ML17305B688
| ML17305B688 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Palo Verde  |
| Issue date: | 07/17/1991 |
| From: | Goldberg J NRC OFFICE OF THE GENERAL COUNSEL (OGC) |
| To: | Murley T Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| Shared Package | |
| ML17305B686 | List: |
| References | |
| 2.206, NUDOCS 9108220218 | |
| Download: ML17305B688 (4) | |
Text
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UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555 JUg g7 1991 MEMORANDUM FOR:
FROM%
Thomas E. Murley, Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Jack R. Goldberg Deputy Assistant General Counsel for Enforcement Office of the General Counsel
SUBJECT:
ARIZONA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY PALO VERDE UNITS 1, 2
6 3:
2.206 PETITION BY NWC Enclosed is a letter dated June 6,
1991, signed by Stephen M. Kohn and David K. Colapinto for the National Whistleblower Center (NWC) and unidentified employee allegers respectively
("Petitioners" ),
and addressed to the Chairman.
Petitioners request that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission take action with regard to the Arizona Public Service Company (APS) Palo Verde Nuclear Power Plant Units 1,
2, and 3.
Although not. cited by Petitioners, NWC's requests constitute a request for action pursuant to 10 C.F.R.
g 2.206.
Petitioners request that the NRC take immediate action to shut down Units 1,
2, and 3,
because of alleged hazardous conditions.
Additionally, Petitioners request that the NRC appoint a
special investigative team to inspect and monitor conditions at Palo Verde and permit resumption of operations only after the alleged pervasive quality control problems at Palo Verde have been cured.
Petitioners assert as bases for their requests the following:
Since late 1990 or early 1991 there has been a hydrogen leak in Unit 1
which could ignite a
catastrophic fire; because of inadequate maintenance the fire pumps malfunction and might be unable to pump enough water to extinguish a fire; APS would not know what pieces of equipment were lost in a fire because APS has not identified or coordinated Appendix R breakers; the cooling towers for all three units are crumbling and unsafe; NRC has permitted APS to operate in violation of unspecified safety regulations, Technical Specifications and other license conditions, by accepting letters of Justification for Continued Operation (JCO) although APS has not committed itself to permanent solutions for these problems,'o safety evaluations have been conducted by NRC or APS, there, are no procedures governing
- JCOs, and there are so many JCOs that the operators may not be fully cognizant of operating conditions; although it is rumored that the Unit 2
secondary system, is contaminated with radiation because of a leak greater than 2 gpm, APS has not notified the NRC or shut down the It
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CONTACT:
Giovanna Longo
'92-1694
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unit; although APS has promised the capability to move its hydrogen recombiner between units in a 72 hour8.333333e-4 days <br />0.02 hours <br />1.190476e-4 weeks <br />2.7396e-5 months <br /> period, it has no procedure to do so, has never done so, and has no backup recombiner despite a commitment to have one; Control Element Drive Mechanisms for Unit 3 malfunction because of improper design and implementation of the Design Change
- Package, and represent a generic problem at Palo Verde; APS has willfully operated Palo Verde in violation of unspecified licensing requirements and willfullyfailed to report unspecified safety violations in Licensee Event Reports1 and APS has engaged in widespread harassment and retaliation against employees who raise safety concerns.
Since Petitioners request emergency
- action, the letter of acknowledgement will require substantive input from your staff to address this issue.
I have enclosed drafts of a letter of acknowledgement to the Petitioners for your signature and a Notice of Receipt of the Petition for Publication in the Federal Re ister. If you want the licensee to respond regarding this matter, OGC will assist your staff in drafting an appropriate letter.
Please inform Giovanna Longo of my staff of the technical staff contact who will be involved in preparing a
response to the Petition.
Please ensure that she is provided copies of all correspondence related to the Petition and hat she is asked to concur on all staff corresponde ce.
ack R. Goldberg Deputy Assistant eneral Counsel for Enforcement Office of the General Counsel
Enclosures:
1.
Copy of Petition 2.
Draft Letter of Acknowledgement 3.
Draft Rederal Receister Notice cc w/enclosures:
J. Scinto, OGC L. Chandler, OGC J.
Lieberman, OE J. Martin, R V M. Blume, R V
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