Assessing the Task
Yankee Atomic has incorporated sophisticated risk assessment procedures
into its site closure program to determine risk thresholds that are acceptable
for future uses of the site. Several regulatory programs that apply to
site closure set standards for the manner in which environmental risk is
to be measured and addressed.
This assessment will examine three discrete areas: radiological and
non-radiological risk; human health risk; and ecological risk. Each of
these analyses will be performed in accordance with relevant regulatory
standards, including those established by the federal Nuclear Regulatory
Commission, and the Massachusetts Departments of Environmental Protection
and Public Health.
Radiological and Non-Radiological Risk Activities and Compliance
Upon completion of current decommissioning and remediation activities and the final Phase II Comprehensive Site Assessment Report, Yankee Atomic will conduct its risk assessment to identify any remediation activities necessary to achieve compliance with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
Risk-based DCGLs necessary to achieve NRC radiological cleanup standards have been calculated for soil, sediment, groundwater, and concrete as described in the LTP, which received NRC approval in September 2005. Upon completion of current decommissioning and remediation activities, the FSS measurements will confirm attainment of the cleanup levels (DCGLs). Yankee will adhere to the Derived Concentration Guideline Levels (DCGLs) specified by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, to which Yankee will adhere while conducting all decommissioning and remediation activities. Risk-based DCGLs necessary to achieve NRC radiological cleanup standards have been calculated for soil, sediment, groundwater, and concrete as described in the LTP, which received approval in September 2005. Upon completion of current decommissioning and remediation activities, the Final Status Survey measurements will confirm attainment of the cleanup levels.
Furthermore, a proposal for demonstrating compliance with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) 10 mrem/yr guideline is pending review by DPH.
Human health Risk Evaluation Work Plan
Yankee Atomic prepared a work plan for evaluating human health risks to combined radionuclide and non-radionuclide constituents at the Yankee Rowe Site consistent with Massachusetts Contingency Plan (MCP) Method 3 procedures. In January of 2005, this workplan was submitted to the Department of Environmental Protection and copies of this document were shared with the Environmental Protection Agency. The final work plan was submitted to the DEP with copies to EPA in September 2006. The work plan is the first step on performing the risk assessment, and will allow stakeholder review and input early in the risk assessment process.The MCP Method 3 risk assessment will be conducted upon completion of current decommissioning and remediation activities before the final site grading is completed. The risk assessment will evaluate these post-remediation conditions as well as the conditions reflecting completion of the final site restoration.
Ecological Risk Assessment Work Plan
Yankee Atomic submitted a work plan for its ecological risk assessment in January 2005 to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and copies of this document were sent to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Subsequently, Yankee Atomic submitted an expanded Problem Formulation to the DEP with copies to the EPA in May 2005. A final work plan was submitted to the DEP with copies to the EPA in September 2006. These work plans describe the methodologies to be used in the Stage 1 assessment, and if necessary, the Stage 2 assessment. They list guidance documents and primary literature that will serve as the basis of the work, and are the first step in performing the risk assessment, allowing stakeholder review and input early in the process.