ML032690217
| 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: |
| 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 Scientists and Riverkeeper, Inc. Urging NRC to Order the Shutdown of Indian Point Travers Norry Paperiello Kane Collins Dean Burns Miller, RI Cyr, OGC Skay, NRR Goldberg, OGC DATE: 09/24/03 ASSIGNED TO:
NRR CONTACT:
Dyer SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR REMARKS:
Y~A)1oec <SCq o (-7 E- lb's.' sccv'o I
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY CORRESPONDENCE CONTROL TICKET Date Prnted: Sep 23, 2003 09:11O PAPER NUMBER:
ACTION OFFICE:
LTR-03-0616 EDO LOGGING DATE: 09/23/2003 AUTHOR:
AFFILIATION:
ADDRESSEE:
SUBJECT:
REP Eliot Engel REP CHRM Nils Diaz 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:
DISTRIBUTION:
LETTER DATE:
ACKNOWLEDGED SPECIAL HANDLING:
Appropriate Chairman, Comrs, RF, OCA Ack 09/2212003 No NOTES:
FILE LOCATION:
ADAMS DATE DUE:
DATE SIGNED:
EDO -- G20030567
09/22/2003 17:08 FAX CANON 3175 10 002 ELIT L ENGEL
= 17TH D STRIC, NEW YORK COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND COMMERCE TEL5CO.MrMV4i^IC1N6t AND WHE IN'ERNET COMMflTEE ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS SUcCOMMMU~S:
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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 IM 003 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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