ML031820593
| ML031820593 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Browns Ferry  |
| Issue date: | 06/06/2003 |
| From: | Shelby R US SEN (Senate) |
| To: | Rathbun D Office of Congressional Affairs |
| Jabbour K, NRR/DLPM, 415-1496 | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML032040026 | List: |
| References | |
| G20030355, LTR-03-0402 | |
| Download: ML031820593 (6) | |
Text
I EDO Principal Correspondence Control FROM:
DUE: 07/17/03 Richard Shelby United States Senate EDO CONTROL: G20030355 DOC DT: 06/06/03 FINAL REPLY:
Dennis Rathbun FOR SIGNATURE OF :
- GRN **
CRC NO: 03-0402 Travers DESC:
ROUTING:
Concerning Regarding Browns Ferry Travers Paperiello Kane Norry Dean Burns/Cyr OIG File Reyes, RII DATE: 06/26/03 ASSIGNED TO:
NRR CONTACT:
Collins SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR REMARKS:
-rellA(L-11T-E Cc) r-- - OSCode fbu-DI
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY CORRESPONDENCE CONTROL TICKET Date Printed: Jun 25, 2003 07:52 PAPER NUMBER:
ACTION OFFICE:
LTR-03-0402 EDO LOGGING DATE: 06/25/2003 AUTHOR:
AFFILIATION:
ADDRESSEE:
SUBJECT:
Richard Shelby SEN Dennis Rathbun Allegations concerning Browns Ferry ACTION:
DISTRIBUTION:
LETTER DATE:
ACKNOWLEDGED SPECIAL HANDLING:
NOTES:
FILE LOCATION:
Signature of EDO Chairman, Comrs 06/06/2003 No Allegation Material Safe DATE DUE:
07/17/2003 DATE SIGNED:
EDO - -G20030 3 5 5
AIC
.iD SHELBY ALABAMA CHAIRMAN-COMMrITEE ON BANKING, HOUSING.
AND URBAN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIoNs CHAIRMAN-SUBCOMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTAnON CoMMrrmse ON GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS SPECIAL CoMMTTEE ON AGING 110 HART SENATE OFFICE BuI.DfiN WASHINGTON, DC 20510-0103 (202) 224-5744 ht1W:/zhelby.senete.av E-n si:senatorshelbyseentie.gov
'UnitW G dutC 2 e051 0at0 WASHINGTON, DC 20510-0103 STATE OFFICES:
o 1800 FIFTH AVENUE NORTH 321 FEDERAL BUILDING BIRMINGHAM. AL 35203 (205) 731-1384 o HuNTsviLLE INT'L AIRPORT 1000 GLENN HEARN BOULEVARD Box 20127 HUNTSVILULS AL 35824 1256\\ m-0460 o
113 ST. JOSEPH STREET 445 U.S. COURTHOUSE MoBiLE, AL 36602 (251) 6944164 o
ONE CHURCH STREET ROoM C-661 MONTGOMERY, AL 36104 (3340 223-7303 o
1118 GREENSBORO AVENUE #240 TuSCrALOOSA, AL 35401 (2051759-047 June 6, 2003 Mr. Dennis Rathbun Director Nuclear Regulatory Commission Office of Congressional Affairs Washington, D.C. 20555
Dear Mr. Rathbun:
Enclosed, please find a copy of correspondence I received from Jon M. Owings.
Please review the enclosed and address the concerns raised.
I have notified my constituent to expect a timely reply directly from you.
Sincerely, Richard Shelby RCS /bgb Enclosure
I1D SHELBY
.'.LASAMA CHAIRMAN-COMMITTEE ON BANKING. HOUSING.
AND URBAN AFFAIRS COMMrrTEE ON APPROPRIATONs CHAIRMAN-SUBCOMMITTEE ON TRANSPoRTAmON CoMMrITEE ON GOVERNMENTAL AFFAiRs U fi t mu 6
ta J
SPECIALCOMM-TE ON AGING WASHINGTON, DC 20510-0103 110 HART SENATE OFFICE BuILOING WASHINGTON, DC 205100103 E Ma 2 2245744 June 6, 2003 httprd/seloy~enatesov E-mall: senator!tshelby.senate.gov Dr. Jon M. Owings 111 Jenni Leigh Drive a
Huntsville, Alabama 35806 4vT STATE OFFICES:
o 1800 FmTH AVENUE NORTH 321 FEDERAL BUILDING BIRMINGHAM, AL 35203 (205) 731-1384 o
HUNTSVULE INT'L AIRPORT 1000 GLENN HEARN BOULEVARD Box 20127 HuNTsvLLE, AL 35824 (256) 772-0460 o
113 ST. JOsEPH STREET 445 U.S. CouRTHOUSE MoEiUE, AL 36602 (251) 694-4164 0
ONE CHURCH STREET RoOM C-661 MONTGOMERY, AL 36104 (3341 223-7303 o
1118 GREENSBORO AVENUE #240 TuscALooSA, AL 35401 (205)7595047
Dear Dr. Owings:
Thank you for taking the time to contact me regarding your concerns.
I have contacted the Nuclear Regulatory Commission on your behalf and have asked them to respond to your concerns.
You should expect a reply to your concerns directly from the agency in a timely manner.
Please do not hesitate to contact me about this or other matters in the future.
Sincerely, Richard Shelby
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ent By:. ;
P I 256-830-9955; May-29-03 8:34AM; Page 1 /2 3S'-&2,VO Jon M. Owings, MD, FACS 111 Jenni Leigh Dr.
Huntsville, AL 35806 256-830-9038 1 of 2 5 Lt(55 29 Mayt2003 Senator-Richard Shelby Senate O1ffice Building Washiniton, DC RE:
TVA Browns Ferry
Dear Sekator Shelby,
I have Personal knowledge of a dangerous situation existing at the Browns Ferry Nuclear Facility cear Athens, AL. I know about this because of close personal contacts at Southern Manufacturing Group (SMG), a Morrison, TN company I cofounded in 1993 but sold out of in October 2001 after being recalled to active duty with the Air Force. I also have a persona interest In that my wife and 1, our children and their families all reside within a 30 mile pro imity and we are not anxious to be that close to another Three Mile Island or Cherno WyL Since gIng into service in 1974 TVA Browns Ferry has had serious ongoing problems with their boiling water reactors'(BWR) pressure relief system, which was designed and is still sup orted by a subcontractor, Target Rock/Curtiss Wright flow controls. Steam Corrosioi in the steam pressure safety system causes deterioration and sticking of the reactor' main steam pressure relief valves (MSRVs) which results in constant icakage of steam aud can allow serious over prsurization If sticking valves can't release at upper safe ii Four y4ars ago SMG was engaged by TVA to develop a solution after Target Rock, despite dumerous entreaties by all the other GE BWR facilities, who not surprisingly have the same'problem, and general contractor General Electric, had failed to solve the problem after nu erous attempts at redesign and other modifications. After two years of R & D SMG prnduced a new valve made of advanced fime ceramic to replace the present of platinu coated Stellite (a stainless steel alloy). In February 2001 SMG's new valve was tested fosafety and usability and passed all to TVA's satisfaction.
In spitelof TVA and other BWR operators' acceptance and desire to replace the old valve with SMo'a and the approval of General Electric, it is not going to be installed. The reasons 4re unclear but relate to Target Rock's refusal to approve the new ceramic valves even aftet receiving all necessary test data and specifications, and TVA senior managenments' unwillingness to listen to their own engineering stgff and install it anyway.
-Sent By-;
258-830-9955; May-29-03 8:35AM; Page 2/2 2 of 2 TVA ebgineering, in desperation, has asked a French company, Atwood Morriel/Weir Valves, $o design a new safety system to be installed in the Unit I Browns Ferry reactor is now ref rbishing to bring back on line ASAP, completely replacing the original Target Reck designed steam pressure safety system. There is no assurance of course that the new design nkill work any better If even as well as the present and certainly vill be many, times more costly and delay early startup of the third reactor.
I have i4formation that Browns Ferry has developed another leaking valve and must shut the reac r down ASAP for repairs; until then, a single leaking valve can cost S1U-20,0001 yin steam lost as well as create a significant safety issue if tie valves should stick and allo'l a significant pressurization. An unscheduled shut down for repairs, which occurs wth disturbing frequency In all GE BWRs due to Target Rock MSRVu, can result in a cost ost revenue of >SI,000,000/day, Upon ray release from military service last year I learned of this impasse which is now approacling meltdown and request your urgent investigation. This is a critical issue that must be uesolved now and It appears it is going to take pressure on TVA top management to effect Xt or just wait until a major catstrop',-e happens to force the issue. I think the former lspreferable and If the news media learns of this debacle as they surely will in the latter, thm consequences will not be In any one's best Interests.
There i no need to reinvent the wheel if just the valve stem is bad, and SMG has invented a new on that works. You may contact me or SMG President Ray Jones at 931-686-5377 and we an supply you with names and phone numbers of contacts at TVA and in the nuclear i idustry who can verify what I am reporting
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- youurs, Jon Owings, MD I,