ML20014E436

Forwards Ltr from Massachusetts Citizens for Safe Energy Re Sale of Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station & Concern That Detailed Records of Site Contamination Could Potentially Be Lost in Plant Transfer

ML20014E436
Person / Time
Site:	Pilgrim
Issue date:	10/19/1998
From:	Markey E HOUSE OF REP.
To:	Shirley Ann Jackson, The Chairman NRC COMMISSION (OCM)
Shared Package
ML20014E433	List: ML20014E436
References
NUDOCS 9812290314
Download: ML20014E436 (4)

Text

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October 19,1998 i i

t Shirley Ann Jackson  !

Chairman I Nuclear Regulatory Commission  ;

Washington, DC 20555  !

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Dear Ms. Jackson:

I am writing regarding the sale of Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station by Boston Edison. I j recently received a letter from the Massachusetts Citizens for Safe Energy expressing i concern that detailed records of site contamination could potentially be lost in the plant j transfer and requesting that complete records, including site maps, of the low-level l radioactive waste burial sites and of sites contaminated by accidental releases be given to l the NRC and to Commonwealth regulators and placed on file. It is important that these l records remain readily available to ensure the safety of plant operations and of the i eventual cleanup and disposition of the site, i Please keep me informed of what you are doing to ensure the continued integrity and availability of these records.

I am enclosing the letter from the Massachusetts Citizens for Safe Energy. Thank you l for your assistance.

Sincerely, iY, (+AwI- ,

Edward J. Markey Enclosure  ;

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Massachusetts Citizens for Safe Enerav 29 Temple Place, Boston MA 02111

[617] 292-4821 phone * [617] 292 8057 fax

• e-mail mwlison@coxicsaction.org 148 Washington Street, Duxbury MA 02332

[781] 934-0389 phone * [781] 934-5579 fax

• e-mall llampert@ldt. net October 6, 1998 Congressman Edward Markey Rayburn Office Bldg.,

Washington DC 20515 RE: Pilgrim NPS: Preserving Written Record Of Contamination Prior To Transfer Ownership BECO To PECO

Dear Congressman Markey:

We are told that Bosten Edison will soon officially announce the sale of the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station, Plymouth MA, to PECO - no doubt technically to AmerGen, a joint venture of PECO and British Energy of Edinburgh, UK. This presents j many issues / problems, not the least of which, preserving the  !

record of waste disposal so that it does not become " lost" in the transfer.

Pilgrim is, for all practical purposes, a radioactive waste dump located on an eroding coastline overlooking Massachusetts Bay. It is important that, when the time comes, it is properly & thoroughly cleaned up. This requires, among many things, the preservation of precise contamination records - important records can get " lost" in the transfer of ownership.

Pilgrim was allowed to bury low-level radioactive waste (defined as waste other than spent fuel rods) and mixed radioactive waste on-site from 1972 until the mid-1980's. l We know that they buried waste through 1986. It is l important that a written record, inclusive of site map, of buria1 sites be turned over to the Con =onwealth & federal regulators as part of the " paper work" in the sale of  ;

Pilgrim to PEco. We hope that you will reinforce our request that this happens.

l Pilgrim was the site of the second worst releases in US I

history, 1982. For example, in June of 1982, they blew their filters resulting in significant on & off site contamination of radioactive resin. Soil samples were taken l 3

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. i by federal & state authorities. Original maps and detailed reports taken at that time should also be on file with the l Commonwealth & federal regulators. We hope that you will help us with assuring that this happens, too. l l

It is clear that the liability issues between BECO and PECO f be settled before all aspects of the sale are finalized; so j that public health and safety doesn't suffer while each party plays the "he did it" game whenIit comes time to l actually clean up. l Enclosed, you will find our letter on the subject to Gerald Rainey, President & Chief Nuclear Officer, PECO. l I

We thank you for any help that you can give us on this l important issue and please keep us "in-the-loop" of any i actions / correspondence that may occur between you and I pertinent parties on this issue. i Sincerely,  ;

I W -s j I

Mary Elizabeth Lampert Massachusetts Citizens for Safe Energy Duxbury Nuclear Advisory Committee 4

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5 Massachusetts Citizens for Safe Enerav 29 Temple Place, Boston MA 0211I

[617] 292-4821 phone * [617] 292-8057 fax

• e-mail mwilsor.@toxicsaction.org 148 Washington Street, Duxbury MA 02332

[781] 934-0389 phone * [781) 934 5579 fax

• e-mail liampert@!dt. net October 5, 1998 Gerald Rainey President & Chief Nuclear Officer PECO Nuclear Headquarters 965 Chesterbrook Blvd., ,

Wayne, PA 19087-5691 RE: Pilgrim NPS

Dear Mr. Rainey:

As you know, NRC regulations have permitted Boston Edison Company (BECO) to bury some radioactive waste on site.

Those of us in this region have serious concerns about the health and other risks presented by this buried waste. We also question whether BECO has accurately reported either the locations of every site in which waste has been buried or the amount and type of waste buried in each site.

As part of the sale of Pilgrim Station to you, we are asking that the Commonwealth and the IEC require a complete and accurate reporting (written and inclusive of site map) by l BECO of all radioactive waste buried or otherwise disposed l of by it within the site or elsewhere; and that the reports {

be made available to the Commonwealth, NRC and be part of the public record. l We are also asking that the Commonwealth and the NRC insure that you and BECO are held responsible for any liabilities that might arise in the future as a result of any radioactive waste disposal efforts, and that both you and BECO be especially responsible for anything that either of you has failed to report.

I Thanking you for your attention and timely response, I am  ;

sincerely, l l

Mary Elizabeth Lampert (

Massachusetts Citizens for Safe Energy 1

cc. Senators Kennedy & Kerry; Congressman William Delahunt; Congressman Edward Markey; f;RC l Chaity.an Shirley Jackson; Acting Govern 0r Paul Cellucci; Attorney General Scott Harshbargers MA DTE Chair. Gail Eesser: Senaters Hedlund and Murray; Representatives Tom O'Brien, Ruth Provost; Frank Hyres; Tzan Marir.1; Joseph Gallitano; Boards of Selectmen,  ;

Towns of Plymouth, Carver. Duxbury, Kingston, Marshfield.

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