ML022200444
| ML022200444 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Davis Besse  |
| Issue date: | 07/17/2002 |
| From: | Rohm R - No Known Affiliation |
| To: | Grobe J NRC/RGN-III |
| References | |
| G20020462 | |
| Download: ML022200444 (4) | |
Text
EDO Principal Correspondence Control FROM:
DUE: 08/26/02 Randolph (Randy) Rohm Fremont, Ohio EDO CONTROL: G20020462 DOC DT: 07/17/02 FINAL REPLY:
Grobe, RIII FOR SIGNATURE OF :
GRN DESC:
CRC NO:
ROUTING:
Davis-Besse DATE: 08/05/02 ASSIGNED TO:
NRR Travers Paperiello Kane Norry Craig Burns/Cyr Dyer, RIII CONTACT:
Collins SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR REMARKS:
Provide general response.
Region III.
Coordinate response with
July 17, 2002 John A. Grobe, Director Region III U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Office of Public Affairs Washington, D.C. 20555
Dear Mr. Grobe:
Let me begin by saying that I, for one, share your frustrations regarding culture-based issues surrounding the events over the past several years as regards the Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station. In fact, I have been so concerned that I have recently launched a letter writing campaign to various political representatives throughout the State of Ohio. You must believe me that I have never done something like this ever before in my life. The reason that I have begun these literary outbursts resides in the fact that I am now nervous and have lost faith in the management of this particular nuclear power facility.
MI.d..d-..- 'wth.his letter-ar -copies uf" two--tter-T1h" "I -have-recently snt-to-poitieal representatives statewide. I have not only contacted Senator Voinovich, but also several other Senators and Representatives in Ohio. Please read these letters, as they embody my feelings regarding concerns about Davis-Besse. I take this moment to apologize for what I have come to refer to as my "Chicken Little Syndrome," which has grabbed my imagination and fostered feelings in me that have shaken me to my soul. Despite recent maintenance "back flips" that First Energy has recently adopted in light of the obviously poor previous maintenance that went before; what insurances does the public domain have that future management Will Not return to the demonstrated "status-quo" after the storm of attention that has now descended upon them is over?
With the rather significant damage that has already occurred, I now view the current repairs as an analogy of patching a tire that someone has deliberately driven through a mile of glass shards.
Although the tire may now once again hold air, two things remain true. The first thing is that the repaired tire doesn't have the integrity or strength it once had. The second thing that is true, is if you drive the repaired tire down the same mile of glass shards, chances are it will be subject to another failure of similar nature. As I have stated in my letters to political representatives, the need for nuclear energy power production is a vital resource to the economic base and consumer needs of this nation. I support the use of such power generation, but it must be done with SAe as-the primary focus Always, and the economics are secondary. I -have been -enpoyed-n the field of plant engineering and maintenance for well over twenty years. Nothing will ever replace attentive, robust and active maintenance routines. There is no such thing as "Preventative" maintenance. You can schedule it, predict it, route it, measure it, react to it or ignore it; but you can't Prevent it.
Please bring pressure and attention to focus on the management of this facility, not just for the "now," but also for the "duration" of this power plant's existence.
My Best Regards, 1837 Guernsey Drive Fremont, OH 43420 419-332-2455 EDO -- G20020462 AUG7-01-2002 08:03 US NRC RIll DRP 630 515 1102 P.02
June 26, 2002 Honorable George Voinovich United States Senate for Ohio 317 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator:
I am taking time to write this letter because of my heartfelt concern as regards recent activities surrounding the Davis-Besse Nuclear power generation facility. You are probably already aware of the current difficulties that have occurred at this power station. It has been reported by local newspapers and confirmed by the NRC and First Energy Management that boric acid corrosion has literally eaten a hole through the reactor vessel's head.
This is due to what appears to be poor decision making on the part of the operators of this facility. What bothers me the most about all this is not the fact that poor maintenance created a naor" repair expense, but that tt& entire facility-is approaching its fortieth (40e)-birthday. if boric acid can dissolve a football size piece of a 6.5" thick steel reactor dome, what other unseen damage has also occurred that hasn't yet been seen. Cracks have been reported by First Energy employees and confirmed by the NRC representatives on site over ten (10) years ago.
Sometimes, I know that regulations get changed due to new information and new techniques. I don't purport to be an expert in the field of nuclear energy; however, I have been in the field of engineering and maintenance management for well over twenty (20) years. I do know that pressure vessels do deteriorate over time and use. I seem to remember that Davis-Besse had a life span that would have precluded it from operating past a certain length or period of time. Past that life span, the facility would have had to undergo the abandonment of the existing reactor and the installation of a brand new reactor. This was based upon stress factors placed on the unit over its operating lifetime.
What happened to this life span timeframe? When is it going to be time to replace the entire unit?
How long (or soon) will it be until stress cracks / fractures and/or corrosion in places that can't be visually (or otherwise) inspected satisfactorily will cause the unthinkable accident? I have never been an extremely nervous type of person, and I don't think that nuclear energy doesn't have a vital place in our country's economic scheme of things. However, I do believe in
.-proactiv" and-scheduled maintenance. I do-believe -that-ALL -mechanical devices have a useful life span. I don't believe that nuclear reactors are immune to the laws of nature and physics.
I have always immensely enjoyed living in the Lake Erie (Great Lakes) area. Maybe I'm the only nervous person living here? I would certainly like to take whatever steps and measures are necessary to conserve the lakeshores in a manner that befits enjoyment. I would mourn the loss of this important environment if an accident of epic proportions were to occur. I beg you to do more than patronize me in my moment of fear. Please look into the goings-on at this nuclear energy facility and help to prevent what seems to me to be a strictly short-term reaction to what may become a long-term destructive event.
My Best Regards, Randolph (Randy) Rohm 1837 Guernsey Drive Fremont, OH 43420 419-332-2455 630 515 1102 P.03 AUG-01-2002 08:03 US NRC RIll DRP
July 12, 2002 Honorable George Voinovich United States Senate for Ohio 317 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator:
Again, please forgive my continuing nervous ruminations regarding the ongoing repairs to the Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station. It is comforting to know that someone beside myself is now concerned about possible long-term stress related problems with the reactor containment vessel.
I am beginning to feel something like "Chicken Little" in the old tale about the "Sky Falling." It has been noticed and appreciated that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has "strongly recommended" that First Energy test the reactor containment vessel with a static pressure test.
Furthermore it would seem that First Energy has taken an active response to the NRC reiofifendation. On the iurface,tis wuaid sm, to be steps in the-coffeet diretiom-However, since I seem to be heavily afflicted by the "Chicken Little" syndrome, I for one am still not at the comfort level that I would like to be at with this whole affair. Since First Energy and Davis Besse management are directly responsible for having ignored the problems of corrosive damage for over ten (10) years, I am not confident that an internal investigation by the same people will be safe, unbiased or conclusive.
Would it not be more effective to have an outside engineering company that is selected by the NRC to conduct these static pressure tests? In my opinion, the outcome of these tests would carry a higher level of believability and impartiality. In the interests of public and environmental safety, this voting constituent would feel a great deal safer if a totally disinterested party of testing engineers performed unbiased and objective testing of the reactor containment vessel.
After reading the newspaper article about the NRC recommendation and First Energy's response to test the vessel at close to three (3x) times the normal operating pressure, I became concerned.
Whereas the reactor vessel may not be loaded with fuel and fluids during the purposed test, in the off-hand chance that a leak occurs, might this itself create a problem? What would be the result if during the high-pressure test the containment vessel suffered a catastrophic failure under pressure? Low-level radioactive pieces of the vessel could be strewn across the immediate area, on lan d-nd-into the waters of-Lake Erie.. What-would be the.costv-both environmentally and.---.
financia]ly, to the citizens of the surrounding community? Not to mention potential loss of Life!
I support the idea of testing, however I also believe in the "Farmer" being responsible for "Checking the Henhouse", not the 'Fox." Again I implore you to look into the goings-on at this nuclear energy facility and help to prevent what could be a strictly short-term reaction to what may become a long-term destructive event.
My Best Regards, A
Randolph (Randy) Rohmb 1837 Guernsey Drive Fremont, OH 43420 419-332-2455 IJu 3 0 TOTAL P.04 US NRC RIll DRP 630 515 1102 P.04 J
AUG-01-2002 08:04