Sincerely, Tina Daly 1880 P i ckering Road Phoenixville, PA 19460 Cc: NRC DR8C .J PAOE? Page 2i2