ML062720018

G20060809/LTR-06-0482 - Rep. Christopher H. Smith, Rep. Jim Saxton, Rep. Robert E. Andrews, Rep. Rush Holt, Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr., and Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. Ltr Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Facility

ML062720018
Person / Time
Site:	Oyster Creek
Issue date:	09/26/2006
From:	Andrews R, Holt R, Pallone F, Pascrell B, Saxton J, Casey Smith US HR (House of Representatives)
To:	Klein D NRC/Chairman
Dudley N, NRR/DLR/RLRA, 415-1154
References
G20060809, LTR-06-0482
Download: ML062720018 (4)

Text

EDO Principal Correspondence Control FROM: DUE: 10/11/06 EDO CONTROL: G20060809 DOC DT: 09/26/06 FINAL REPLY:

Rep. Christopher H. Smith Rep. Jim Saxton Rep. Robert E. Andrews Rep. Rush Holt Rep._Frank Pallone, Jr.

Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr.

Chairman Klein FOR SIGNATURE OF: ** PRI ** CRC NO: 06-0482 Chairman Klein DESC: ROUTING:

Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Facility Reyes Virgilio Kane Silber Johns on Cyr/Burns DATE: 09/28/06 Collins, RI Shoop, QEDO ASSIGNED TO: CONTACT:

NRR Dyer SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR REMARKS:

ýF" I0ýt 1.1ýv GCNI -011 iNc~

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY CORRESPONDENCE CONTROL TICKET Date Printed: Sep 27, 2006 16:40 PAPER NUMBER: LTR-06-0482 LOGGING DATE: 09/27/2006 ACTION OFFICE: EDO AUTHOR: Jim Saxton AFFILIATION: CONG ADDRESSEE: Dale Klein

SUBJECT:

Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Facility ACTION: Signature of Chairman DISTRIBUTION: RF, OCA to Ack LETTER DATE: 09/26/2006 ACKNOWLEDGED No SPECIAL HANDLING: Comr.Correspondence NOTES:

FILE LOCATION: ADAMS DATE DUE: 10/14/2006 DATE SIGNED:

EDO -- G20060809

Qeonart#2; of tbt Vnitrb O'tate.4 Mla~jington, -Z 20515 September 26, 2006 Dr. Dale E. Klcin, Chairman Nuclear Regulatory Commission 11555 Rockville Pike Rockville, MD 20852

Dear Dr. Klein:

We write to you today concerning the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Facility in Forked River, New Jersey.

It has come to our attention that E~xelon, the operators of Oyster Creek,'has failed to properly inspect and monitor water leak-age and subsequent corrosion found in the main containment wall of the reactor. Eight years ago, upon assuming ownership of the plant, Exelon made a commitment to monitor the corrosion, as well as the water draining down from the outside of the steel containment wall, and to take appropriate steps to prevent further leakage. According to recent information provided by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), Tixelon has not lived up to these operating license commitments. Furthermore, recent reports indicate that during an NRC inspection, containers used to capture the water were found to have been emptied, preventing inspectors from conducting testing to determine the origin of the leaks.

Ensuring the robustness of containment walls to protect public health and safety is of the utmost importance. It is imperative that all questions and -uncertainties about the structural integrity of this plant be answered. Exelon has stated they conduct routine visual inspections of corroded areas. However, corrosion occurring on scales measured in fractions of inches are extremely difficult to detect with the naked eye. As a result, Exelon has agreed to conduct ultrasonic testing on one percent of the lower sandbed region to determine whether the thickness of the containment vessel meets current safety margins. Unfortunately, we remain concerned that the intended testing target is not a large enough sample area to provide comprehensive results sufficient to make this determination and that corrosion may have already occurred beyond established safety margins. In addition, wve understand that no testing of the thickness of the metal in the embedded region is scheduled even though some experts believe that region could now be experiencing the most rapid corrosion. As such, please indicate why the NRC believes that the containment wall is not in a dangerous state. In addition, please explain what additional measures the NRC has taken, or intends to be taken during the remaining relicensing period, to ensure the structural integrity of the containment walls have not been, or will not be, compromised.

-i Resolution of this controversial matter would be greatly aided if a third party, such as the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) was allowed to conduct their own analysis of the current state of the containment structure. As we have learned, ACRS involvement goes a long way in providing the public with assurances that the NRC has properly conducted all necessary testing and analysis. When deciding whether a vital safety structure has been allowed to corrode beyond its safety margins because of violations of the operating license which the NTRC failed to notice for eight years, redundancy becomes a necessity.

Thank you for your consideration of this matter and we look forward to your response.

Sincerely, Christopher 1H. Smith Jim -ton iber of Con Fress Member of Congress x 1.1 gress

-;ýew4t64 Robert E. And rews Rush Holt Member of Congress Member of Congress Bill Pascrell, Jr.

Member of Congress Member of Congress