ML19210D098

Forwards Response to OPS 790709 Ltr Re Mobilization & Deployment of Coast Guard Vessels in Response to Emergency at Floating Nuclear Power Plant

ML19210D098
Person / Time
Site:	Atlantic Nuclear Power Plant
Issue date:	11/07/1979
From:	Stewart J U.S. COAST GUARD, TRANSPORTATION, DEPT. OF
To:	Birkel R Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
SE-79-022, SE-79-22, NUDOCS 7911200531
Download: ML19210D098 (5)

Text

,J-DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

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gj j j UNITED STATES COAST GUARD u.sSEs^r Eu"InSG-CPE/TP-23 7,^c'07tYrfhf 9d8'-1430 7 NOV 1979 3441

. Mr. Ralph Birkel Nuclear Regulatory Comnission 50- 437 Of fice of N Iclear Reactor Regulation Washington, D.C. 20555

Dear Mr. BirKel:

Pursuant to the USCG/USAEC memorandum of understanding of January 4, 1974 for Regulation of Floating Nuclear Power Plants, the comments contained in enclosure (1) are forwarded in response to Offshore Power Systems letter SE-79-022 of July 9, 1979.

Sincerely,

$uP3?.T Edrp(}g ,'

Encl: (1) USCG Response to OPS ltr SE-79-022 of July 9, 1979 (2) Copy of OPS ltr SE-79-022 of July 9, 1979 h \ '

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j.3. Cosst Juard CO.T.T.ents in f.es)Cnse to iffsnore icwer dystens letter ad-73-J.L of July a,1373 Ir.e Offsacre 2cuer Syste.r.s (:E) Inc. inc_uiry solicited infor.aation regaruing .rcaili stion cnd deploy .ent of Coast Cucrd vessels in response to an e.nergency at a Floating .iuclear Plant (F.:P) . Par-ticular concern saa e:: pressed for the logistics of transoorting tne large influx of people in tne event of cn accident at tae Ph.

2ne Coast Juard does nave the responsicility for groviding searcn and rescue assistance to vessels and aircraft in distress on or over vaters of the U.3. coacts. In recent years, the increase of offcncre activities outside of tae field of transportaticn aas created ne'i demands on Coast Guare services.

In the event of a nuclear acci;ent at an 1.!P, in additien to assuring tuat exr;ency assistance is .;,rovijed for the personnel at tne fcci-lity, tne Cocst Jucrd uculS procacly estaolisa a " safety ene", in accordance vita tne Ports and naterways dafety Act, as a:aendej, around the FM. 2ne enforcenent of tne safety zone vould ce to provide increased peri.:.eter security for tne ESP from tae influx of spectators, facilitate tne . cove.r.ent of i.e.portant service vessel traffic in and out of tne FE, anc reduce tne safety hancrd to vessels anj ctner facilities in tne area not involved with tne F M. It is anticipatec tnat tne Coast Guard would ce called upon oy .EC or otner federal agencies to assist in transporting initial investigating teams to On FNP accident site.

Inc nature of Coast Guaru vessel and aircraf t cegloy;c.ent on ;.t.ulti-prograa

.aissions precluae the coscitcc.ent of agecific tyces, sises, or nu.acer of units for Ft.P contingency planning. Activities sucn as tne offanore oil industry provide for cota tne routine aru e argency transportation needs of tacir personnel. For e.nnple, eitner contracteu or corqany c neo nelicopter or vessel a.aculance services are arranged oy tne inaustry. It is reco.r. ended tnat a contingency re wuirement to cover a

ossiale acciuent at an F.t ce coverec, cy so a saca contractural arrangement.

dowaver, tne Coast Juare nas always oeen reasy to prcvile a cacxup in an emrgency when tne liaits of private enterprise nave ceen e::cceced or if a ;cajor disaster occurs. Since tne CP3 inquiry did not identify any specific F:W potential sites, tne following are typical Coast Guard units Onclosure (1) 067 246

in standby or patrol st c;us at frequent intervals along the U.S. East and Gulf Coasts:

Coast Guard Vessels M Pass. Cap. Speed 41' Utility Boat ;2 22 44' It> tor Lifeboat 12 12 82' Patrol Boat 24 18 Coast Guard Helicopters Tm Pass Cap. Speed HH-52 Short Range Helicopter 3 80 knots HH-3 Meditan Range Helicopter 20 110 knots e

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Ishore Power Systems sooo Arlington Embressway 904 -724 -7700 Bor Boco. Jacksonville. Florida 32211 Telex:5684o6

July 9, 1979 L

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. Commanding Officer i J U. S. Coast Guard Base P. O. Box 385 '

-- Mayport, FL 32267 '

~ J Attention: Operations

Dear Sir:

Pursuant to my telephone conversation on May 13, 1979 with Bruce Barton of your Operations Department. I am

• forwarding this letter to solicit responses to a few questions regarding mobilization and deployment of USCG vessels irt an emergency. Our company is engaged in the design and manufacture of Floating Nuclear Plants (FNP).

Because of the recent accident at the unit 2 generating plant on Three Mile Island (TMI) we are conducting an in-house evaluation of the ramifications of such an ac-cident occurring at an. offshore generating station. Please note that this exercise by OPS is not an indication of any expectation of such an accident occurring at any FNP site. Our intent is to explore some of the pertinent i

operational concerns generated by the TMI accident rela-ftive to our design. One of the concerns we are evaluating f is the logistics of transporting the large influx of people e

'9' [at the-time of such an accident, even though we do not anticipate the nunber of people allowed access to the FNP site to be anywhere near the 4200 to 4500 people reported to have converged on TMI.

We have identified several sources.of vessels that could be-mobilized and deployed in the aforementioned action and the USCG is one of them. In order to help us formulate a strategy for the mobilization and deployment action, I 6

1367.248 IIH.08UN2) .. _ _ . _ .. ._

5E-79-022 f . J A,-

July 9,1979 Page 2

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Tiibu1d appreciate your answers to the following questions:

i l 1) Can the USCG vessels be deployed in an emergency at

- a Floating Nuclear Plant located three miles offshore?

2) If the answer to question 1) is yes, what are the speed ranges of the vessels that can be deployed?

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3) What are the passenger-carrying capacities of the vessels that can be deployed?

4) What is generally your average reaction time to an emergency call?

5) What is the maxinum sea state in which the various

-- - -- vessels can opera te, in terms ~of transporting people

- to and from an FF P7 _

Please- specify approximately the wave height and wind speed.

6) Would you say that your vessels are readily available in the Gulf and the East Coast areas?

To answer questions one through five, assume that the FNP is moored 3 miles offshore.

Any additional information that you consider pertinent to our investigation regarding Coast Guard response and in-volvement in postulated emergencies of this nature, would

-. . also be-quite helpful.

Your cooperation in this matter will be appreciated.

- Sincerely, o

I V. rb'u", Manager Nav' .and-Marine Engineering

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