ML17341A267
| ML17341A267 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Turkey Point  |
| Issue date: | 06/23/1981 |
| From: | Dircks W NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | Fascell D HOUSE OF REP. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML17341A268 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8106290472 | |
| Download: ML17341A267 (10) | |
Text
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DISTRIBUTION N:I M.
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Heltemes B. Snyder EDO Reading S.
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Di,rcks
'ORB..1 Fi,l'e T., Novak,:
SECY (81-0722),
--'-.OELDl M; Grotenhuis.
J"N 2 3 1S81 OCA (3)
C. Parrish N. Bridgers L. Underwood The Honorable ascel.l (EDO-10511)
E.
Case United States, House of Representatives Program Support H. Denton Washington, D. C.
20515
- Staff, NRR S.
Hanauer E.
Hughes T. Hurley Dear Congressman Fascell:
This is in response to the letter from your constituent I1s. Joette Lorion, dated: Hay 14,. 1981,. in which she expressed concern.regarding the electrical
'incident that~occurred'pril 25, 1981 at Florida Power and Light Company's.
(FPL), Turkey Po'iht Unit 3'facility and questioned the recent request 'by FPL to opera'te Uni:t 4 for an additional four months past the scheduled June steam generator inspection.
Actually this inspection, which is dictated by operating 'hours,
.is now scheduled for about July 15, 1981.
tls. Lorion also made reference to the hearing which was scheduled'o begin on June 2, 1981.
As you know, the Atomic Safety and Licensjng Board, in its IIemoran'dum: and'rder, dated Nay 28', 1981, has granted the:Staff's motions for summary disposition:on all Intervenor's admitted contentions and dismissed them with prejudice.
The hearing was, therefore, found to be unnecessary.
and was cancelled.
The Board did retain jurisdiction concerning, the radioactive solid wastes and requested all parties to file infomation on that subject and state their,,position as to whether the Board can or should take any action regarding sol'id waste by June, 15, 1981.
The electrical. incident of April 25., 1981, occurred v>hen restarting Unit 3 following a refueling and inspection shutdown.
An electrical short occurred in the electrical generator that will require extensive repair or replacement.
It is apparently going to be expensive in terms of loss of operating time.
However, the electric generator is part of the non-nuclear section of the plant and in this instance its failure does not directly or indirectly affect the nuclear safety of the plant.
Nevertheless, such incidents are, of course, of interest to and monitored by the NRC as to whether they might indicate, some overall'perational or procedural or management weaknesses that could reflect on..the safe operation.of the nuclear plant.
Me do not believe the electrical short in, the electrical generator is indicative of such weakness on the part of FPL,.but rather an event that can occur in the operation of a large power plant.
On the other hand, for components affecting the nuclear safety of the plant, inspections are prescribed by the Technical Specifications which are part of the license.
With respect to Ms. Lorion's concern regarding the request of FPL to operate Turkey Point Unit 4 for four additional months past the scheduled July steam generator inspection and to delay the inspection until that time, the following comments are" offered.
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'Tbe Honorable Dante B. Fascell 2
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In general, plant technical specifications require routine inservice inspec-tions of steam generators (a nuclear system component) to be performed every 12 to 24 months.
However, the NRC has imposed license conditions on plants which have experienced some steam generator tube degradatfon.
These conditions, among other things, increase the required frequency of inspection.
Safe operation fs assured by the fmposftfon of strict conditions, fncludfng the plugging of a'ffected tubes and restricting the allowable leak rate during operation.
Turkey Point Units 3 and 4 are such facilities with special license conditions increasing the steam generator inspection frequency.
At the time of the previous inspection of Unit 4 in December
- 1980, FPL plugged not only those tubes that, by using approved NRC conservative plugging criteria and corrosion rates, might experience degradation at the end of the next 6 months power operation but also plugged those additional tubes that the criteria indicated might experience degradation at the end of 10 months of power operation.
Revised accident analyses taking into account the total number of tubes plugged gave adequate assurance for continued protection of public health and safety.
However, while not objecting to FPL plugging additional tubes for 10 months operation, as a matter of conservative policy the NRC approved operation for only 6 months of power operation.
Extensions of from 1 to 4 months beyond the 6 months inspection interval have been granted by the NRC.
In each case, the extensions were granted only after the careful review of the operating experience of the specific generators
- involved, the rate of leakage and leakage history of the past 6 months, and an assessment of that information vrfth overall experience to date of steam generator tube degradatfon.
The staff has not yet completed the review of the Hay 27, 1981 request of FPL for an extension of 4 months to the inspection interval for Unit 4.
Mhether such an extension fs approved, disapproved or shortened in duration will only be determined after a careful review of all the factors involved, without allowing any compromise to the protection of the public health safety.
I believe this letter has been responsive to i~is. Lorfon's concerns.
Please contact us again should you have further questions.
Sincerely, (81~el'f QRehrn William J. Dircks Executive Director for rtios ORB 1
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SURNAME)
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.UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555 Th Honorable Dante B. Fascell Uni d States House of Representatives Washi
- ton, D. C.
20515
Dear Con ressman Fascell:
This is in esponse to the letter from your constituent Ms. Joette Lorion, dated May 14, 1981, in which she expressed concern regarding the electrical incident that curred April 25, 1981 at Florida Power and Light Company's (FPL) Turkey Poi t Unit.3 facility and questioned the recent request by FPL to operate Unit 4 or an additional four months past the scheduled June steam generator ins qction.
Actually this inspection, which is dictated by operating hours, is nb scheduled for about July 15, 1981;.
Ms. Lorion also made ref ence to the hearing which was scheduled to begin on June 2, 1981.
As you know, the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board, in,its Memorandum and Order, dated ay 28, 1981, has granted the Staff's motions for suIINIary disposition on all In rvenor's admitted contentions and dismissed them with prejudice.
The hears g was, therefore, found to be unnecessary and was cancelled.
The Board did re in jurisdiction concerning the radioactive solid wastes and requested all pa ies to file information on that subject and state their position as to whe er the Board can or should take any action regarding solid waste by June 1
, 19 l.
The electrical incident of April 25, 1
1, occurred when restarting Unit 3 folflowing a refueling and inspecti'on sh down.
An electrical short occurred in the electrical generator that wil.l req 're extensive repair or replacement.
It is apparently going to be expensive in rms of loss of operating time.
owever,- the electric generator is part of t non-nuclear section of the plant an its. failure rect
'indirectly ffec the nuclear safety of the plant~N@~Wh~+stenc does no, 4M p
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of interest to and monitored by the NRC, as to whet er they might indicate some overall operational or procedural or, management wea esses that could reflect on,,the:safe operation'f the nuclear, plant.
We do no believe the electrical short in'.the electrical generator is. indicative of suc weakness on the part of FPL,,but rather an event that can occur ddd 'pd fp' dCf} ff.~
dddpCA On the other hand,- for components affecting the nuclear safe of the plant,
~Re~~eriedk~um~nd inspections are prescribed by th Technical Pp fff f
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P 48~~$ p+78ncpo With respect to Ms.. Lorion's concern regarding the request of FPL,t operate Turkey. Point Unit 4 for four additional months past the scheduled Ju steam generator inspection and to delay the inspection until that time, the llowing comments. are offered.
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EXECUTIVEDIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS PRINCIPAL CORRESPONDENCE CONTROL DO /t/OT REMOVE THIS COPY
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81-0722' NRC SECRETARIAT 5/22/81 Logging Date TO: 0 Commissioner XXgg Exec.,oir./Oper.
LJ Cong. Liaison O Public Affairs CI Date O
Gen. Counsel O Solicitor O Secretary 0
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Re Dante Fasce1 1'onst Ref F
Joette LOIion To:
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0 Chairman 0 Commissioner CI EDO, GC, CL, SOL, PA, SECY, IA, PE 0
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For information Suspense:
June 15 Remarks:
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