ML053180442
| ML053180442 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Vermont Yankee File:NorthStar Vermont Yankee icon.png |
| Issue date: | 11/10/2005 |
| From: | Jeffords J, Leahy P, Olver J, Sanders B US HR (House of Representatives), US SEN (Senate) |
| To: | Diaz N NRC/Chairman |
| Shared Package | |
| ML053210457 | List: |
| References | |
| G20050776, LTR-05-0554 | |
| Download: ML053180442 (6) | |
Text
EDO Principal Correspondence Control FROM:
DUE: 11/23/05 EDO CONTROL: G20050776 DOC DT: 11/10/05 FINAL REPLY:
Sen. Jim Jeffords Sen. Patrick Leahy Rep. Bernard Sanders Rep. John W. Olver Chairman FOR SIGNATURE OF :
PRI CRC NO: 05-0554 Chairman DESC:
ROUTING:
Concerns Over Discovery of More Than 40 Additional Cracks in the Steam Dryer at Vermont Yankee DATE: 11/14/05 Reyes Virgilio Kane Silber Dean Cyr/Burns Collins, RI ASSIGNED TO:
NRR CONTACT:
Dyer SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR REMARKS:
Coordinate with Region I as appropriate.
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OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY CORRESPONDENCE CONTROL TICKET Date Printed: Nov 14, 2005 09:39 PAPER NUMBER:
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LTR-05-0554 EDO LOGGING DATE: 11/14/2005 AUTHOR:
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REP Jim Jeffords CONG Nils Diaz Concerns discovery of more than 40 additional cracks in the steam dryer at Vermont Yankee...
Signature of Chairman RF, OCA to Ack 11/10/2005 No Commission Correspondence ADMS 11/28/2005 DATE SIGNED:
EDO -- G200507 7 6
Cotteiu of tije ZI1itce' statea aIAjington, DC 20515 November 10, 2005 The Honorable Nils J. Diaz Chairman U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555-0001
Dear Mr. Chairman:
We write in response to the announcement today of the discovery, during a recent scheduled outage, of more than 40 additional cracks in the steam dryer at Vermont Yankee. We understand that a Region I Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) inspector was dispatched to assist the resident inspector in the determining whether these cracks pose safety and operational concerns for the plant's current power production. We request that the condition of the steam dryer be fully evaluated, using the techniques of the most recent inspection and any other appropriate means, as the NRC considers Entergy Nuclear's request to produce an additional 100 megawatts of power from Vermont Yankee.
We understand that these cracks were discovered through the use of enhanced visual inspection techniques. As you know, these cracks are in addition to some 18 cracks, both hairline and larger, that were discovered through visual inspections of the plant's steam dryer in April and May of 2004. Steam dryer cracking is of concern at many boiling water reactor facilities. We know that cracking problems have persisted at the Quad Cities facilities' steam dryers, despite repeated fixes, and that uprated power conditions at those facilities place additional stresses on dryer performance. While the steam dryer itself is not a safety-related piece of equipment, its proper functioning is important to the plant's safe and reliable operation. Steam dryer cracking could result in pieces breaking off, and falling back into the steam lines that lead out of the reactor. In the case of the Quad Cities reactors, these plants have been forced to shut down because of cracking, making their operation less reliable.
As the NRC reviews the Vermont Yankee power uprate request, we believe it is essential that our constituents receive needed information about whether the plant's steam dryer will be able to withstand boosted power conditions and operate safely and reliably. The functioning of this piece of equipment should receive the Commission's full and thorough attention during the review of the uprate application.
We look forward to a prompt reply.
Sincerely, 9At/I PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER
Diaz, pg. 2 November 10, 2005 1gxL t
list
,i Betsy Keeling - FW: PDF of Today's Letter to the NRC Page I I Betsy Keelina - FW: PbF6i TodaVs Letter to the NRC Pane 1 1 From:
"Repko, Mary Frances (EPW)" <MaryFrances_-Repko~epw.senate.gov>
To:
"Raeann Shane (E-mail)" <rms2@nrc.gov>
Date:
11/10/05 5:06PM
Subject:
FW: PDF of Today's Letter to the NRC Raeann, Attached is a letter the Vermont Congressional delegation and Cong. John Olver are sending to the Chairman Diaz re: the discovery of additional cracks in the VY steam dryer. -Mary Frances.
>> <<<<11.10.05 Vermont Delegation Steam Dryer Letter.pdf>>
> Mary Frances Repko
> Senior Policy Advisor
> U.S. Senator James M. Jeffords
> Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works
> 508 Hart Senate Office Building
> Washington DC, 20510
> phone: 202-224-8832
> Mary-Frances-Repko@EPW.Senate.gov
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FW: PDF of Today's Letter to the NRC 11/10/05 5:05PM "Repko, Mary Frances (EPW)" <MaryFrances._Repko@epw.senate.gov>
MaryFrancesRepko @epw.senate.gov Recipients nrc.gov TWGWPOO2.HQGWDOO1 RMS2 (Raeann Shane)
Post Office TWGWPO02.HQGWDO01 Route nrc.gov Files Size Date & Time MESSAGE 514 11/10/05 05:05PM TEXT.htm 1289 11.10.05 Vermont Delegation Steam Dryer Letter.pdf Mime.822 647048 469400 Options Expiration Date:
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