ML041390554

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G20040236/LTR-04-0189 - Barbara and Bruce Cole Ltr. Re. Independent Safety Assessment at Vermont Yankee
ML041390554
Person / Time
Site: Vermont Yankee File:NorthStar Vermont Yankee icon.png
Issue date: 05/27/2004
From: Holden C
NRC/NRR/DLPM/LPD1
To: Cole B
- No Known Affiliation
Pham B, NRR/DLPM, 415-8450
Shared Package
ML041400002 List:
References
G20040236, LTR-04-0189, TAC MC2539
Download: ML041390554 (2)


Text

May 27, 2004 Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Cole P.O. Box 756 Wilmington, VT 05363-0756

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Cole:

I am responding on behalf of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to your letter dated March 30, 2004, which included meeting handouts and talking points that you felt were pertinent to your request for an independent safety assessment at the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station (Vermont Yankee).

Regarding your concern for the need of an independent safety assessment at Vermont Yankee, I am enclosing, for your information, a letter that we sent to the Public Service Board on May 4, 2004, explaining the NRCs approach in addressing this issue. The NRC plans to use an improved engineering inspection at Vermont Yankee, as described in the enclosure. The NRC staff has concluded that a detailed technical review, combined with inspections prescribed by the reactor oversight process, as enhanced by a new engineering inspection, is the most effective means for our staff to determine whether Vermont Yankee can safely operate under uprated power conditions. The NRC will not approve the Vermont Yankee uprate, or any proposed change to a plant license, unless the NRC staff can conclude that the proposed change will be executed in a manner that assures the publics health and safety.

The NRC values your comments on this issue. I believe the enclosed information, which describes our review and inspection procedure, along with our plans for a new engineering inspection, will assist in addressing your concerns regarding the safety of Vermont Yankee.

Additional information about the on-going review process is also available on our NRC website at www.nrc.gov/reactors/plant-specific-items/vermont-yankee-issues.html Sincerely,

/RA/

Cornelius F. Holden, Director Project Directorate I Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Enclosure:

Letter to the Vermont Public Service Board

May 27, 2004 Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Cole P.O. Box 756 Wilmington, VT 05363-0756

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Cole:

I am responding on behalf of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to your letter dated March 30, 2004, which included meeting handouts and talking points that you felt were pertinent to your request for an independent safety assessment at the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station (Vermont Yankee).

Regarding your concern for the need of an independent safety assessment at Vermont Yankee, I am enclosing, for your information, a letter that we sent to the Public Service Board on May 4, 2004, explaining the NRCs approach in addressing this issue. The NRC plans to use an improved engineering inspection at Vermont Yankee, as described in the enclosure. The NRC staff has concluded that a detailed technical review, combined with inspections prescribed by the reactor oversight process, as enhanced by a new engineering inspection, is the most effective means for our staff to determine whether Vermont Yankee can safely operate under uprated power conditions. The NRC will not approve the Vermont Yankee uprate, or any proposed change to a plant license, unless the NRC staff can conclude that the proposed change will be executed in a manner that assures the publics health and safety.

The NRC values your comments on this issue. I believe the enclosed information, which describes our review and inspection procedure, along with our plans for a new engineering inspection, will assist in addressing your concerns regarding the safety of Vermont Yankee.

Additional information about the on-going review process is also available on our NRC website at www.nrc.gov/reactors/plant-specific-items/vermont-yankee-issues.html Sincerely,

/RA/

Cornelius F. Holden, Director Project Directorate I Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Enclosure:

Letter to the Vermont Public Service Board DISTRIBUTION:

PUBLIC RidsEdoMailCenter SBurns/KCyr, OGC RidsOcaMailCenter LReyes RidsNrrWpcMail SECY (LTR-04-0189)

SCollins RidsNrrAdptKJohnson RidsNrrPMREnnis WKane HMiller, Rgn I CBixler, Rgn I CPaperiello AHowe NRR Mail Room (G20040236)

PNorry RidsNrrDlpmLpdICHolden RidsOgcRp WDean RidsNrrPMBPham RidsOpaMail RidsNrrOdJDyer RidsNrrLACRaynor RidsRgnIMailCenter RidsNrrAdptBSheron PDI-2 Section Reading File RidsNrrPMAMcMurtray Package No.: ML041400002 Incoming No.: ML040970219 Response No.: ML041390554

Enclosure:

ML041170438 OFFICE PDIV-2/PM PDI-1/LA PDI-1/PM VY/SC PDI/PD NAME BPham SLittle DSkay AHowe CHolden DATE 5/26/04 5/26/04 5/26/04 5/27/04 5/27/04 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY