ML12206A007

G20120528/LTR-12-0216/EDATS: SECY-2012-0376 - Ltr. Therese Murray Concerns Over the Relicensing of the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station

ML12206A007
Person / Time
Site:	Pilgrim
Issue date:	05/04/2012
From:	Calter T, Demacedo V, Murray T State of MA, Senate
To:	Jaczko G NRC/Chairman
References
G20120528, LTR-12-0216, SECY-2012-0376, CORR-12-0085
Download: ML12206A007 (5)

Text

EDO Principal Correspondence Control FROM: DUE: 07/30/12 EDO CONTROL: G20120528 DOC DT: 05/04/12 FINAL REPLY:

Therese Murray The Commonwealth of Massachusetts TO:

Chairman Jaczko FOR SIGNATURE OF : ** GRN ** CRC NO: 12-0216 Chairman Macfarlane DESC: ROUTING:

Concerns Over the Relicensing of the Pilgrim Borchardt Nuclear Power Station (EDATS: SECY-2012-0376) Weber Johnson Ash Mamish OGC/GC DATE: 07/23/12 Harrison, OEDO ASSIGNED TO: CONTACT:

NRR Leeds SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR REMARKS:

~4~3/4-OI

EDATS Number: SECY-2012-0376 Source: SECY Genera Inomtn Assigned To: NRR OEDO Due Date: 7/30/2012 11:00 PM Other Assignees: SECY Due Date: NONE

Subject:

Concerns Over the Relicensing of the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station

==

Description:==

CC Routing: NONE ADAMS Accession Numbers - Incoming: NONE Response/Package: NONE Other Information Cross Reference Number: G20120528, LTR-12-0216 Staff Initiated: NO Related Task: Recurring Item: NO File Routing: EDATS Agency Lesson Learned: NO OEDO Monthly Report Item: NO PoesI nfrato Action Type: Letter Priority: Medium Sensitivity: None Signature Level: Chairman Jaczko Urgency: NO Approval Level: No Approval Required OEDO Concurrence: YES OCM Concurrence: NO OCA Concurrence: NO Special Instructions:

DocIumen Inf ai Originator Name: Therese Murray Date of Incoming: 5/4/2012 Originating Organization: The Commonwealth of Document Received by SECY Date: 5/18/2012 Massachusetts Addressee: Chainnan Jaczko Date Response Requested by Originator: NONE Incoming Task Received: Letter Page 1 of I

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY CORRESPONDENCE CONTROL TICKET Date Printed: Ma)' 18, 2012 08:5 7 PAPER NUMBER: LTR- 12-02 16 LOGGING DATE: 05/15/2012 ACTION OFFICE: EDO AUTHOR: Therese Murray AFFILIATION: MA-SH ADDRESSEE: CHRM Gregory Jaczko

SUBJECT:

Concerns over the relicensing of the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station ACTION: Signature of Chairman DISTRIBUTION: RF, SECY to Ack.

LETTER DATE: 05/04/2012 ACKNOWLEDGED No SPECIAL HANDLING: Commission Correspondence NOTES:

FILE LOCATION: ADAMS DATE DUE: 06/08/2012 DATE SIGNED:

EDO -- G20120528

tffIe (9mm~uindflf Vf~1D5usarI4U!5ff5 MASSACHUSETTS SENATE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT DISTRICT OFFICE THERESE MURRAY TEN CORDAGE PARK CIRCLE PRESIDEN'r ROOM 229 PLYMOUTH, MA 02360 STATE HousE, ROOM 332 TEL: (508) 746-9332 BOSTON, MA 02133-1053 TEL. (617) 722-1500 THERESE.MURRAY@MASENATE.GOV FAX (617) 248-3840 www.MASENATE.GOV May 4, 2012 Chairman Gregory B. Jaczko U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission One White Flint North 11555 Rockville Pike Rockville, MD 20852

Dear Chairman Jaczko:

We write to you again to express our concerns over the relicensing of the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station.

The report of the "Near-Term Task Force," commissioned by the NRC after the catastrophe at the Fukushima Dai-lchi nuclear power plant in Japan, called attention to several key findings and recommendations needed to ensure the full operability and safety of Pilgrim.

Among these recommendations, the Task Force discussed various issues which we believe should be addressed prior to the relicensing of Pilgrim. Those recommendations include increasing the "minimum coping time" to eight hours at each unit. In other words, the systems that would take over would have to be able to sustain their operations for at least eight hours, in a manner that requires mininmal operator action. The Task Force also recommended an "extended coping capability" of 72 hours8.333333e-4 days <br />0.02 hours <br />1.190476e-4 weeks <br />2.7396e-5 months <br />, during which time operators could either restore power or deploy portable equipment that could sustainably cool the nuclear core, and the spent fuel pools. The Task Force additionally recommended requiring the "coping systems and equipment" to be stored fifteen to twenty feet above the flooding level of the plant.

With regard to spent fuel pools, as the promise of a nuclear waste depository may never be fulfilled, we not onlysupport,but also expect the transfer of the spent fuel rods currently sitting at Pilgrim into dry cask storage. For several years now w.e have asked for this important public safety initiative to be done and for equally as many years, our pleas have fallen on deaf ears. This is a primary concern of several elected officials in the Commonwealth, including the Governor and the Attorney General.,

However, until those spent fuel rods can be safely transferred to dry cask storage, the Task Force recommended requiring improved instrumentation that would allow operators to monitor the condition of the spent fuel pools from the control room. They also recommended requiring seismically-triggered sprinkler systems, supplied by independent pumping capabilities.

Finally, the Task Force considered, and offered recommendations for improvements of, the use of reliable hardened vents that could be used to relieve built-up air pressure.

With these recommendations in mind, we respectfully request that the NRC require, as a condition of relicensing, the completion of these Task Force recommendations by the owners of the Pilgrim plant to ensure a safer community for all residents of and visitors to the Plymouth area and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

We also hope that, should the NRC move fbrward with the relicensing, that serious consideration be given to shortening the period of the license down from the current 20 years. With increased inspections, the NRC will ensure the continued integrity of the existing infrastructure while alleviating the concerns of residents and elected officials alikA 'A . _

President of the Senate State Representative State Representative First Plymouth District Twelfth Plymouth District