ML12025A296
| ML12025A296 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Indian Point  |
| Issue date: | 02/13/2012 |
| From: | Galloway M Division of License Renewal |
| To: | Tryon E State of NY |
| Buford A | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML12026A451 | List: |
| References | |
| G20110866, LTR-11-0666, SECY-2011-0665, TAC ME7732, EDATS SECY-2011-0665 | |
| Download: ML12025A296 (4) | |
Text
February 13, 2012 Mr. Eric Tryon 17 Pasture Lane Poughkeepsie, NY 12603
Dear Mr. Tryon:
On behalf of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), I am responding to your letter of November 10, 2011, to Chairman Gregory Jaczko expressing your concerns about the Indian Point Nuclear Generating Units 2 and 3 license renewal. In light of the recent events in Japan, you called on the NRC to consider seismic and emergency planning concerns before making a decision regarding license renewal.
Regarding the NRCs license renewal process, we consider the evaluation of seismic hazards and emergency planning (which includes evacuation planning) to be ongoing regulatory concerns; therefore, we review these issues as part of our continuous oversight of operating reactors. The license renewal review is not a re-review of the licensing basis, rather, it is focused on managing the age-related degradation of passive systems, structures, and components to ensure they will fulfill their safety-related functions, as specified in the current licensing basis. Therefore, any age-related degradation of systems, structures, or components in a plants aging management plan will be evaluated by the applicant and reviewed by the NRC staff as part of the license renewal process.
The NRC has multiple processes to evaluate the adequacy of current plant operations and licensing bases. Should the NRC become aware at any time of information calling into question the continued safe operation of any nuclear power plant, including Indian Point Nuclear Generating Units 2 and 3, the NRC will take the appropriate actions as part of the agencys ongoing safety oversight, regardless of whether those plants have or are seeking a renewed license.
In response to the events in Japan, the NRC has established a senior-level agency task force to conduct a methodical and systematic review of our programs, processes, and regulations to make recommendations to the Commission about whether the agency should make additional enhancements to our regulatory system. This review includes an assessment of regulatory issues associated with seismic hazards, with near-term and longer-term objectives. As part of the near-term review, the task force concluded that the continued operation of nuclear power plants does not pose an imminent risk to public health and safety. The near-term review and recommendations of the task force are available on the NRC public website (www.nrc.gov).
The staff has prioritized the recommendations of the near-term task force, and the NRC plans to issue the related orders and Demands for Information by March 11, 2012. As appropriate, the NRC is also pursuing additional activities that appear to be prudent, including inspection activities and NRC generic communications, to look at the readiness of plants to deal with both design-basis and beyond-design-basis accidents.
In summary, the NRC continues to make its responsibilities for the licensing and oversight of U.S. licensees its top priority and is committed to the continued safe operation of U.S. nuclear
power plants. The recommendations of the NRCs task force will be taken into account in carrying out our safety mission. Further, the NRC has the necessary regulatory tools to require changes to existing licenses should the agency determine that changes are necessary. Based on these efforts, the agency will take all appropriate actions necessary to ensure the continuing safety of the American public.
Sincerely,
/RA/ M. Delligatti for Melanie A. Galloway, Acting Director Division of License Renewal Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
- ML12026A451 (Pkg.); ML11354A405 (Incoming): ML12025A296 (Response)
- concurrence via e-mail OFFICE TR:RASB:DLR*
LA:RPB1:DLR BC:RPB1:DLR OGC (NLO)
NAME ABuford YEdmonds DMorey STurk DATE 02/09/2012 02/09/2012 02/08/2012 02/09/2012 OFFICE D:DLR NAME MGalloway (MDelligatti for)
DATE 02/13/2012
Letter to E. Tryon from M. Galloway dated February 13, 2012
SUBJECT:
INDIAN POINT LICENSE RENEWAL DISTRIBUTION: G20110866/LTR-11-0666/EDATS: SECY-2011-0665 HARD COPY:
DLR RF EMAIL:
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