COM 0212.470 1996-1998 - Laserfiche WebLink

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g ;.:even K. Yamashiro, Mayor Page 2 I I April 1997 in addition to the assistance received from the NYSDEC, the Village Planning Board obtained the services of an independent nuclear expert. Robert E. Berlin, DPH. i~Ir. Berlin provided an invaluable service in that he performed a thoroueh revie•.v of the project as proposed, data obtained from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) regazding other Isomedix Facilities, and provided an explanation at the public meetings (in layman's terms) of the operation of a Cobalt••60 Gamma Irradiator Facility. ~1r. Berlin dispelled many inaccurate rumors regazding the plant operation, such as one that all products exposed to the Irradiator becorne "radioactive", including products, the site and building. If I make any recommendation in this letter which is most important, I would suggest that your municipality also seek the services of an independent expert to provide both the reviewing agency with independent information, as well as respond tc public corcems. Following the Planning Board environmental review, the Board (as Lead Agency) adopted a Negative Declaration (Notice of Determination of Non-Signiftcance) for the project. This determination is a procedural step tinder SEQRA, which is a determination that the project will not have a signi~icant environmental ef_*'ect. I have provided herewith a copy of the Negative Declaration for your perusal. During the Planning Boazd application process, it became appazent that Isomedix had received some minor violations from the NRC at other Isomedix Facilities. During the time of the application, it was our understanding that Isomedix had been in business for approximately twenty (20} years and had pine (9) operating facilities. It was .our observation that Isomedix took these minor violations very seriously and immediately adopted procedures and modified their operations to universalI}• prevent recurrence of any such problems at any of their other facilities. Isomedix demonstrated a corporate safety program that established safety as their primary concern for plant operations. Isomedix assured the Planning Board that the facility would be properly manned at all times during operation. As Weil, regulaz monitoring of the Irradiator ventilation system, safety interlocks for entry to the processing area, methodoloeies to insure ~~at safety sys?ems are not bypassed, and maintenance of loo books and c_^.~riciists fe* safety *eiated m~?niter~r.g til ttiere elements is their safety e!iort presented to the Pianriing %ward, and established n~eir licensa for operation -.with the \RC and rhE New York Stale Deprtmcnt Labor. One additional envirc:urental concern •a:hicit ~:vtts raised was the potential cortaminarcn :,t the Black :Meadow Aquir"er r:hich runs :order the Chester Industrial Park. Since t'r.;, Cobalt-60 is stored in a pure •.vater bath contained in a concrete storage structure 20 't. below grade, the Planning Boazd and the public both raised tae Aanif r ccrrtamination issue. Isomedix titorougaly addressed this issue to ti;e satisfacdon of everyone. Concerns were also raised as to the safety to the general public during the transport of the Cobalt-60 to the site. Regazding this concern, Isomedix also thoroughly explained the method by which the materials are shipped (in extremely durable shipping containers) and the ''track history" of sttch shippitg operations. This explanation also quelled any feazs regazding the shipping operations.