ML18136A032
| ML18136A032 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Beaver Valley, Surry, Maine Yankee, FitzPatrick  |
| Issue date: | 09/21/1979 |
| From: | Harold Denton Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | William Kennedy AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7910090383 | |
| Download: ML18136A032 (2) | |
Text
'
- Mr. Wm. M. Kennedy 1310 N.E. 101st Street Mfami Shores, Florida 33138
Dear Mr. Kennedy:
-SEP 2 o 1979
. This is in reply to your recent letter to me concerning the shutdown of five nu~l ear power pl ants for. seismic reasons.
Shortly before* orders were issued by the NRC on March 13,,1979, to shut those plants down, it had 'become apparent to NRC staff that analysis
~echniques which had been. used in the seismic design of safety-related piping for those pl ants, were not in accord with proven and genera 11y accepted engineering bractices. The result could have been overstressing of piping and supports for earthquakes \\*1ilich might occur during the li:fe-times of the plants. The eastern United States is generally believed to be a region of low seismicity, when compared to the western part of the country, but it is not without significant historica1 seismic activity.
Some of tfie piping systems involved could, if failure occurred, have caused* loss of coolant to the nuclear reactor.
In addition, systems needed to shut the plant down safely in that event could also hav~ been affected. Thus, an earthquake of not extremely low likelihood would have had the potential both for ca~sing an accident and for preventing operation of safety systems designed to cope with. the accident. Whether or not such an earthquake caused damage in popu]ated areas, it was essential that any serious tiadiological contamination be prevented.
Our objective was to review the situation in an expedited and disciplined manner so that the pl ants could be returned to operation with-assurance that this would not constitute a threat to the public health and safety.
\\tJe v1ere mindful of the econo!lli c hardships that can occur as a result of plant shutdowns and worked hard to avoid any-unnecessary delays in bring-ing the plants back on line. After completion of reanalysis *and modifi-cations of the piping systems, the NRC terminated the shutdown order for
- i the Maine Yankee Atomic Power Station on May 24-, for Unit 1 of the Beaver Va 11 ey Power Station on 1'\\ugust 8, for the Fitzpatrick Nuclear Power Station 1
. He 7 910090 3~
fl,r
_**=:::: l::: ::::::::::::::::::::::-:*~:*:*::*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:,::* : :::::*:::***:::*:*::*:*:::::::. :::.~ ** :.:::::::::::::::: ::::::~;!~... ::_* ***::;:::~
Nl!C IDRM 3i8 (9-76) NB.Oil 02.(0 "I: u.~. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFIC<<: t no***** 101
--~
- Mr. Wm. M. Kennedy 2 -
SEP 2 o 1979 on August 14, and for Unit l of the Surry.Power Station on August 22.
Reevaluation work and review by NRC' staff continue on Surry Unit 2 while that plant remains shut down for the replacement of steam generators.
DISTRIBUTION Docket S0-280/281/309 NRC PDR (3)
LPDR (3)
.MGroff (NRR-3217)
HRDenton EGCase PFine f1ASB R/F MC FORM 318 (9-76) NRCM 024'3 Sincerely, Original Sig11ed bi*
H. R. Danto~ _...
Harold R. Denton, Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
- u.s. GCVl!!RNMENT PR8N1'1"'11G OP"P'ICIEZ i 070
- 288 - 709