ML18283B868

Forwarding Letter from Constituent Along with Copy of Readers Digest Article Entitled, the Burning Question of Browns Ferry, Letter Urging Give Constituents View Most Thorough Consideration

ML18283B868
Person / Time
Site:	Browns Ferry
Issue date:	04/08/1976
From:	Annunzio F US Congress
To:	Cantus H Energy Research and Development Administration, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
Download: ML18283B868 (12)

Text

FRANK ANNUNZIO 11TH DISTRICTJ ILLINOIS COMMITTEESI BANKING,CURRENCY AND HOUSING SUECOMMITTEESI

~AIRMAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS FINANCIALINSTITUTIONSSUPERVISION, REOULATIONAND INSURANCE HOUSE ADMINISTRATION SUSCOMMIITEESI CHAIRMAN,PERSONNEL ANO POLICE ACCOUNTS KottgeesS of tfje SIIiteb States QouSe Of Seyreee)) tatibed Nasfjitfgton, Q.C.

205)5 April 8, 1976 DISTRICT OFFICE SVIm 201 4747 Wssr Ps TERsoH AvsNVE CHICACO, ILLINOIS 60646 (312) 73%4700 LOOP OFFICE Su ITS 3840 KIIIcsTHCHIDVILGING 230 SCVTH DCARVGRN STREET CHIGAGG ILLINGIs 60604 (312) 35~618 WASHINGTONOFFICE SVITE 2303 RAYSVRIIOFFICE BVILOING WASHINGTON.D.C.

20515 (202) 225-6661 Mr. H. Hollister Cantus Director Congressional Affairs Energy Research and Development Administration Washington, D.C.

20545

Dear Mr. Cantus:

Please find enclosed a copy of a letter from my constituent, Mr, Maynard Z ~ Joerger,J along with a.copy of a Reader's Digest article entitled, "The Burning Question of Browns Perry."

I would be most appreciative if you would give Mr Joerger's views in 'this matter your most thorough consideration, and also let me know on his behalf the 'steps being taken by our Pederal nuclear regulatory agency to correct the difficulties raised in the article.

Thank you for your cooperation and assistance in this matter Sincerely, FRANK ANIKNZIO Member of Congress PA/sba Enc

FROM; -

r'e j~ 2mah

~II mais TO:

8. H~1B.elm Cease, QXAj (eefaerc8 CO KM 4lI'X6/76)

ACTION CONTROL COMPI DEADLINE ACKNOWLEDGMENT INTERIM REPLY FINALREPLY FILE LOCATION ES/r-

/7$

CONTROLtJO.

DATE OF DOCUMENT PREPARE FOR SIGNATURE OF:0 CHAIRMAN P

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OTHER:

DESCRIPTION, 4D LETTER Q MEMO Q REPORT P OTHER ZaeX. 1a'a F~ymed R. 4eergoe e~

g4'OSCKC55 CCQC@XCLTSQ tb8 dII'~9 FOYER XitCL CLASSIFIED DATA SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR REMARKS 4

, g'.II'8~,V p~.

Ryp~

DOCUMENT/COPY NO.

NUMBER OF PAGES POSTAL REGISTRY NO.

ASSIGNED TO:

AT CLASSIFICATION CATEGORY Q

NSI QRD P FRD INFORMATIONROUTING LEGALREVIEW Q

FINAL Q

COIY bwhei Pile+)M>>

$Q ASSIGNED TO:

DATE NO LEGAL OBJECTIONS NOTIFY:

P EDO ADMINII, COR RES BR EXT.

COMMENTS. NOTIFY:

EXT.

CAE NOTIFICATIONRECOMMENDED:

P YES Q

NO NRC FORM 232 (11-75)

EXECUTIVEDIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS PRINCIPAL CORRESPONDENCE CONTROL DO NOT REIHOI/E THIS COPY

p~ELOPg S j UsA t

UNITED STATES t

ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20545 APR 16 1976 Mr. Carlton Karanerer, Director Office of Congressional Affairs Nuclear Regulatory Comission 1717 H Street, NW.

Washington, D.C.

20555

Dear Mr. Eanaerer:

Enclosed is correspondence from Representative Frank Annunzio dated April 8, 1976, regarding an inquiry from his constituent, Mr. Maynard Z.

Joerger.

Since the nature of this inquiry relates to the activities of the Nuclear Regulatory CcaaIission rather than the Energy Research and Development Administration-, it is requested that proper action be taken by your office.

We are advising Representative Annunzio of this referral by copy of this letter.

Sincerely,

~

~

. Hollister Cantus, Director ace of Congressional Relations

Enclosure:

As stated cc:

Representative Annunzio

~ogUTIPy 6~

O m

'~~6-ie<~

e BQC(l I"

&le 'g ~(/>4 I

Mr.gM+.Maynard Z.Joerger 4563 N.Moody Ave.

Chicago, Illinois 60630 G

~ ~

'~'".On'3Exrch ia; xj~,"an'toiiuc pliiitxii Ahb'arne'vVas'Bt by a fioo-"'-'.'.

-:- milEon Ric! that riged'Sr'yg hours. How"dose':ii'camc Yoithc'ultimitei~'-

""nuclear catastr'ophe". is still a'matter of Hisagreemcnt.'-But o'nc crucial ~.'."-.

'..':is.'ceriaini the Bai'~ and grew'to cxisis piopornoiis because th'e US; ~.'

- Nudear Regulatoiy.Commis'sion (NRC}&iledto cnfoice'elanentary safe-

'. ty rules in"th= plant's.design, constructi(qx'and operation. Thc blind:.','scenes story 'ofthis Bre-tie woist ever zn a US. nudear gener'ating plaiis,":

raises tiaubling questions about'the oyeraH safety of our entire nud ear

. QEFprogra

'I' I

~>i

~

~ 8 c

...~ rEAa '.in'.hhrcli, 'clectiioans'--"::"i8o feet. Iong, 'it;:was'almost a'mild.; ':

werc engaged 'm"a asky'ob'.: mass".of electrical'-'."cables-,teni of it.'he,'enh'essee:

Valley-Au;",",.thou'sands ofshiny'black snakes rest-

'thoiity's.

brand-ncw'; Browns'.'Pcriy' 'ng 'ori. track-like,":"g'alvanizcd-iron";:"':

".'n'uclcar 'gene'rating.station near;

-."cable,'trays".".that.'iisscrossed..-.';:

"-.Ath'eris, PJa. Twoofthcplant's thre'i

through the room",filling "itvalmost

"., huge, billion-watt 'rca'ctors "werc op.-'...'&om'.Hooi".to'eiling."The'-.clc'ctri'-.;-= '-'.,

'rati'ng.it full power," and the elec'-',:.cians'ob was to.seaI th'e holes'in'the

.';: tricians werc worLingin a room that ".'alls through which,the'cables en-

,was'ciiacal to both'of,thetn:,a long;.. teicd the'room.',.'i."',',:...-.'~'....,'.

i',,low,'.,'tightly'packe'd; space,througE;~;i".Two'hings'msade the~'joii xisky.;":, ';" -.'t:

" -,'-.wtiich'aH-the.contr'ol,cables.'fai the'.-.:-Thc'sealant they".w'ere.using-.poly-;., "."

~

.;:"...wo".,'reactors',. thousands'~ of:.vaIv'cs,: ~'-~urethane'.-.'foain',: thc; sa'inc.> spongy-

""'inotors'and "sensors', were funnel ed~;: m'aicrial that's used to,'stuE pillows

-':.'."=".':.';

'on '.th'eir",,way.to'her control '.room i"..."-'js-a, highij.;combustible",p!astic.

':..'dircctly'above!-,.'i.:(p:=~~". ~.",i",";.."'And thc.way, th'cy';t'ested 'each" seal -'-:,'

"any,'par't 'of,the"-plant'.could be".'.'as to'hold'a 1igb'ted,candle,to"the,.;

':,':called its'A'chilies..heel,'this'~ed hole and observe.wPcthei:the Riel;er:.",:-": -l

,, i,~?~?'

.--.'"

;~'ng through. During'thc'couple?

oE:'spend virtually all their time not in..i

",,:!g'-.,"..weeks bcforc thcbigblazi;there had:", the.'plant, but'In its administrative" j.4<-.:been quite 'a'number.of near-misses 'ffi

'. s t

-its records-'.*:;-'-"

!;1.'.i'=.'.'=ia wliichworl'.ers,sct Gic,to thc foam" e ules.s owin how, man, fir.';-.'-'..',

e(;:.',zbutmanaged'to'snuEthe'.fir'outbc-.'

s avc een

.thc roe uxes.".".-'

~,-g,g For'c.'it'could spread.'".:>-'8 "'>>'-'=':.cw~'

- or u

i ia 'c e.

tc".'--'-",;

, '",':.=<.= Q about."!noon-on'."March u,",a,<" Admits:Norman'Mose1ey,: the NRc;..;

w+"'.worker'."'i " te'd,'a 1iunk ciE'foam and:

r'egionaI director.'of:.insp'ection'ho.';

':..'ithin','.'was'responsible-'for.".Browas Ferry>>'-,~

'P~>-.,'.minu'tcs'he'. sp1attenrig dropIets.'aE."":.'Our':.'inspectors.

Io!ok-a't;1ess than':!'-",-'.":"

?.:,'~~/':-";buinirig poly?urethane had spread the;. oric'pere'ent'f.'what"'. goes on,:in a -.',. ~>-'

-"-9 ='.;.'. Grc to'th'e highIy combustible'plastic."

plant.'-"-'<~".'.'~-"".'~-"-'>':.-."-"..'.:--"."-"-.ii,7:.:

-. ".'"-.,

cov'crings oE cables'in? thc'a'cighbor-'.;:-.:>> 'Onc moic'questio'n'-..Why did NRc"'~')'!i-."!in@,'loseyacked'trays.'oon,-morc"..-permit highly combustible cable cov'-".: ~.-'.:

q:-",'i-.;, than'a thousand cables werc burning:.", exings to. be"used. at Br'owns Feriy) -'i<..=".-'.

',.:; '." ':";furiously ""'-'-'"+:":'.." -..;;.:'RG didn t'knowhow'comb'ustihic:.:-"

~ = '.=;'.tWheic" There'". Smoke.'""Lct's;.'hc werc. T c-agency as no corn-.i.'.~":"-?

'i.::.-';;;"'.pause'herc.tn'ask several questions.

busti standar'ds".of-its'own and ":,:

':,.;".-,,:- First, why did'inspectors permit the.--'akes no tests oKitsown.'Itrelies on;,.-; "

'-.<-',.use'of can'dies so close to Qammablc ".'quipment manufacturer's?

and plant."':.~<.':.,"

. ',",mater'lais'?, It'is",a standard'industry'builders.'to".set..their,own?

"standards"," '2 g =:"-.".'-:.'.sealcesting'.te'ehnxquc

'.;whi'eh -"-the'.:md do'their own teeing; Itwas not."-,,'-'",.'."

/"=--,,i - -'NRc did not. icedias".Bangcio~!:;=;until after the fir'that NRc made iti.~"

'd"the iris'rrors! "

" 'ari"-."o'wn"'tests"o'n.the'c'abics. 'Thc test"!.",~

-r."-',-;;"='construction. ob 'in such a criti

"; showed thatmanyofthecables'merc

i:.. '."'oom oI'an o eratin reactor ey;:; so'Rammable that they.-."could serve:; -'-

-'". ".". simply'di 'not ow that such'workis morc inteiisc'init'iators [ofa fir]-'-'-:":;

g,>>...,

~,,

'n p

g n!,

~'

'~.'."='.:,"; <<:;,<:NRc-.'ins"ectors':rar'cl 'ins 'cct ':.-"->An im'p'ort'ant facto. note herc'is",';-",,

! '+,"'."'nts, n crc is no record that:.: that the'cable's"used at Bro'was Fcrry.-.".'-'.

'Rc ins ector'ever: visite c"-.are'stan'dard equipment tHat is wide-".

':i.;:p"'ssoreadin roo

'."Thc.licensee;,is'-':!Iy used by thc industr'y;:.".;<=';i'-".i;-'-":.",:!

,( ':.".'-::,',.-;;. s'upposed.to o

is 'ow'n inspc'etion,".:.'.-'Now, back'to the fir."A'sitbegan;:,.

---'.;;.says'.'Donald Knuth '.?then mc.s di-':,"'to 'spr'ca'd,"w'ori'ers tried t'orget at it-';-",-':

)";~.'- "rector',',t'if"inspection;.'NRc "relics on-,.'-'ivith"backpack 'cxtinguishcrs,"'.but-."

<,.+~~>:;"

p1ant;ope'rator>>s to!:,rcport'to'...'it 'ail".-'!they fouiid that,tlie.crowding of th'c':'."::.,",:'-'

'." >'+'..their!:safety", problems".".Bui";.Tva'::..trays",in:.the "spreading" room 'madc="::.".-.

"~,;.~i".": hadn t'-"regarded the candIeicsting.-":this'iinpossible.+his difficultyof ac:., '"-".

~..','P;::job'-.'or thc'small fir's'ithad caus'ed',;-"cess

'to a'critical,'firc-prone arei was ,. ~

s-'8-~i:-'as worth rcportin'g.~=;p>>"-':;.'.-;-.-.'.~:,',"'a - violation 'oE-elementary 'afety-'~;.'<,,

i.,i~".~.',.-':i,.:What'hen, do NRc.inspectors. m-'.:; design prinaplcs';."i~a;,-,';:-

.;.',-." -. ~.~.-".~ ~

0

'gpb

<<'7~';"-. THE BURNlNGiQUEST1ON 0~OR NS.FERRY's'-'='~.s--

~ -,';<Many -. other',-'folatio'nms: quickly""b'do%it'couldfnoel'ut'the'alve h:"

-.."',.','.bccamc'pparenst':,:

fhc~'spreading"..an pum s

at:controlled thc wa-:.'<,,"-'

'oom s chemical.-fogm'.cxtiriguishing ster~op ng system' e

u c steel,

',~:..'.i:

systeiii w'assnoi designeid to.bc:trig='.-'."vesse

~

at. contin c uramum

'."-."-"',d':gcrcd" au'tom'a'tickly iWhcii-'hc',,'ore o ntt nc,;

vcn oug r's in n

oun a

an swit, e '.~: tur'n'ed'o8 c'a'r'Iy math'c fir'e'th'ere-rc-"",'"."'-.:~.i'..

','iscovered ar':it wascover an..'imined'dthc.'dansgcr':-."that'-..the.".fir->p"-':>'

unrcinov'able metal late..

en they-,."..'might caus'c thc'-.:m'ost.'feared,'of aH,.;~-..'":. i

aimed,a osc at e

e, they'foun'd;;.

nuclear"aia'de'nts"-',.'a':,"r'neltdown.",',g(-':that'itisj'i'onssie'e'enid'no't mahe'-.';.'he'sestsotn toas'ihisJs+:

ass": a-. ","',:,-.[ I tlie".watder. r'each"the Ra'mes'When'i>""

Wh'en"'the.;

actualdraoioninwplitiing',";,""..<;"'he tried to" honi'i'ri ari ais'rm di

.:. action" iiistr'de-"..'a." ersderors;'air:e'-:t-'s."-",'r scovere at e " arm'um

".'turned, off thcaheai"m

- thc" i'qo4on" ';=.".t sted 'ri e -

ant s emcr cn

".,m~'.cannoi'bc'.tiirnedd'o'8; and:for;-"-.',>'-" ~;

lacards was t

'c twron "num

.-";haonth's'fterwiard. th'c 'ura'nium',:"-.'.::."

'Whcn they attempted to get u

.'pellets'.m'usi:bckept covered with'. ". '

th'c" sixio'kc":ito"battle"the fiie,"'-ihiey'cooHngt"'.water.'.t.'Without'ladequa'tc

.."..."..'-I; found-'th'a't'the",plant'as"short of'i'molirig,-thc water wtould boil away."'. "i both thea nec'cssary".brdeathing

'ippa "': and 'the uraniu'm mass would mCk, <'.--."..".

'ratushand'the "compresse4'aii to.refiH";"'.burning -'through'."xtsn six'-st'oiy4igh;-,:"-

t.'How,.could thnt~y yiolatio'ns',="steel'contaiiiers and icJeasmg a:large..;.'",".~'. I 1

hav'c esse'aped Mc's'@c.'jnspectoisP,',-:

am'ouiit: pE".:.radioa'ctivc,:gasens'.-"and':>>

-'.:. ~

"~"->ac has ii'ofir'in ors.'It'idies""-jnolte'n>".metal. Nob'ody'.kn'ops 'pr'e'.-."-

'on.'nvatc-insuranceampany:".'in.-~"'<<'city.-."vihat;"wdouid happen a.thcsii; =";~'-"

spectors."Bui the'ompany'thit. rn'-"':. sInce there,.has', neve'r ee'n'such "'." -;.!

sured Brown's Feriyiinsuied:it'orilj".'.w'",:meltdown.=inn thc".brief;lust'oiy':.-','-'.'.'.

" for liabihty'to'ou'tsiders';.not for,firc.~'"'of-:atomic=,'reac'tori.. Bui,'the gene'r--",,:

'damage.'sSo" it had matde:. jo'irch iii'-"='.aHy"'-'held."asasignption'.'is'-'that sohini"';.':Jh':":,

'ipcctioq,"After"':Qi~"',fir the'a'ses'.,would-';dnfti oyer.-the,"'.'.":..'

coinpany'did mak'e'an"inspections'ts".."ciounttryside with. ihc,mind.':.Thc concluded'dth'atthc'i'sj'readiiigkoom"."

nut'iiibertof 'deaths',they.uould cause".:;;.',",,";

'ongestion

. was"-"inexc'usabl'e,". and!".;whethei a'.'"fcw".:.'doien-'r:.many",

'hat unless a pro+.sprinkli'ng sys-thoushas'nds would 'depend'.oa:un.:;",:.""'

te'm"..'was'mstaHed; <'."-a'-'loss'eyond:.; pr'edictable-t variable's:Liow"."much":="'",">"

imagin'at]on'shosuld b'e'anticipated.'";.:;-'.gas

'escaped,',liow;.'big.'.a,'."cia;wash;,'-.'";-':

.;-, Dangers

t. ",Melt Dove@"'s.the""'downwmd,te.~<:"-;.;>'--..'=..s'nr G~q'!'"..':-",.;;-"i.=.q.r

,.'laic'coiitinuend unehtecl'ed throdugh-".<.:."t hs"; thch;blaaie"','ate".'-through".'the.-'j=".'-:..;

'ut::Hic">'a6ternoton': single griKx't".:Brow'ns.,Ferry;cables,'~ockuig'o'ur.".,'-.,'-'s

'uestion"begasn to'take on:growing'-.,orc".,aIIdmor'e'"of"thc',vital,';valves,<~i:;-;-".'mgrtasncc:..Would thc".plant's:op-'",""and,'numps.'.th'averse:"Jcagncd.

to'.,~~:,.'.:",:,

= cr'atoner be'. able'ton'nock o'ut thc fir,'-"'keep thb'ore 'ciooTedd,-.rit":forced th'c,-'.< '.-.:,?>.'

f. :;

-+, p:.:.~-.:.'..".'i'.--,='.' '-gjg REER'S DlGESZ "*:-""-.:--'.='-'". "-) 8p-".,

. operarom'm'imps'advise id'aspersed'ad'enei'iurea'r aisourir,'ui'per-.'::..-:=-'"'.;:unplanned defense. Thcy Med inm=.'lKtted it anyway.'In '&ct, all 56 of

~~".'::~-',many ofFduty"'cmployes-.as they"- the nations alread completed nu-',,".'

-:".='-", ~"-.'-" could reach.- by,".phoric'. (zoo people.:" clear lants-us ut z3 o c"'-",-';

! ','. -.-'--..oshowed'upm~thcxy-man'.crew)

~

w or in'..:.'-q

'g":-"""'""and'asscmbIed them iiian(Ground..'"

c'blue rint sta. c-have e

same';"';i:-"-'ntro1

.room': -'As ',diferent: -Achilles'cc i c ~

g togetTi-':<<'."

.,-'-"-'-:~",.-"pumprsanHs'r'alviss ranked;o'ui,',dres'e'~"

oi" err'o~onrm ea es.m a'.,~>."-""r."'en>',ws'rc.rushed; to'eriti'cal'pots.":. am<le s rca room;;, --.-,,,--

-:,-:.'.-..-'.-'< about thc plant'where, inrdfect', they-.>>'-,'; Thc'eason goes

'to a'unda--,'+'.

<<j:"-::~;,):=could ompcratcpthc reactor"by haniE.

e'-mcntaIsmistaLc'that.Confess made ";,",-

@~."+d~ ~kthro'wing"cmergnencyosiyitchcs",'turii'..>m: jars".augo."Iri "zgjj;".'when'on-'-:::>>--'.";

~':mgrthc big wheels.that open'ed stuck;;",,pgrcss,".set;.up th;-Atomic Energy'"".z g":..;i;;!.:,: '. al cs,"'-phoningu'" back instrruumeig:=. Comnussio'n,".,(mc);: it gave"the=.="

'~

j- ~.'.."icadin'ges to the"c'oiitroi'roome'i;;i",".~ 'agrency "two;mutuallyi cdontradictoiy" =-"".

g>':-.;.-".'i:"Behind gs fantice cxtcmporinng. eassignmcnts"..to promote'atomic"dc:

>-".'i Q",c=: '-..Iay the worst of the",safety'lapses at'"..vciopment'-" (which".mainIy meant.

Browns Pciryi.thc violation of one'.=.'finding ways to keep thc costs" of.-,.

<".i:.-;,'. ":;.-of the'NRc's.most'sacred safety'con-. i 'atomic.plants down) and to regni'-.,:"'-'.~x

.+.=-';-. ccpts,'a pririciple thats supposed to.",,.htc'ts safety {whichmainly meant'"";""-.

'--","..,;,';:;.r be builtint'o the basic'design ofevery.'emanding.expensive safety systems.'.".

~~;

-: ",riuclear:plant,. This.is,thc,prin'cipic-that drove the costs up). During the p.-'$

~ g;,",,.";.-"mf".separation',"'wn'hich'demands'thatu';"

ig6os,:.it:became apparent that this.':;"-.

'- ',".".'i'r.".'",',.all:;,rthc'lant'P,backup'emergency'-

system was nor. working.-.Undcr.=.-

~ a,...- =,:"."'-"'devices 'r'drid'.iherr"i'oner'oir must.bc".':pressurcVrom thc industry and its -'~$ -

<~,",."',"~':spaced,'wcill apdaitIron ornc:anotha

-, Iobbics in 'Congress, thc,inc grad-'=,.'.

y-"',i" ":;~.; so;that n'o"onc 'event'-", &earth-.';e'nally began'to make promotion its,',";"'.

~ ip--."

=". ~: quake,'ipe'rupture,'explosion.candominant'.,ifunction;: increasingly,"g,',',-'.I

, ~>)

<".'-".-.~'.,"disabIc'.them all at'once. Qe,viola;.,".:when a-'.compromise. had to bc."'-"i i'u '.";;. +~;.'-',r'.",-'jion"of'this'iprincipIc.-by 'thc jani-'!.',.rseaehcd:betweenco'st.

and s'afcty, it'c."-;z

""~-".-'<<".=."-..ming.ogcthcr "of;.'aII,them.controil '-i.was 'thc'atter 'ha't';.was compro-'.';,'

~-';i;;," =<< 'cables into"'a single'Psprcadingaroom"i.:;miscd"Observe,'i for inst'an'cc, how.'~~".'p,",

.".s".~~-

" enabled the,'blaze to knock out"~ thh 'hzc.icached thc. compromise ~":-;

""-." ',".:;..,:;.onucd" two.,and.even'three levels of that allowed all US,'plants'to'bc'j'>>

~

"'a 'c" <::<Bro'wns'-Fcriy's,'dctcns'e. almost si-".;. built, "like'. Browns 'erry,.with "a'.-~ <'-'.

';~ii~~;;:.:;,'"-;.-',";Achilles',HecL Haw.had so basic;-;,';Starting inz~ a number of seri- ~;

i'a,.";>.='-::,.":-';q',-,.aocomp7omisc.of so.important a'safe-","i-;"ous cable-tray &cs'in nuclear plants..i"..'.

~g:,';-:",+;. tug.:,piinaplc,,csecapcd';

NRC's-notice:,::.alerted,: thc hEG, to;thc &ct.that; to:,".."-

-",.',.':-;,':.when:at'.",arpprov'crd:.Bro'wns'.Perr'y's"""save"spa'ec':and uion'ey, plant build-.."; "

-',."-s;,'-,."; '..=-desIgnf;;:; -':.-',."~.'-.-"~',",;<,<..'~-s'.p<"..-.'~.',"; cars wcr'c'squeezing the trays so "eiosc.'-'.";:

""'"~':-""=="-'.1t,had not escaped,mc's',Roticc".->,-'together.that'a.:Grc-in one.,could." r.'

h.;~ jjj6'i";THE BURVING gVZSTION..OF. BROWS FZRRF- ':"-"-'.-"r"'.""':.I

" ~,quickly'spread to*others'. So danger-'~ag~'bad

= b'ecomre'.'ther industry's.-'.:.""

'ons.wid thiipraaicc'that thc agency':.",-'capuve.'Congress"decided'to.rcczify, assigned an'.;",A-plus" "prioiityto'thc'-"-".its z95g"mistake: It 'set'up a brand.-;."-.",.:.',

!Job ofdrawmg up"a'tough",scpara-<'"'nacw agency,'hc Nuclcai Regdatoiy'-.:"'",,-

'r=,t'Iont':standard"'.to'; foicc,'uildcras to',-"..:Cozumissioi withdar new chairmari..;"",.-';-'"-'..

... 'ovidc safe'spacing=bctw'een;tray's.=;<<and awcw"orderr fo'gct"promotion,".-",'.

nc o c agency s most Iinport

-,; lust regulate. But there was a catch:":,",:."

aims was to m

c. ea t sc a-c.the'Qcw agenocy was notncw.It was;~",".>,. =.

rate es.

ooeeo. ttoo spree t,""the old r'e 'to-h'r aoeh'.

of theaao'";.:=",'

':rooms,.-so at,a.

m one room'-,', C.-

c'-same.s,". same.rc auons,'..'.'-'<<.'g,.':.:.

I not.

sa c

cm

.,:-.:..:.";,same:a tratzvc. princes-.un-"

='.-.:.~".'"'h

~Though,the.hEG a

authority-':

cr a ncw name.;..

cy, was. ";-~7,':

"',s

" 'i

'it'didn'i'do'thiL!Instead 'm"i9jz,ait,"tpwho,resigned'om"thc.'Xi%ci'Q.Pcb-,-

. asked an;Industry.:groiip,'-'the'Insti-'".-'r'u'ary.'A'dmits ~'s-Knutb

",tlcant',-" ':.:":,

" tutc o(Bc@ical and Etcqronic En-.,"'.put my finger on any"basic chan'gcs;:,,-!

ginecri (KEE),: too..writac:,a SCPrarahej.a:,wc'vc made.since thc.mC days." As

. s',";

. standard foi it.Explain's Rob'eit Pol j~>a-icasult; almost-all of the' lants '"'."":..;

~. laid,'-a'mcrmbei,of.-:the i@a,'group'.'vrbein torawaitin 'anNRc

- that.wo'rkcd,'withe':thc xEEE,oq"the.:oka

-have:

e sainc.kinds of cx-:.".,"..'r',<t

',ScparauOQ-,

StaQdardpsr WhCQ.tWe hln StCIQSasBtOWQSF

-'. draw'up'a'tn'cw statndard, antimpoi'.;.'-'

same s rca 'oom con--.:7 1

'. tant,aim is to:inakc siirc its"accept-.'."

o 'and th, are s

ect to

'~: t able.to thc'ndus~,". But thc.'id& "the same'ind o; cs inc s "'-'a s'cceptable to'the'industry.-Lhc rea=.-'".'. Clearing the.Air"',Buai nod'back;,'.".:".

'p rsoni: two,< rooms 'cost, m'orc" than-., '.to'he firk:at.Broowns Fciry.".Ai'jgj::."-;;".

one'. So the iEEE retused to'kay the.~ p.m y/z:hours Wcr thc fir"started, -.- -~~',

.idea;~.:*"~"."'r J",(,-'7;,>':..t c It-. -;.t~-,< -'-r the;Atl1cns, ".Ala.; fir dcpartIQcnt;", ",.e>.

c-'m'c'-'protcstcd.;bitte'rTy, pre-'. man'aged. to gct a hose'on it'and put.""."',.:.

'dieting-that!',a'fircI'precisely;jikc'",'it.'out. Now,'..'though thc fir'vas"".

Biow'ns'Zaij '.i '.woauld icsiilt;&ozn"..'Jca

'thc.'. lant'i'went.'tbr'ou h" its;..:"-'-.

the.'EEEs'~efusa1ZBiit".th'protests'.";w'orst ord o

e ay:.a i I-iour:.-."';!"

did"no-good,:.'In.".-rye" after:;three=

o urin w

its water-..'.t, '.

years'of arg'uing'iwith.'ehc industry'.. 'Circu atin um s-run

.: gioup,'the,')pc gavciin.:It.'ado@ed?

a d emer cn -wac rcn cred use;"..:. -..-;

:-'..Sttandard:.';"that: Iiciinitt'cd. single':less."..'-At'hat point,wc

'dn'tp.

;-'=';Thr'oughout'.,the

'.z Gos,;die "~c',-,'next,"; jayes Browns: Fcrrypt supcrin;;.".~>-.".

w'as'fotr'ced into m&j.,other~ similar@.tcn'dent KJ; Giccn"..:;:-'- >',,-.",","'.-,-,+" ',",-';'":,

, compzumiscs.'FIQ'ally'IQ'.zjjj,'n re.'i:-'-"But'hcowor'st did"not hiappcn.'t.;.'-'.'

, sponsc,.to'.jjrowing rjr'otests,'ghat'the".tinned'.out,that;,there,'tv~: j p'ump

>g=t'..',:.'

I::.":::,:

'.-: " it. : "

-";-'.-.-.whose 'controls had'-somehow-cs=

dies',.of't'ai"'safeiy. cjucsuon'ave

.

;-:; caped-thc blaze'; Itwas not'desi e'd-"-

een made: under m and Mtc aus-

-.'.,'.";:: for co'olin, did not

ave, c ca ac piecs,'hey have: started from a basic to

.c t c core cover xn efx-,"'remise, which-.Biowns Ferry has

'Ã&nitel ~d.~ not even.'inc udcd'~roveR to bc falla'ciou's:,the.is~p-'

.~>i.'=.-: in the lant's cmcr en lans<<ut.="-tion:that'...US..'uglcar, plants are

- ".>-c',.'it wo<<rl;ed e men co d get," buIlr".and';:oper'atcd 'to'."thc"hxghcst

';>g.'.-'-the'r'egular.coohng equipment back'-"'possible safety.standard's.'~oxvherc tinto opcratiQIL< "4"'i;i<'>~'a "<<++g" do thcsc. thcor'chchl'studies v'c se

--:.i.-=-'":;";%hat.woiilgiavcEappene'd xf,the.;:rxous attention to su r

-worM",

=q-,.'~"-pump%'adsxotw'orkeep?

No'one,.wiH::factors as.corn e's, xnadc-".

t

~l'i'.-;"ever 'know~!So', complex'as

'. thc '

sorinklin stems c

."i:".-""-'.'bieakdown,and so chaotic thc situ-;-"': eancHC Rames: on" her ant

'<<~~',-a'ti'on<<in thc control room.&'at,xdc-,i': foam s readin gooms at inv

.'."."-'"',-'p'en8ing on'whxat you want'to'prove.",

ate e

rxncx e o se aatio ar

=-::;;:: you calx shap<<cthe would-have-b=exxs"-'"

s e orsmho look'at less tnan on r""~: into i'scenario'th'at.leads.

to.either '"

w

'sactuaHvhano nin

,4',-':":.'aivaixon'- or ldisaster'.~'hc.'~lant.':

in their xxlants.';;;1-.,.,;;.=-

':.'. -"icame Ixrctxjj',closcm "a."'meltdown;.",'w Ther'cforc,. Con s" should.Sm-

'~P.-.'seas<<Bcn..Clifford:

Case 'gL;N.J.)

" m'ediaxcl a

oint. a to ev stu

,, ='=:";""'-.a'member.;of.tlyJoint Congr'cssion-":.'," commission-'men an women o

-i

:""al;Commxttec"ixx,"Atomic Energy,.": the hi hest.xxossible technics

"Pz, No'i so-siys'NIxx: chairin:xn VTxlliarq txs xntc an m

e en ence-to

'l,.,". A'nxlers;": hc. masts 'hat'" this""un-.*.

Ct thc.ansxver to'hc fundamental g -" -"":fortunaie;axle..scixous occurrcncc"-.

uestion's =raised b; Browns P gpe.'...=.,i'ctuaHy pi*ovesthcbasicsoundncssof,:.,

How safe is:our 'atomxc program, gg-:.',.:.-'..%c.sam syst~'~m'Qo.one.,~

",md how~at xsy c need toma I

~'"~r".But"the'.,question

. that 'the'- fir';:."~,.Jew.'question thc";profound iin-

'cave's'iuuriswercd is 1'ess'ixnportant'-"'.portancc to'the;US,"economy.

of'de-'-

-=.~.=,,than', thc;fact, 6ai it,pioycs:, Thc;-'.'eloping 'o.,'strong'~:nuel earmergy

= '-'p'~-.Mtc-'un'dcr'pre'ssu'r'c from'hc in'dus-'=;."progr'am. But',before'~e'commit our-.

<:.i--";:...try;..has'=" ailowcE:. Scrxous compro,";.'Sclycs to'.hundrc'ds fmore plants like

.mlscs, 7vlth 'saf~ty "to creejinto the 'ro'novnsFerry.".xt,is".essential. that

..design,""construcuon and,operatxon

-, wc'mal,"cst that their safety',sta'nd-

$.",;-"=:-.~'f U.S.'nuc1ear. plants.'As' result '-"-'ards'-'are i~ptablc':not'ust to'hc

.'['-",~:.;~the country,'ha's -xxo<<'.present jya<<y'xof@Industry tha't.'builds. them, but also.'

p:~~"-. 1'nowi'ng:howisafc or",u'nsafc~ts nu-'."..m i1ic public that;.ha's:. to live ncxr'.

-',':;."~"-.clea'r'rogram is. Because, all",pasi-'::" door"to th'ein;,~~"~<,-. "..".,i';'.i ',::;

I~'-'~";,.'.= =:~:. Qpprenais'on xithe lubikan's oflife.";,'-c~xx~"I"a~r'x'z >c~~i ~r~'.'