ML101720485
| ML101720485 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Vermont Yankee File:NorthStar Vermont Yankee icon.png |
| Issue date: | 06/16/2010 |
| From: | Hodes P US Congress, US HR (House of Representatives) |
| To: | Blount T, Jaczko G NRC/Chairman, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| References | |
| G20100235, LTR-10-0275 | |
| Download: ML101720485 (3) | |
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LTR-1 0-0275 EDO LOGGING DATE: 06/16/201 01 EDO DEDMRT DEDR DEDCM 20W1* 09:13 OCIA REP Paul Hodes CONG Gregory Jaczko Questions regarding recent events at the Vermont Yankee plant Signature of Chairman RF, OCA to Ack 06/16/2010 No Commission Correspondence Ref LTR-10-0175..actioned to EDO for Direct Reply...2.206 petition...
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07/09/2010 DATE SIGNED:
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M*HE rINANCýAL SERVICES OVERS(GHT AND GOVERNMENT REFORM CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WASHINGTON, DC 20515-2902 June 16, 2010 The Honorable Gregory B. Jaczko Chairman U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 11555 Rockville Pike Rockville, MD 20852-2746 Mr. Thomas Blount Chairman, NRC Petition Review Board USNRC, Mail Stop O-"12D3 11555 Rockville Pike Rockville, MD 20852-2746
Dear Chairman Jaczko and Chairman Blount,
Since Vermont Yankee began repowering after a refueling outage on May 21, 2010, the plant has reported two new leaks of radioactive substances, one on May 28 in the excavated Advanced Off Gas area, and a second on June 9 in the containment building. These leaks come while cleanup is still being done on a much larger leak at the facility, which took months to locate and close. I am distressed over what appears to be a dangerous lack of oversight that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission is doing to protect the families living near Vermont Yankee, including across the Connecticut River in New Hampshire.
In light of the two recent reports of leaking radioactive water at Vermont Yankee, I request that any documentation of these two recent leaks be considered as part of my request for greater oversight in my letter on April 19, 2010, which is currently under consideration as a section 2.206 petition by the Petition Review Board.
In addition, I respectfully request answers to the following questions regarding the recent events at the nuclear power plant:
- 1. In the case of the two recent leaks, how recently were the leaking equipment and surrounding areas inspected by either the licensee or the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and will documentation of these inspections be made available to the public?
- 2.
Were the documents relating to such safety inspections, if they exist, considered by the Petition Review Board before it rejected my request to keep Vermont Yankee shutdown until ongoing safety inspections related to the tritium leak first reported in January, 2010 had been completed?
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- 3. As Vermont Yankee works to clean up after a leak that continued for multiple months, and we have since seen two new leaks in the last 20 days, how many of these "minor" radioactive leaks will be allowed before the Nuclear Regulatory Commission takes action to power down the plant and make a comprehensive assessment of the facility'?
The answers to these questions are critical to the safety and peace of mind of the New Hampshire families who live and work within the Emergency Planning Zone of Vermont Yankee. Thank you for your prompt consideration of these requests.
Sincerely, Paul W. Hodes Member of Congress