ML101590572
| ML101590572 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Columbia  |
| Issue date: | 05/12/2010 |
| From: | Ridge J Energy Northwest |
| To: | Jim R Confederated Tribes & Bands of the Yakama Indian Nation, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| References | |
| G20100244, LTR-10-0256 | |
| Download: ML101590572 (3) | |
Text
{{#Wiki_filter:OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY CORRESPONDENCE CONTROL TICKET Date Printed: Jun 03, 2010 15:55 PAPER NUMBER: ACTION OFFICE: LTR-10-0256 EDO LOGGING DATE: 06/03/2010 &-{. C, o ( 0 9L44 AUTHOR: AFFILIATION: ADDRESSEE:
SUBJECT:
ACTION: DISTRIBUTION: Judy Ridge EDO WA DEDMRT DEDR Jim Russell DEDCM AO Columbia Generating Station license renewal and used nuclear fuel N f Information RLF LETTER DATE: ACKNOWLEDGED SPECIAL HANDLING: NOTES: FILE LOCATION: 05/12/2010 No ADAMS DATE DUE: DATE SIGNED: JA~~Se SV>-00j E-~iS, s~cCojD
- t ENERGY NORTHWEST BOARD OF DIRECTORS Judy Ridge President May 12, 2010 Russell Jim, Manager Environmental Restoration and Waste Management Program Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation P.O. Box 151, Fort Road Toppenish, WA 98948
Subject:
- COLUMBIA GENERATING STATION LICENSE RENEWAL AND USED NUCLEAR FUEL
Dear Mr. Jim,
This letter is in response to your April 9 letter to the Honorable Gregory B. Jaczko, Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Thank you for your interest and that of the Yakama Nation in Columbia Generating Station; and, specifically, the safety and security of the plant.'s usedtfuel. Please be assured Energy Northwest is fully committed toýopqerating the plant to the naltion's highest nuclear:.nd industrial safety standards and -to protecting our environment. In your !etter, you expressed concerns about:*iow Energy Noi Lhwest:.stores used fuel from Columbia's reactor.,We currently safely:and sectrrel ystore al! usedyfuelfrrc,the-past 25 years of operation onsite in either a specially designed, water-fifled pool,with r oUr reactor buiiding or*rat an independent spent fuel drypstorage insta!laticn. The pool, able to Iaccommodate 2,654 fuel assemblies, was designed only as a temporary storage option until the Department of Energy fulfilled its legal obligation to transfer all used fuel generated in the U.S. to a permanent national repository. As you're aware, plans for such a repository are indefinitely delayed. Ultimately, as required by law, we hope DOE will centrally manage used fuel for all U.S. nuclear power plants fuel. In the interim, Energy Northwest transfers used fuel that hasbeen in Columbia's used fuel pool for five or more years to onsite, NRC-appr'oved, above ground, heavy steel and concrete dry casks. Built in 2001-2002, Columbia's ISFSI dry cask storage project accommodates longer onsite storage of used fuel. The total number of casks currently storedon two pads is 27. We will add nine more casks in 2014...Each cask can hold up toe68Jfuetlassemblies. All of tlje used fuel stored in Columbia's ISFSI site containers couldrfit inside a building the size of a typical convenience store. The used fuel storage pad provides safe and secure dry canister storage of Columbia's used fuel. The containers are designed and tested to.ensure they'preventthe release of radioacti'ity, e'ýnýUender th-'6 most extreme conditions - earthquakes,tornadoes, hurricanes; floods and sabotage2 Ther. casks use */".. natural circulation cooling and require no mechanical devices. Energy Northwest's highly trained security force constantly monitors the storage area and the entire nuclear facility.
Russell Jim, Manager May 12, 2010 Page 2 Your letter also expressed some concerns about the structural integrity of the spent fuel pool. The pool is located adjacent to the reactor. Both facilities were designed to withstand extreme conditions, such as earthquakes and tornadoes. Both are built with steel-reinforced concrete. Separate and independent studies sponsored by the NRC and the Nuclear Energy Institute have determined the primary structures of a nuclear plant - including used fuel storage pools and the 225-ton steel-and-concrete fuel dry storage containers - would withstand the impact of a wide-body commercial airliner in a 9/11-type scenario. The studies also concluded the fuel would remain protected. The NRC has called U.S. nuclear generating plants the most secure facilities in the world. Energy Northwest is committed to open and frequent communication to ensure the public is aware of our intentions and actions during the license renewal process. I have included a brochure and fact sheet on the license renewal process for your information. I would also like to extend an offer for you and Yakama Nation representatives to tour Columbia Generating Station at your convenience to see first hand how we manage this significant regional energy asset and how we store used fuel. To arrange the tour or receive further information on Columbia, please contact our Public Affairs Manager, Rochelle Olson, at 509-377-4728. Respectfully, Judy Ridge President cc: Energy Northwest Board of Directors Yakama Nation Radioactive and Hazardous Waste Committee Philip Rigdon, Deputy Director, Yakama Nation Department of Natural Resources}}