ML110601262
| ML110601262 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Vermont Yankee File:NorthStar Vermont Yankee icon.png |
| Issue date: | 03/28/2011 |
| From: | Leeds E Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Saporito T Renewable Electric Systems |
| Kim J, NRR/DORL, 415-4125 | |
| Shared Package | |
| ml110601251 | List: |
| References | |
| 2.206, EDATS: OEDO-2011-0058, G20110043 | |
| Download: ML110601262 (6) | |
Text
UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 March 28, 2011 Mr. Thomas Saporito, Executive Director RenewableElectricSystems.com P.O. Box 8413 Jupiter, FL 33468
Dear Mr. Saporito:
On behalf of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), I am responding to your letter dated January 14, 2011, in which you expressed a concern regarding the safe operation of the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station (VY). In accordance with Management Directive 8.11,
'Review Process for 10 CFR 2.206 Petitions:' dated October 25, 2000, the NRC has processed your letter under Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) 2.206, "Requests for Action under This Subpart," and assigned this petition to the NRCs Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
You requested in your petition that the NRC (1) issue a confirmatory order requiring the licensee to immediately bring the reactor in question to a cold-shutdown mode of operation, (2) issue a civil penalty against the licensee, (3) remove the licensee's employees responsible for this matter from NRC-licensed activities for a period of no less than 5 years, and (4) perform an immediate NRC investigation and inspection of the VY nuclear facility to ensure that all nuclear safety-related systems are properly operational in accordance with the licensee's technical specifications and NRC license.
The Petition Review Board (PRB) met on January 24, 2011, to discuss your petition and denied the request for immediate action to bring VY to a cold-shutdown mode of operation and to perform an immediate NRC investigation and inspection of the VY because the PRB did not identify any urgent public health and safety concerns that would warrant an immediate shutdown and NRC investigation and inspection.
On January 24, 2011, you were informed of the PRB's decision about the immediate action, and you requested an opportunity to address the PRB before its initial meeting to provide supplemental information for the Boards consideration. By teleconference on January 26, 2011, you provided information to the PRB as further explanation and support for the petition. A copy of the transcript is available in the NRCs Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) under Accession No. ML110330256.
The PRB met on February 2, 2011, to discuss your petition and made an initial recommendation to accept your petition in part concerning the inoperability of main steam safety relief valves due to leakage through the shaft to piston thread seals. This issue met the criteria for review.
On February 8, 2011, you were informed of the PRB's initial recommendation to accept your petition in part, and you requested another opportunity to address the PRB to provide comments on the PRB's initial recommendation and additional information in support of your petition. By teleconference on February 14, 2011, you provided information to the PRB in support of your
T. Saporito
- 2 request for an immediate shutdown and an immediate NRC investigation and inspection of VY.
A copy of the transcript is available under ADAMS Accession No. ML110550194.
The PRB confirmed its initial recommendation because the additional information provided on February 14, 2011, did not change the PRB's decision to deny the request for immediate action.
As required by 10 CFR 2.206, the NRC will act on your petition within a reasonable time.
Mr. James Kim, assigned as the manager for your petition, can be reached at (301) 415-4125.
I have enclosed for your information a copy of the notice that the NRC is filing with the Office of the Federal Register for publication. I have also enclosed for your information a copy of the brochure, NUREG/BR-0200, Revision 5, "Public Petition Process," issued February 2003, prepared by the NRC's Office of Public Affairs.
Sincerely, £/p Eric J. Leeds, Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-271
Enclosures:
- 1. Federal Register Notice
- 2. NUREG/BR-0200 cc w/encls: Listserv
[7590-01-P]
u.s. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION ENTERGY NUCLEAR OPERATIONS. INC.
ENTERGY NUCLEAR VERMONT YANKEE. LLC VERMONT YANKEE NUCLEAR POWER STATION DOCKET NO. 50-271 LICENSE NO. DPR-28 RECEIPT OF REQUEST FOR ACTION UNDER 10 CFR 2.206 Notice is hereby given that by petition dated January 14, 2011, Mr. Thomas Saporito has requested that pursuant to Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR), Section 2.206, "Requests for Action under this Subpart," the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) take action with regard to the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station (VY).
Mr. Saporito requested in his petition that the NRC (1) issue a confirmatory order requiring the licensee to immediately bring the reactor in question to a cold shutdown mode of operation; (2) issue a civil penalty against the licensee; (3) remove the licensee's employees responsible for this matter from NRC licensed activities for a period of no less than 5 years; and (4) perform an immediate NRC investigation and inspection of the VY to ensure that all nuclear safety-related systems are properly operational in accordance with the licensee's technical specification and NRC license.
The Petition Review Board (PRB) met on January 24, 2011, to discuss the petition and denied the request for immediate action to bring VY to a cold shutdown mode of operation and to perform an immediate NRC investigation and inspection of the VY because the PRB did not identify any urgent public health and safety concerns that would warrant an immediate shutdown and NRC investigation and inspection.
- 2 On January 24, 2011, Mr. Saporito was informed of the PRB's decision on the immediate action, and he requested an opportunity to address the PRB before its initial meeting to provide supplemental information for the Board's consideration. By teleconference on January 26, 2011, Mr. Saporito provided information to the PRB as further explanation and support for the petition. A copy of the transcript is available in the NRC's Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) under Accession No. ML110330256.
The PRB met on February 2, 2011, to discuss the petition and made an initial recommendation to accept the petition in part concerning the failure of relief valve because this issue met the criteria for review.
On February 8, 2011, Mr. Saporito was informed of the PRB's initial recommendation to accept the petition in part, and Mr. Saporito requested another opportunity to address the PRB to provide comments to the PRB's initial recommendation and additional information in support of the petition. By teleconference on February 14, 2011, Mr. Saporito provided information to the PRB in support of his request for an immediate shutdown and an immediate NRC investigation and inspection of VY. A copy of the transcript is available in ADAMS under Accession No. ML110550194.
The PRB confirmed its initial recommendation because the additional information provided on February 14, 2011, did not change the PRB's decision to deny the request for immediate action.
The requests are being treated pursuant to 10 CFR 2.206 of the Commission's regulations. The requests have been referred to the Director of the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation. As provided by 10 CFR 2.206, appropriate action will be taken on this consolidated petition within a reasonable time.
- 3 Copy of the petition is available to the public from the NRC's Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) in the public Electronic Reading Room on the NRC Web site at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.htmlunder ADAMS Accession No. ML110190233, and is available for inspection at the Commission's Public Document Room, located at One White Flint North, 11555 Rockville Pike (first floor), Rockville, Maryland.
Dated at Rockville, Maryland this 28th day of March 2011 FOR THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
/r
/-~. ~/
- ><, ~~'-'I, Eric J. Leeds, Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
The PRB confirmed its initial recommendation because the additional information provided on February 14, 2011, did not change the PRBs decision to deny the request for immediate action.
As required by 10 CFR 2.206, the NRC will act on your petition within a reasonable time.
Mr. James Kim, assigned as the manager for your petition, can be reached at (301) 415-4125.
I have enclosed for your information a copy of the notice that the NRC is filing with the Office of the Federal Register for publication. I have also enclosed for your information a copy of the brochure, NUREG/BR-0200, Revision 5, "Public Petition Process;' issued February 2003, prepared by the NRCs Office of Public Affairs.
Sincerely, Ira!
Eric J. Leeds, Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket No. 50-271
Enclosures:
- 1. Federal Register Notice
- 2. NUREG/BR-0200 cc w/encls: Listserv DISTRIBUTION: G20110043/EDATS: OEDO-2011-0058 See next page ADAMS Accession Nos:
Package: ML110601251; Incoming: ML110190233 Letter: IVIL110601262; Federal Register Notice: ML110601272 NUREG/BR-0200: ML050900248
- Via email OFFICE LPL L1-1/LA Tech Editor* R1/BC*
LPL1-1/BC DPR/PM*
DPR/DD DORUD NRR/OD NAME JKim SUttle JDougherty DJackson*
NSalgado ELenning TQuay JGiitter ELeeds DATE 3/3/11 3/3/11 3/4/11 3/8/11 3/9/11 3/8/11 3/9/11 3/17/11 3/28/11