ML12094A276

LTR-12-0115 - Thomas F. O'Brien to Chairman Jaczko Resolution with Respect to the Relicensing of the Seabrook Station

ML12094A276
Person / Time
Site:	Seabrook
Issue date:	03/12/2012
From:	O'Brien T City of Newburyport, MA, City Council
To:	Jaczko G NRC/Chairman
Shared Package
ML12094A277	List: ML12094A276 ML12094A283
References
LTR-12-0115
Download: ML12094A276 (5)

Text

Dilte Primed: Mar 22,2012 09:25 PAPER NUMBER: ~12.0115 LOGGING DATE: 03/21120 l2 ACTION OFFICE: (7ED AUTHOR: Thomas O'Brien AFFILIATION: MA ADDRESSEE: Gregory Jaczko

SUBJECT:

Resolution with respect to the relicensing of the Seabrook Station ACTION: Appropriate DISTRIBUTION: RF LETTER DATE: 03112/2012 ACKNOWLEDGED No SPECIAL HANDLING: OGC to prepare ex parte response for SECY's signature ... to be reviewed by SECY/RAS NOTES: EDO for Appropriate Action FILE LOCATION: ADAMS DATE DUE: DA TE SIGNED:

CITY OF NEWBURYPORT March 12, 2012 tTY COUNC1L Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chairman Gregory B. Jaczko NEWBURYPORT CITY HALL Washington, DC 20555-0001 60 PLEASt\NT STREET

Dear Chairman Jaczko,

P.O. Box 550 On January 30, 2012 the City Council of the Newburyport voted unanimously to adopt N EWBUR YPORT, MA 01950 the enclosed Resolution with respect to the relicensing of the Seabrook Station. As TEL 978-465-4407 members of the Newburyport City Council, we feel we have a responsibility to FAX: 978-462 7936 address public safety matters on behalf of the residents, visitors, and businesses in our community. Accordingly, we wish to inform the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) of our deep concern about current safety risks posed by the Seabrook nuclear power plant. Specifically, we are concerned about significant degradation of concrete in the nuclear power plant structure due to unabated groundwater infiltration and the admission by the NRC that the full of extent of this problem is unknown.

It is of the utmost importance in the case of the Seabrook reactor that the NRC not relicense this facility based on an "aging management plan" submitted to and approved by the NRC. The scope and complexity ofthe corrective measures at Seabrook Station warrant that the reactor's owner/operator repair the concrete and abate the groundwater infiltration before the NRC considers relicensing. The NRC should not accept a paperwork promise to fix the plant as the baSis of relicensing.

The NRC should, instead, strengthen its oversight of Seabrook Station. We appreciate that the NRC inspection team reported the degradation to the public. We are, however, justifiably concerned that the groundwater infiltration and resulting structural concrete degradation have gone on for years-by the NRC's own account-without being fully addressed.

The NRC has now described concre~e degradation as "severe", finding a twenty-two percent (2.2%) reduction in compression strength only halfway through the plant'S current operating license. Clearly, the processes leading to this degradation did not occur overnight. Thus, it is reasonable to expect the NRC to determine if on-site inspections have adhered to existing protocols in every respect and, further, to determine if the inspection protocols themselves are adequate. For the sake of safety and transparency, it is also reasonable to ask the NRC to distribute their findings to the publk.

Our constituents know that a building is no stronger than its foundation. We, and many constituents, are concerned that the NRC and Seabrook's owner/operator are rushing to relicense this nuclear power plant without first guaranteeing the long-term stability and safety of the facility. With 18 years left on the current license, there is absolutely no reason for the NRC to accelerate the relicensure process.

Our constituents deserve complete assurance that the significant problems the NRC has reported will not result in Seabrook's sirens warning us to evacuate this great city.

Respect~ly submitted by,

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. \ ",.' A-- .L/J Thom'~s F. O'Brien, President and Members of the Newburyport City Council TFO/lmv Enclosure

C]['T'Y O]P NlEW1B,Umt.YPOJR.1r IN CITY COUNCIL ORDERED: Date:

January 30, 2012 RESOLUTION ON SEABROOK STATION RELICENSING Whereas, in May 2011, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission(NRC) reported that concrete degradation caused by an alkali-silica reaction had significantly weakened foundation structures at the Seabrook nuclear power plant; and Whereas, the NRC has stated that such degradation has affected a safety structure at the plant; and Whereas, the NRC admitted it did not know the extent and severity of the degradation throughout the plant's foundation where groundwater has saturated the concrete: and .

Whereas, Seabrook Station is the only commercial reactor in the United States with confinued structural concrete degradation affecting a safety structure; and Whereas, in light of this condition. the NRC has notified all commercial reactors in the United States to search for similar concrete degradation due to alkali-silica reaction; and Whereas, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has the primary responsibility to regulate commercial nuclear reactor operations and protect public safety related to said operations; Therefore, be it resolved that the Newburyport City Council request the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to take the following steps:

• Immediately halt all relicensing activities related to Seabrook Station;

• Conduct peer-reviewed studies ofthe reactor's ability to withstand seismic activity with compromised structural concrete, and publicly report the results of these studies:

• Fully investigate the causes of the unabated groundwater infiltration and resulting concrete degradation, and publicly report the results of such investigation;

• Devise a corrective action program to address both groundwater infiltration and concrete degradation throughout the facility;

• Require the owner and operator of Seabrook Station to take corrective measures to stop groundwater infiltration and related concrete degradation;

• Inspect and monitor the results of those corrective measures over a sustained (multtyear) period of time to ensure that corrective measures are effective;

-. If, following corrective measures and sustained monitoring, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission determines that degradation of safety structures has not abated, that it suspend the license to operate Seabrook Station until safe operation ofthis reactor can be assured.

Councillor Kathleen O'Connor h'es

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Councillor Edward C. Cameron

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/Councillor Barry N. Connell '

Councillor Robert J. Cronin In City Council January 30, 2012 Motion to approve by Councillor Connell, seconded by Councillor Cameron. Roll calt vote, 10 :t~s. 1 absent (Heartquist). So voted.

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. "hi Attest: J\ vi t** -,,_ -

Ri2har~ B. Jones, City Clerk

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