ML041000457
| ML041000457 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Vermont Yankee File:NorthStar Vermont Yankee icon.png |
| Issue date: | 03/31/2004 |
| From: | Kulik S State of MA, House of Representatives |
| To: | NRC Region 1 |
| Shared Package | |
| ML041460577 | List: |
| References | |
| G20040249 | |
| Download: ML041000457 (3) | |
Text
EDO Principal Correspondence Control FROM:
DUE: 05/17/04 EDO CONTROL: G20040249 DOC DT: 03/31/04 FINAL REPLY:
State Representative Stephen Kulik TO:
Region I FOR SIGNATURE OF :
- GRN **
CRC NO:
Dyer, NRR DESC:
ROUTING:
Vermont Yankee Uprate Review Nuclear Plant Performance and Power Travers Norry Paperiello Kane Collins Dean Burns/Cyr Miller, RI DATE: 04/08/04 ASSIGNED TO:
NRR CONTACT:
Dyer SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR REMARKS:
Ref. G20040228.
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES STEPHEN KULIK Committees on:
REPRSENTTIVEWays and Means REPRESENTATIVE Transportation 1ST FRANKLIN DISTRICT Natural Resources and Agriculture STATE HOUSE, ROOM 279 BOSTON, MA 02133-1054 DISTRICT OFFICE:
TEL. (817) 722-2210 330 MONTAGUE CITY ROAD FAX (617) 722-2821 SUITE 102 E-MAIL:
TURNERS FALLS. MA 01376 Rep.StephenKulikOhou.state.ma.us TEL. (413) 772-2727 FAX (413) 773-1821 March 31, 2004 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Region I 475 Allendale Road King of Prussia, PA 19406 Re: Vermont Yankee Nuclear Plant Performance and Power Uprate Review
Dear Commissioners:
I write regarding the proposed uprate of the Entergy Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant that has been requested by its owners. As I understand the matter, Entergy has requested an uprate, which would bring its output capacity to 120 percent of the power output it was originally designed for at the time of the plant opening, 31 years ago.
Last week, the Vermont Public Services Board granted approval of that request, contingent on the successful completion of an independent safety assessment. I urge you to require that just such an assessment be completed before any further action on the uprate request is taken. It is critical to the health and safety of the population that an independent engineering assessment of all the plant systems at the Vermont Yankee plant be completed in order to determine whether or not the systems are reliable and safe under the current standards, before an uprate request is considered.
I represent the First Franklin District in Franklin County, Massachusetts, which borders the Vernon, Vermont town where the plant is located. I strongly believe that this is a matter that greatly affects my constituency because of our close physical proximity to Vernon, regardless of the political boundaries that preclude any official role this office may play in the State of Vermont. Clearly, the health and safety impact on my district would be substantial in the event of any accident, shutdown or other major event at the plant. The threat to our residents' physical well-being, job status and overall security is potentially very great.
B Printed on Recycled Paper EDO -- G2004024!
I understand and was pleased to learn that my colleagues in the Vermont State Senate voted unanimously on a resolution to ask for an independent inspection with five criteria that are identical to the Independent Safety Assessment (ISA) performed in 1996 at Maine Yankee at the request ofthen Governor Angus King. I strongky support their resolution that calls for an inspection that:
- 1) Assesses the conformance of the facility to its design and licensing bases, for operating at both 100 percent and 120 percent of its originally intended power production level, including appropriate reviews at the plant's site and its corporate offices;
- 2) Identifies all deviations, exemptions and/or waivers from (a) regulatory requirements applicable to Vermont Yankee and (b) regulatory requirements applicable to a new nuclear reactor (ie. today's safety regulations) and verifies that adequate safety margins are retained despite the cumulative effect of such deviations, exemptions, and/or waivers for both the present licensed power level and under the proposed extended power uprate;
- 3) Assesses the facility's operational safety performance giving risk perspectives where appropriate;
- 4) Evaluates the effectiveness of licensee self-assessments, corrective actions, and improvement plans; and
- 5) Determines the root cause(s) of safety-significant findings and draws conclusions on overall performance.
In light of the deep concerns about this matter shared by myself and my constituency, I strongly urge you to require that an independent assessment be completed in order to analyze whether Vermont Yankee is in compliance with current regulations, what the risks to an uprate in the system might include and what the fill range of safety issue are currently, as well as under the proposed capacity increase.
Thank you for your consideration of this request. Please feel free to contact me if I can provide your office with any information or assistance.
Sincerely, STEPHEN KULIK State Representative First Franklin District Massachusetts House of Representatives