ML17158A503
| ML17158A503 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Susquehanna  |
| Issue date: | 10/04/1994 |
| From: | James Shea Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9410110164 | |
| Download: ML17158A503 (11) | |
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NOTE TO: ~Docket Filej October 4, 1
FROM:
Joseph W. Shea, Project Manager Project Directorate I-2 Division of Reactor Projects I/II Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
SUBJECT:
BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS REGARDING POSTULATED LOSS OF SPENT FUEL POOL COOLING EVENTS, SUSQUEHANNA STEAM ELECTRIC STATION, UNITS 1
AND 2 The attached documents were provided by Pennsylvania Power and Light Company (PP8L, the licensee) and Hr. David Lochbaum to the NRC staff.
The documents are related to the staff's ongoing review of spent fuel pool cooling design issues at Susquehanna Steam Electric Station.
Attachment 1 is a copy of a letter to Pennsylvania Governor Robert P.
Casey from Messrs.
David Lochbaum and Donald Prevatte, dated September 12, 1994.
Attachment 2 is a note from Hr. David Lochbaum to Joseph Shea of the NRC staff, dated September 27, 1994.
Finally, Attachment 3 is a facsimile from J.
H. Kenny of PP&L to Joseph Shea of the NRC staff, dated September 28, 1994, that transmits a ~Newsda article dated September 27,
- 1994, which discusses spent fuel pool cooling-related issues.
Docket Nos.
50-387/50-388 Attachments:
As stated (3)
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~'NITEDSTATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COlVIMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 October 4, 1994 NOTE TO:
Docket File FROM:
t Joseph W. Shea, Project Manager Project Directorate I-2 Division of Reactor Proje'cts - /II Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
SUBJECT:
BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS REGARDING POSTULATED LOSS OF SPENT FUEL POOL COOLING EVENTS, SUSQUEHANNA STEAN ELECTRIC STATION, UNITS 1
AND 2 The attached documents. were provided by Pennsylvania Power and Light Company (PP&L, the licensee) and Mr." David Lochbaum to the NRC staff.
The documents are related to the staff's ongoing review of spent fuel pool cooling design issues at Susquehanna Steam Electric Station.
Attachment 1 is a copy of a letter to Pennsylvania Governor Robert P.
Casey from Messrs.
David Lochbaum and Donald Prevatte, dated September 12, 1994.
Attachment 2 is a note from Hr. David Lochbaum to Joseph Shea of the NRC staff, dated September 27, 1994.
Finally, Attachment 3 is a facsimile from J.
H. Kenny of PP&L to Joseph Shea of the NRC staff, dated September 28, 1994, that transmits a ~Newsda article dated September 27,
- 1994, which discusses spent fuel pool cooling-related issues.
Docket Nos. 50-387/50-388 Attachments:
As stated (3)
TO 93815842182 P. 82 t
David A. Lochbaum Donald C. Prevatte 80 Tuttle Road 7924 Woodsbluff Run Watchuag, NJ 07060 Fogelsville, PA 18051 (908) 754-3577 (610) 39R-9%7 September 12, 1994 Governor Robert P. Casey Main Capitol Building Harrisburg, PA 17120
Dear Crttverxtiir Casey:
By cover letter dated April 5, 1994, the undendgned provided you with a White Paper outlining deficiencies in the design of the Susquehatxna Steam Eectric Station (SSES) for spent ftiel pool cooling which had serious nuclear safety coihequences, These design deficiencies, initiallyreported to the NRC by the undersigned in November of 1992, potentially affect another thirty five operating nuclear power plants in this country.
Since April, several irnpvrtaut. steps have been taken to address these design deficicncics for SSES and generically.
These steps include; On May 6, 1994, the NRC staff presented the status of their evaluation of the SSES spent fuel pool cooling problems to the Advisory Committee for Reactor Safeguards (AORS).
The ACRS pointed out weak and incomplete areas in the NRC staff's risk assessment which requited further evaluation.
On June 1, 1994, the licensee for SSES committed to'the NRC staff to nlaintain the two spent fuel pools hydraulically connected (cross-tied)., This measure significantly lowers the risk at SSES bceauso thc available cooling systems from either of the two reactor units may be used to remove heat from both spent fuel pools.
On July 8, 1994, the undersigned met with NRC Chairman Ivan Selin at his request to discuss the specific concerns in the SSES design and their generic implications.
Thc focus of this m~ was on tho technical ooncerns and their safety consequeHces.
On September 6, 1994. the undersigned met with NRC staff members from the Once of Nuclear Reactor Reguhtion and from the Region l office to review the status of modifications implemented and planned at SSPS and supporiins analyses.
The NRC staff also outlined elements of their proposed action plan for determining the generic implications of the SSES design deficiencies and for addressing tbese implications, ATTACHMENT 1
SEP-13-1994 18:39 FPON CHEEP 93815842182 P. 83 September 12, 1994 At this tirno, the numorum haalwaro niodifications, procehmc changes, analyses iind upgraded training programs implemented at SSES have significancy reduced the nuclear safety hazard resulting.from spent fuel pool cooling design deficiencies.
There are still a few significant issues remaitririg to he resolved before the required level of safety'can be assured at SSES.
The NRC and the licerrsee are actively pursuing resolution of these remaining issues.
Additional meetings between the undersigned and the NRC staff are plannai to discuss the final report on the SSES issue.
The NRC's gemdc action plan for spent feei pool cooling concerns willhopefully ensure that other operating nuclear power plants with design deficiencies similar to SSES undertake The necessary acriorN ro mmaiy them prubleins.
The purpose of this letter is to update you on the status of this issue and to express our appreciation for the actions taken by many concmrett state and Federal UAii;i'nrespotise to the April S, 1994 White Paper.
The intluiries from several state and Pederal officials may have helped the NRc mallocate resources to this issue to expedite its 1viig vverdue resolution.
Tbe April5~ letter closed with a statemeni that the iiiulersianed lcKdced fnrward tn the eventual safe resolution of this issue.
We are pleased to report that with the support of many state and Federal ofQcials. we no.longer have to look as far, Sincerely, ORIGINALSIGNED BY DavM A. Lochbaum ORIGINALSIGNED BY Donald C, Prevatte TOTAL P.83
David A. Lochbaum Nuclear Engineer (91¹) 287-3555, worlt t
80 Tattle Road Watchung, NS 07060 (9057 7$MFI7 FAX MESSAGE September 2'I, 1994 ¹t lapm To.'ROM:
Joe Shea Dave Lochbautn NUMBER OF PAGES:
2 hudrew Smith oiFnvahy called mc ycstcrday.
From the article which <<ppcarcd in today'a Nnvsday (enclosed), he spoke with you also. I told Mr. Smith that I was dis<<ppointed that the NRC had not yet taken gviiviic<<etio'n the concerns we submitted h thc 10 CPR 21.rcport.
You were quoted aa~ that based ois the complexity of the issue. it has not been an inappropriate length of time. Before wc "agree to disagree'n this point, I want to brieQy outline my perspective cu timethicss.
Dresden 1 experienced a pipe rupture event in January 1994.
By AprQ 1994, the NRC issued Bulletin 9441 requiring licensee actions based upon an NRC investigation which uucove-ed the gerendat for conscquenccs moro serious than actually resulted tenn the Dresden 1 event.
For the 5usquchmna issue, which affects many more plants and has greater risk, the NRC has yet to require any licensee actions and wants to conduct team inspections to establish the scope of the problems.
In the Dresden I event, the NRC came in to a single site, de6ned thc scope of the problem, and required corrective measures.
In the Susquehanna case, the NRC wants to conduct tours nf half a hnm additbiial sit~, define a consensus scope, and then consider generic actions, In thc Dresden I event, it was less than four months from event to the end of the 30 day deadline for licensee responses to the imposed NRC actions, In the Susquehanna case, it is 22 months and countiag, I willreadily stipulate that the Susquehanna case is complex.
But after ZZ months of study, the concerns identified in the 10 CFR 21 rcport remain valid. The NRC had suf6cient understanding of these issues by October 1%6, <<s evidesiced by NRC Monnation Notice No. 93-83, to reqvire licensees to evahi<<te mahdi fadlitim fnr thee potential problems, Ifnuclear safety is truly uppertnost ia thc NRC's niind. then I cannot reconcile such a rapid rcactioa to the Dresden I event with the painstahng precise process applied to the Rusquohanna cas4. I see these responsn timac na incnnsistant.
1Vhen ash<<d by a reporter or a Congressman if I'm happy with the NRC's pace on the generic Unplications of the Susquehanna concerns, I answer negatively based on the demonstrated ability of the NRC ta iur~se generic requirements in short order as in the Dresden I cvcct ATTACHMENT'T 2
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Now, however, after Lochbaum years so it could understand the and Prevatte met with NRC Chair-. technistl'~ Shea.iasL.".X5e man Ivan colin over the summer.
length oftime it's taken is not'Q-the AtC is considering the plant's appropriate," he said.
safetv instead of the narrow issue Mother prod was a Januaty in-ofwhether the Qawis a hga1 prob-cident at the Dresden 1 phnt in Icm, Shca said.
lilloms,~ heo bcca shul chnrn The NRC only began to act after for18~. In its study'4f the 40.
a New York ¹wsday story on the cMent,.8hea said inspectors found issue aot wide attention in June fuel pool cooling system pipes 18SS, bxhbaum said. In addition, 'nuIC ttava burst he is s+ptical about.nudear utiH-
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Susquelutnnaofficials continue des'dedication to safely. "Afhe'5 to say the plant was safe, but made years in the business, Idon' itnow miniouk ofdoHazs worth ofmod{6-of anyone who urer got protnoted csttkoue to the phtnt anyway,'in-forpointhgoutasefety problem,"
combinMg the two neo.
he said. "Ijcoow ofplenty who got tora'ooh, making it easeer prcunoted far cutting costs."
fom plant operators to reoover &oaa The NRC needed almost two f411 an accident.
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ByAndre~ Smith srAFF 0 rtrrga AAar diccauating potontielly catastrophic design flaws at a Pennsylvania nuclear power plant for more than a year, the Nuclear Rvgulelvry Cuussa4oivss ovw vv-knowMges the problemis~
and is about to see ifdoseos ofoth-er plants around the country have the same flaw.
Two consulting engineers, Da-vid Lochhaum and Donald Pre-vatte, discovered problems two years ago with the coolingsysbnns ofthe spent fidel pools at the Sus-
~ebanna Electric Steam Stathn, a two-nectar lant VO mGee oorth-eastof Pa
'He Qaws have made it inyaaible Se plant operators to hap the cool in an icctdant,
'!bat wmFhaw albinal the yaah toboQ, leadhgtoa maaiie rdeaye Ofl%lelc&0stetnL
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89/28/1994 12:87 PPL NUC LICENSING PAGE 81
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