ML073120261

G20070786/LTR-07-0751/EDATS: SECY-2007-0504 - Ltr. Sheridan Brown, Sen John E. Sununu'S Staff Safety Issues at the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant

ML073120261
Person / Time
Site:	Vermont Yankee File:NorthStar Vermont Yankee icon.png
Issue date:	11/02/2007
From:	Brown S US SEN (Senate)
To:	Schmidt R Office of Congressional Affairs
References
EDATS: SECY-2007-0504, G20070786, LTR-07-0751, SECY-2007-0504
Download: ML073120261 (5)

Text

EDO Principal Correspondence Control FROM: DUE: 11/28/07 EDO CONTROL: G20070786 DOC DT: 11/02/07 FINAL REPLY:

Sheridan Brown Senator John E. Sununu's Staff TO:

R. Schmidt, OCA FOR SIGNATURE OF: ** GRN ** CRC NO: 07-0751 Reyes, EDO DESC: ROUTING:

Safety Issues at Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Reyes Plant (Marilyn Britton) (EDATS: SECY-2007-0504) Virgilio Mallett Ash Ordaz Burns DATE: 11/07/07 Zimmerman, NSIR Dyer, NRR ASSIGNED TO:' CONTACT: Collins, RI Cyr, OGC EDO Ridge Schmidt, OCA SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR REMARKS-Prepare response to Senator Sununu for the signature of the EDO. Coordinate response with NiSIR, NRR-and Region I, as appropriate.,

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EDATS Number: SECY-2007-0504 Source: SECY nl Ina Assigned To: OEDO OEDO Due Date: 11/28/2007 5:00 PM Other Assignees: SECY Due Date: 11/30/2007 5:00 PM

Subject:

Safety Issues at the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant

==

Description:==

CC Routing: NSIR; Region 1; NRR; OGC; OCA ADAMS Accession Numbers - Incoming: NONE Response/Package: NONE Ote Ifra to Cross Reference Number: G20070786, LTR-07-0751I Staff Initiated: NO Related Task: Recurring Item: NO File Routing: EDATS Agency Lesson Learned: NO Roadmap Item: NO Proes Infrmaio Action Type: Letter Priority: Medium Sensitivity: None Signature Level: EDO Urgency: N 0 OEDO Concurrence: NO OCM Concurrence: NO OCA Concurrence: NO Special Instructions: Prepare response to Senator Sununu for the signature of the EDO. Coordinate with NSIR, NRR and Region 1, as appropriate.

Document Inorato Originator Name: Sheridan Brown Date of Incoming: 11/2/2007 Originating Organization: Congress Document Received by SECY Date: 11/7/2007 Addressee: R. Schmidt, OCA Date Response Requested by Originator: NONE Incoming Task Received: Letter Page 1 of I

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY CORRESPONDENCE CONTROL TICKET Date Printed: Nov 07, 2007 08:45 PAPER NUMBER: LTR-07-0751 LOGGING DATE: 11/07/2007 ACTION OFFICE: EDO AUTHOR: Sheridan Brown AFFILIATION: CONG ADDRESSEE: Rebecca Schmidt

SUBJECT:

Concerns safety issues at the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant ACTION: Signature of EDO DISTRIBUTION: OCA to Ack.

LETTER DATE: 11/02/2007 ACKNOWLEDGED No SPECIAL HANDLING:

NOTES:

FILE LOCATION: ADAMS DATE DUE: 11/30/2007 DATE SIGNED:

7 8 6 EDO -- G20070

11/06/2007 11:54 FAX 603 647 9352 SUNUNU MANCHESTER 10002 60 VLET*SI" 3TRF3T

'JOHN E. SUNUNU jum*'w. Nn 03PU HS- HoN1P33L ((*)3)"7$ 4)

DEFLTIY 4W 50 OI'aLAHousE SQuPE Ct^RVAOKT. NH 03743 DANMfl(G. O.OUS'JC. AND URBAN AAZS (HS) ..42-4*7Z cOMM-RCJ*a eC-CP- AN'JD TkAN9W)RAT(ON 1559 ELMSTR.1 5JTE 3 FI,)RFIGN RFV-LAr[0N$ UNITED STATES SENATE MmmmSETS NH 03 101 (603) 647-7500 HOMELAND SECURITY AND GCVRIUqMENTAL APPAIRS 170 MAIN5SEBP NAýAn]A. NH 1130W1 JOIlNTECONOMIC COMMrrI7E1 (60)* 5"-7060 November 2, 2007 UNn Nnw HA'RWr. Avnv4,m. Smr, 120 Plwn'r*tmrnt, NH 0.01 (603) d30.9560 III RusM. SENATE OFRCFI BUILDoO Ms. Rebecca Schmidt WAUIMGTON, DC 20510 rM202 224-2V41 Director, Office of Congressional Affairs Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555-0001

Dear Ms. Schmidt,

I am writing on behalf of Marilyn Britton of Peterborough, New Hampshire. Ms. Britton has contacted Senator Sununu to express concerns regarding safety issues at the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant.

Ms. Britton's correspondence is enclosed for your review. Senator Sununu would appreciate any information you could provide so that he may respond to the issues raised by his constituent.

Thank you for your assistance.

Projects Assistant Enclosure

11/06/2007 11:54 FAX 603 647 9352 SUNUNU MANCHESTER OO03 16 Long ill Estates Petbo'rough, NH 03458' The Honorable Governor John Lynch Office of the Governor State House Concord, NH 03301

Dear Governor Lynch,

Re: Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee Power Plant (ENVY)

The subject of my concern is now giving me reason for alarm! That this Plant right in the back yard of NH citizens could be attacked by terrorists or could have a major meltdown is a very real threat. However, I have failed to hear any concern coming from our elected officials.

ENVY s recent uprate was a bumpy one according to folks very knowledgeable in this field. And now, after an internal inspection, aging cooling towers collapse. And all while they are asking for an extended 20 years of operation over and above the original expected life for which the plant was designed.

The very fact that ENVY has not opted to undergo an independent inspection is very worrisome. What are they hiding? And that the NRC has the power to give this aged plant an added 20 years of life is even scarier.

The NRC, with a history of agreeing to almost any'nuclear plant request, appears to NOT BE ACCOUNTABLE TO ANYONE. Today a Keene Sentinel report tells of the NRC neglecting to act on reports received last March about security guards at a Pennsylvania nuclear plant routinely sleeping while on duty. Many guards had asked the letter writer to make the NRC aware. We still would not be hearing about this neglect if a Washington-based watchdog group, Project on Government Oversight (POGO0), had not made it public. And from the report it appears the NRC gives the weak response of"....we were unable to substantiate the concerns".

My hope is that in light of all the above, you as our Governor, would be willing to work with VT's Governor, Jim Douglas, and also encourage our Congressmen and Senators to be in touch with their counterparts so that all are working to get to the truth of the matter with an Independent Inspection of the Plant. Senator Sanders has introduced a bill re: safety assessments of an= uprate or license renewal - our Senators could co-sponsor.

The New England Coalition (the people's advocate for safe energy since 1971) appears to be alone in its legal challenges of what's happening, with assistance from the VT legal firm of Shems Dunliel Dassel & Saunders.

The NEC's financial support of public monies would grow when this problem receives the attention it deserves.

As I understand it, timing is of the essence. Litigation must be done prior to NRC's decision on ENVY's renewal and request for an extended 20 years of life. I hope you are able to act quickly in this serious matter.

Resp Ily yours, Marilyn Britton Cc: Governor Douglas, New England Coalition, Councilor Debora Pignatelli, Senators Gregg & S unu, and Congressman Hodes & Shea-Porter With requests to citizens in this area via The Keene Sentinel & The Monadnock Ledger-Transcript to contact their representatives asking for action on this matter.