ML16341C931

Discusses Reasons for Delays in Facility Const Completion, in Response to of Concern.Verification of Ability of Plant to Withstand Possible Earthquake Is Main Cause of Delay

ML16341C931
Person / Time
Site:	Diablo Canyon
Issue date:	04/20/1979
From:	Harold Denton Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:	Wadekamper D AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED
Shared Package
ML16340A468	List: ML16341C931
References
NUDOCS 7906010297
Download: ML16341C931 (24)

Text

ApR Z0 )g7g Docket Nos':,50-275 and 50-323 Nr. Donald k'adekamper 964 Riesling Drive Pleasanton, California 94566

Dear 5. Madekamper:

Distributi on:

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R. Denton E.

G. case R.

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Boyd D.

F.

Ross D.

F.

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DeYoung R. J. Nattson V. Stello

'(p D.

B. Vassallo J.

F. Stolz B.

C. Buckley E.

G. Hylton ELD G. Ertter

. (05790)

N.

M. Groff E.

Hughes E. Moore J. Yore, ASLB IE (3)

SECY Nailg (06+)

I am pleased to respond to your letter dated Parch 28, 1979, to the Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Since it >>ould not be appropriate under current Corrmission rules for the Chairman to coment on your concern, your letter was referred to me for reply.

You expressed concern over the delays in the completion of construction of the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Plants due to modifications required as a result of the Cooeission' staff review and from pressure from anti-nuclear minority groups over their concern about damage to these plants from an earthquake.

Furthermore, you urged that the Conmission grant an operating license to the Pacific Gas 5 Electric Company for Diablo Canyon, Unit l.

In reviewing the construction record, it would appear that about 3 years of delay in the operation of the facility is attributable to licensing modifications instead of the 7 years you mentioned.

As you may know, the major safety concern during our review of Diablo Canyon was the ability of the plant to safely withstand the effects of a postulated earthquake from the nearby Hosgri fault.

The Hosgri fault, which is located approximately 3'/2 miles from the Diablo Canyon Plants, was discovered in 1971's a result of this discovery, an intensive study of the effect of the Hosgri fault was undertaken by the Pacific Gas 5

Electric Company, the U. S. Geological Survey and the Nuclear Regulatory Comnission.

The results of this study, indicated that significant modifications were necessary in order that the Diablo Canyon Plants withstand a magnitude 7.5 earthquake at the Hosgri fault.

While we believe this to be a very severe design basis earthquake, we find that the required modifications and attendant delays were necessary and in the best interest of the general public.

Comprehensive public hearings were conducted over a period. of several months by an Atomic Safety and Licensing Board.

These hearings were completed on February 15, 1979 and the record was closed early last month.

The Atomic Safety and Licensing Board is in the process of. prepat ing its decision regarding the licensing of Diablo Canyon based on the record of these proceedings.

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Mr. Donald Hadekamper The ground motion earthquake that <<as recorded from the June 12, 1978 earthquake event at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Station in Japan

<<as about t<<o-thirds of that level for <<hich the plant <<as designed, although substantially'over than that for <<hich the Diablo Canyon plant is designed.

Since domestic nuclear po<<er plants are designed very similarly to these Japanese plants, this event gives us confidence that American plants should also be capable of <<ithstanding similar events.

We <<i11 continue to folio<< the reports dealing <<ith the effect of the June 12, 1978 earthquake on the Fukushima Station and vill consider this. information >cith respect

'o staff criteria for domestic nuclear plant designs.

Thank you for your interest.

Sincer ly, Harold R. Denton, Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

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to foNotI he reports dealing with the effect of the June 12, 978 earthquake on the Fb ushima Station and will consider this information th respect to staff cr eria for domestic nuclear plant designs.

Thank you for yo r interest.

Sincerely, Harold R.

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Docket Nos:

50-275 and 50>>323 Mr. Do ld ktadekamper 964 Ries ng Drive

, Pleasanton, alifornia 94566 Bear Mr. l<ade per:

Distribution:

Docket File NRC PDR Local PDR EDO Reading NRR Reading LllR Pl File H. r. Denton E.

G.

Case R.

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Boy D.

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C. Buckely E.

G.

H lton ELD G

Rtter (05790)

M. Groff E.

Hughes E. Moore J. Yore, ASLB IE (3)

SECY Mail (0636)

I am pleased to spond to our letter dated. March 28, 1979, to the Chairman of the N

lear gulatory Commission.

Since it would not be appropriate under c rre.

Comnission rules for the Chairman to cogent on your concern yrour tter was referred to me for reply.

You expressed con rn o er'he delays in the completion of construction

. of the Diablo C

yon Nuc ar Plants due to modifications required as a result of th Commissio staff review and from pressure from anti-nuclear minor ty groups ov their concern about damage to these plants from an ear quake.

Further e, you urged that the Commission grant an operati g license to the P

ic Gas S Electric Company for Diablo

Canyon, U it 1.

In revi wing the construction reco <d, 4 would appear that about 3 years of del in the operation of the faci'lit is attributab'le to licensing modifications instead of the 7 years you ntioned.

As you may know, the major safety concern during our review f Diablo Canyon was the ability of the plant to safely withstand the fects of a postulated earthquake from the nearby Hosgri fault.

The gri fault, which is located approximately 3 1/2 miles from the Diab o anyon Plants, was discovered in 1971.

As a result of this discov y, an intensive study of the effect of the Hosgri fault was undertaken by

>e Pacific Gas 8

Electric Company, the U. S. Geological Survey an the

'uclear Regulatory Commission.

The results of this study, indicated that ignificant modifications were necessary in order that the Diablo Ca yon Plants viithstand a magnitude 7.5 earthquake at the Hosgri fault.

While we believe this to be a very severe design basis earthquake, we find that the required modifications and attendant delays were necessary and in the best interest of the general public.

Comprehensive public hearings

<sere conducted over a period of several months by an Atomic Safety and Licensing Board.

These hearings were completed on February 15, 1979 and the record v.as closed early last month.

The Atomic Safety and Licensing Board is in the process of preparing its decision regarding the licensing of Diablo Canyon based on the record of'hese proceedinqs.

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C Deyoung SE Mail (0646)

R. J. Mattso

Dear 1I1r. 1'adekamper:

V. Stello I am pleased to res qnd to your letter da e fhrch 28, 1979, to the Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Coranission.

Y u expressed concern over the delays in the completion of cob truction of t iablo Canyon 1%luclear Plants due to modifications require as a result o

the Comnission' staff review and from pressure from anti-nu ear mino i groups over their concern about damage to these plants from eartPq ake.

Furthermore, you urged that the Cotmission grant an operat gjli ense to the Pacific Gas 8 Electric Company for Diablo Canyon, Unit As you my know, the major safety c cern during our review of Diablo Canyon was the ability of the.pl nt t safely withstand the effects of a postulated earthquake from the earby H

gri fault. The Hosgri fault, which is located approximately 3 1/2 iles from the Diablo Canyon Plants, was discovered in 1971.

As a res t of this d> covery, an intensive study of the effect of the Hosgri faul was undertake by the Pacific Gas 5 Electric Company, the U. S. Geologic Survey and the b.

lear Regulatory Comaission.

The results of this study, ndicated that signif ant modifications were necessary in order that th Diablo Canyon Plants w

hstand a magnitude 7.5 earthquake at the Hos ri fault.

While we believ this to be a very severe design basis cart

uake, we find that the requi d modifications and attendant delays wer necessary and in the best inte st of the general public.

Comprehensive ublic hearings were conducted over period of severa'I months by an A mic Safety and Licensing Board.

The e hearings were completed on Febr ary 15, 1979 and the record was closed arly last month.

The Atomic Sa ety and Licensing Board is in the process of preparing its decision regardi the licensing of Diablo Canyon based.on t e record of these proceedipgs The ground motioq rthquake that was recorded from the June 12, 1978 earthquake eventta the Fukushima Nuclear Power Station in Japan was about two-thirds f that leve'1 for which the plant was designed, although substantially lo~ er than that for which the Diablo Canyon plant is designed.

Since domestic nbclear power plants are designed very similarly to these Japanese plants, this event gives us confidence that American plants should also be capable of withstanding similar events We will continue h

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79 0646 j

Logging Date ~I2L79

~ NRC.SECRETARIAT C3 Commissioner

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CI Cong. Liaison O Public Affairs Date.

. 0, Gen. Counsel

~ 0 Solicitor O Secretary g

Donal d Wadekam ev To;

Subject:

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0 Chairman

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For information Cl. For recommendation Remarks:.

Lo ed EX Suspense:

April 16

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