ML18092A834
| ML18092A834 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Salem, 05000000, Crane |
| Issue date: | 10/09/1985 |
| From: | Dircks W NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | Cranston A SENATE |
| Shared Package | |
| ML18092A835 | List: |
| References | |
| GL-83-28, NUDOCS 8510150286 | |
| Download: ML18092A834 (19) | |
Text
r The Honorable Alan Cranston United States Senate Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator Cranston:
This addresses matters raised by Mr. Kaing Bloudin in his July 9, 1985 letter to you.
In that letter,~loudin cited two areas of concern.
One area involved failures of the uclear Plant's reactor trip system to automatically scram when alled upon; the Salem Anticipated Transient Without Scram (ATWS) events of February, 1983.
The other area of concern relates to allegations concerning infant mortalities following the accident at Three Mile Island (TMI) on March 28, 1979.
For the first concern, the NRC performed an extensive investigation following the ATWS events in order to determine the root causes contributing to the events. A corrective Action Program was developed addressing Equipment Issues, Operator Issues, and Management Issues and confirmed by an Order to the licensee, Public Service Electric and Gas Company, dated May 6, 1983.
The Order and the Corrective Action Program are attached as Enclosures 2 and
- 3.
The licensee was required to address and resolve all of the issues identified including a design modification to.the automatic trip function for the reactor trip breakers.
The shunt trip attachment, which previously had been designed to function only in the manual trip mode, was integrated into the automatic trip function, thereby giving the reactor trip system redundant and diverse mechanisms to trip the breakers when an automatic trip was called for. Additionally, a Generic Letter (83-28) whose subject was "Required Actions Based on Generic Implications of the Salem ATWS Events, 11 was sent to all licensees of operating reactors, applicants for an operating license and holders of construction permits.
The Generic Letter identified intermediate-term actions to be taken as a result of the Salem ATWS events.
Regarding Mr. Bloudin's second concern, allegations of increases in infant mortality after the March 28, 1979 accident at TMI Unit 2 were considered in hearings on whether TMI Unit 1 should be permitted to operate.
From the evidence presented, the NRC's Atomic Safety and Licensing Board found no basis to conclude that possible increases in infant mortality following the TMI-2 accident were caused by the accident. That Licensing Board finding was consistent with a Pennsylvania Department of Health study of infant mortality which concluded that there was no relationship between the TMI-2 accident and changes in infant mortality in the TMI area. See LBP-81-59, 14 NRC 1211, 1593-96.
In a related vein, the Pennsylvania Department of Health more recently has issued a report which concludes that there is no evidence of increased cancer among TMI area residents attributable to the TMI-2 accident. That report, a copy of which is enclosed, is based on a study of cancer deaths recorded from 1974 through 1983 within 20 miles of TMI, as well as new cancers from July 1982 through June 1984 in areas 11downwind 11 of TMI during the accident.
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The Honorable Alan Cranston study found that there is no statistically significant difference between recorded cases and what epidemiologists would have expected had the accident never occurred.
The report is described by the State Health Secretary, Dr. H. Arnold Muller, as the "first scientific analysis of cancer among those living within a 20-mile radius of the plant, 11 noting that the latency period for most cancers would have made any earlier effort 11premature.
11 There is also no indication of a significant increase in leukemia, which has a shorter latency period.
I hope that this has been responsive to the concerns raised in Mr. Bloudin 1s letter.
Sincerely, (Sigrrn~J 1u'1filllam l Din::k~.
William J. Dircks Executive Director for Operations
Enclosures:
- 1.
Cancer Mortality and Morbidity (Incidence) Around TMI -
Pennsylvania Department of Health
- 2.
May 6, 1983, Order
- 3. Corrective Action Program
- SEE PREVIOUS WHITE FOR CONCURRENCES ORB#l:DL*
DFischer;ps 9/26/85 BC-ORB#l:DL*
SVarga 9/24/85 EDO~
WDircks fS/1/85 OSI: NRR*
FCongel 9/27/85 OELD*
9/26/85 AD-OR:DL* D:DL*
Glainas HThompson 9/25/85 9/27/85
The Honorable Alan Cranston study found that there is no statistically significant differ ce between recorded cases and what epidemiologists would have expecte ad the accident never occurred.
The report is described by the State He th Secretary, Dr. H. Arnold Muller, as the "first scientific analysi of cancer among those living within a 20-mile radius of the plant, 11 noting at the latency period for most cancers would have made any earlier effort premature.
11 There is also no indication of a significant increase in 1 kemia, which has a shorter latency period.
I hope that this has been responsive to the c ncerns raised in Mr. Bloudin's letter.
Wil iam J. Dircks E cutive Director for Operations
Enclosures:
As stated
- SEE PREVIOUS WHITE FOR CONCURRENCES ORB#l:DL*
CParrish 9/24/85 D:NRR HDenton 9/ /85 ORB~
DFischer;ps 9/.,Y/85 EDD WDircks 9/ /85 BC-ORB#l:DL* ~~
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The Honorable Alan Cranston for most cancers would have made any earlier effort "premature.'
There is also no indication of a significant increase in leukemia, whi has a shorter latency period.
Enclosures:
As stated ORB#l:D~
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9/l,~85 D:NRR HDenton 9/ /85 D:NRR DEisenhut 9/ /85.
William J. Dircks Exe cu ti ve Di rector /Or Operations B~'1r:DL SVarga 9/v/f85 OELD 9/ /85 AD-OR:DL D:DL Glainas HThompson 9/ /85 9/ /85
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SECY (3) (SECY#85-751)
W. Dircks L. Mulley {EDO #000971 w/incoming)
G. Lainas/D. Nottingham H. Thompson/M. Jambour D. Fischer w/incoming C. Parrish ORB #1 green ticket file
The Honorable Alan Cranston United States Senate Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator Cranston:
OCT O 9 1985 This addresses matters raised by Mr. Kaing Bloudin in his July 9, 1985 letter to you.
In that letter, Mr. Bloudin cit~d two areas of concern.
One area involved failures of the Salem Nuclear Plant's reactor trip system to automatically scram when called upon; the Salem Anticipated Transient Without Scram (ATWS) events of February, 1983.
The other area of concern relates to allegations concerning infant mortalities following the accident at Three Mile Island (TMI) on March 28, 1979.
For the first concern, the NRC perfonned an extensive investigation following
= d the ATWS events in order to detennine the root causes contributing to the events. A corrective Action Program was developed addressing Equipment Issues, Operator Issues, and Management Issues and confinned by an Order to the licensee, Public Service Electric and Gas Company, dated May 6, 1983.
The Order and the Corrective Action Program are attached as Enclosures 2 and
- 3.
The licensee was required to address and resolve all of the issues identified including a design modification to the automatic trip function for the reactor trip breakers. The shunt trip attachment, which previously had been designed to function only in the manual trip mode, was integrated into the automatic trip function, thereby giving the reactor trip system redundant and diverse mechanisms to trip the breakers when an automatic trip was called for. Additionally, a Generic Letter (83-28) whose subject was "Required Actions Based on Generic Implications of the Salem ATWS Events," was sent to all licensees of operating reactors, applicants for an operating license and holders of construction pennits.
The Generic Letter identified intennediate-tenn actions to be taken as a result of the Salem ATWS events.
Regarding Mr. Bloudin's second concern, allegations of increases in infant mortality after the March 28, 1979 accident at TMI Unit 2 were considered in hearings on whether TMI Unit 1 should be pennitted to operate.
From the evidence presented, the NRC'-s Atomic Safety and *Licensing Board found no
- basis to conclude that possible increases in infant mortality following the TMI-2 accident were caused by the accident. That Licensing Board finding was consistent with a Pennsylvania Department of Health study of infant mortality which concluded that there was no relationship between the TMI-2 accident and changes in infant mortality in the TMI area. See LBP-81-59, 14 NRC 1211, 1593-96.
In a related vein, the Pennsylvania Department of Health more recently has issued a report which concludes that there is no evidence of increased cancer among TMI area residents attributable to the TMI-2 accident. That* report, a copy of which is enclosed, is based on a study of cancer deaths recorded from 1974 through 1983 within 20 miles of TMI, as well as new cancers from July 1982 through June 1984 in areas "downwind" of TMI during the accident.
The
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The Honorable Alan Cranston.
study found that there is no statistically significant difference between recorded cases and what epidemiologists would have expected had the ac~ident never occurred.
The report is described by the State Health Secretary, Dr. H. Arnold Muller, as the "first scientific analysis of cancer among those living within a 20-mile radius of the plant," noting that the latency period for most cancers would have made any earlier effort "premature."
There is also no indication of a significant increase in leukemia, which has a shorter latency period.
I hope that this has been responsive to the concerns raised in Mr. Bloudin 1s letter.
Sincerely,
($iiuedl William J.-oirck~
William J. Dircks
Enclosures:
Executive Director for Operations
- 1. Cancer Mortality and Morbidity (Incidence) Around TMI-Pennsylvania Department of Health
- 2.
May 6, 1983, Order
- 3. Corrective Action Program
- SEE PREVIOUS WHITE FOR CONCURRENCES ORB#l:DL*
CParrish 9/24/85 D:NRR HDenton 9/ /85 ORB#l:DL*
DFischer;ps 9/26/85 BC-ORB#l:DL*
OELD*
SVarga 9/24/85 9/26/85 EDO WDircks 9/ /85 DSI:NRR*
FCongel 9/27/85 AD-OR:DL* D:DL*
Glainas HThompson 9/25/85 9/27/85.
=*
The Honorable Alan Cranston study found that there is no statistically significant differ recorded cases and what epidemiologists would have expecte ad the accident never occurred.
The report is described by the State He th Secr~tary, Dr. H. Arnold Muller, as the "first scientific analysi of cancer among those living within a 20-mile radius of the plant, 11 noting at the latency period for most cancers would have made any earlier effort premature.
11 There is also no indication of a significant increase in 1 kemia, which has a shorter 1 atency period.
I hope that this has been responsive to the c ncerns raised in Mr. Bloudin's letter.
Wi1 iam J. Dircks E cutive Director for Operations En.closures:
As stated
- SEE PREVIOUS WHITE FOR CONCURRENCES A*
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CParrish 9/24/85 D:NRR HDenton 9/ /85 ORsffe._
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The Honorable Alan Cranston for most cancers would have made any earlier effort "premature.
There is also no indication of a significant increase in leukemia, whi has a shorter latency period.
Enclosures:
As stated.
ORB#l:D~
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9/llt85 D:NRR HDenton 9/ /85 D:NRR DEisenhut 9/ /85 I
William J. Di.rcks
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UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555 The Honorable Alan Cranston United States Senate Washihgton, DC 20510
Dear Senator Cranston:
This addresses matters raised by Mr. Kaing Bloudin in his July 9, 1985 letter to you.
In that letter, Mr. Bloudin cited two areas of concern.
One area involved failures of the Salem Nuclear Plant's reactor trip system to automatically scram when called upon; the Salem Anticipated Transient Without Scram (ATWS) events of February, 1983.
The other area of concern relates to allegations concerning infant mortalities following the accident at Three Mile Island (TMI) on March 28, 1979.
For the first concern, the NRC performed an extensive investigation following the ATWS events in order to determine the root causes contributing to the events. A corrective Action Program was develo'ped addressing Equipment Issues, Operator Issues, and Management Issues and confirmed by an Order to the licensee, Public Service Electric and Gas Company, dated May 6, 1983.
The Order and the Corrective Action Program are attached as Enclosures 2 and
- 3.
The licensee was required to address and resolve all of the issues identified including a design modification to the automatic trip function for the reactor trip breakers. The shunt trip attachment, which previously had been designed to function only in the manual trip mode, was integrated into the automatic trip function, thereby giving the reactor trip system redundant and diverse mechanisms to trip the breakers when an automatic trip was called for. Additionally, a Generic Letter (83-28) whose subject was "Required Actions Based on* Generic Implications of the Salem ATWS Events," was sent to all licensees of operating reactors, applicants for an operating license and holders of construction permits.
The Generic Letter identified intermediate-.
term actions to be taken as a result of the Salem ATWS events.
Regardihg Mr. Bloudin's second concern, allegations of increases in infant mortality after the March 28, 1979 accident at TMI Unit 2 were considered in hearings on whether TMI Unit 1 should be permitted to operate.
From the evidence presented, the NRC's Atomic Safety and Licensing Board found no basis to conclude that possible increases in infant mortality following the TMI-2 accident were caused by the accident. That Licensing Board finding was consistent with a Pennsylvania Department of Health study of infant mortality which concluded that there was no relationship between the TMI-2 accident and changes in infant mortality in the TMI area. See LBP-81-59, 14 NRC 1211, 1593-96.
In a related vein, the Pennsylvania Department of Health more recently has issued a report which concludes that there is no evidence of increased cancer among TMI area residents attributable to the TMI-2 accident. That report, a copy of which is enclosed, is based on a study of cancer deaths recorded from 1974 through 1983 within 20 miles of TMI, as well as new cancers from July 1982 through June 1984 in areas "downwind" of TMI during the accident. The
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- The Honorable Alan Cranston study found that there is no statistically significant difference between recorded cases and what epidemiologists would have expected had the* accident never occurred.
The report is described by the State Health Secretary, Dr. H. Arnold Muller, as the "first scientific analysis of cancer ~mong those living within a 20-mile radius of the plant," noting that the latency period for most cancers would have made any earlier effort 11premature.
11 There is also no indication of a significant increase in leukemia, which has a shorter latency period.
I hope that this has been responsive to the concerns raised in Mr. Bloudin's letter.
Enclosures:
- 1. Cancer Mortality and Morbidity (Incidence) Around TMI -
Pennsylvania Department of Health
- 2.
May 6, 1983, Order
- 3. Corrective Action Program Sincerely, William J. Dircks Executive Director for Operations
1 I
DISTRIBUTION Docket File 50-272, 50-272, 50-289, 50-320 NRC PDR w/cy o! incomirig.,~ -*-~
L PDR w/cy of rncomg"
,;...- ~=-~:Ji EDO
SECY (3) {SECY#85-751)
W. Dircks L. Mulley {EDO #000971 w/incoming)
G. Lainas/D. Nottingham H. Thompson/M. Jambour D. Fischer w/incoming Ce Parrish ORB #1 green ticket file
The Honorable Alan Cranston United States Senate Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator Cranston:
OCT 0 9.1985 This addresses matters raised by Mr. Kaing Bloudin in his July 9, 1985 letter to you.
In that letter, Mr. Bloudin cited two areas of concern.
One area involved failures of the Salem Nuclear Plant's reactor trip system to automatically scram when called upon; the Salem Anticipated Transient Without Scram {ATWS) events of February, 1983.
The other area of concern relates to allegations concerning infant mortalities following the accident at Three Mile Island {TMI) on March 28, 1979.
For the first concern, the NRC performed an extensive investigation following
~ __,
the ATWS events in order to determine the root causes contributing to the events. A corrective Action Program was developed addressing Equipment Issues, Operator Issues, and Management Issues and confirmed by an Order to the licensee, Public Service Electric and Gas Company, dated May 6, 1983.
The Orde'r and the Corrective Action Program are attached as Enclosures 2 and
- 3. The licensee was required to address and resolve all of the issues identified including a design modification to'the automatic trip function for the reactor trip breakers. The shunt trip attachment, which previously had been designed to function only in the manual trip mode, was integrated into the automatic trip function, thereby giving the reactor trip system redundant and diverse mechanisms to trip the breakers when an automatic trip was called for. Additionally, a Generic Letter {83-28) whose subject was "Required Actions Based on Generic Implications of the Salem ATWS Events," was sent to all licensees of operating reactors, applicants for an operating license and holders of construction permits.
The Generic letter identified intermediate-term actions to be taken as a result of the Salem ATWS events.
Regarding Mr. Bloudin's second concern, allegations of increases in infant mortality after the March 28, 1979 accident at TMI Unit 2 were considered in hearings on whether TMI Unit 1 should be permitted to operate.
From the evidence presented, the NRC's Atomic Safety and Licensing Board found no basis to conclude that possible increases in infant mortality following the TMI-2 accident were caused by the accident. That Licensing Board finding was consistent with a Pennsylvania Department of Health study of infant mortality which concluded that there was no relationship between the TMI-2 accident and changes in infant mortality in the TMI area. See LBP-81-59, 14 NRC 1211, 1593-96.
In a related vein, the Pennsylvania Department of Health more recently has issued a report which concludes that there is no evidence of increased cancer among TMI area residents attributable to the TMI-2 accident. That* report, a copy of which is enclosed, is based on a study of cancer deaths recorded from 1974 through 1983 within 20 miles of TMI, as well as new cancers from July 1982 through June 1984 in areas "downwind" of TMI during the accident.
The
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The Honorable Alan Cranston study found that there is no statistically significant difference between recorded cases and what epidemiologists would have expected had the accident never occurred.
The report is described by the State Health Secretary, Dr. H. Arnold Muller, as the "first scientific analysis of cancer among those living within a 201-mile radius of the plant," noting that the latency period for most cancers would have made any earlier effort "premature."
There is also no indication: pf a significant increase in leukemia, which has a shorter latency period.
i I hope that this has been responsive to the concerns raised in Mr. Bloudin's letter.
Sincerely, (Signel!) William l*. PiaiiM William J. Dircks
Enclosures:
Executive Director f~r Operations
- 1. Cancer Mortality and Morbidity (Incidence) Around TMI -
Pennsylvania Department of Health
- 2.
May 6, 1983, Order
- 3. Corrective Action Program
- SEE PREVIOUS WHITE FOR CONCURRENCES ORB#l:DL*
CParrish 9/24/85 D:NRR HDenton 9/ /85 ORB#l:DL*
DFischer;ps 9/26/85 BC-ORB#l:DL*
OELD*
SVarga 9/24/85 9/26/85 EDO WDircks 9/ /85 DSI:NRR*
FCongel 9/27/85 AD-OR:DL* D:DL*
Glainas HThompson 9/25/85 9/27/85
=*
I The Honorable Alan Cranston study found that there is no statistically significant differ ce between recorded cases and what epidemiologists would have expecte ad the accident never occurred.
The report is described by the State He th Secr~tary, Dr. H. Arnold Muller, as the "first scientific analysi of cancer among those living within a 20-mile radius of the plant," noting at the latency period for most cancers would have made any earlier effort premature."
There is also no indication of a significant increase in l kemia, which has a shorter latency period.
I hope that this has been responsive to the c ncerns raised in Mr. Bloudin's letter.
Enclosures:
As stated ORB#l:DL*
CParrish 9/24/85 D:NRR HDenton 9/ /85 ORsffe._
DF1scher;ps 9/15'/85 EDO WDircks 9/ /85 Wil iam J. Dircks E cutive Director for Operations
The Honorable Alan Cranston for most cancers would have made any earlier effort "premature.
There is also no indication of a significant increase in leukemia, whi has a shorter latency period.
Enclosures:
As stated ORB#l:D~
CParrish ~
9~85 D:NRR HDenton 9/ /85 D:NRR DEisenhut 9/ /85 William J. Dircks Executive Director B~Wt:DL SVarga 9fv/t85 OELD 9/ /85 t'
I AD-OR:DL D:DL Glainas HThompson 9/ /85 9/ /85
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UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555 The Honorable Alan Cranston United States Senate Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator Cranston:
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This addresses matters raised by Mr. Kaing Bloudin in his July 9, 1985 letter to yo.u.
In that letter, Mr. Bloudin cited two areas of concern.
One area involved failures of the Salem Nuclear Plant's reactor trip system to automatically scram when called upon; the Salem Anticipated Transient Without Scram (ATWS) events of February, 1983.
The other area of concern relates to allegations concerning infant mortalities following the accident at Three Mile Island (TMI) on March 28, 1979.
For the first concern, the NRC performed an extensive investigation following the ATWS events in order to determine the root causes contributing to the events. A corrective Action Program was developed addressing Equipment Issues, Operator Issues, and Management Issues and confirmed by an Order to the licensee, Public Service Electric and Gas Company, dated May 6, 1983.
The Order and the Corrective Action Program are attached as Enclosures 2 and
- 3. The licensee was required to address and resolve all of the issues identified including a design modification to the automatic trip function for the reactor trip breakers. The shunt trip attachment, which previously had been designed to function only in the manual trip mode, was integrated into the automatic trip function, thereby giving the reactor trip system redundant and diverse mechanisms to trip the breakers when an automatic trip was called for. Additionally, a Generic Letter (83-28) whose subject was. "Required Actions Based on Generic Implications of the Salem ATWS Events," was sent to all licensees of operating reactors, applicants for an operating license and holders of construction permits.
The Generic Letter identified intermediate-.
term actions to be taken as a result of the Salem ATWS events.
Regarding Mr. Bloudin's second concern, allegations of increases in infant mortality after the March 28, 1979 accident at TMI Unit 2 were considered in hearings on whether TMI Unit 1 should be permitted to operate.
From the evidence presented, the NRC's Atomic Safety and Licensing Board found no basis to conclude that possible increases in infant mortality following the TMI-2 accident were caused by the accident. That Licensing Board finding was consistent with a Pennsylvania Department of Health study of infant mortality which concluded that there was no relationship between the TMI-2 accident and changes in infant mortality in the TMI area. See LBP-81-59, 14 NRC 1211, 1593-96.
In a related vein, the Pennsylvania Department of Health more recently has issued a report which concludes that there is no evidence of increased cancer among TMI area residents attributable to the TMI-2 accident. That report, a copy of which is enclosed, is based on a study of cancer deaths recorded from 1974 through 1983 within 20 miles of TMI, as well as new cancers from July 1982 through June 1984 in areas "downwind" of TMI during the accident.
The
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The Honorable Alan Cranston study found that there is no statistically significant difference between recorded cases and what epidemiologists would have expected had the accident never occurred.
The report is described by the State Health Secretary, Dr. H. Arnold Muller, as the "first scientific analysis of cancer.among those living within a 20-mile radius of the plant, 11 noting that the latency period for most cancers would have made any earlier effort "premature."
There is also no indication of a significant increase in leukemia, which has a shorter latency period.
I hope that this has been responsive to the concerns raised in Mr. Bloudin's letter.
Enclosures:
- 1. Cancer Mortality and Morbidity (Incidence) Around TMI -
Pennsylvania Department of Health
- 2.
May 61 1983, Order
- 3. Corrective Action Program Sincerely, William J. Dircks Executive Director for Operations