ML19208B383

Requests That NRC Satisfactorily Address Concerns Re Improper Const

ML19208B383
Person / Time
Site:	Marble Hill
Issue date:	07/11/1979
From:	William Ford SENATE
To:	Hendrie J NRC COMMISSION (OCM)
References
NUDOCS 7909200126
Download: ML19208B383 (2)

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Dear Mr. Chairman:

4 B" C Even though you cannot respond to this lett se it con-cerns a subject on which you may be asked to sit in adjudication, ;r._ -

I am, nevertheless, addressing this correspondence to your personal m. = .

attention so that you can be aware of several new developments re- '-+s garding the Marble Hill situation which I find to be unsettling. [2;.E Let me first say that I have intentionally refrained frcm .

commenting on your agency's response to the charges of construction- F==

qualiuy problems at Marble Hill in order not to interfere with, or . . . . _

impede, the progress of the on-going investigation.. Yestercay, your 5:.+ e office advised me that the investigation was expected to take at L least three =cre weeks, but I am writing new because of developments &Er in recent days which seem to be inconsistent with my June 14 request-- E.~" .

and your subsequent assurance--of a full investigation. ..7.7. ,.;

I've always been of the opinion that anytime you smelled smoke, if you looked hard enough, you could usually find a fire. However, G

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your agency's recent actions have directly conflicted with that L... ..

theory. E" -

gn Inspectors from your agency have determined that many of the B3 allegations of improper construction are indeed correct. ".cre than 500 air pcckets already have been discovered in the plan:'s twc F.ia reactor-containment buildings, and of these, at leas 120 are said - =-

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to have been imprcperly repaired. Despite the mounting evidence __

that the problems could be much greater than originally expected, EcE "

de NRC has given the contractor and Public Service of Indiana per- .~

mission to resume construction in safety-related structures. Your , . .; .

staff has explained to me in detail the terms under which construc- E~

tion was allowed to resume, and I am in no position to argue the , lih-.m meries of the new quality-control standards. [.l.

Ecwever, I can tell you this. Given the mounting evidence I_..

tha: substantial problems do exist, I cannot name one good reason which ustifies allowing the continuation of any construction F activities involving the safety-related structures at this site  !.. . a until your investigation is finished. E.

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July 11, 1979 9

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M Considering what is at stake here--the basic safety of a [5 rM nuclear facility-no precaution can be too great if the public in-terest is to be protected. Other factors, no matter how urgent or E

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.E compelling, should not be assigned a higher priority than safety, EJ and quite frankly, I do not feel that the public presently feels 5 that this is the NRC's primary concern. If the objective of your f.ns investigation is to be fulfilled and if the public's concerns are M to be resolved, your agency's every activity must have the support M and confidence of the public. =5

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ma I can assure you chat if the NRC fails to satisfactorily [i5 address the concerns that have been raised in a complete manner, Ti I will not hesitate to schedule a public hearing before the full jin Senate Energy and Natural Resources Co-4 ttee on which I serve and ME take testimony ander oath fron all the principals who are involved EE in this investigation. The only f actor that could con:pel such a E3 hearing to be held would be for your agency not to carry out its L.%

responsibilities to the fullest, and I am sure you realize that. g

2 Sincerely, ..

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The Honorable Coseph M. Hendrie

.- =s Chai.. an, Nuclear Regulatory Comnission r-Matomic Stilding .:=

1717 H Street, N.W.

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Washington, D.C. 20555

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