ML053540414

Letter from Luis A. Reyes Addressed to Congressman John W. Olver, as Well as the Letter from Congressman John W. Olver Dated November 9, 2005

ML053540414
Person / Time
Site:	Vermont Yankee
Issue date:	12/16/2005
From:	Reyes L NRC/EDO
To:	Olver J US HR (House of Representatives)
Byrdsong A T
References
50-271-OLA, RAS 10855
Download: ML053540414 (5)

Text

UNITED STATE8 NUCLEAR REGULATORY 33 DOCKETED WASHIMGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 USNRC December 20, 2005 (9:50am)

December 16, 2005 OFFICE OF SECRETARY RULEMAKINGS AND ADJUDICATIONS STAFF The Honorable John W. Olver Docket No. 50-271-0LA United States House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 20515 SERVED December 20,2005

Dear Congressman Olver:

On behalf of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), I am responding to your letter dated November 9, 2005, in which you expressed concerns regarding the proposed power uprate at the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station (Vermont Yankee).

Specifically, you stated that it was your understanding that the proposed uprate would subject plant components, such as the stezm dryer, to increased stresses. Your letier urged the NRC to conduct a comprehensive independent safety assessment of Vermont Yankee using the same methodology and scope that was applied at lvlaine Yankee.

In a letter signed by Chairman Nils J. Diaz to you dated May 4, 2004, enclosed a copy of a letter he sent to the Vermont Public Service Board (PSB) explaining the NRC's approach in response to the PSB's request for an independent engineering assessment of Vermont Yankee. As noted in the May 4, 2004, letter, the NRC staff concluded that the detailed technical review of the proposed amendment, combined with the inspections prescribed by the reactor oversight process, as enhanced by an improved engineering inspection was determined to be the most effective method of informing the staff decision on whether Vermont Yankee could operate safely under uprated power conditions. I On November 2, 2005, the NRC staff issued its draft safety evaluation documenting the results of the technical review for the proposed power uprate. As discussed in the safety evaluation, in response to damage experienced to steam dryers at other nuclear power plants, Entergy has modified the steam dryer at Vermont Yankee to improve its capability to withstand potential adverse flow effects that could result from operation at power uprate conditions. In addition, Entergy has recently completed its evaluation of the indications of small cracks observed during the fa!l 2005 refueling outage. None of the identified indications required repairs and Entergy concluded that all existing indications will not affect the steam dryer structural integrity at the current power conditions or at the proposed power uprate conditions. As noted in the safety evaluation, Entergy has committed to monitor the indications during future inspections to ensure there is no further change to the individual indications.

During a meeting of the NRC's Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS)

Subcommittee on Power Uprates, held in Bratileboro, Vermont on November 15 and 16,2005, the NRC staff described the results of several technical areas included in the draft safety evaluation and the results of the engineering inspection. As discussed during this meeting, the NRC staff has spent over 9,000 hours0 days <br />0 hours <br />0 weeks <br />0 months <br /> on the tzchnical review of the proposed pGwer iiprate. In additi~n,over 900 hours0.0104 days <br />0.25 hours <br />0.00149 weeks <br />3.4245e-4 months <br /> were spent on the engineering inspmtion effort. The staff noted during that meeting that it considered the \!ermont Yankee engineering icspection to have been responsive to the PSB's request to conduct an independent assessment and provide the results

The ACRS Subcommittee on Power Uprates met again on November 29 and 30,2005, to discuss the areas of the Vermont Yankee power uprate review not covered during the first meeting. The ACRS full committee met to discuss the proposed uprate in a meeting on December 7, 2005. The NRC staff is in the process of incorporating ACRS comments and preparing a final safety evaluation. The final safety evaluation is currently scheduled to be issued by the end of February 2006.

The NRC's primary mission is to ensure adequate protection of public health and safety. The NRC will not approve the Vermont Yankee power uprate, or any proposed change to any plant license, unless our technical staff can conclude that it has reasonable assurance that adequate protection of public health and safety will be ensured. W e have taken great care in conducting the technical reviews and inspections regarding the Vermont Yankee power increase in order to ensure that these reviews and inspections will identify and address any potential safety concerns for operating the plant at uprated power conditions. Our detailed technical review, coupled with the associated program of inspections, will provide us with the information we need to make a decision on the safety of operation of Vermont Yankee at the proposed power level. I trust that ?his letter satisfactcrily addr~ssesyour concerns.

for 0 p e r a t i M

. JOHN W. OLVER PLEASE RESPOND TO:

1 1 1 1 LONGWORTHHOUSEOFFICEBUILDING I s D l s m n . MASSACHUSE~~S WASHINGTON.DC 205152101 (202)2255335 COhlMmEE: 12021 2261 224 FAX APPROPRIATIONS DISTRICT OFFICES:

SUBCOIIMmES:

57 SUFFOLKSTREET TRANSPORTATION. TREASURY. AND HOUSING AND S u m 310 URBAN DEMLOPMENT,THE JUDICIARY, DlSTRlCT OF COLUMBIA HOLYOLE,MA 01040 RANKINO MEMBER I4131 532-7010 (413)532-6543 FAX INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT. AND RELATED AGENCIES ASSISTANT WHIP November 9,2005 Nils Diaz, Chairman Nuclear Regulatory Commission 11555 Rockville Pike Rockville, MD 20852

Dear Chairman Diaz:

I am writing to urge you to conduct a comprehensive Independent Safety Assessment of the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant using the same methodology and scope that was applied to the Maine Yankee Reactor.

I represent the 1st Congressional District of Massachusetts and many of my constituents live within the fallout area of Vermont Yankee. It is my understanding that a 20% power increase subjects all components of the reactor to greatly increased stresses, which can lead to major malfunctions in the rest of the power station. It is known that the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant has existing cracks in its steam dryers, an issue that has caused major failures in other uprated facilities across the country. Conducting a stress test of components while the reactor's power level is being ramped up is both irresponsible and creates an unacceptable risk to the lives of all living in the vicinity of the reactor.

Thank you for your consideration of my request. I look forward to your response.

& Y ~ &

John W. Olver Member of Congress PRINTED Mi RECYCLEDPAPER

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION In the Matter of ENTERGY NUCLEAR VERMONT YANKEE L.L.C. ) Docket No. 50-271-0LA and ENTERGY NUCLEAR OPERATIONS, INC. )

Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station)

(Operating License Amendment)

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I hereby certify that copies of the foregoing LETTER FROM LUIS A. REYES ADDRESSED TO CONGRESSMAN JOHN W. OLVER, AS WELL AS THE LETTER FROM CONGRESSMAN DATED NOVEMBER 9, 2005 have been served upon the following persons by U.S. mail, first class, or through NRC internal distribution.

Office of Commission Appellate Administrative Judge Adjudication Alex S. Karlin, Chair U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel Washington, DC 20555-0001 Mail Stop - T-3 F23 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555-0001 Administrative Judge Administrative Judge Anthony J. Baratta Lester S. Rubenstein Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel 4270 E Country Villa Drive Mail Stop - T-3 F23 Tucson, AZ 85718 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555-0001 Robert M. Weisman, Esq. Raymond Shadis Sherwin E. Turk, Esq. New England Coalition Jason C. Zorn, Esq. P.O. Box 98 Office of the General Counsel Edgecomb, ME 04556 Mail Stop 15 D21 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555-0001

Docket No. 50-271-0LA LETTER FROM LUIS A. REYES ADDRESSED TO CONGRESSMAN JOHN W. OLVER, AS WELL AS THE LETTER FROM CONGRESSMAN JOHN W. OLVER DATED NOVEMBER 9,2005 John M. Fulton, Esq. Sarah Hofmann, Esq.

Assistant General Counsel Special Counsel Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc. Department of Public Service 440 Hamilton Avenue 112 State Street - Drawer 20 White Plains, NY 10601 Montpelier, VT 05620-2601 Anthony Z. Roisman, Esq. Jay E. Silberg, Esq.

National Legal Scholars Law Firm Matias F. Travieso-Diaz, Esq.

84 East Thetford Rd. Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP Lyme, NH 03768 2300 N Street, NW Washington, DC 20037-1 128 Jonathan M. Rund, Esq.

Law Clerk Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel Mail Stop - T-3 F23 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555-0001 Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 20thday of December 2005