ML19246A734

Responds to 790315 Telegram Opposing Plant Shutdown Due to Seismic Design Concerns.Forwards Earthquake Maps

ML19246A734
Person / Time
Site:	Beaver Valley, Surry, Maine Yankee, FitzPatrick
Issue date:	05/24/1979
From:	Harold Denton Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:	Kus C AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED
Shared Package
ML19246A742	List: ML19246A734 ML19246A743
References
NUDOCS 7907060293
Download: ML19246A734 (3)

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%.*.*..,C Mr. Crawford M. Kus 86 Grandview Street Tolland, CT 06084

Dear Mr. Kus:

This is in response to your telegram of March 15 to President Carter regarding the orders by the fluclear Regulatory Commission on March 13, 1979, to shut down five nuclear power plants in the eastern United States because of questions about the ability of their piping systems to withstand earthquakes.

Shortly before those orders were issued, it became apparent to t4RC.;taff that analysis techniques which had been used in the seismic design of safety-related piping for thcse five plants were not in accord with proven and generally accepted engineering practice.

The result could be overstressing of piping and supports for earthquakes which could reasonably be expected to occur during the lifetimes of these plants.

The eastern Unii.ed States is generally believed to be a region of 1cw seismicity, when compared to the western part of the country, but is not without significant historical seismic activity.

Attached is a map showing the location and intensity of earthquakes that have occurred in your region.

Some of the piping systems involved could, if failure occurred, cause loss of coolant to the nuclear reactor.

In addition, systems needed to shut the piant down safely in that event could also be affected.

Thus, an earthquake of not extremely low likelihood would have the potential for causing an accident and foi preventing operation of safety systems designed to cope with the accident.

Our objective is to review the situation in an expedited and disciplined manner so that these plants can be returned to operation with assurance that this will not constitute a threat to the public health and safety.

Sincerely, T

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Harold R. Denton, Director Of fice of fluclear Reactor Regulation

Enclosures:

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