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Frequently Asked Questions About Indian PointOn this page:
Index to All Frequently Asked Questions Pages Is there a leak in the spent fuel pool at Indian
Point? How was it discovered?
When did Entergy inform the NRC? What has the NRC done to inspect this issue? Entergy informed the NRC resident inspectors about its observation on September 1, 2005. As described above, the NRC resident inspectors and specialist inspectors from NRC Region I initiated efforts to gather information and perform preliminary assessment to ascertain if the condition had significance relative to worker and public health and safety, and the environment; and if the condition was indicative of structural degradation of the concrete wall surrounding the spent fuel pool. While this preliminary review did not indicate any immediate concern, the NRC evaluated the condition in accordance with its established process for event review. On September 20, the NRC determined that a Special Inspection should be initiated to better understand the nature of this condition, including but not limited to, the source and cause of the leakage, the licensee’s mitigation and repair strategy, and the risk significance of the condition relative to the radiological impact and structural integrity of the spent fuel pool.
Was the licensee required to report this matter to the NRC? Based on NRC's current knowledge of the circumstances involved, the initial condition did not meet any of the reporting criteria specified in 10 CFR 50.72, "Immediate notification requirements for operating reactors," or 10 CFR 50.73, "Licensee event report system"; and was not an event that was considered by the licensee to be related to the health and safety of the public or on-site personnel, or protection of the environment. When the licensee issued a press release on September 20, and informed other government agencies, the NRC was already fully aware of the circumstances of this condition. As described in Question 10 (below), on October 5, Entergy verbally informed the NRC of its discovery of tritium contamination in an on-site monitoring well (MW-111). Subsequently, Entergy filed an event report, as required by 10 CFR 50.72(b)(2)(xi), based on its notification of other government agencies. Event Notification 42041.
Where was the contamination found, and what were the levels of contamination identified? How is the contaminated material being handled? Low levels of contamination were identified on the spent fuel pool wall and in the soil in close proximity to the moist cracks. The contaminated areas are enclosed within the Unit 2 Spent Fuel Storage Building, which is a radiologically controlled area of the facility. All soil, rock and debris are being monitored upon excavation. Material that has the potential to be contaminated, or was found to be contaminated, has been segregated into special containers. All material that is found to be contaminated, will be disposed of as radioactive waste material, regardless of the source of contamination.
What are the limits for liquid releases to the environment at Indian Point? Has this event caused Indian Point to exceed any regulatory limit relative to radiological releases to the environment? The Technical Specification liquid effluent limits for Indian Point are 1.5 millirem per quarter for whole body exposure, and 5.0 millirem per quarter for any organ exposure. The licensee’s program for monitoring and controlling radiological releases to the environment is regularly inspected by the NRC. Based on the current information and understanding of the circumstances surrounding this condition, there is no evidence that suggests that this condition has resulted in an unmonitored or uncontrolled release of radioactive material to the environment or that Technical Specification effluent release limits have or will be exceeded. Since discovery of the cracks, all detected radiological contamination associated with the excavation activities, liquid and solid, has been, and continues to be, collected and removed from the area. All contaminated materials are being handled by the licensee as radioactive materials. The observed cracks are all in radiologically controlled areas, and the licensee has been collecting the moisture from the affected areas.
What dose to the public could occur if the leakage from the spent fuel pool was released into the environment without being monitored or controlled? Based on current information and data (i.e., the low level of radioactivity currently measured, the apparent low volume of liquid seepage from the cracks, and the on-site tritium contamination), the expected dose to the public would be negligible with respect to Technical Specification limits (as described above), and normal background radiation (which is about 360 millirem per year).
What is the responsibility of the plant's owner in cases like this? The licensee has the responsibility to identify and correct problems at their facilities by the implementation of a problem identification and resolution program that provides for: (1) the identification of problems; (2) the evaluation of the problem's significance, and (3) the implementation of corrective actions commensurate with the significance.
Have any other plants experienced leakage from the Spent Fuel Pool? Yes. When leakage is detected, the NRC expects that licensees take appropriate actions to monitor and control the leakage to ensure public health and safety and protection of the environment.
Does Indian Point 2 have a spent fuel pool leak detection system? No. The Indian Point 2 spent fuel pool has a stainless steel liner, but no leak detection system, such as a tell-tale (i.e., a channel system between the liner and the concrete support wall designed to collect moisture or leakage from the steel liner). One of the aspects of the Special Inspection is to evaluate the licensee’s plan for assessing spent fuel pool liner integrity, including relevant design considerations.
Has Entergy identified any other contamination
on-site or in the environment that may be associated with the Indian Point
2 spent fuel pool?
What is the current condition of the Unit 1 Fuel Storage Pools? One or more of the Unit 1 Fuel and Equipment Storage pools (six interconnected concrete pools and a water storage pool) have been known to be leaking for several years. The design of Unit 1 includes a curtain drain system that encompasses these pools and the Unit 1 containment building, and a sphere foundation sump. This drain and sump system enables the collection of water leakage from the pools for control and processing as radioactive material. Most recently, Entergy has initiated efforts to examine and clean the spent fuel elements that are currently stored in the West pool, in preparation for eventual dry cask storage. To perform this activity, on September 18, 2005, Entergy increased water level in the west pool. On September 29, Entergy informed the NRC resident inspector, that as was expected, some water from the West pool was continuing to drain to an adjacent pool (the Cask Disassembly Pool) at the rate of about 500 gallon per day. Entergy informed the NRC, that based on the daily water level monitoring and assessment of the pool system, it has not detected any leakage of water beyond the confines of the fuel and equipment storage pools, the curtain drain system, or the sphere foundation sump. The NRC Special Inspection charter is being revised to include a review the effectiveness of Entergy's efforts to monitor and control the water inventory used in the Unit 1 spent fuel pool system.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Tritium
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Strontium
What is the history of the determination of Strontium-90 in onsite groundwater at Indian Point?
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