ML062990336
| ML062990336 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Indian Point  |
| Issue date: | 10/25/2006 |
| From: | Engel E, Hinchey M, Lowey N US Congress, US HR (House of Representatives) |
| To: | Klein D NRC/Chairman |
| Shared Package | |
| ML063520464, ML063330199 | List: |
| References | |
| G20060876, LTR-06-0543 | |
| Download: ML062990336 (4) | |
Text
EDO Principal Correspondence Control FROM:
DUE: 11/01/06 EDO CONTROL: G20060876 DOC DT: 10/25/06 FINAL REPLY:
Representative Maurice Hinchey Representative Nit Lowey Representative Eliot Engel TO:
Chairman Klein FOR SIGNATURE OF :
- PRI CRC NO: 06-0543 Chairman Klein DESC:
ROUTING:
Independent Assessment of the Agency's Reactor Oversight Process at Indian Point DATE: 10/26/06 Reyes Virgilio Kane Silber Johnson Cyr/Burns Collins, RI
- Funches, CFO
- Schmidt, OCA
- Shoop, OEDO ASSIGNED TO:
NRR CONTACT:
Dyer SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR REMARKS:
Ref. G20060835.
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OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY CORRESPONDENCE CONTROL TICKET Date Printed: Oct 25, 2006 16:26 PAPER NUMBER:
ACTION OFFICE:
LTR-06-0543 EDO LOGGING DATE:
10/25/2006 AUTHOR:
AFFILIATION:
ADDRESSEE:
REP Nita Lowey CONG Dale Klein
SUBJECT:
Urges the immediate development of an Independent Safety Assessment for Indian Point as outlined in legislation proposed in the House and Senate ACTION:
DISTRIBUTION:
LETTER DATE:
ACKNOWLEDGED SPECIAL HANDLING:
NOTES:
FILE LOCATION:
Signature of Chairman Chairman, Comrs, RF, OCA to Ack 10/25/2006 No Commission Correspondence ADAMS DATE DUE:
11/08/2006 DATE SIGNED:
EDO -- G20060876
Conffro of the tnItO &tt 30ouwe of Repreacntatibr!5 EIa1
- ningtonl, C 20515 October 25, 2006 Chairman Dale Klein U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555
Dear Chairman Klein:
We are writing in response to your letter dated October 11, 2006, in which you direct Nuclear Regulatory Commission Executive Director for Operations Luis Reyes to work with NRC staff to develop an independent assessment of the agency's Reactor Oversight Process (ROP) at the Indian Point nuclear power plant.
While the recent findings of the Government Accountability Office, published recently in "Nuclear Regulatory Commission: Oversight of Nuclear Power Plant Safety Has Improved, but Refinements Are Needed" (GAO-06-1029) indicate that such a review is warranted, we strongly note that this type of investigation does not replace a thorough, top-to-bottom review of key systems at Indian Point with a history of safety problems.
An assessment of an assessment does little to address and identify actual safety issues at the plant and does far less to alleviate the public's growing unease over the increasing safety problems of the aging nuclear plant and its spent fuel pools.
We continue to be concerned with the NRC's failure to require an Independent Safety Assessment at Indian Point. A number of us in the New York Congressional delegation have repeatedly called for a Maine Yankee-style ISA due to several factors, including a long history of safety problems at Indian Point, a gravely flawed emergency plan, an ongoing tritium and strontium-90 leak originating from at least one spent fuel pool, and a potential twenty-year license extension for both reactors should Entergy submit its application in March 2007 as all indicators predict.
We urge that you immediately direct NRC staff to develop an ISA for Indian Point as outlined in legislation proposed in both the U.S. House (H.R.4891) and Senate (S.2488).
Both bills require a thorough and independent review of the design, construction, maintenance, and operational safety performance of key systems at Indian Point, including: (1) the reactor protection. system; (2) the control room ventilation system and the contaiunent ventilation system; (3) the 4.16 kv electrical system; (4) the condensate system; and (5) the spent fuel storage system.
PRINTED ONI RECYCLED PAPER
Chairman Dale Klein Page 2 October 25, 2006 The legislation would also require a comprehensive evaluation of the radiological emergency plans for Indian Point, including a detailed explanation of the factual basis upon which the NRC and FEMA have approved the plans, despite conclusions by former FEMA head James Lee Witt that the plans are gravely flawed and in the event of a fast-breaking release probably could not protect the public.
The GAO report notes that the NRC "has been slow to act on needed improvements, particularly in improving the agency's. ability to identify and address early indications of declining safety performance."
It is this conclusion that warrants the need for an Independent Safety Assessment at Indian Point, a plant that operates within a 50-mile radius with over 20 million people and continues to show increasing signs of aging and degradation. A thorough independent assessment will provide the type of information needed by the NRC to make an informed determination if Entergy seeks a twenty-year license extension.
We look forward to a timely response to our request for an ISA at Indian Point and Would welcome the opportunity to discuss this matter further with you.
Sincerely, Ma Ece Hinchey, MC
,owey, MC Eliot Engel, MC