ML022960312

G20020600/LTR-02-0668 - Sen. George V. Voinovich Ltr. Concerns Expressed During Meeting with Chairman on October 9, 2002

ML022960312
Person / Time
Site:	Davis Besse
Issue date:	10/10/2002
From:	Voinovich G US SEN (Senate)
To:	Meserve R NRC/Chairman
Shared Package
ML022960060	List: ML022960312
References
G20020600, LTR-02-0668
Download: ML022960312 (4)

Text

EDO Principal Correspondence Control FROM: DUE: 10/22/02 EDO CONTROL: G20020600 DOC DT: 10/10/02 FINAL REPLY:

Sen. George V. Voinovich TO:

Chairman FOR SIGNATURE OF : ** PRI ** CRC NO: 02-0668 C rnChairman DESC: ROUTING:

Concerns Expressed During Meeting with Chairman Travers on October 9, 2002 Paperiello Kane Norry Craig Burns/Cyr DATE: 10/21/02 Collins, NRR Thadani, RES ASSIGNED TO: CONTACT:

HR Bird SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR REMARKS:

HR has lead to prepare response for Chairman's signature on items from Chairman's meeting on 10/9/02. Coordinate with NRR and RES.

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OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY CORRESPONDENCE CONTROL TICKET Date Prhited:Oct 16, 2002 15:34 PAPER NUMBER: LTR-02-0668 LOGGING DATE: 10/16/2002 ACTION OFFICE: EDO AUTHOR: George Voinovich AFFILIATION: SEN ADDRESSEE: --

• Richard Meserve

SUBJECT:

NRC's "Lesson's Learned" Task Force Report on Agency's Handling of Davis-Besse Reactor Vessel Head Damage N

ACTION: Approp40.4,- ~~6 Y 5 $l k DISTRIBUTION: RF, OCA LETTER DATE: 10/10/2002 ACKNOWLEDGED No SPECIAL HANDLING:

NOTES:

FILE LOCATION: Adanis DATE DUE: DATE SIGNED:

EDO -- G20020600

GEORGE V. VOINOVICH GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS OHIO RANKING MEMBER, SUBCOMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT OF GOVERNMENT MANAGEMENT, 317 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING RESTRUCTURING AND THE (202) 224-3353 TDD. (202) 224-6997 senator.voinovich @voinovich senate gov WAHit GN DCz2103nat0 DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ENVIRONMENT AND WASHINGTON, DC 20510-3504 . .- PUBLIC WORKS httpl/voinovich senate gov' RANKING MEMBER, SUBCO~IMITrEE ON CLEAN AIR, WETLANDS, AND CLIMATE CHANGE ETHICS October 10, 2002 Dr. Richard Meserve Chairman Nuclear Regulatory Commission One White Flint North Building 11555 Rock-ille Pike Rockville, Maryland 20852

Dear Chairman Merserve:

Thank you for taking the time to brief me yesterday on the NRC's "Lesson's Learned" Task Force Report on Agency's Handling of Davis-Bessie Reactor Vessel Head Damage. I appreciate your candor in explaining to me the situation surrounding the reactor head damage and the investigation conducted by the NRC.

I consider the information regarding the causes of the damaged head to be both serious and troubling. While I appreciate your assurances that the safety mechanisms in place would have guarded against any external release of radiation, I nevertheless remain concerned about the events which led to the deteriorated reactor head.

With the release of the NRC's "lessons learned" report I believe it is now time for the General Accounting Office to begin an investigation into this matter. I ask that both you and your staff cooperate fully with the GAO, as you have done in the past. In addition, I will be asking for the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee to conduct an oversight hearing into this matter as soon as practicable in the 108' Congress. I know your work in this matter will continue over the coming weeks and months and I ask that you continue to keep me informed on the progress.

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orge V. Voinovich rgnited States Senator STATE OFFICES 36 EAST SEVENTH STREET 1240 EAST NINTH STREET 37 WEST BROAD STREET 37 WEST BROAD STREET 420 MADISON AVENUE ROOM 2615 ROOM 2955 ROOM 320 (CASEWORK) ROOM 310 ROOM 1210 CINCINNATI, OHIO 45202 CLEVELAND, OHIO 44199 COLUMBUS, OHIO 43215 COLUMBUS, OHIO 43215 TOLEDO, OHIO 43604 (513) 684-3265 (216) 522-7095 (614) 469-6774 (614) 469-6697 (419)259-3895 PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER

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Chairman's Meeting with Senator Voinovich Wednesday, October 9, 2002

1. Senator Voinovich will write to GAO expressing his interest in their efforts on Davis-Besse.

2. Senator Voinovich believes a hearing in the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee's Subcommittee on Transportation, Infrastructure and Nuclear Safety is needed when the NRC, IG, 01, and GAO have completed their respective work. The purpose of the hearing will be to have a full and complete discussion by all interested groups and parties, including UCS being provided a chance to express their views.

3. Personnel issues: the Senator asked a) for a two-pager on how the NRC is doing in hiring and retaining employees {where do our employees come from-Navy, college, industry?), b) for ft 9 N a letter from NRC about the employment opportunities at the NRC and in the industry for young people emerging from college, c) whether we had sufficient hiring flexibility and the extent to which his legislation would be helpful in NRC's recruiting efforts, and d) whether NRC recruiting was bound by the "rule of 3" and if Title V applies to NRC.

6x E' S 4. Possible shutdown of the Universi of Michi an research reactor was discussed--the Senator asked for ac ground info on how im ortant t e reactor is to the NR and requested a two- e s a us o cto Additionally, ena or oinovich said that he would write to Sec. Ab am urging DOE support to keep the reactor operating.

5. Senator Voinovich asked for a future meeting to discuss where the Chairman thought the nuclear industry "is going." What does the NRC think of reports that the industry could be considering building 5-6 new reactors? Timeframe for this meeting was not discussed.

6. The Senator inquired about the new enrichment facility, mentioning USEC and LES and Exelon, as sources for enriching uranium. Nothing is owed to the Senator on this.