ML20129G817

Ack Receipt of 960826 Ltr Request Re Plant Requirement to Install on Line,Continuous,Automated Gaseous & Liquid Effluent Monitoring Sys at Effluent Release Point Sources & Isotopic Monitors for Gaseous Stacks & Liquid Effluent

ML20129G817
Person / Time
Site:	Maine Yankee
Issue date:	10/24/1996
From:	Varga S NRC (Affiliation Not Assigned)
To:	Holt M AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED
Shared Package
ML20129G822	List: ML20129G817 ML20129G858
References
NUDOCS 9610300224
Download: ML20129G817 (5)

Text

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W ,j NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 206E6-0001

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'% # October 24, 1996  ;

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Ms. Maria Glen Holt Citizens' Monitoring Network i

Post Office Box 235 Bath, Maine 04530 )

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Dear Ms. Holt:

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I am responding to your letter of August 26, 1996, to the Chairman of the U.S. I Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in which you requested that the Maine  !

Yankee Atomic Power Station be required to install on-line, continuous, automated gaseous and liquid effluent monitoring systems at the plant effluent release point sources. You also requested that the NRC staff consider l isotopic monitors for gaseous stacks and liquid effluent points of release for '

all nuclear power plants. On July 15, 1996, you hand-delivered to Mr. Ellis Herschoff of the NRC staff a similar written request asking that the NRC l require an isotopic stack monitoring system at Maine Yankee. The NRC staff I

was evaluating this request at the time it received your letter of August 26, i 1996.

i As you are aware, the NRC staff requires commercial nuclear power plant l licensees to monitor radioactive effluents and to conduct an environmental monitoring program. The release of radioactive material to the environment is governed by the requirements of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Reaulations ,

(CFR) Parts 20 and 50 and by limits established in the licenses of facilities. l In addition to the NRC requirements, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency i has also imposed dose limits for reactor facilities. In total, these requirements are structured to maintain the dose to members of the public from radioactive effluent releases to levels that are as low as reasonably achievable. 1 1

In accordance with NRC requirements, licensees must report plant discharges l and results of environmental monitoring around the plant. Licensees are  !

required to maintain records on the type and quantity of radioactive effluents  !

discharged into the environment and to calculate the estimated dose that an individual could receive from the material released. Radioactive effluent releases and their associated doses are reported by licensees in the Annual Radioactive Effluent Release (ARER) reports, and radioactivity levels in various environmental media are reported in the Annual Radiological Environmental Operating Report (ARE0R). The ARER report includes the amount of liquid and airborne radioactive effluents discharged and the calculated doses for the period of release. The ARE0R gives the results of an environmental sampling and analysis program that is focused on the radiation exposure pathways specific to the given plant. The results of the ARE0R are used to supplement the effluent monitoring program to ensure that potential impacts do not go undetected. The requirements for the ARER and the ARE0R are l '

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! Ms. Maria G. Holt  ; i i- detailed in the Maine Yankee Technical Specifications sections 5.9.1.6.1 and i

! 5.9.1.5, respectively. Further, the contents of these reports are described in the Maine Yankee Offsite Dose Calculation Manual (0DCM). The licensee submitted these reports for 1995 to the NRC on April 29, 1996. These documents are available in the local public document room (Accession Number 4

9605030234).

j As part of the quality assurance program for the measurements made for the environmental monitoring program, licensees are required to participate in an  ;

4 Interlaboratory Comparison Program. This program provides an independent 1 1

check of the accuracy and precision of the measurements of radioactive material in environmental samples. l

{ l l The NRC documents the results of its independent monitoring and assessment -

, efforts in reports such as NUREG/CR-2850, " Dose Commitments Due to Radioactive  !

1 Releases From Nuclear Power Plant Sites," and NUREG-0837, "NRC TLD Direct j i Radiation Monitoring Network." The NRC also compiles licensees' effluent '

, reports and publishes the results in NUREG/CR-2907, " Radioactive Materials j Released From Nuclear Power Plants." ,

'{ , With regard to Maine Yankee, inspectors from the NRC's regional office have l 3 conducted periodic inspections of Maine Yankee's effluent release and i environmental monitoring program. On the basis of these inspections, the NRC l staff has found that the licensee is maintaining effective programs that are in compliance with NRC requirements.

The process radiation monitoring system approved by the NRC for Maine Y&nkae provides, in addition to other functions, for the control and recording of discharges of radiological effluents into the environment. This system is described in the Maine Yankee Final Safety Analysis Report Section 11.2.2. l The ARER and ARE0R also contain details on the equipment, sampling and  !

measuring techniques used. On the basis of its direct inspection effort, the l NRC staff has reasonable assurance that the licensee is in compinnce with the current regulatory requirements. Thus, the NRC staff has no justification to require Maine Yankee to install a stack isotopic monitoring system or any additional gaseous and liquid effluent monitoring systems as you requested.

The current regulatory requirements for effluent monitoring are adequate to l protect public health and safety. ,

1 I trust that you will find this information helpful in addressing your concerns.

Sincerely, 1

ve . ar ctor Division of Reactor Projects - I/II Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

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Ms. Maria G. Holt October 24, 1996

! detailed in the Maine Yankee Technical Specifications sections 5.9.1.6.1 and

5.9.1.5, respectively. Further, the contents of these reports are described in the Maine Yankee Offsite Dose Calculation Manual (0DCM). The licensee submitted these reports for 1995 to the NRC on April 29, 1996. These

documents are available in the local public document room (Accession Number 1

9605030234).

As part of the quality assurance program for the measurements made for the j environmental monitoring program, licensees are required to participate in an i Interlaboratory Comparison Program. This program provides an independent i check of the accuracy and precision of the measurements of radioactive i material in environmental samples.

s

! The NRC documents the results of its independent monitoring and assessment i efforts in reports such as NUREG/CR-2850, " Dose Commitments Due to Radioactive 4

Releases From Nuclear Power Plant Sites," and NUREG-0837, "NRC TLD Direct

, Radiation Monitoring Network." The NRC also compiles licensees' effluent

! reports and publishes the results in NUREG/CR-2907, " Radioactive Materials l Released From Nuclear Power Plants."

!

• With regard to Maine Yankee, inspectors from the NRC's regional office have 4

conducted periodic inspections of Maine Yankee's effluent release and

! environmental monitoring program. On the basis of these inspections, the NRC

staff has found that the licensee is maintaining effective programs that are 1 in compliance with NRC requirements. j j The process radiation monitoring system approved by the NRC for Maine Yankee

provides, in addition to other functions, for the control and recording of-

discharges of radiological effluents into the environment. This system is i i described in the Maine Yankee Final Safety Analysis Report Section 11.2.2.  !

The ARER and ARE0R also contain details on the equipment, sampling and l

! measuring techniques used. On the basis of its direct inspection effort, the  ;

! NRC staff has reasonable assurance that the licensee is in compliance with the  :

! current regulatory requirements. Thus,-the NRC staff has no justification to l

require haine Yankee to install a stack isotopic monitoring system or any additional gaseous and liquid effluent monitoring systems as you requested, i The current regulatory requirements for effluent monitoring are adequate to i j protect public health and safety.  !

I trust that you will find this information helpful in addressing your Concerns.

! Sincerely,

• See previous concurrence Original signed by:

l Steven A. Varga, Director Distribution: Division of Reactor Projects - I/II l See Attached Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation PDl-3 DRPE NRR OGC ED0 OCM DDorman* SVarga* FMiraglia* JGoldberg* JTaylor* SJackson*

10/10/96 09/16/96 10/10/96 10/10/96 10/17/96 10/24/96 0FFICIAL RECORD COPY

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Ms. Maria G. Holt _4_

DISTRIBUTION:

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FROM DUE: 09/17/96 EDO CONTROL: GT96677 DOC DT: 08/26/96-I I ,

WC jMaria Glen Holt FINAL _ REPLY: 6i,

! Citizens' Monitoring Network.

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! Chairman Jackson 1 4

I .l FOR SIGNATURE OF : ** PRI **

CRC NO: 96-0946' i Russell "

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iDESC ROUTING:- i

• j 3 REQUEST THAT THE MAINE YANKEE ATOMIC POWER PLANT Taylor

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BE REQUIRED TO INSTALL ON-LINE, CONTINUOUS, Milhoan  ;

ATOMATED GASEOUS AND LIQUID EFFLUENT MONITORING Thompson- " ' r ~' l

! SYSTEMS AT THE SOURCE Blaha

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Jordan, AEOd

! DATES 09/05/96 Bangart, SP jASSIGNED TO: CONTACT:.. .

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i NRR Russell 4 -

lSPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR REMARKS: -

Put EDO and Chairman on for concurrence.

Chairman's Office to review response prior k i to dispatch.

I I NRR RECEIVED: ' SEPTEMBER 5, 1996

NRR ACTION

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_NRR ROUTING: RUSSELL MIRAGLIA 3 TRADANI ZIMMERMAN

MARTIN

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' OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY CORRESPONDENCE CONTROL TICKET .

PAPER NUMBER: CRC-96-0946 LOGGING DATE: Sep 4 96.

3 ACTION OFFICE:-- EDO AUTHOR: MARIA G HOLT i  ;

AFFILIATION: MAINE ~jl ADDRESSEE: CHAIRMAN JACKSON

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LETTER DATE: Aug 2696 . FILE CODE: IDR-5 MAINE YANKEE t4

SUBJECT:

REQ THAT MAINE YANKEE ATOMIC POWER PLANT BE i REQUIRED TO INSTALL ON- LINE, CONTINUOUS, -l AUTOMATED, GASEOUS AND LIQUID EFFLUENT MONITORING SYSTEMS ACTION: Direct Reply DISTRIBUTION: CHAIRMAN SPECIAL HANDLING: SECY TO ACK CONSTITUENT: i NOTES: OCM #5134 " CHAIRMAN SHOULD REVIEW RESPONSE PRIOR TO DISPATCH" (ENCLS TO: EDO)

DATE DUE: Sep 18 96' * ~~

' SIGNATURE: . DATE SIGNED:

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