ML18053A688

Requests That Util Address Generic Ltr 88-17 Re Loss of DHR During Nonpower Operation.Industry Response to Generic Ltr 87-12 Deficient in Areas of Prevention of Acccident Initiation & Mitigation of Accidents

ML18053A688
Person / Time
Site:	Palisades
Issue date:	12/02/1988
From:	Murley T Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:	Mccormick W CMS ENERGY CORP.
References
GL-87-12, GL-88-17, NUDOCS 8812080114
Download: ML18053A688 (3)

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Docket No. 50-255 Mr. William T. McCormick, Jr.

Chi~f Executive Officer CMS Energy Corporation -

212 W. Michigan Av.enue Jackson, Michigan 49201

SUBJECT:

LOSS OF DECAY HEAT REMOVAL We have_ just issued Generic letter 88'.'"17 which_ addresses loss of dec_ay* heat removal (OHR) during nonpower operation.

This letter was issued because of tii~-: potential. serious. consequence* of lqs*s of shutdown cooling concurrent with $ignif.icant core decay heat.*. _Furtherj -it is our belief that the industry as a whole has not aggressiv.ely respondeo to.

resolve the concern following its 'identifii:ation in our earlier Generic Le.tter 87~12.

In part.icular, the industry's response to the Generic Letter 87-12 was

. deficient in the areas of (1) prevention :of accident.initi.ation, (2) mitiga-tion of accidents before they potentiallyprog'ress to core damage, and (3)--

control of radioactive material if a core damage ac(ident:~hould o~c~r~.

Generic Letter 88.-17 prescrib~s expeditio*us actions-which-.should immedfately* --

ease. the concern; and parallel, but longer term, p\\'.'ogrammed enhancements which*.

, effectively address the root cause of the problems and permit greater flexi-

-,bility._in operation.

. /

_* we*. consider this issue to be of high pribrity and request that you assu_re. that

• ** _y'our:or.gani_--zat ion addresses *it accordingly.

Si nee rely,.

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'Thomas E. MurleY.

Thomas E. Murley, -Di rector

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UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555 Docket No. 50-255 Mr. William T. McCormick, Jr.

Chief Executive Officer CMS Energy Corporation 212 W. Michigan Avenue Jackson, Michigan 49201

Dear Mr. McCormick:

DEC "'"2 1988

SUBJECT:

LOSS OF DECAY HEAT REMOVAL We have just issued Generic Letter 88-17 which addresses loss of decay heat removal (OHR) during nonpower operation.

This letter was issued because of the potential serious consequence of loss of shutdown cooling concurrent with significant core decay heat.

Further, it is our*belief that the industry as a whole has not aggressively responded to resolve the concern following its identification in our earlier Generic Letter 87-12.

In particular, the industry 1s response to the Generic Letter 87-12 was deficient in the areas of (1) prevention of accident initiation, (2) mitiga-tion of accidents before they potentially progress to core damage, and (3) control of radioactive material if a core damage accident should occur.

Generic Letter 88-17 prescribes expeditious actions which should immediately ease the concern; and parallel, but longer term, programmed enhancements which effectively address the root cause of the problems and permit greater flexi-bility in operation.

We consider this issue to be of high priority and request that you assure that your organization addresses it ~ccordingly.

Sincerely, Thomas E. Murley, Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation cc:

See next page

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Mr. William T. McCormick, Jr.

cc:

M. I. Miller, Esquire Sidley & Austin 54th Floor One First National Plaza Chicago, Illinois 60603 Mr. Thomas A. McNish, Secretary Consumers Power Company 212 West Michigan Avenue Jackson, Michigan 49201 Judd L.. Bacon, Esquire Consumers Power Company 212 West Michigan Avenue Jackson, Michigan 49201 Regional Administrator, Region III U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 799 Roosevelt Road Glen Ellyn, Illinois 60137 Jerry Sarno Township Supervisor Covert Township 36197 M-140 Highway Covert, Michigan 49043 Office of the Governor Room 1 - Capitol Building Lansing, Michigan 48913 Mr. Gerald B. Slade Plant General Manager Palisades Plant 27780 Blue Star Memorial Hwy.

Covert, Michigan 49043 Resident Inspector c/o U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Palisades Plant 27782 Blue Star Memorial Hwy.

Covert, Michigan 49043 Palisades Plant Nuclear Facilities and Environmental Monitoring Section Office Division of Radiological Health P.O. Box 30035 Lansing, Michigan 48909 Frederick W. Buckman President & Chief Operating Officer Consumers Power Company 212 W. Michigan Avenue Jackson, Michigan 49201 Gordon L. Heins, Sr. Vice President Energy Supply Consumers Power Company 1945 West Parnall Road Jackson, Michigan 49201 David P. Hoffman, Vice President Nuclear Operations Consumers Power Company 1945 West Parnall Road Jackson, Michigan 49201 Kenneth W. Berry, Director Nuclear Licensing Consumers Power Company 1945 West Parnall Road Jackson, Michigan 49201