ML19094A019

LTR-19-0110-1 - Matt Maddox, Letter Earthquake Predictions for 2019 Formulated February 12, 2019

ML19094A019
Person / Time
Site:	Diablo Canyon
Issue date:	04/17/2019
From:	Ho Nieh Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:	Maddox M - No Known Affiliation
Singal B, NRR/DORL, 301-415-3016
References
LTR-19-0110-1
Download: ML19094A019 (3)

Text

UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 April 17, 2019 Mr. Matt Maddox P.O. Box 1935 Conroe, TX 77305

Dear Mr. Maddox:

In your letter to the Chairman of the U.S Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), dated March 9, 2019, you described various vulnerable conditions at Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant (Diablo Canyon) located near Avila Beach, CA. You requested advice on the appropriate process to induce an immediate shutdown of Diablo Canyon and to educate West Coast residents on earthquake precursors.

As you may be aware, following the accident at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant resulting from the March 11, 2011, Great Tohuku Earthquake and subsequent tsunami, the NRC requested, by letter dated March 12, 2012 (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Package Accession No. ML12056A046), that all licensees of nuclear power plants within the United States reevaluate the seismic hazards at their plant sites using updated seismic hazard information and present-day regulatory guidance and methodologies and, if necessary, perform a risk evaluation. Based upon the results of these evaluations, the NRC staff would determine whether further actions (e.g., update the design basis and structures, systems, and components important to safety) are necessary to provide additional protection against the updated hazards.

By letter dated March 11, 2015 (ADAMS Package Accession No. ML15071A046), Pacific Gas and Electric Company, the licensee for Diablo Canyon, submitted its reevaluated seismic hazard. Based on its review, the NRC staff concluded that the licensee conducted the seismic hazard reevaluation using present-day methodologies and regulatory guidance, appropriately characterized the Diablo Canyon site given the information available, and met the intent of the guidance for determining the reevaluated seismic hazard. The NRC staff documented the results of its evaluation in a letter dated December 21, 2016 (ADAMS Accession No. ML16341C057).

By letter dated April 24, 2018 (ADAMS Accession No. ML18120A201 ), the licensee submitted its seismic probabilistic risk assessment for Diablo Canyon. Based on its review, the NRC staff concluded that no additional actions or plant modifications were warranted. The NRC staff documented the results of its evaluation in a letter dated January 22, 2019 (ADAMS Accession No. ML18254A040). The NRC staff concluded that, from a seismic perspective, Diablo Canyon is operating safely and will continue to do so.

With regard to your question on the appropriate process to induce an immediate shutdown of Diablo Canyon, you may consider using the process described in Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Section 2.206, "Requests for Actions Under This Subpart," to facilitate your request. Detailed information on how to file a 10 CFR 2.206 petition can be found at https://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/regulatory/enforcement/public-involvement.html.

M. Maddox Please note that the mission of the NRC is to protect public health and safety and the environment by developing and implementing rulemaking, licensing, oversight, and incident response programs for nuclear power reactors. The NRC staff typically conducts public meetings at least once a year to inform local residents about plant performance during the past year.

Also, please note that the Governor's Office of Emergency Services for the State of California (Cal OES) is responsible for the California Earthquake Early Warning Program. You may consider contacting Cal OES about your inquiry on educating West Coast residents on awareness for earthquake precursors. Contact information for Cal OES and additional information about the California Earthquake Early Warning Program is located at https://www.caloes.ca.gov.

If you have any questions about this letter, please contact Balwant Singal at 301-415-3016 or via e-mail at Balwant.Singal@nrc.gov.

Sincerely, Ho K. Nieh, Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-275 and 50-323 cc: Listserv

ML19080A266 (Package)

ADAMS Accession No.: ML19094A019 (Letter)

• Concurrence via e-mail OFFICE NRR/DORL/LPL4/PM NRR/DORL/LPL4/LA NRR/DLP/PBEB/BC {A)* NRR/DORL/LPL4/BC NAME BSingal PBlechman BTitus RPascarelli DATE 4/8/19 4/8/19 4/8/19 4/8/19 OFFICE QTE* NRR/DORL/D NRR/D NAME JDougherty KBrock (CErlanger for) HNieh (MEvans for)

DATE 4/10/19 4/9/19 4/17/19