ML081010438

G20080248/LTR-08-0203/EDATS: SECY-2008-0200 - Ltr Sen. Patrick J. Leahy, Sen. Bernard Sanders, and Rep. Peter Welch Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant - Independent Safety Assessment

ML081010438
Person / Time
Site:	Vermont Yankee File:NorthStar Vermont Yankee icon.png
Issue date:	04/08/2008
From:	Leahy P, Sanders B, Welch P US Congress, US HR (House of Representatives), US SEN (Senate)
To:	Jaczko G, Klein D, Peter B. Lyons, Kristine Svinicki NRC/Chairman, NRC/OCM
McLaughlin M
References
CORR-08-0044, EDATS: SECY-2008-0200, G20080173, G20080248, LTR-08-0203, SECY-2008-0200
Download: ML081010438 (5)

Text

EDO Principal Correspondence Control FROM: DUE: 04/21/08 EDO CONTROL: G20080248 DOC DT: 04/08/08

.FINAL REPLY:

Senator Patrick J. Leahy Senator Bernard Sanders Representative Peter Welch Chairman Klein FOR SIGNATURE OF : ** PRI ** CRC NO: 08-0203 Chairman Klein DESC: ROUTING:

Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant - Independent Reyes Safety Assessment (EDATS: SECY-2008-0200) Virgilio Mallett Ash Ordaz Burns DATE: 04/09/08 Wiggins, NRR Cyr, OGC ASSIGNED TO: CONTACT: Schmidt, OCA Shoop, OEDO RI Collins SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR REMARKS:

Ref-. G20080173.

EDATS Number: SECY-2008-0200 Source: SECY Genera Ifr ato Assigned To: Region I OEDO Due Date: 4/21/2008 5:00 PM Other Assignees: SECY Due Date: 4/23/2008 5:00 PM

Subject:

Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant - Independent Safety Assessment

==

Description:==

CC Routing: NRR; OCA; OGC ADAMS Accession Numbers - Incoming: NONE Response/Package: NONE O I fomtn Cross Reference Number: G20080248, LTR-08-0203, Staff Initiated: NO G20080173 Related Task: Recurring Item: NO File Routing: EDATS Agency Lesson Learned: NO Roadmap Item: NO Action Type: Letter Priority: Medium Sensitivity: None Signature Level: Chairman Klein Urgency: NO OEDO Concurrence: YES OCM Concurrence: NO OCA Concurrence: NO Special Instructions: Ref. G20080173.

Originator Name: Sen P. Leahy/Sen B. Sanders/Rep. P. Date of Incoming: 4/8/2008 Welch Originating Organization: Congress Document Received by SECY Date: 4/9/2008 Addressee: Chairman Klein Date Response Requested by Originator: NONE Incoming Task Received: Letter Page 1 of I

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY CORRESPONDENCE CONTROL TICKET Date Printed:Apr 09, 2008 10:01 PAPER NUMBER: LTR-08-0203 LOGGING DATE: 04/09/2008 ACTION OFFICE: EDO AUTHOR: SEN Patrick Leahy AFFILIATION: CONG ADDRESSEE: Chairman Klein

SUBJECT:

Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant ACTION: Signature of Chairman DISTRIBUTION: RF, OCA.to Ack LETTER DATE: 04/08/2008 ACKNOWrLEDGED No SPECIAL HANDLING: Commission Correspondence NOTES:

FILE LOCATION: ADAMS DATE DUE: 04/23/2008 DATE SIGNED:

EDO -- G20080248

Congre 0 of the ftiitcb *tate5 la*iniffigton, DC 20510 April 8, 2008 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Mail Stop O-16G4 Washington, DC 20555-0001

Dear Chairman Klein,

Commissioner Jaczko, Commissioner Lyons, and Commissioner Svinicki:

We write to follow up on the letter you received a letter from Governor Douglas regarding the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant, located in Vernon, Vermont.

We agree with Governor Douglas's assertion that, "The operation of Vermont Yankee is.

now at a critical juncture... events have shaken the confidence of Vermonters and our neighbors in New Hampshire and Massachusetts about the safety and reliability of the plant." In his letter, the Governor requests "that the NRC conduct a comprehensive reliability and safety assessment of Vermont Yankee." Unfortunately, based on a briefing by representatives from NRC Region I as well as from NRC Headquarters, we are concerned NRC is only contemplating the acceleration of an already-scheduled inspection. More specifically, we understand NRC is considering conducting the already-required Component Design Basis Inspection a year early, and adding an NRC hired contractor(s) as a way to provide greater assurance to Vermonters who are deeply concerned with the operation of Vermont Yankee. As you are well aware, the Component Design Basis Inspection is part of the NRC's current Reactor Oversight Process (ROP) and thus, not the additional assessment requested by the Congressional Delegation or the Governor.

While we welcome greater attention to the Vermont Yankee plant through the established, NRC inspection process, we have strong concerns that simply accelerating NRC's current inspection procedures will not meet the. level of scrutiny that Vermonters expect and deserve. As evidenced by federal legislation we have introduced in both the United States Senate and House of Representatives, and Governor Douglas' press statement on March 12, 2008 in support. of an Independent Safety Assessment, more must be done given the plant is seeking an additional 20-year license. We believe that there needs to be a comprehensive inspection, done outside of the current ROP, completed by qualified individuals, including those who are independent of the NRC and Entergy Corporation.

We appreciate the NRC's apparent interest in accelerating an already-scheduled inspection; however such oversight must meet a standard that resembles the combined efforts undertaken by the Congressional Delegation, Governor Douglas and our colleagues in the Vermont State Senate'and House.

We understand this may represent a change to your current protocol and procedures, but we strongly believe more extensive independent reviews of Vermont Yankee are required. We believe this process must be deeper and wider than simply accelerating the current ROP inspection process. We ask that you give this request strong and thoughtful consideration and develop an independent safety assessment that .is specifically tailored to Vermont Yankee and which will address public concerns. We believe developing such an independent safety assessment is not only necessary for Vermont but could serve as an inspection model for future license extension requests from other plants around the country.

Sincerely, Pac SJ. Lea S/h Sanders US. Senator US Senator US, Congressman cc: Governor Jim Douglas Representative Gaye R Symington, Speaker Vermont House of Representatives Senator Peter Shumlin, Vermont Senate President Pro Tem