ML050830203
| ML050830203 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Millstone  |
| Issue date: | 03/08/2005 |
| From: | Markey E US HR (House of Representatives) |
| To: | Diaz N NRC/Chairman |
| Tardiff A NSIR/DNS 301-415-7015 | |
| References | |
| CORR-05-0058, G20050166, LTR-05-0124 | |
| Download: ML050830203 (6) | |
Text
I I
EDO Principal Correspondence Control FROM:
DUE:- G3/22/05 Representative Edward J. Markey EDO CONTROL: G20050166 DOC DT: 03/08/05 FINAL REPLY:
TO:
Chairman Diaz FOR SIGNATURE OF :
PRI CRC NO: 05-0124 Chairman Diaz DESC:
ROUTING:
Installation of Security Device -
Millstone DATE: 03/09/05 Reyes Virgilio Kane Merschoff Silber Dean Burns/Cyr Dyer, NRR Collins, RI Rathbun, OCA ASSIGNED TO:
NSIR CONTACT:
Zimmerman SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR REMARKS:
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OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY CORRESPONDENCE CONTROL TICKET Date Printed: AMar 09, 2005 10:13 PAPER NUMBER:
ACTION OFFICE:
LTR-05-0124 EDO LOGGING DATE: 03/08/2005 AUTHOR:
AFFILIATION:
ADDRESSEE:
SUBJECT:
ACTION:
DISTRIBUTION:
LETTER DATE:
ACKNOWLEDGED SPECIAL IIANDLING:
Edward Markey REP Nils Diaz Cominion Nuclear Connecticut Inc., the licensee of the Millstone nuclear power plant Signature of Chairman RF, OCA to Ack 03/08/2005 No Comr. Correspondence NOTES:
FILE LOCATION:
ADAMS DATE DUE:
03A12005 DATE SIGNED:
EDO - -G20050166-
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MSA-U1-RESOURCES COMMITTEE (ECSi E7M-2EC0 March 8, 2005 The Honorable Nils J. Diaz Chairman Nuclear Regulatory Commission 11555 Rockville Pike Rockville, MD, 20852
Dear Chairman Diaz:
I am writing regarding information received by my office.that the Dominion Nuclear Connecticut Inc., the licensee of the Millstone nuclear power plant, refused the Commission's offer. to install a free device that would greatly enhance security at the facility because it didn't want to assume the maintenance costs. I am deeply concerned that this information, if true, reflects a lack of commitment for the security of the power plant on the part of the licensee and a disregard for the health and safety of the nearby communities.
Many nuclear power plants which employ a "once-through" cooling system, including Millstone, Pilgrim and Seabrook, pump in millions of gallons of water per day through water intake structures located on nearby bodies of water. The water is constantly circulated through complex systems to cool the reactor and maintain the temperature where spent fuel is stored in pools, among other functions. In the case of the Millstone plant, these structures are located on Niantic Bay, an estuary of the Long Island Sound.
If an interruption in the flow of water from the intake structures occurs, there would be a serious threat to the safe operation of the facility..Indeed, it is my understanding that a serious interruption in the flow of water to either Unit 2 or Unit 3 from the point of intake could lead to plant meltdown and catastrophe. It is therefore critical that the flow of water through the intake structures at Millstone not be interrupted.
As you know, Al Qaeda has long considered U.S. nuclear facilities to be attractive terrorist targets, and a waterborne attack is one method terrorists could use. I have been informed that currently, no obstacle is in place at the Millstone facility to impede an attack by, for example, suicidal terrorists who drive a motorboat laden with explosives into the intake structures at the facility.
I have been informed that in 2004, the Commission offered to install a device - at no cost - at the Millstone intake structures to serve the purpose of impeding and thwarting such a postulated waterborne attack. I have also been informed that the licensee rejected the offer because it did not wish to assume costs to maintain the device.
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This information, if true, would highlight a stunning lack of concern for the security of the facility and the health and safety of the nearby comrnunities.
Consequently, I ask for your prompt responses to the following questions:
- 1) Did the Commission offer to install a device that could help to impede a waterborne attack on the Millstone nuclear power plant? If so, when, and was the offer made at no cost to the licensee as I was informed was the case? Did the licensee of the facility accept or reject this offer, and on what basis was the acceptance or rejection made? Please provide copies of all correspondence, emails, memos and phone logs related to this matter.
- 2) Has the Commission offered to install similar devices at other reactors that are vulnerable to waterborne attacks? If so, please provide a list of each facility to which such an offer was made, the date on which the offer was made, whether the licensee accepted or rejected the offer (and on what basis the acceptance or rejection was made), and if the offer was accepted, on what date the device was or will be installed.
- 3) Has the Commission offered to provide other technologies to reactor licensees that could help address some of the facilities' vulnerabilities to attacks (including but not limited to waterborne attacks)? If so, please provide a list of each facility to which such an offer was made, the type of technology offered and the vulnerability it was intended to address, the date on which the offer was made, whether the licensee accepted or rejected the offer (and on what basis the acceptance or rejection was made), and if the offer was accepted, on what date the technology was or will be installed.
Thank you very much for your attention to this important matter. Please provide your response no later than April 8, 2005. If you have any questions or concerns, please have your staff contact Dr. Michal Freedhoff of my staff at 202-225-2836.
Sincerely, Edward J. Markejj
IRoland Wood - Markey letter Page 1eI From:
"Freedhoff, Michal" <Michal.Freedhoff~mail.house.gov>
To:
"'Betsy Keeling"' <BJK~nrc.gov>, "Dennis Rathbun (dkr@nrc.gov)" <dkrinrc.gov>
Date:
3/8/05 1:48PM
Subject:
Markey letter Hi there This went out today. When can we expect the health response and a resolution of the force-on-force issue? Thanks Michal Michal lana Freedhoff, Ph.D.
Senior Policy Associate Office of Congressman Edward J. Markey (D-MA) 2108 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 202-225-2836
AuIympwtvvpyyvv tJ. i ivir-rdyu 1 1 Mail Envelope Properties (422DF362.3F8:11:5112)
Subject:
Creation Date:
From:
Markey letter 3/8/05 11:24AM "Freedhoff, Michal" <Michal.Frecdhorf@ maill.house. ov>
Created By:
Michal.Freedhoff@ mail.house.gov Recipients nrc.gov twf5_po.TWFNDO BJK (Betsy Keeling) nrc.gov owf5_po.OWFN_DO DKR (Dennis Rathbun)
Post Office twf5._po.TIVFN_DO owf5_po.OWFNDO Route nrc.gov nrc.gov Files Size MESSAGE 325 TEXT.htm 4842 03-0-OSonMillstonesecurityfunding.pdf Mime.822 1153192 Date & Time 03/08/05 11:24AM 837231 Options Expiration Date:
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Concealed
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Security:
None Standard No None No Standard