ML19248D119
| ML19248D119 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Beaver Valley, Surry, Maine Yankee, FitzPatrick  |
| Issue date: | 06/06/1979 |
| From: | Harold Denton Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Hemmer C, Hemmer P AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19248D120 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7908020232 | |
| Download: ML19248D119 (3) | |
Text
{{#Wiki_filter:' /'3. m cw c, UNITED STATES !Y . */ 'n NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION / g WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555 ~ 9;. ?9F/ i ~ g (NRC PUEC; CCCT'TT ~ M Mr. Carl J. Hemmer and Mrs. Patricia A. Hemmer 3212 Beech Tree Ct. Fairfax, VA 22030
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Hemmer:
This is in.;sponse to your letter df March 18 to the President regarding the orders 'y the Nuclear Regulatory Commission on March 13 to shut down five nuclear power plants in the eastern United States because of questions about the ab.'ity of their piping systems to withstand earthquakes. Shortly before those orders w2re issued, it became apparent to NRC staff that analysis techniques whic!i had been used in the seismic design of safety-related piping for these five plants were nvt in accord with proven and generally accepted engineering practices. The result could be over-stressing of piping and supports for earthquakes which might occur during the lifetimes of these plants. The eastern United States is generally believed to be a region of low seismicity, when compared to the western part of the country, but it is not without significant historical seismic activity. Attached is a map showing the location and intensity of earth-quakes 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 plant down safely in that event could also be affected. Thus, an earthquake of not extremely low likelihood would have the potential both for causing an accident and for preventing operation of safety systems designed to cope with the accident. Whether or not such an earthquake caused damage in popu-lated areas, it is essential that any serious rauiological contamination be prevented. Our objective is to raview the situation in an expedited and disciplined manner so that the plants can be returned to operation with assurance that this will not constitute a threat to the public health and safety. We are mindful of the ecoi mic hardships that can occur as a result of plant shut-downs and are workii., as hard as we can to avoid ary unnecessary delays in 446 2M Yb20 4 L3L
~ Mr. Carl J. Hemmer JUN 0 61379 and Mrs. Patricia A. Hemmer, bringing the plants back on line. After completion of reanalysis and modifications of the piping systems, the NRC on May 24 terminated the shutdown order for one of the five plants, the Maine Yankee Atomic Power Station. Reanalysis or review of the other plants is in progrer. Sincerely, Harold R. Denton, Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulaticn
Enclosure:
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