ML061370222

NRC Review and Follow-Up of Indian Point Energy Center Efforts to Address Groundwater Contamination

ML061370222
Person / Time
Site:	Indian Point
Issue date:	05/16/2006
From:	Collins S Region 1 Administrator
To:	Dacimo F Entergy Nuclear Operations
References
FOIA/PA-2006-0244
Download: ML061370222 (5)

Text

May 16, 2006 Mr. Fred Dacimo Site Vice President - Indian Point Energy Center Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.

295 Broadway, Suite 1 Post Office Box 249 Buchanan, NY 10511-0249

SUBJECT:

NRC REVIEW AND FOLLOW-UP OF INDIAN POINT ENERGY CENTER EFFORTS TO ADDRESS GROUNDWATER CONTAMINATION

Dear Mr. Dacimo:

Thank you for your letter of April 10, 2006 (ADAMS Accession No. ML061040514), regarding the current status and your future plans relative to the onsite groundwater contamination at Indian Point Energy Center (IPEC). We consider your plans acceptable and will continue to clearly follow your activities.

From our review of your planned actions and commitments detailed in your letter, we understand that you plan to enhance your Radiological Environmental Monitoring Program (REMP) by including a number of on-site monitoring wells to effect early detection of any contaminated groundwater that may potentially migrate beyond the site boundary, including strontium-90. You have also committed to conduct environmental sampling of fish, invertebrates and sediment for strontium-90. We noted a number of other commitments, including, but not limited to: (1) accounting for any abnormal releases in the Annual Radioactive Effluent Release Report; (2) continuing to assess the hydrological condition of the site in order to determine the most effective manner in which to resolve the current onsite groundwater contamination condition; (3) establishing a long-term onsite well monitoring program for the purpose of promptly identifying and investigating changes in groundwater conditions; and (4) accelerating plans for remediation in the event that plant-related radioactive materials are positively detected in onsite REMP monitoring wells in excess of established trigger values derived from EPA drinking water standards. From subsequent discussion with Mr. Donald Mayer of your staff, we understand that you intend to meet with the NRC at the completion of your site characterization efforts to discuss options for resolving the groundwater contamination issues at Indian Point. We understand that all of your actions and commitments are scheduled to be completed by the end of 2006. Please inform us if our understanding of any of your commitments is incorrect.

We have planned a series of follow-up and inspection-related activities designed to confirm and verify implementation of these actions, and to evaluate the effectiveness of your efforts to resolve the current onsite groundwater contamination condition. Deviation from the normal NRC baseline inspection program to accommodate this additional inspection effort was approved by the Executive Director of Operations in October 2005.

F. Dacimo 2

The enclosed Inspection/Activity Plan indicates the additional planned onsite inspection activities scheduled for 2006 to provide enhanced NRC oversight of your performance relative to addressing issues associated with spent fuel pool leakage and groundwater contamination.

The Inspection/Activity Plan also identifies additional inspection activities planned relative to verifying the effectiveness of your activities for improving reliability and availability of the Alert and Notification System (ANS), including implementation of backup power requirements. In addition to the activities listed in the Enclosure, we plan to continue our close monitoring of siren performance during testing, and will conduct additional system performance inspections as necessary. Additionally, we have clarified the resources to be applied to the Problem Identification and Resolution biennial inspection that is scheduled to be conducted during the weeks of September 18-22, 2006 and October 2-6, 2006. This inspection will be conducted by separate teams evaluating the units individually; however, we will utilize a single team leader for efficiency.

In accordance with 10 CFR 2.790 of the NRCs "Rules of Practice," a copy of this letter and its attachment will be available electronically for public inspection in the NRC Public Document Room or from the Publicly Available Records (PARS) component of the NRC document system (ADAMS). ADAMS is accessible from the NRC Web site at http://www.nrc.gov/NRC/ADAMS/index.html (the Public Electronic Reading Room).

Should you have any questions regarding this report, please contact Mr. Eugene Cobey of my staff at 610-337-5171.

Sincerely,

/RA/

Samuel J. Collins Regional Administrator Docket Nos. 50-247 and 50-286 License No. DPR-26 and DPR-64 ADAMS

References:

Deviation Memo from the ROP, dated October 28, 2005 [ML053010404]

Enclosure:

Inspection/Activity Plan

F. Dacimo 3

Docket No. 50-247 License No. DPR-26 cc w/encl:

G. J. Taylor, Chief Executive Officer, Entergy Operations M. R. Kansler, President, Entergy Nuclear Operations Inc. (ENO)

J. T. Herron, Senior Vice President and Chief Operations Officer (ENO)

C. Schwarz, Vice President, Operations Support (ENO)

P. Rubin, General Manager Operations (ENO)

O. Limpias, Vice President, Engineering (ENO)

J. McCann, Director, Licensing (ENO)

C. D. Faison, Manager, Licensing (ENO)

M. J. Colomb, Director of Oversight (ENO)

J. Comiotes, Director, Nuclear Safety Assurance (ENO)

P. Conroy, Manager, Licensing (ENO)

T. C. McCullough, Assistant General Counsel, Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.

P. R. Smith, President, New York State Energy, Research and Development Authority P. Eddy, Electric Division, New York State Department of Public Service C. Donaldson, Esquire, Assistant Attorney General, New York Department of Law D. ONeill, Mayor, Village of Buchanan J. G. Testa, Mayor, City of Peekskill R. Albanese, Four County Coordinator S. Lousteau, Treasury Department, Entergy Services, Inc.

Chairman, Standing Committee on Energy, NYS Assembly Chairman, Standing Committee on Environmental Conservation, NYS Assembly Chairman, Committee on Corporations, Authorities, and Commissions M. Slobodien, Director, Emergency Planning B. Brandenburg, Assistant General Counsel Assemblywoman Sandra Galef, NYS Assembly County Clerk, Westchester County Legislature A. Spano, Westchester County Executive R. Bondi, Putnam County Executive C. Vanderhoef, Rockland County Executive E. A. Diana, Orange County Executive T. Judson, Central NY Citizens Awareness Network M. Elie, Citizens Awareness Network D. Lochbaum, Nuclear Safety Engineer, Union of Concerned Scientists Public Citizen's Critical Mass Energy Project M. Mariotte, Nuclear Information & Resources Service F. Zalcman, Pace Law School, Energy Project L. Puglisi, Supervisor, Town of Cortlandt Congresswoman Sue W. Kelly Congresswoman Nita Lowey Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton Senator Charles Schumer J. Riccio, Greenpeace A. Matthiessen, Executive Director, Riverkeeper, Inc.

M. Kaplowitz, Chairman of County Environment & Health Committee

F. Dacimo 4

A. Reynolds, Environmental Advocates M. Jacobs, Director, Longview School D. Katz, Executive Director, Citizens Awareness Network P. Leventhal, The Nuclear Control Institute K. Coplan, Pace Environmental Litigation Clinic W. DiProfio, PWR SRC Consultant D. C. Poole, PWR SRC Consultant W. Russell, PWR SRC Consultant W. Little, Associate Attorney, NYSDEC

F. Dacimo 5

Distribution w/encl:

(via E-mail)

S. Collins, RA M. Dapas, DRA B. Sosa, RI OEDO R. Laufer, NRR J. Boska, PM, NRR B. Holian, DRP R. Blough, DRS M. Gamberoni, DRS DRS Branch Chiefs D. Screnci, PAO N. Sheehan, PAO E. Cobey, DRP D. Jackson, DRP C. Long, DRP M. Cox, DRP, Senior Resident Inspector - Indian Point 2 T. Hipschman, DRP, Senior Resident Inspector - Indian Point 2 G. Bowman, DRP, Resident Inspector - Indian Point 2 B. Wittick, DRP, Resident Inspector - Indian Point 3 R. Martin, DRP, Resident OA Region I Docket Room (w/concurrences)

DOCUMENT NAME: E:\\Filenet\\ML061370222.wpd SUNSI Review Complete: DEJ1 (Reviewers Initials)

After declaring this document An Official Agency Record it will be released to the Public.

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