ML18114A678
| ML18114A678 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Surry, 05000434  |
| Issue date: | 03/19/1979 |
| From: | Butler M, Daniel D, Daniel R, Jennifer Fisher, Harris H, Jay Robinson, Satterfield D, Trible P, Wampler W, Whitehurst G HOUSE OF REP. |
| To: | Hendrie J NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML18114A667 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7906110411 | |
| Download: ML18114A678 (4) | |
Text
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<!tongress of tbe rliinfteh ~tates
~ouse of l\\.epresenta:tibes Mlasbington, ~.Qt. 20515 March 19, 1979 Mr. Joseph M. Hendrie, Chairman Nuclear Regulatory Commission 1717 B Street, N. W.
Washington, D. C. 20555
Dear Mr. Chairman:
On March 13, 1979, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission ordered the closing of five nuclear ~ower plants in th~
nation -- two of them in Virginia -- pending a comprehensive reanalysis and review of the impact on certain auxiliary piping systems in the event of a seismic occurrance.
We believe that there are important factors which demand a commitment on the part of the NRC to review the reanalysis of the Surry unit~ of the Virginia Electric and Power Company independently from the review of the three other affected plants, and we believe that this independent review of piping stress at the Surry units should be expedited.
First, while Stone and Webster used the same computer instruction code for all the plants in simulating what ~ould happen in the course of an earthquake, the design, history and location of the Surry units are different from the Beaver Valley plant so that a separate review is clearly indicated.
While the Beaver Valley pla~t is constructed on a bed rock foundation~ the Surry units Rre located on a soil base which creates a "cus1on 11 A
effect in the event of an earthquake.
No earthquake has occurred within twenty-five miles of Hog Islacd, site of the Surry plants, in recorded history.
Second, *a significant portion of the piping safety system at the Surry plants has already undergone computer reanalysis using computer instruction codes iWhich meet current NRC design guidelines with regard to earthquake stress.
Third, the loss of generation capacity due to the outage of the important facilities will have the direct effect of increasing the consumption of oil -- not only to meet VEPCO's requirements, but also the requirements of other systems to which nuclear or coal generated power could have been t~ans-ferred.
This is directly contrary to our national policy of reducing dependence on oil, especially for generating purposes.
790611041.1
1 Page 2 e
We have been assured by VEPCO that Stone and Webster's reanalysis is underway, and that it can be completed promptly.
We urge the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to have its personnel and technical resources in place to expedite an independent review of the Surry plants the moment that reanalysis is completed.
In the event that the Commission anticipates problems in com-plying with this request, we ask to be advised immediately.
c1!~(k(L CALDWELL M. BUTLER Member of Congress WILLIAM C. WAMPLER Member of Congress Sincerely, DAN DANIEL Member of Congress KENNETH ROBINSON Member of Congress
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PAULS. TRIBLE Member.of Congress G. WILLIAM WHITEHURST Member of Congress THIS STATIONERY PRINTED ON PAPER MADE WITH RECYCLED FIBERS
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([ongres!i of tbe Wniteb ~tate~
j!)ouze of ilepre%entatibes Ufosbington. ~.<!. 20515 March 19, 1979 Mr. Joseph M. Hendrie, Chairman Nuclear Regulatory Commission 1717 B Street, N. W.
Washington, D. C. 20555
Dear Mr. Chairman:
On March 13, 1979, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission ordered the closing of five nuclear power plants in the nation -- two of th.em in Virginia -- pending a comprehensive reanalysis and review of the impact on certain auxiliary piping systems in the event of a seismic occurrance.
We believe that there are important factors which demand a commitment on the part of the NRC to review the reanalysis of the Surry unit~ of the Virginia Electric and Power Company independently from the review of the three other affected plants, and we believe that this independent review of piping stress at the Surry units should be expedited.
F:i.rst, while Stone and Webster used the same computer instruction code for all the plants in simulating what would happen in the course of an earthquake, the design, history and location of the Surry units are different from the Beaver Valley plant so that a separate review is clearly indicated.
While the Beaver Valley plaP-t is constructed on a bed rock foundationt the Surry units are located on a soil base which creates a "cuslon" effect in the event of an earthquake.
No earthquake has occurrad*
within twenty-five miles of Hog Island, site of the Surry plants, in recorded history.
Second, a significant portion of the piping safety system at the Surry plar:i.ts has already undergone computer reanalysis using computer instruction codes w,hich meet current NRC design guidelines with regard to earthquake stress.
Third, the loss of generation capacity due to the outage of the important facilities will have the direct effect of increasing the consumption of oil -- not only to meet VEPCO's requirements, but also the requirements of other systems to which nuclear or coal generated power could have been trans-ferred.
This is directly contrary to our national policy of reducing dependence on oil, especially for generating purposes.
I Page 2 We have been assured by VEPCO that Stone and Webster's reanalysis is underway, and that it can be completed promptly.
We urge the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to have its personnel and technical resources in place to expedite an independent review of the Surry plants the moment that reanalysis is completed.
In the event that the Commission anticipates problems in com-plying with this request, we ask to be advised immediately.
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CALDWELL M. BUTLER Member of Congress Member of Congress Sincerely, DAN DANIEL Member of Congress of Congress
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KENNETH ROBINSON Member of Congress
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PAULS. TRIBLE Member of Congress C tJ~t})Jd__....1..;'L.-1 G. WILLIAM WHITEHURST Member of Congress THIS STATIONERY PRINTED ON PAPER MADE WITH RECYCLED FIBERS