ML19220A743
| ML19220A743 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Rancho Seco, Crane |
| Issue date: | 04/09/1979 |
| From: | Kammerer C NRC OFFICE OF CONGRESSIONAL AFFAIRS (OCA) |
| To: | Shumway N HOUSE OF REP. |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7904240565 | |
| Download: ML19220A743 (2) | |
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UNITED STATES
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMisslON I
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wm April 9, 1979 The honorable Ibrcan Shu:Nay
' nited States House of Representatives u
Washington, D.C.
20515
Dear Congressman Shum.vay:
Chairman Hendrie has asked n.e to respond to your letter of April 6,1979 requesting an investigation into the safety of the RancmSeco Nuclear Power Plant following the incident at the Three Mile Island Plant in Pennsylvania.
Our staff has reacned prelininary conclusions concerning the principal factors which initiated the accident and contributed to its severity Tnese were discussed in an open Commissien meeting on April 4, 1979 and a list is enclosed.
We have taken or are taking the following specific actions with regard to the ruclear plants similar to Tnree Mile Island, that is, plants having Babcock and Wilcox pressurized water reactors, including Rancho Seco:
An inspector was assigned full-time to each operating plant having a B&W reactor by April 2.
Tne inspector at Rancho Seco was on-site ceginning idarch 31, 1979 at 4:43 p.m.
An reRC Inspection and Enforcement Bulletin (enclosed) was transmitted on April 1 directing licensees operating B&W The licensees must respond by April 11. reactors to perfora a series o Our on-site inspectors will monitor compliance with this bulletin I
NRC headquarters staff will review the responses promp.
The tly and act on them accordingly.
A second Inspection and Enforcement Bulletin (enclosed) provides of the events at Three Mile Island. specific operating instructions ba
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To assure that the Bulletins are fully understood and followed, the full-time inspector at each of the operating plants having B&W reactors, including Rancho Seco, will receive additional assistance from the NRC regional offices to assure that some inspection activities will occur during each shift.
The assigned inspector at the Rancho Seco Plant will thus be in a position to assure that plant operations on all shifts reflect a clear awareness of the factors which contributed to the situation at inree Mile Island.
The NRC regional and headquarters staffs will stay in close touch with the NRC inspectors on site to ensure that our instructions to the licensees are understood and are being followed.
The Commission is sending a telegram (attached) to each of the concerned licensees to underscore the seriousness with which the Commission views this situation.
Additionally, an NRC Task Force on Generic Review of Feedwater Transients in B&W Reactors has been formed to examine the reactor and plant systems at these plants that provide pro-tection against feedwater transients. The Task Force report is expected before the end of this month.
We will carefully review that information and take whatever further action may be appro-priate.
Pending completion of our review of the responses to the April ist Bulletin and in view of the actions described above, the Commission celieves there is reasonable assurance the plants can continue to operate without danger to the public health and safety.
Although Conmissioner Bradford agrees fully that the aforementioned specific procedures are prudent and provide a considerably enhanced level of assurance, he would await the report of this Task Force before snaring fully in this conclusion.
We will keep you advised of matters as they progress.
As soon as ou-analysis is completed, we will be in touch again to apprise you of the re:ults.
Sincerely, V
DUPLICATE DOCUMENT Entire document previously entered
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into system under:
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