ML12178A149
| ML12178A149 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Pilgrim |
| Issue date: | 07/13/2012 |
| From: | Brian Holian Division of License Renewal |
| To: | Murzyn M Town of Kingston, MA |
| Morey D, 415-6852 | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML12178A162 | List: |
| References | |
| G20120387, LTR-12-0229, SECY-2012-0289, TAC ME8838 | |
| Download: ML12178A149 (3) | |
Text
July 13, 2012 Ms. Mary Lou Murzyn, MMC/CMMC Town Clerk Town Of Kingston 26 Evergreen Street Kingston, MA 02364
Dear Ms. Murzyn:
On behalf of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), I am responding to your letter of May 7, 2012, regarding the Town of Kingstons vote to oppose the continued operation of the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station (PNPS) until all safety improvements recommended by the NRC as result of lessons learned from failures of similarly designed reactors in Fukushima, Japan, have been fully implemented. In addition, your letter requests that the NRC immediately suspend all further action on the application of Entergy Corporation for renewal of its license to operate PNPS until such full implementation has been accomplished.
The NRC staff has considered the facts known to date and has concluded that U.S. reactors continue to operate safely. Since the events of March 2011, at Fukushima Dai-ichi, the NRC staff has been focused on indentifying lessons learned, assessing those lessons learned, and making any necessary enhancements to its regulatory system. In March 2011, the NRC established a senior level agency near-term task force (NTTF) to conduct a methodical and systematic review of NRC processes and regulations to determine whether the agency should make additional improvements to our regulatory system. The NTTF submitted its report and recommendations to the Commission in July 2011. In October 2011, the staff provided its proposed plan of action and prioritization of the NTTF recommendations, which included the identification of recommendations related to lessons learned from the Fukushima Dai-ichi event beyond those identified in the NTTF report. Additionally, the NRC has already begun applying the lessons learned with issuance of orders and Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) 50.54(f) letters in March of this year. PNPS has received the orders and the 50.54(f) letter and must comply. Further information about NRC actions in response to the Japan nuclear accident is available at http://www.nrc.gov/reactors/operating/ops-experience/japan-info.html. If, as this process continues, the NRC determines that the Commissions regulations should be further examined and potentially revised, the agency will promptly undertake such an examination.
The renewed Pilgrim license was issued on May 29, 2012, and will expire on June 8, 2032.
However, if, at any time, the NRC receives information from inspection activities or reporting activities that shows there is a basis to question the continued safe operation of PNPS, the agency can take the appropriate actions as part of the its ongoing safety oversight.
For additional information on the license renewal process, please review the information provided on the agencys Web site at http://www.nrc.gov/reactors/operating/licensing/renewal.html.
M. Murzyn We appreciate hearing your views and thank you for your interest in the matter. If you have any questions, please contact me or Dennis Morey, Chief, Projects Branch 1, in the Division of License Renewal at 301-415-6852.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Brian E. Holian, Director Division of License Renewal Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
ML12178A162 (Pkg.); ML12158A191 (Inc.); ML12178A149 (Ltr.) *concurrence by e-mail OFFICE NRR/RPB2/LA*
NRR/RPB1/PM NRR/RPB1/PM OGC (NLO)
NAME IKing TMarenchin NFerrer MSpencer DATE 07/02/2012 07/05/2012 07/09/2012 07/11/2012 OFFICE NRR/RPB1/BC NRR/DLR/D NAME DMorey BHolian DATE 07/11/2012 07/13/2012