Slides for April 13, 2021, 1-4:30 pm EDT, NRC/NEI webinar on spent fuel performance margins

PowerPoint slides

 April 13 2021 Workshop public meeting SFP Margi...

Workshop between the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and Nuclear Energy Institute on Spent Fuel Performance Margins

See > https://www.nrc.gov/pmns/mtg <  for details 

--

Paul Gunter, Director
Reactor Oversight Project
Beyond Nuclear
7304 Carroll Avenue #182
Takoma Park, MD 20912
Tel. 301 523-0201 (cell)
www.beyondnuclear.org

April 13 2021 Workshop public meeting SFP Margins.pdf

Exelon Generation Company, LLC - Request for Withholding Information From Public Disclosure

Subject:  Exelon Generation Company, LLC - Request for Withholding Information From Public Disclosure

ADAMS Accession No. ML21084A135

ML21084A135.pdf

Response to Questions submitted March 12, 2021

                    Good morning, Eric.

This is in response to several of your questions regarding Exelon Generation Company, LLC’s (Exelon’s) Three Mile Island Generating Station, Units 1 and 2 (TMI-1 and 2 ) submitted on March 12, 2021.

Question 1: Provide the amount of water TMI can withdraw daily, and how much they pay for consumptive and surface water at TMI-1 and TMI-2.

 

As I stated previously, the consumptive use, surface withdrawal, and groundwater withdrawal approvals from SRBC have not changed yet as a result of the non-operating status. The docket approval for TMI-1 dates from 2011, and is attached for your review. SRBC does not have a docket approval for TMI-2.

The approved quantities at TMI-1 are:

Surface water withdrawal – up to 122.800 million gallons per day;

Groundwater withdrawal – 0.225 million gallons per day (as a 30-day average) from Wells A, B, and C;

Consumptive use – 19.200 million gallons per day (peak day).

The SRBC has no charges related to surface water withdrawals for any approved project. The project does not pay a consumptive use fee to the SRBC. The consumptive use is mitigated predominantly by releases of water stored in Cowanesque Reservoir during low flow periods, under an approved agreement (see Docket Section 7, no. 5).

Question 2:  Ask the NRC for the precise amount of water each reactor will need for decommissioning purposes, and inventorize the amount of water not used since TMI-1 no longer conveys heat from the reactor core to the steam turbine and there is no longer steam cycle heat transfers.

The SRBC has no information from the NRC at this time concerning the amount of water required for decommissioning.

The attached a spreadsheet shows SRBC’s data concerning the amount of recent water use at TMI-1. As you are aware, TMI-1 was taken offline and ceased operating for the purpose of generating electric power on September 20, 2019. The data brackets the time when operations ceased, containing reported daily water withdrawals from all sources and consumptive use from September 1, 2019 through December 31, 2020.

SRBC staff have not specific information at this time to answer your other questions regarding disposal of any radioactive wastewater. The SRBC will continue to coordinate with agencies of its member jurisdictions about all of the issues related to this project. 

Exelon staff indicated water withdrawal and consumptive use quantities are expected to continue to exceed Commission regulatory thresholds, but at a much lower magnitude due to cessation of power generation. As such, and recognizing the change in operations, Commission staff will review the water withdrawal and consumptive use demands, from all sources, based on the Facility’s reasonable and foreseeable need to adequately address ongoing decommissioning activities. Commission staff anticipate that this review will be done as part of the groundwater well renewal applications, required by May 26, 2021.

Thank you again for your patience as we work to obtain clarity on the key water issues related to decommissioning.

Best regards,

Paula

Paula Ballaron, P.G.

Manager, Policy Implementation & Outreach

Susquehanna River Basin Commission

4423 North Front Street

Harrisburg,  Pennsylvania 17110-1788

Office:717-238-0423 Ext - 1222

Mobile:  717-215-0455

www.srbc.net

Your River ~ Our Mission 

---
Subject: Re: Before the SRBC, (Testimony of Eric J. Epstein, December 11, 2020)

Folks:

          These questions were resubmitted at today's public hearing.

In our opinion, the initial responses were general  and vague.

I wrote the questions in the hope of providing clarity, and to

make sure you got the questions free from technical interference.

         In addition, to requesting more specific responses to the

January 27, 2021 requests, I also asked the SRBC  to:

1) Provide the amount of water TMI can withdraw daily, 

and how much they pay for consumptive and surface water

at TMI-1 and TMI-2;

2) Ask the NRC for the precise amount of water each reactor 

will need for  decommissioning purposes, and inventorize 

the amount of water not used since TMI-1  no longer coneys

heat from the reactor core to the steam turbine and there 

is no longer steam cycle heat transfers; 

3) Requests from the DEP and the NRC for TMI-1's and

TMI-2's plan(s) to dispose of radioactive water created 

by the decommissioning processes; and,

4) Identify CWA obligations as it pertains to what entity actually 

owns the water rights at TMI.

         Gene and Paula did contact me during the meeting, and Gene

reached out after the meeting. Unfortuantley, I've been in zoom

meetings all afternoon. I will return to the office on Monday.

Have a great weekend!

Eric Epstein

TMI Reporting Data.XLSX
20110610.PDF

2021/03/24 NRR E-mail Capture - Exelon Generation Company, LLC - Acceptance of License Transfer Application (EPID L-2021-LLM-0000)

Subject: 2021/03/24 NRR E-mail Capture - Exelon Generation Company, LLC - Acceptance of License Transfer Application (EPID L-2021-LLM-0000)

ADAMS Accession No. ML21084A253

ML21084A253.pdf

NRC Proceeding "Three Mile Island 50-320 LT"

 **EIE Update**  Due to certain NRC computer security enhancements the process to open submissions having more than one attachment has had to be changed. Now, after opening the link in the e-mail and validating their certificate, users will see a page with a button saying “Download Attachments". Selecting that button will cause the attached .zip file to be downloaded to the users' computer. Thereafter, the files can be opened using the normal protocol.  **EIE Update**

MESSAGE FROM THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

Re: NRC Proceeding "Three Mile Island 50-320 LT"

The Office of the Secretary has received a Submission entitled

"ORDER (Setting Briefing Schedule)"

submitted by Krupskaya T. Castellon who is affiliated with NRC SECY.  It contains 1 attachment(s).

It is intended for inclusion in the referenced proceeding. It was submitted through the NRC Electronic Information Exchange (EIE) system and arrived on 03/19/2021 at 03.31 PM.

As a hearing participant, you are entitled to view and/or retrieve this Submission by visiting the following web link.  

ORDER (Setting Briefing Schedule) - https://eie.nrc.gov/eie/adj/downloadAttachment.eie?submissionId=56011&docId=27250 (302 KB)

If the submission contains 2 or more attachments, they will be delivered to you as a single compressed zip file from which you may open the attachments.  The delivery model works best with the free download product named "SecureZip".  This is the product used in the screen shots in the Adjudicatory User's Guide.  Other compression products will work but the access steps may vary.

The link will remain active for 30 day(s) after which its contents will be removed from the EIE system. Not later than 3 days from the date of this message the attachment(s) will also be available through NRC Electronic Hearing Docket (EHD) web site. The web link for this site is: https://adams.nrc.gov/ehd and the documents can be located by browsing in the appropriate hearing folder.

Receipt of this message constitutes completion of service of this filing.

PARTIES SERVED WITH THIS SUBMISSION:  Campbell, Tison A.; Castellon, Krupskaya T.; Desai, Sachin; Docket, Hearing; Duke, Alicia R; Epstein, Eric; Eskelsen, Grant; Halnon, Gregory H; Krause, Emily I.; Lighty, Ryan K.; Matthews, Timothy P; Naber, Anita G.; Newell, Brian P.; ocaamail, ocaamail; Roth, David E.; Schumann, Stacy M.; Sealy, Karen; Sola, Clara I; Speiser, Herald; Stenger, Daniel Frank; van Noordennen, Gerard Peter; Wachutka, Jeremy L.

E210319t033109_ORDER (Setting Briefing Schedule).pdf

Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, Units 1 and 2 - Issuance of Amendment Nos. 280 and 262 Re: Revise Technical Specification 3.8.1, "AC Sources-Operating," to Create a New Condition for an Inoperable Manual Synchronization Circuit (EPID L-2019-LLA-0118)

Subject: Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, Units 1 and 2 - Issuance of Amendment Nos. 280 and 262 Re: Revise Technical Specification 3.8.1, "AC Sources-Operating," to Create a New Condition for an Inoperable Manual Synchronization Circuit (EPID L-2019-LLA-0118)

ADAMS Accession No. ML20317A314

ML20317A314.pdf

NRC Issues Annual Assessments for Nation’s Nuclear Plants

Nuclear Regulatory Commission - News Release
No: 21-013 March 5, 2021
CONTACT: Scott Burnell, 301-415-8200

NRC Issues Annual Assessments for Nation’s Nuclear Plants

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has issued annual letters to the nation’s 94 operating commercial nuclear reactors, regarding their performance in 2020.

“Ninety reactors reached the highest performance category and fully met our safety and security performance objectives,” said Acting Director of the NRC’s Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Andrea Veil. “Those 90 units will receive thousands of hours of inspection under our ‘baseline’ inspection program.”

Three reactors were in the second performance category, needing to resolve one or two items of low safety significance. For this performance level, regulatory oversight includes additional inspection and follow-up of corrective actions. Plants in this category are Callaway (Missouri); Clinton (Illinois); and Surry 2 (Virginia).

The Grand Gulf reactor in Mississippi was in the third performance category with a degraded, and still acceptably safe, level of performance. For this category, regulatory oversight includes more NRC inspections, senior management attention, and oversight focused on the cause(s) of the degraded performance.

There were no reactors in the fourth performance category.

Later this spring and summer, the NRC will host a public meeting or other event for each plant to discuss the details of the annual assessment results. These meetings are expected to be held via webcast to meet local restrictions due to the public health emergency. A separate announcement will be issued for each public assessment meeting. It is likely that several meetings will be consolidated into one virtual event. In addition to the annual assessment letters, plants also will receive an NRC inspection plan for the coming year.

The NRC’s website outlines oversight of commercial nuclear power on the Reactor Oversight Process page. The NRC routinely updates each plant’s current performance and posts the latest information as it becomes available to the action matrix summary. Assessment letters are posted on our website (click on “2020q4” for each plant). Annual construction oversight assessments for new reactors at the Vogtle units 3 and 4 sites will also be on the NRC website.

21-013.pdf

NRC Proposes $75,000 Civil Penalty to California Company for Import and Distribution Violations

Nuclear Regulatory Commission - News Release
No: 21-012 February 23, 2021
CONTACT: David McIntyre, 301-415-8200

NRC Proposes $75,000 Civil Penalty to California Company for Import and Distribution Violations

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has proposed a $75,000 civil penalty against CampCo Inc. of Los Angeles for various violations of requirements related to importing and distributing watches containing radioactive material. An NRC Notice of Violation, issued Feb. 11, lists nine separate violations, including repeat violations.

The NRC found the company failed to comply with requirements of its license, namely importing and distributing watch models for which it was not authorized. The company also provided inaccurate information to the NRC.

These violations are similar to ones issued to CampCo in 2015. At that time, the company and the NRC negotiated a settlement, and the NRC issued a Confirmatory Order setting out certain conditions to bring the company into compliance with its license and NRC regulations. In the current action, the NRC determined that the company continued to import watch models that were not authorized under its license, continued to violate NRC reporting requirements, and failed to comply with portions of the Confirmatory Order.

CampCo Inc. holds an NRC exempt distribution license and is authorized to distribute several models of watches containing tritium, which are exempt from regulation once they are initially distributed. Retailers and consumers do not need a license to own them; however, the initial distribution must be made under an NRC license to ensure that the devices meet safety requirements.

The watches contain a small amount of tritium encapsulated in glass vials. The radioactive material ionizes a luminescent coating on the inside of the glass vial to produce light, so the markers on the watch face and hands can be seen in low light.

21-012.pdf

Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, Units 1 and 2 - Issuance of Amendment Nos. 279 and 261 Re: Revise Technical Specifications to Adopt TSTF-582, "RPV WIC Enhancements" (EPID L-2020-LLA-0197) Inbox

SUBJECT:  Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, Units 1 and 2 - Issuance of Amendment Nos. 279 and 261 Re:  Revise Technical Specifications to Adopt TSTF-582, "RPV WIC Enhancements" (EPID L-2020-LLA-0197)

ADAMS Accession No.  ML20342A237

Susquehanna Amdt 279 and 261_L-2020-LLA-0197 ML20342A237 .pdf

Three Mile Island Nuclear Station, Unit 1 - Withdrawal of Interim Compensatory Measure B.1.A in EA-02-026, Order for Interim Safeguards and Security Compensatory Measures

SUBJECT:  Three Mile Island Nuclear Station, Unit 1 - Withdrawal of Interim Compensatory Measure B.1.A in EA-02-026, Order for Interim Safeguards and Security Compensatory Measures

ADAMS Accession No. ML21008A330

ML21008A330_TMI1 Recind Security Order (signed).pdf

Nuclear Watchdog Alleges Three Mile Island is in Violation of the Clean Water Act, (February 16, 2021)

Release, (2_16_21).pdf

Agency Notification, (2_16_21).pdf

Enclsoure.pdf

Peach Bottom, Units 2 and 3 - Regulatory Audit Summary, License Amendment Request to Revise Technical Specifications to Adopt TSTF-505, Revision 2, Provide Risk-Informed Extended Completion Times - RITSTF Initiative 4B" (EPID L-2020-LLA-0120)

Subject: Peach Bottom, Units 2 and 3 - Regulatory Audit Summary, License Amendment Request to Revise Technical Specifications to Adopt TSTF-505, Revision 2, Provide Risk-Informed Extended Completion Times - RITSTF Initiative 4B" (EPID L-2020-LLA-0120)

ADAMS Accession No. ML21026A289

ML21035A184.pdf

Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, Units 1 and 2 - Summary of the January 26, 2021, Meeting with Susquehanna Nuclear Regarding a Future License Amendment Request Related to Adopting Technical Specifications Task Force Traveler TSTF-505, Revision 2

Subject: Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, Units 1 and 2 - Summary of the January 26, 2021, Meeting with Susquehanna Nuclear Regarding a Future License Amendment Request Related to Adopting Technical Specifications Task Force Traveler TSTF-505, Revision 2

ADAMS Accession No. ML21035A184

ML21035A184.pdf

Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, Units 1 and 2 - Cyber Security Problem Identification and Resolution Inspection Report 05000387/2020403 and 05000388/2020403 (Cover Letter Only)

Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, Units 1 and 2 - Cyber Security Problem Identification and Resolution Inspection Report 05000387/2020403 and 05000388/2020403 (Cover Letter Only)

ADAMS Accession No.  ML21041A220

SUS Cyber PIR Sample IR 2020-403 PUBLIC.pdf

Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, Units 1 and 2 - Integrated Inspection Report 05000387/2020004 and 05000388/2020004

Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, Units 1 and 2 - Integrated Inspection Report 05000387/2020004 and 05000388/2020004

ADAMS Accession No.  ML21039A284

SUS2020_004 FINAL.pdf

NRC to Evaluate Radiation Release at National Institute of Standards and Technology

Nuclear Regulatory Commission - News Release

No: 21-008 February 8, 2021

CONTACT: Scott Burnell, 301-415-8200

NRC to Evaluate Radiation Release at National Institute of Standards and Technology

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will conduct a special inspection to evaluate the cause of a radiation release and limited worker contamination at the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s research reactor in Gaithersburg, Md.

NIST notified the NRC the morning of Feb. 3 of an emergency during startup of the reactor, where radioactive material was released inside the reactor building. Six workers were initially contaminated during the event, and four additional workers were mildly contaminated while responding later in the day. All the workers were decontaminated and cleared to return home the same day. While a small amount of radioactive material reached the environment, available information continues to show the public near the NIST facility remains safe, as the release was under regulatory limits.

Two inspectors from NRC headquarters in Rockville, Md., will begin this inspection Feb. 9, supplemented with additional inspectors as needed. They will evaluate the adequacy of NIST’s response to the situation, NIST’s determination of the root cause of the event and NIST’s corrective actions. The inspectors will also review radiation monitoring data and determine if there are generic implications for similar facilities. The inspectors will follow all applicable guidelines related to the COVID-19 public health emergency during their activities.

The inspectors will prepare a written report that will be issued approximately 30 days following completion of the inspection. The report will be publicly available through the NRC’s electronic document database, ADAMS. Help in using ADAMS is available through the NRC Public Document Room by calling 1-800-397-4209.

21-008.pdf

TMI accident records placed in NRC"s online electronic library

 Within the past year or so, the NRC has placed thousands of old records into ADAMS, its online digital library. These records had existed on microfiche and were accessible by visiting the NRC"s Public Document Room or one of its Local Public Document Rooms. 

Among the records now available in digital form (i.e., PDFs) are lots of records on the March 1979 accident at Three Mile Island. 

Attached is a query that can be used to access these recorfds.

Here's how to use this query to access the records:

1) Save the attached file to your computer

2) Go to the NRC"s website at www.nrc.gov

3) Click the NRC LIBRARY tab towards the upper right

4) Click the ADAMS PUBLIC DOCUMENTS link at the lower middle screen

5) Click the BEGIN WBA SEARCH link on the right side of the screen

6) Click the CONTENT SEARCH tab to the upper left of the screen

7) Click the LOAD QUERY tab just below the CONTENT SEARCH tab

8) Click the button with the three dots in it on the right end of the pop-up box

9) Navigate to where the saved file was stored on your computer and select it as the FILE NAME to open

10) With that file name now appearing in the LOAD SAVED QUERY pop-up box, click OK

11) Click the darker blue SEARCH button towards the upper middle portion of the screen

Nearly 1000 records will be returned.

Individual records can be viewed/downloaded from the listed records.

This query was for records on Three Mile Island Unit 2 dated between 3/1/1979 and 12/31/1979 that were placed in ADAMS since 12/31/2019 that contain the word "radiological." 

One can replace "radiological" in the  DOCUMENT CONTENT search box with other items of interest and then click the dark blue SEARCH button.

"Chronology" and "RIckover" and "transcript" yielded lots of records.

Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station, Units 2 and 3 - Notification of Conduct of a Fire Protection Team Inspection Inbox

Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station, Units 2 and 3 - Notification of Conduct of a Fire Protection Team Inspection

ADAMS Accession No.  ML21035A222

Peach Bottom 90 Day Letter 2021.pdf

2021/02/02 NRR E-mail Capture - Exelon Generation Company, LLC - Fleet Alternative Request to Expand the Use ASME Codes Cases N-878 and N-880

SUBJECT:  2021/02/02 NRR E-mail Capture - Exelon Generation Company, LLC - Fleet Alternative Request to Expand the Use ASME Codes Cases N-878 and N-880

ML21033A855.pdf

Three Mile Island: NRC Inspection Report No. 05000289/2020005, Exelon Generation Co., LLC, Three Mile Island Nuclear Station Unit 1

Three Mile Island:  NRC Inspection Report No. 05000289/2020005, Exelon Generation Co., LLC, Three Mile Island Nuclear Station Unit 1

ML21033A006

LDPR-50.2020005.pdf

Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, Units 1 And 2 - Issuance Of Amendment Nos. 278 And 260 To Allow Application Of Advanced Framatome Atrium 11 Fuel Methodologies (EPID L-2019-LLA-0153)

SUBJECT:  Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, Units 1 And 2 - Issuance Of Amendment Nos. 278 And 260 To Allow Application Of Advanced Framatome Atrium 11 Fuel Methodologies (EPID L-2019-LLA-0153)

ADAMS Accession No.  ML20168B004

Susquehanna Atrium 11_Redacted_ML20168B004 .pdf

Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station, Units 2 and 3 - Requalification Program Inspection

Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station, Units 2 and 3 - Requalification Program Inspection

ADAMS Accession No. ML21012A054

PBAPS LOR CorpNotifLtr.pdf

Peach Bottom Units 2 and 3 - Request for Additional Information - TSTF-505 (EPID L-2019-LLA-0120)

Subject: Peach Bottom Units 2 and 3 - Request for Additional Information - TSTF-505 (EPID L-2019-LLA-0120)

ADAMS Accession No. ML21012A130

ML21012A130.pdf

Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards Elects 2021 Leadership, Confirms Meeting Schedule

Nuclear Regulatory Commission - News Release

No: 21-002 January 8, 2021

CONTACT: Ivonne Couret, 301-415-8200

Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards Elects 2021 Leadership, Confirms Meeting Schedule

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards has elected Matthew W. Sunseri as Chairman, Joy L. Rempe as Vice Chairman and Walter L. Kirchner as Member-at-Large, effective immediately.

The ACRS, a group of technical experts, advises the Commission independently from the NRC staff on safety issues related to the licensing and operation of nuclear power plants as well as issues of health physics and radiation protection.

The complete listing of the ACRS members and their biographies is located on the ACRS webpage. The confirmed ACRS 2021 full committee meeting schedule is available on the NRC website.

21-002.pdf

PA DEP News Release : DEP Lifts Drought Watch or Warning for 20 Counties, Three Counties Remain on Watch

DEP Newsroom

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
Dept. of Environmental Protection
Commonwealth News Bureau
Room 308, Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg PA., 17120

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

01/7/2021

CONTACT:

Deb Klenotic, DEP

717-783-9954

DEP Lifts Drought Watch or Warning for 20 Counties, Three Counties Remain on Watch

Harrisburg, PA – After a meeting of the Commonwealth Drought Task Force, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today lifted drought watch or warning for 20 counties, returning them to normal status. Three counties remain on drought watch.

Drought watch or warning has been lifted for Bradford, Cameron, Columbia, Cumberland, Elk, Forest, Jefferson, Juniata, Lycoming, McKean, Montour, Northumberland, Perry, Potter, Snyder, Sullivan, Tioga, Union, Warren, and Wyoming counties.

Centre and Clearfield counties remain on drought watch. Clinton County is also on drought watch, having improved from drought warning conditions.

“We’re getting close. Recent rainfall brought good news for many counties,” said DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell. “But three counties have a little ways to go to return to normal conditions. We ask all water consumers on drought watch to remain mindful and continue to reduce their water use a modest amount.”

Consumers on drought watch are asked to reduce their individual water use 5-10 percent, or three to six gallons of water per day.

DEP has notified water suppliers in Centre, Clearfield, and Clinton counties of the need to monitor their supplies and update their drought contingency plans as necessary. Varying localized conditions may lead water suppliers or municipalities to ask residents for more stringent conservation actions.

Several public water suppliers in these counties are requiring consumers to reduce their water use or requesting voluntary reductions. Suppliers in a few other counties are still asking for voluntary reductions as water levels recover. Find the list at www.dep.pa.gov/drought. 

There are many ways to reduce water use indoors, including:

• Don’t let the faucet run while brushing your teeth or shaving. Shorten the time you let the water run to warm up before showering. Use a bucket to catch the water and reuse it to water your plants.

• Run the dishwasher and washing machine only with full loads.

• Repair household leaks. For example, a leaking toilet can waste up to 200 gallons of water daily.

• Sweep your sidewalk, deck, or driveway, rather than hosing it off.

• Replace older appliances with high-efficiency, front-loading models that use about 30 percent less water and 40-50 percent less energy.

• Install low-flow plumbing fixtures and aerators on faucets.

Find more tips to save water at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

DEP makes drought watch, warning, or emergency declaration recommendations based on four numeric indicators. The agency gets stream flow and groundwater level data from a statewide network of gauges maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey. In addition, DEP monitors precipitation and soil moisture. DEP also factors in information it receives from public water suppliers.

There are normal ranges for all four indicators, and DEP makes its drought status recommendations after assessing the departures from these normal ranges for all indicators for periods of 3-12 months. Declarations are not based on one indicator alone. For details on indicator monitoring, see this fact sheet: Drought Management in Pennsylvania.

DEP shares these data and its recommendations with other state and federal agency personnel who make up the Commonwealth Drought Task Force. Drought watch and warning declarations are determined by DEP, with the concurrence of the task force. Drought emergency declarations follow the same process, with final approval by the Governor.

A drought emergency has not been declared for any county.

The next Drought Task Force meeting will be held on Thursday, January 21, 2021.

###
PA DEP news release link: https://www.ahs.dep.pa.gov/NewsRoomPublic/NewsReleases.aspx?id=21909&typeid=1

PA DEP News Release : Students Encourage Pennsylvanians to Test Their Homes for Radon During National Radon Action Month

DEP Newsroom

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
Dept. of Environmental Protection
Commonwealth News Bureau
Room 308, Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg PA., 17120

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

01/6/2021

CONTACT:

Deb Klenotic, DEP

717-783-9954

April Hutcheson, DOH
 

Students Encourage Pennsylvanians to Test Their Homes for Radon During National Radon Action Month

Harrisburg, PA – Three students who won a poster contest are helping the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Department of Health encourage Pennsylvanians to test their home for radon in January, National Radon Action Month. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that enters homes from the ground and is the second leading cause of lung cancer.

“Because of our geology, Pennsylvania has some of the highest radon gas levels in the country,” said DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell. “Nearly all homes have radon, and 40 percent of Pennsylvania homes have more radon than the federally recommended guideline. Since you can’t see or smell this gas, doing a simple radon test is one of the practical actions Pennsylvanians can take to keep their home a healthy place.” 

“As Pennsylvanians spend more time at home due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, a radon test is yet another effort that individuals can take to keep their homes healthy,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said. “Actions like sanitizing frequently touched surfaces, installing a smoke detector, and purchasing a radon test kit are simple steps to take to protect your home and family’s health.” 

DEP coordinated a school poster contest in the fall, inviting students to submit artwork that educates the public about radon. Jocie Wert, a student at Sacred Heart School in Lewistown, Mifflin County, earned first place. Her poster will be entered into a national radon poster contest. 

Mohd Iftakhar Murshaed Tarunno, a student at Beverly Hills Middle School in Upper Darby, Delaware County, earned second place. Kylee Jo Ware, a student at North Star Middle School in Stoystown, Somerset County, earned third place. See the three winning posters on the DEP radon website.

Radon gas results from the breakdown of uranium in the ground and enters homes through cracks in the foundation or other openings. A map from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shows radon levels by county.

Radon tests are available at hardware stores for about $20 and are simple to use, requiring only that the cannister be opened and placed in the basement for a few days, and then mailed to a lab. Alternatively, you can hire a certified radon tester. Although a radon test can be done any time of year, winter is ideal because doors and windows are closed, providing more accurate results. A video on the DEP website provides radon testing instructions.

EPA identifies 4 picocuries of radon per liter of air as a guideline. If a home’s radon level is higher than this, EPA and the U.S. Surgeon General recommend having a radon reduction system, with a pipe and exhaust fan, professionally installed to vent the gas outside. The cost is generally in line with that of other home improvements, such as replacing a water heater. 

See the DEP website for list of DEP-certified professional radon testers, mitigators, and laboratories.

Having a radon reduction system installed also makes the sale of a home easier. Pennsylvania law requires anyone selling a home to disclose the results of any known radon testing. The DEP website lists radon testing options for real estate transactions. 

For more information, contact the DEP Radon Division:

• Radon hotline: 800-237-2366

• Phone: 717-783-3594 

• Email: ra-epbrpenvprt@pa.gov

For high-res poster images: dep.pa.gov/radon

PA DEP news release link: https://www.ahs.dep.pa.gov/NewsRoomPublic/NewsReleases.aspx?id=21908&typeid=1

Three Mile Island: Three Mile Island Nuclear Station, Unit 1, NRC Inspection Report No. 07200077/2020002

Three Mile Island Nuclear Station, Unit 1, NRC Inspection Report No. 07200077/2020002
ML21005A160

TMI Crane Report 2020002.pdf

Peach Bottom: Peach Atomic Power Station – Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI) NRC Inspection Report No. 07200029/2020001

SUBJECT:   PEACH BOTTOM ATOMIC POWER STATION – INDEPENDENT SPENT FUEL STORAGE INSTALLATION (ISFSI) NRC INSPECTION REPORT NO. 07200029/2020001

Memo ISFSI Peach Bottom 2020 stand-alone.pdf

Chairman Kristine Svinicki Announces Her Intent to Depart The NRC

Nuclear Regulatory Commission - News Release

No: 21-001 January 4, 2021

CONTACT: Office of Public Affairs, 301-415-8200

Chairman Kristine Svinicki Announces Her Intent to Depart The NRC

Today, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chairman Kristine L. Svinicki announced that she intends to leave the NRC on Jan. 20, 2021. Chairman Svinicki issued the following statement:

“I have greatly cherished the opportunity to serve the nation over the course of my long federal career, including the honor of having been nominated to serve as a Commissioner of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission by three successive Presidents of the United States – President Bush in 2007, President Obama in 2012, and President Trump in 2017. I am grateful to the many Senators and Congressmen who have worked with me on tough issues over the years and who, agreeing or disagreeing on the substance, acknowledged we were, for the most part, trying to achieve complementary aims. Thank you for your support of the agency’s important work.

“I was humbled when President Trump designated me NRC Chairman on Inauguration Day four years ago. After nine years of service as a Commissioner, I hope I put my prior experience to good effect and that my work as Chairman has fulfilled, in some small measure, the confidence the President expressed in my capabilities in offering me this opportunity to lead.

“It is a rare thing in Washington to have continued so long in a political appointment, and they tell me I am the longest serving member of our Commission in the agency’s history. I am not sure I know how that happened, but I would certainly attribute a fair portion of it to two things. First, I was exceedingly fortunate to serve with such fine fellow Commissioners over the course of the years. I learned a lot from the colleagues that the system happened to send my way. The second thing is something that you would have to have worked here to understand; but the NRC culture, and the people who make it the welcoming and wonderful place it is, are truly unique in government. This includes the small team of advisors I had around me for all these years – each drawn from the existing NRC career staff and all exemplars of the devoted professionals who make up the NRC.

“When I speak to college students and young professionals, I tell them that public service is a calling. If it calls to you, you should heed it and, if you do, you will not regret a single day. As I look back on 30 years of federal service, I know this to be as true as ever. I sincerely wish the women and men of the NRC staff every continued success as they build upon the proud legacy of their predecessors, while transforming the NRC into a modern, risk-informed regulator ready to address the nuclear technologies and challenges of tomorrow.”

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