ML020510392

G20010147/LTR-01-0204 - Rep. Edward J. Markey Ltr. Re Seabrook Nuclear Plant, Follow Up to Original Response of June 1, 2001

ML020510392
Person / Time
Site:	Seabrook
Issue date:	04/09/2002
From:	Rathbun D Office of Congressional Affairs
To:	Markey E US HR (House of Representatives)
Wunder G, NRR/DLPM, 415-1494
Shared Package
ML020880058	List: ML020510392
References
G20010147, LTR-01-0204
Download: ML020510392 (2)

Text

April 9, 2002 The Honorable Edward J. Markey United States House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515-2107

Dear Congressman Markey:

By letter dated June 1, 2001, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Chairman, Richard A. Meserve, responded to your letter of April 13, 2001, in which you expressed concern about the partial loss of offsite power at the Seabrook nuclear plant during a winter storm on March 5, 2001. In that letter we enclosed responses to your specific questions.

In our response to your question regarding provisions in the Seabrook emergency action plan for the possibility of a radiological emergency during a severe winter snowstorm, we informed you that we had requested certain information from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and that we would forward that information to you when we received it.

By letter dated June 1, 2001, FEMA Region I provided its initial response to our request. The NRC staff requested clarifying information. FEMA Region I provided that clarifying information in a letter to the NRC staff and FEMA headquarters dated September 27, 2001. In December 2001, FEMA headquarters confirmed that the September 27, 2001, letter was FEMAs final response to our request. Copies of the June 1 and September 27, 2001, letters from FEMA Region I are included as Enclosures 1 and 2, respectively.

As discussed in FEMAs two letters, during the initial emergency planning process, the licensee developed evacuation times using estimates during severe weather events as well as moderate weather conditions. FEMA evaluates the communitys ability to evacuate during adverse weather conditions during the biennial emergency preparedness exercises.

We appreciate your concern regarding this event. If you have further comments or questions, please contact me.

Sincerely, Original signed by L. Portner for Dennis K. Rathbun, Director Office of Congressional Affairs

Enclosures:

As stated

April 9, 2002 The Honorable Edward J. Markey United States House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515-2107

Dear Congressman Markey:

By letter dated June 1, 2001, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Chairman, Richard A. Meserve, responded to your letter of April 13, 2001, in which you expressed concern about the partial loss of offsite power at the Seabrook nuclear plant during a winter storm on March 5, 2001. In that letter we enclosed responses to your specific questions.

In our response to your question regarding provisions in the Seabrook emergency action plan for the possibility of a radiological emergency during a severe winter snowstorm, we informed you that we had requested certain information from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and that we would forward that information to you when we received it.

By letter dated June 1, 2001, FEMA Region I provided its initial response to our request. The NRC staff requested clarifying information. FEMA Region I provided that clarifying information in a letter to the NRC staff and FEMA headquarters dated September 27, 2001. In December 2001, FEMA headquarters confirmed that the September 27, 2001, letter was FEMAs final response to our request. Copies of the June 1 and September 27, 2001, letters from FEMA Region I are included as Enclosures 1 and 2, respectively.

As discussed in FEMAs two letters, during the initial emergency planning process, the licensee developed evacuation times using estimates during severe weather events as well as moderate weather conditions. FEMA evaluates the communitys ability to evacuate during adverse weather conditions during the biennial emergency preparedness exercises.

We appreciate your concern regarding this event. If you have further comments or questions, please contact me.

Sincerely, Original signed by L. Portner for Dennis K. Rathbun, Director Office of Congressional Affairs

Enclosures:

As stated DISTRIBUTION:

PUBLIC PDI-2 R/F TClark GWunder JClifford WTravers CPaperiello KCyr, OGC DRathbun, OCA SBurns SReiter PNorry WKane HMiller, RI JCraig SCollins/JJohnson BSheron OGC OPA OCA MKing LCox EAdensam CCowgill, RI DBarss JZwolinski/TMarsh TJCarter (EDO#G20010147) SECY (SECY#LTR-01-0204) EDO r/f Accession Number: ML020510392 Incoming: ML011070005 Response of June 1, 2001: ML011150014 Package: ML011150022 *See previous concurrence.

OFFICE PDI-2/PM PDI-2/LA PDI-2/SC PDI/PD IOLB/BC DLPM/D OCA/D OEDO NAME GWunder* TClark* JClifford* EAdensam* GTracy* JZwolinski* DRathbun WTravers DATE 3/26/02 3/26/02 3/28/02 3/28/02 03/20/02 3/28/02 4/9/02 04/03/02 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY