ML14353A193
| ML14353A193 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Seabrook  |
| Issue date: | 12/24/2014 |
| From: | Satorius M NRC/EDO |
| To: | Cousins F State of MA |
| Shared Package | |
| ML14325A742 | List: |
| References | |
| LTR-14-0676-1 | |
| Download: ML14353A193 (4) | |
Text
December 24, 2014 Sheriff Frank G. Cousins, Jr.
Essex County, Massachusetts 20 Manning Avenue P. O. Box 807 Middleton, MA 01949-2807
Dear Sheriff Cousins:
I am responding to the two issues you raised in a letter to U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Chairman Alison M. MacFarlane dated November 3, 2014, regarding concerns brought to you by Stephen Comley. The two issues noted involved Mr. Comleys concerns with the suitability of the evacuation plan for Seabrook Station and the surrounding communities as well as assertions pertaining to the use of substandard parts and equipment at Seabrook. You requested confirmation that the NRC is paying proper attention to the issues raised by Mr.
Comley before consideration is given to renewing the operating license for Seabrook Station.
The NRC staff is aware of the past and recent concerns raised by Mr. Comley. His most recent concerns were presented to the NRC at a public meeting in December 2013; his remarks can be found in a video recording on the NRCs public website at: http://video.nrc.gov/
vPlayer.php?eventID=903&type=JW. Mr. Comley was actively engaged with the agency on these same issues in the years prior to and following the initial NRC licensing of Seabrook Station in 1990.
With regard to the adequacy of evacuation planning around Seabrook Station, evacuations are conducted in accordance with State and local radiological emergency response plans reviewed and approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). To better inform protective action decision-making and to assist in the development of traffic management plans to support an evacuation, NRC regulations require that a nuclear power reactor licensee develop an evacuation time estimate (ETE) analysis using the most recent U.S. Census Bureau resident population data and State/local government population data, if available. The ETE is a calculation of the time to evacuate the plume exposure pathway emergency planning zone, which is an area within a radius of about 10 miles around a nuclear power plant, for applicable evacuation scenarios considering the season, day and time during the week, weather conditions, etc. Information found in FEMA-approved State/local emergency response plans is used by Seabrook Station when developing an ETE study to ensure that the results represent
F. Cousins 2
the expected response from offsite authorities. The latest ETE update for Seabrook Station was developed in December 2012 and is publicly available in the NRC Agency-wide Document Management and Access System (ADAMS), which can be accessed on the NRC website under Accession No. ML12363A239.
The responsibility for reviewing the adequacy of offsite emergency preparedness resides with FEMA. A FEMA-evaluated exercise of the licensees emergency preparedness is conducted every two years, and is used by FEMA to evaluate elements of the State/local emergency response plans supporting an evacuation. When the NRC receives the final biennial exercise report from FEMA, it is posted on the NRC public website at: http://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/emerg-preparedness/related-information/fema-after-action-reports.html. The most recent FEMA report for Seabrook Station was for the biennial exercise in April 2012, which is also publicly available in ADAMS under Accession No. ML12258A200. The last Seabrook biennial exercise was conducted in November 2014; that report has yet to be published. To date, FEMA has found that offsite emergency preparedness in the Seabrook area communities provides reasonable assurance of adequate protection of public health and safety in the event of a radiological emergency at Seabrook Station.
With regard to substandard parts being supplied to Seabrook Station, the staff reviewed the materials provided by Mr. Comley, but noted that most of his concerns date to the 1987-1990 time period, or shortly thereafter. Absent any specific information regarding this matter, such as the parts involved, their suppliers or the licensee(s) which used such parts, and given the historic nature of his concerns, the staff cannot take any further action pertaining to this matter without additional information.
When substandard or counterfeit parts were believed to be supplied to commercial nuclear power plants, the NRC has taken actions to notify the nuclear industry of these events and take corrective actions. For example, in 2008 and 2011, the NRC issued Information Notices to the industry regarding counterfeit parts and commercial grade dedication issues, respectively.
In 1989, the NRC staff issued Generic Letter 89-02, Actions to Improve the Detection of Counterfeit and Fraudulently Marketed Products. In that generic letter, it also lists a number of communications made in preceding years regarding this issue. Furthermore, 10 CFR Part 21 requires that suppliers or NRC licensees promptly report, to the NRC, component defects or non-compliances that could create a substantial safety hazard so that appropriate action can be taken. In cases when substandard parts are knowingly provided by suppliers, the NRC has taken criminal action against the individuals involved (see NRC Information Notice 93-73, available on the NRC website). The NRC does conduct inspections of vendors that supply critical components to the nuclear industry to confirm conformance with NRC safety regulations; those efforts have expanded in recent years with the construction of four new nuclear reactors in Georgia and South Carolina.
Regarding the use of substandard parts at Seabrook Station, the licensee has a corrective action system to address the identification and correction of any such equipment. The NRC has unfettered access to this system for inspection and enforcement purposes. However, after 24 years of operational service, the NRC is not aware of any significant safety issues at Seabrook Station that were later attributed to the use of substandard or counterfeit parts.
F. Cousins 3
In summary, the agency is aware of Mr. Comleys concerns regarding these two issues and has properly reviewed those brought to you. If you have additional questions or concerns in this matter, or are provided additional information to support further staff review, please do not hesitate to contact Glenn Dentel in Region I at (610) 337-5233.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Mark A. Satorius Executive Director for Operations Docket No.: 50-443
F. Cousins 3
In summary, the agency is aware of Mr. Comleys concerns regarding these two issues and has properly reviewed those brought to you. If you have additional questions or concerns in this matter, or are provided additional information to support further staff review, please do not hesitate to contact Glenn Dentel in Region I at (610) 337-5233.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Mark A. Satorius Executive Director for Operations Docket No.: 50-443 Distribution w/encl: (via e-mail)
D. Dorman, RA D. Lew, DRA H. Nieh, DRP M. Scott, DRP R. Lorson, DRS J. Trapp, DRS G. Dentel, DRP R. Barkley, DRP M. Draxton, DRP C. Highley, DRP P. Cataldo, DRP, SRI C. Newport, DRP, RI A. Cass, DRP, Resident AA K. MorganButler, RI, OEDO RidsNrrPMSeabrook Resource RidsNrrDorlLpl1-2 Resource ROPreports Resource OEDO DOCUMENT NAME: G:\\DRP\\BRANCH3\\SEABROOK\\LETTER TO SHERIFF COUSINS RE SB, LTR-14-0676-1.DOCX ADAMS Document Accession No.: ML14353A193 (Ltr) ML14325A742 (Pkj)
SUNSI Review Non-Sensitive Sensitive
Publicly Available
Non-Publicly Available OFFICE RI/DRP RI/DRP RI/SLO NSIR/DPR
- NRO/DCIP
- NAME RBarkley/ RSB GDentel/ GTD NMcNamara/ DBT JAnderson/ RSB for RRasmussen/ RSB for DATE 12/16/14 12/17/14 12/16/14 1217/14 12/17 /14 OFFICE RI/DRP RI/ORA OEDO NAME HNieh/ HKN DDorman/ DHD MSatorius/
DATE 12/17/14 12/18 /14 12/24 /14 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY
December 24, 2014 Sheriff Frank G. Cousins, Jr.
Essex County, Massachusetts 20 Manning Avenue P. O. Box 807 Middleton, MA 01949-2807
Dear Sheriff Cousins:
I am responding to the two issues you raised in a letter to U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Chairman Alison M. MacFarlane dated November 3, 2014, regarding concerns brought to you by Stephen Comley. The two issues noted involved Mr. Comleys concerns with the suitability of the evacuation plan for Seabrook Station and the surrounding communities as well as assertions pertaining to the use of substandard parts and equipment at Seabrook. You requested confirmation that the NRC is paying proper attention to the issues raised by Mr.
Comley before consideration is given to renewing the operating license for Seabrook Station.
The NRC staff is aware of the past and recent concerns raised by Mr. Comley. His most recent concerns were presented to the NRC at a public meeting in December 2013; his remarks can be found in a video recording on the NRCs public website at: http://video.nrc.gov/
vPlayer.php?eventID=903&type=JW. Mr. Comley was actively engaged with the agency on these same issues in the years prior to and following the initial NRC licensing of Seabrook Station in 1990.
With regard to the adequacy of evacuation planning around Seabrook Station, evacuations are conducted in accordance with State and local radiological emergency response plans reviewed and approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). To better inform protective action decision-making and to assist in the development of traffic management plans to support an evacuation, NRC regulations require that a nuclear power reactor licensee develop an evacuation time estimate (ETE) analysis using the most recent U.S. Census Bureau resident population data and State/local government population data, if available. The ETE is a calculation of the time to evacuate the plume exposure pathway emergency planning zone, which is an area within a radius of about 10 miles around a nuclear power plant, for applicable evacuation scenarios considering the season, day and time during the week, weather conditions, etc. Information found in FEMA-approved State/local emergency response plans is used by Seabrook Station when developing an ETE study to ensure that the results represent
F. Cousins 2
the expected response from offsite authorities. The latest ETE update for Seabrook Station was developed in December 2012 and is publicly available in the NRC Agency-wide Document Management and Access System (ADAMS), which can be accessed on the NRC website under Accession No. ML12363A239.
The responsibility for reviewing the adequacy of offsite emergency preparedness resides with FEMA. A FEMA-evaluated exercise of the licensees emergency preparedness is conducted every two years, and is used by FEMA to evaluate elements of the State/local emergency response plans supporting an evacuation. When the NRC receives the final biennial exercise report from FEMA, it is posted on the NRC public website at: http://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/emerg-preparedness/related-information/fema-after-action-reports.html. The most recent FEMA report for Seabrook Station was for the biennial exercise in April 2012, which is also publicly available in ADAMS under Accession No. ML12258A200. The last Seabrook biennial exercise was conducted in November 2014; that report has yet to be published. To date, FEMA has found that offsite emergency preparedness in the Seabrook area communities provides reasonable assurance of adequate protection of public health and safety in the event of a radiological emergency at Seabrook Station.
With regard to substandard parts being supplied to Seabrook Station, the staff reviewed the materials provided by Mr. Comley, but noted that most of his concerns date to the 1987-1990 time period, or shortly thereafter. Absent any specific information regarding this matter, such as the parts involved, their suppliers or the licensee(s) which used such parts, and given the historic nature of his concerns, the staff cannot take any further action pertaining to this matter without additional information.
When substandard or counterfeit parts were believed to be supplied to commercial nuclear power plants, the NRC has taken actions to notify the nuclear industry of these events and take corrective actions. For example, in 2008 and 2011, the NRC issued Information Notices to the industry regarding counterfeit parts and commercial grade dedication issues, respectively.
In 1989, the NRC staff issued Generic Letter 89-02, Actions to Improve the Detection of Counterfeit and Fraudulently Marketed Products. In that generic letter, it also lists a number of communications made in preceding years regarding this issue. Furthermore, 10 CFR Part 21 requires that suppliers or NRC licensees promptly report, to the NRC, component defects or non-compliances that could create a substantial safety hazard so that appropriate action can be taken. In cases when substandard parts are knowingly provided by suppliers, the NRC has taken criminal action against the individuals involved (see NRC Information Notice 93-73, available on the NRC website). The NRC does conduct inspections of vendors that supply critical components to the nuclear industry to confirm conformance with NRC safety regulations; those efforts have expanded in recent years with the construction of four new nuclear reactors in Georgia and South Carolina.
Regarding the use of substandard parts at Seabrook Station, the licensee has a corrective action system to address the identification and correction of any such equipment. The NRC has unfettered access to this system for inspection and enforcement purposes. However, after 24 years of operational service, the NRC is not aware of any significant safety issues at Seabrook Station that were later attributed to the use of substandard or counterfeit parts.
F. Cousins 3
In summary, the agency is aware of Mr. Comleys concerns regarding these two issues and has properly reviewed those brought to you. If you have additional questions or concerns in this matter, or are provided additional information to support further staff review, please do not hesitate to contact Glenn Dentel in Region I at (610) 337-5233.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Mark A. Satorius Executive Director for Operations Docket No.: 50-443
F. Cousins 3
In summary, the agency is aware of Mr. Comleys concerns regarding these two issues and has properly reviewed those brought to you. If you have additional questions or concerns in this matter, or are provided additional information to support further staff review, please do not hesitate to contact Glenn Dentel in Region I at (610) 337-5233.
Sincerely,
/RA/
Mark A. Satorius Executive Director for Operations Docket No.: 50-443 Distribution w/encl: (via e-mail)
D. Dorman, RA D. Lew, DRA H. Nieh, DRP M. Scott, DRP R. Lorson, DRS J. Trapp, DRS G. Dentel, DRP R. Barkley, DRP M. Draxton, DRP C. Highley, DRP P. Cataldo, DRP, SRI C. Newport, DRP, RI A. Cass, DRP, Resident AA K. MorganButler, RI, OEDO RidsNrrPMSeabrook Resource RidsNrrDorlLpl1-2 Resource ROPreports Resource OEDO DOCUMENT NAME: G:\\DRP\\BRANCH3\\SEABROOK\\LETTER TO SHERIFF COUSINS RE SB, LTR-14-0676-1.DOCX ADAMS Document Accession No.: ML14353A193 (Ltr) ML14325A742 (Pkj)
SUNSI Review Non-Sensitive Sensitive
Publicly Available
Non-Publicly Available OFFICE RI/DRP RI/DRP RI/SLO NSIR/DPR
- NRO/DCIP
- NAME RBarkley/ RSB GDentel/ GTD NMcNamara/ DBT JAnderson/ RSB for RRasmussen/ RSB for DATE 12/16/14 12/17/14 12/16/14 1217/14 12/17 /14 OFFICE RI/DRP RI/ORA OEDO NAME HNieh/ HKN DDorman/ DHD MSatorius/
DATE 12/17/14 12/18 /14 12/24 /14 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY