ML041410429

G20040243/LTR-04-0201 - Honorable Donelan Ltr. Independent Safety Audit for Vermont Yankee

ML041410429
Person / Time
Site:	Vermont Yankee File:NorthStar Vermont Yankee icon.png
Issue date:	05/21/2004
From:	Holden C NRC/NRR/DLPM/LPD1
To:	Donelan C State of MA, House of Representatives
Skay D, NRR/DLPM, 415-1322
Shared Package
ML041410400	List: ML041410429 ML041410511 ML041410521 ML041410529 ML041410543
References
FOIA/PA-2005-0031, G20040243, LTR-04-0201, TAC MC2561
Download: ML041410429 (2)

Text

May 21, 2004 The Honorable Christopher J. Donelan Massachusetts House of Representatives State House Boston, MA 02133-1054

Dear Representative Donelan:

I am responding on behalf of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to your letter dated March 24, 2004, which was jointly endorsed by Representatives Stephen Kulik and Shaun Kelly and Senators Stan Rosenberg and Andrea Nuciforo. In this letter, you expressed your collective concerns for the power uprate request at the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station, and requested that the NRC conduct an independent engineering assessment of the facility, as also recently called for by the Vermont Public Service Board. You requested that this assessment be done prior to the NRC approval of any power uprate at Vermont Yankee.

The NRC sent a letter to the Vermont Public Service Board on May 4, 2004, in response to their request for an independent engineering assessment. To address your concerns, I am enclosing a copy of that letter for your information, which describes our plans to use an improved engineering inspection at Vermont Yankee. The NRC staff has concluded that the detailed technical review, combined with inspections prescribed by the reactor oversight process, as enhanced by a new engineering inspection, is the most effective method of determining whether Vermont Yankee could safely operate under uprated power conditions.

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 power uprate 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 Thank you for your interest and concern in NRC activities.

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 21, 2004 The Honorable Christopher J. Donelan Massachusetts House of Representatives State House Boston, MA 02133-1054

Dear Representative Donelan:

I am responding on behalf of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to your letter dated March 24, 2004, which was jointly endorsed by Representatives Stephen Kulik and Shaun Kelly and Senators Stan Rosenberg and Andrea Nuciforo. In this letter, you expressed your collective concerns for the power uprate request at the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station, and requested that the NRC conduct an independent engineering assessment of the facility, as also recently called for by the Vermont Public Service Board. You requested that this assessment be done prior to the NRC approval of any power uprate at Vermont Yankee.

The NRC sent a letter to the Vermont Public Service Board on May 4, 2004, in response to their request for an independent engineering assessment. To address your concerns, I am enclosing a copy of that letter for your information, which describes our plans to use an improved engineering inspection at Vermont Yankee. The NRC staff has concluded that the detailed technical review, combined with inspections prescribed by the reactor oversight process, as enhanced by a new engineering inspection, is the most effective method of determining whether Vermont Yankee could safely operate under uprated power conditions.

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 power uprate 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 Thank you for your interest and concern in NRC activities.

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 NRR Mail Room RidsOcaMailCenter WTravers RidsNrrWpcMail SBurns, OGC SECY#04-0201 SCollins RidsNrrAdptKJohnson KCyr,OGC PLohaus WKane RidsNrrDlpmMViera HMiller, Rgn I CPaperiello RidsNrrDlpmLpdI-2JClifford NRR Mail Room #G20040243 PNorry RidsNrrDlpmLpdICHolden RidsOgcRp WDean RidsNrrPMBPham RidsOpaMail RidsNrrOdJDyer RidsNrrLACRaynor RidsRgnIMailCenter RidsNrrAdptBSheron PDI Section Reading File RidsNrrPMAMcMurtray Package: ML041410400 Incoming: ML040980386 Response: ML041410429

Enclosure:

ML041170438 OFFICE PDIV-2/PM PDI/LA LEAD PM PDI-2/SC PDI/PD NAME GTaylor/BPham SLittle DSkay AHowe CHolden DATE 5/20/04 05/20/04 5/20/04 5/20/04 5/21/04 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY