ML19249E178
| ML19249E178 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | South Texas  |
| Issue date: | 09/07/1979 |
| From: | Hendrie J NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Hipolito Gonzalez HOUSE OF REP. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19249E179 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7909260553 | |
| Download: ML19249E178 (2) | |
Text
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September 7,1979 CHAIRMAN The Honorable Henry B. Gonzalez United States House of Representatives Washington, D.C.
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Dear Congr-ssaan Gonzalez:
I apologize for not responding sooner to your April 3,1979 letter but, as you are aware, the Commission and staff have been occupied with continued support of the efforts at Three Mile Island, Orders to other facilities, appearances before the President's Commission and various cc= ittees of Congress that are investigating the Three Mile Island accid ent.
We have also been realigning our own resources and priorities to give i==ediate attention to the problems resulting from that accident.
Task forces have been working wf thin the NRC (1) to give direct support to Three Mile Island on such matters as core cooling, cleanup and recovery operations, (2) to review responses of utilities to NRC Orders and Bulletins, (3) to identify, analyze and recommend changes in licensing requirements and in the licensing process based on lessons; learned from Three Mile Island, (4) to assure the continued safe operation of operating plants, and (5) to complete work on Unresolved Safety 1ssu.es.
The results of these efforts may include new or revised NRC regulatione and review practices concerning such matters as the training of operators, operating procedures, emergency planning, instrumentation, and design.
Priority is being given to plants that the NRC has ordered to shut down, plants that are operating, and plants that are near to being ready fer operaticn. However, new requirements and procedures will also apply to other plants under construction, where there will be more time available for making changes. Both pressurized-water and boiling-water reactors are under review t o determine what modifications may be necessary.
With regard to instpection during construction, the NRC requires that each utility applying for a construction permit for a nuclear power plant establish a detailed and comprehensive program for inspection of the quality of construction in all areas important to nuclear safety.
In addition, NRC has a detailed independent inspection program that is carried out by NRC employees of the Office of Inspection and Enforcement, working out of regional offices. The regional office from which the South fexas Project is inspected is located in Arlington, Texas.
One individual is assigned the responsibility for managing the NRC inspection program at the South Texas plant. As construction progresses, he calls on colleagues with specialized skills to perform particular inspections.
Starting in mid-September 1979, there will be an NRC inspector stationed at the South Texas site on a full-time basis.
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The Honorable Henry B. Gonzalez The estimated dates for completion of the South Texas units are several years away. The current status of construction is such that modifications could be made more readily than for plants that are completed or nearly co=pleted.
However, we agree with you that new requirements must be determined in a timely way to avoid any unnecessary delays or costs of construction.
k'ith regard to your specific ccacern about the steam genc rator tubes for the South Texas Project, modifications have becn made in the plant design to alleviate potential problems.
It is planned tc, use an all-volatile treat =ent of the secondary coolant water, instead of the phosphate treatment previcusly used in most Westinghouse steam generators.
This change will minimize the possibility of caustic stress corrosion and wastage of the tubes.
Ferritic stainless steel material will be used in all tube supports and baffles of the steam generator to decrease corrosion rates. A quatrefoil tube support will be used to increase flow circulation between the tubes and supports and thus decrease corrosion product buildup. The number of anti-vibration bars will be increased to alleviate bar wear and f retting. NRC staff is reviewing these desi;gn features as part of the current overall review of the operating license application for the Project. However, based on present knowledge, we do not anticipate requiring any major design modifications to the South Texas plant to provide for steam generator replacement.
In summary, we can expect the Three Mile Island accident to have an impact on nuclear power plants presently under construction, such as South Texas, as a result of reevaluation of their designs and operating procedures. The nature of this impact must await the courpletion of the work presently underway on a high priority basis by the various task forces within the NRC ar.d will take account of other investigations in process outside the NRC.
Our objective will continue to be the protection of the public health anc safety at all nuclear power plants.
Sincerely, J'
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-JosehM.Hendrie D
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