ML043650179
| ML043650179 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Hope Creek  |
| Issue date: | 12/29/2004 |
| From: | Campbell B State of NJ, Dept of Environmental Protection |
| To: | Diaz N NRC/Chairman |
| References | |
| FOIA/PA-2005-0194, G20040876, LTR-04-0781 | |
| Download: ML043650179 (4) | |
Text
EDO Principal Correspondence Control FROM:
DUE: 01/10/05 Bradley Campbell Department of Environmental Protection EDO CONTROL: G20040876 DOC DT: 12/29/04 FINAL REPLY:
Chairman Diaz FOR SIGNATURE OF :
ROUTING:
Concerns the Safety of the Hope Creek Nuclear Reactor DATE: 12/29/04 Reyes Virgilio Kane Norry Merschoff Dean Burns/Cyr Collins, RI ASSIGNED TO:
NRR CONTACT:
Dyer SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR REMARKS:
S&CCfrO/7 S-AbDS 'SaqC./-c1
OFFICE OF TIlE SECRETARY CORRESPONDENCE CONTROL TICKET Date Printed: Dec 29, 2004 16:36 PAPER NUMBER:
ACTION OFFICE:
LTR-04-078 1 EDO LOGGING DATE: 12/29/2004 AUTHOR:
AFFILIATION:
ADDRESSEE:
SUBJECT:
ACTION:
DISTRIBUTION:
LETTER DATE:
ACKNOWLEDGED SPECIAL HANDLING:
Bradley Campbell NJ CHRM Nils Diaz Concerns the safety of the Hope Creek Nuclear Reactor Signature of Chairman 12/2912004 No Immediate public release via SECYIEDOIDPC NOTES:
FILE LOCATION:
Commission Correspondence ADAMS DATE DUE:
01/12/2005 DATE SIGNED:
- EDO -- G20040876
12/29/04 12:13 RRDIRTION PROTECTION PRORRAMS 4 913014153502 NO. 452 P02 Sfzzte zrf ;Wef 3Jerze~t Richard J. Codey Department of Environmental Protection Bradley M. Campbell Acrd'n Governor PO Box 402 Commissioner Trenton. NJ 08625-0402 Fax # (609) 292.7695 December 29, 2004 The Honorable Nils Diaz, Chairman U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Wasbington, DC 20555 Chairman Diaz:
I have become increasingly concerned over the safety of the Hope Creek Nuclear Reactor in Salem County. I am aware that the licensee, PSEG Nuclear, has acknowledged past problems at the facility and that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Region I Administrator has formally expressed concern about the lack of a safety conscious work environment at the Salem and Hope Creek nuclear generating stations. Yet, at the NRC special meeting earlier this month, PSEG indicated only that "fragile progress" had been made to improve the safety culture. It is clear that it will take a long time to ensure that change has occurred throughout the entire management structure.
It is my understanding that the NRC engaged a special inspection team to look into the guillotine break of a steam line on October 10 that caused a small release of radioactivity from the plant.
This team was charged to look into both equipment and human performance issues that complicated the shutdown of the reactor. I appreciate the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC) efforts to host a public meeting to discuss the team's findings in the context of the concerns about the safety culture at Artificial Island.
One of the issues that has emerged from the recent public scrutiny of I-lope Creek is the controversy over the replacement of the shaft of one of the three pumps whicha circulate cooling water for the reactor core. An independent engineering firm that PSEG hired reported that the pump shaft is bowed, causing vibrations severe enough to damage other components located near the pump. Since PSEG already has a replacement shaft at the site, it would make sense to replace the shaft now. However, while PSEG has acknowledged that the pump shaft should be replaced, it has concluded its replacement be postponed until the next refueling outage, in approximately 18 months.
We believe that the damaged pump shaft should be replaced before Hope Creek can restart.
I am aware that the NRC staffdoes not normally step in to impose specific restrictions on a licensee, such as replacement of this pump shaft, unless certain regulatory thresholds are crossed.
However, I urge the Commission to view the larger picture of overall plant safety and citizen confidence in the safety issues at Artificial Island. A sound preventive maintenance program has not been part of this facility's safety culture. The failure to replace the recirculation pump shaft is yet another cxamplc of dcfcrring noccc5say maintenance.
Mw'erey i's aor Equal Oppotanity Einpkayer Aeeryed Paper
12:13 RRDIATION PROTECTION PROGRRMS 4 913014153502 NO.452 D03 12/29/04 If the NRC regulations are written in such a manner that replacement of this pump shaft is outside the scope of the NRC's regulatory authority, the Commission should use its extra-regulatory authority to compel the licensee to replace the recirculation pump shaif. Sucb action will restore a valuable safety component and improve the public's perception of safety at Artificial Island.
Sincerely, Bradley M. Campbell Commissioner Cc:
U.S. Senator Jon Corzine U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg The Honorable Frank LoBiondo Acting Governor Codey BPU President Jeanne Fox Senator Steven Sweeney Assemblyman Douglas Fisher Assemblyman John J. Burzichelli