ML032690217

G20030567/LTR-03-0616 - Rep. Eliot L. Engel Ltr Re Support of the Request by the Union of Concerned Scientists and Riverkeeper, Inc. Urging NRC to Order the Shutdown of Indian Point

ML032690217
Person / Time
Site:	Indian Point
Issue date:	09/22/2003
From:	Engel E US HR (House of Representatives)
To:	Diaz N NRC/Chairman
Shared Package
ML032940702	List: ML032690217 ML032940698
References
G20030567, LTR-03-0616
Download: ML032690217 (4)

Text

EDO Principal Correspondence Control FROM: DUE: 10/03/03 EDO CONTROL: G20030567 DOC DT: 09/22/03 FINAL REPLY:

Representative Eliot L. Engel Chairman Diaz FOR SIGNATURE OF : ** GRN ** CRC NO: 03-0616 Travers, EDO DESC: ROUTING:

Support of the Request by the Union of Concerned Travers Scientists and Riverkeeper, Inc. Urging NRC to Norry Order the Shutdown of Indian Point Paperiello Kane Collins Dean DATE: 09/24/03 Burns Miller, RI ASSIGNED TO: CONTACT: Cyr, OGC Skay, NRR NRR Dyer Goldberg, OGC SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR REMARKS:

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OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY CORRESPONDENCE CONTROL TICKET DatePrnted:Sep 23, 2003 09:11O PAPER NUMBER: LTR-03-0616 LOGGING DATE: 09/23/2003 ACTION OFFICE: EDO AUTHOR: REP Eliot Engel AFFILIATION: REP ADDRESSEE: CHRM Nils Diaz

SUBJECT:

Provides support for the request by the Union of Concerned Scientists and Riverkeeper, Inc.

urging NRC to order the shutdown of Indian Point NPP ACTION: Appropriate DISTRIBUTION: Chairman, Comrs, RF, OCA Ack LETTER DATE: 09/2212003 ACKNOWLEDGED No SPECIAL HANDLING:

NOTES:

FILE LOCATION: ADAMS DATE DUE: DATE SIGNED:

EDO -- G20030567

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Chairman United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555

Dear Mr. Chairman:

I write to add my support to the recent request by the Union of Concerned Scientists and erlceeper, Inc. urging the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to order the shutdown of the Undid Point nuclear power plant As the UCS-Riverkeeper petition points out, a recent study by the Los Alamos National Laboratory shows that the pumps in Indian Point's contaimnent buildings that provide the primary source of coolant in case of a major pipe break at the reactors are in danger of failing.

If such an accident were to occur, hot water pouring Irom the system would instantly turn to steam, which would eventually condense in a huge pool on the floor of the containment building. The sump pumps are designed to re-circulate the water back through the reactors to prevent a fuel meltdown and possible release of radiation.

However, agency studies have foundithat the superheated steam could cause the insulation to disintegrate and possibly clog the sump pumps. If that happened, the water could hot be re-circulated and a meltdown and subsequent radioactive release could occur. A study prepared for the NRC by the Los Alamos National Laboratory concluded that the chances of a reactor meltdown increase by nearly a factor of 100 at Indian Point because the plant's contaiment sumps are "almost certa" to be blocked with debris during an accident

The Los Alamos study rejects the possibility that clogging in the event of a loss of coolant accident at Indian Point could be prevented by other safety measures. "Tbe indicated outcome is almost certain," the report's authors said. "Consideration of all identified uncertainties has been made, and none has been found to have a credible effect on the outcome."

PRUNTED ON RECYCLED PAPER

09/22/2003 17:09 FAX CANON 3175 IM003 The Honorable Nils J. Diaz Page 2 ive The problems with continued operation of Indian Point continue to grow. This recent lvelation of an accidental pipe bursting and subsequent pump failure is now added to the edisting problems of inadequate evacuation for area residents and also, most alarmingly, serving a target for terrorists. The people of Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, and Orange Counties deserve to have their safety put ahead of corporate profits.

Sincerely, Eliot L. Engel MEMBER OF CONGRESS

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