Yankee power boost may exceed 'fence-line' standard
Toolbox
By Susan Smallheer Herald Staff - Published: January 21, 2006
BRATTLEBORO — The Windham Regional Commission has raised more questions about whether Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant can keep within state limits on released radiation if it boosts power production.
In a letter to state Health Commissioner Paul Jarris, the executive director of the regional commission wrote that he'd received confidential information that the plant would exceed the state standard of 20 millirems of radiation once it boosts power production by 20 percent.
"I recently was told that relevant state agencies have been advised by ENVY (Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee) that the fence-line radiation dose after power uprate will be significantly higher than previously expected or predicted," James Matteau wrote.
Health Department spokesman Robert Stirewalt said Thursday that Jarris would not comment on the letter until he had had a chance to respond personally to Matteau's concerns. Stirewalt said it would be early next week before Jarris would speak publicly on the ongoing controversy on "fence-line" radiation releases.
Stirewalt said that Jarris wanted to talk to his staff experts about the issue before commenting.
Last year, the state said one of its radiation monitors measured 24.9 millirems at the fence line around the Vernon reactor, while Vermont Yankee claimed its monitors showed only 12 millirems of direct gamma radiations were released.
A millirem is one-thousandth of a rem. A full millirem is about how much radiation a person would be exposed to on a coast-to-coast airline flight, according to documents on hyperphysics posted online by Georgia State University.
Robert Williams, spokesman for Entergy Nuclear, the owner of Vermont Yankee, said the company was firmly committed to meeting the state standard, which is 25 percent stricter than the federal limit of 25 millirems.
Two years ago, during state hearings on the proposed power boost, Entergy site vice president Jay Thayer said the state standard would be met, or the plant would reduce power.
Williams said Entergy and the Health Department had agreed on a third party to try and resolve the disputes over the fence-line radiation readings. Last year, the state said its tests showed Entergy was in violation of the state standard at one location. Entergy contested that reading.
"We fully intend to stay within the state limit," Williams said.
Matteau said the problem was how the radiation was measured and at what location.
By state law, the Windham Regional Commission — the region's planning and development review group — is a party to Vermont Yankee's plans for a power boost, a 20-year license extension and plans to build a high-level radioactive waste facility on the grounds of the Vernon reactor.
Matteau said he couldn't say who was the source of his confidential information.
"But I talked to the folks at the Health Department and the Public Service Department and I can't get to the bottom of (the radiation issue)," he said.
"Too many of these discussions take place among individuals behind closed doors and the public doesn't know squat," he said.
"I've asked the Health Department to give me an explanation, we need some public accountability," Matteau said.
Contact Susan Smallheer at susan.smallheer@rutlandherald.com.
32