ML19256E932
| ML19256E932 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Big Rock Point File:Consumers Energy icon.png |
| Issue date: | 09/25/1979 |
| From: | Gossick L NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | Levin C SENATE |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19256E933 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7911160011 | |
| Download: ML19256E932 (2) | |
Text
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'o UNITED STATES
! % s. ( h NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
';i.g // 3 p W ASHINGTON, D. C. 20555 SEP U 15;S ocket No. 50-155 The Honorable Carl Levin United States Senate Washington, D. C.
20510
Dear Senator Levin:
a This is in response to your letter dated August 1,1979, regarding your constituents' concerns about the Consumers Power Company's Big Rock Point Plant. These concerns relate to use of plutonium, a proposed increase in spent fuel storage facilities on site, bomber flights near the plant and a liquid spill.
By letter of June 26, 1979, Consumers Power Company (CPC) requested an amendment to the license for the Big Rock Point Plant to allow the addition of three racks in the facility's spent fuel pool witn a resultant increase in the storage capacity from 193 to 441 fuel assemblies. Supporting safety and environmental analyses were submitted by CPC letter dated April 23,1979. A notice of proposed issuance of license amencment was published in the Federal Register on July 23,1979 (44 FR 43126). Copies of the notice were sent to the Office of the Governor, State of Michigan, the Chairman of the County Board of Supervisors, Charlevoix County, Michigan and the Charlevoix Public Library. The notice provided an opportunity, through August 22, 1979, for any party whose interest might be affected to request a public hearing. Several such requests were received in the form of. petitions for leave to intervene in the proceeding, and an Atomic Safety and Licensing Board has been established to rule on these petitions. The CPC request is currently being evaluated by the NRC staff with respect to safety and environmental effects. The results of our evaluation will be documented in our safety evaluation and environmental assessment. Copies of these documents will also be forwarded to the Governor, Chairman of the County Board of Supervisors, and the Charlevoix Public Library.
The proposed license amendment would change paragraph B(2) of License No.
OPR-6 which encompasses the authority for CPC to receive, possess and use special nuclear material. The proposal would increase the limitation on uranium fuel inventory from 1200 to 2500 kilograms of contained uranium 235 as fuel to allow a larger inventory of spent fuel. This license paragraph also includes an existing limitation on the receipt, possession and use of plutonium in fuel. The June 26, 1979 CPC letter does not request a change in tne existing limitation on plutonium.
1341 206 haneo 4)
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s The Honorable Carl Levin Since the early 1960's the Air Force has had a low-level simulated bombing route in Northern Michigan for training missions. The original flight corridor included airspace above the Big Rock Point ' lant.
In 1971, P
following a SAC B-52 bomber crash in Lake Michigan about six miles from Sig Rock Point, meetings were held between the Department of Defense and the Atomic Energy Commission.
Following the meetings, the Air Force altered the path of the training route near the Big Rock Point Plant so that the nearest edge of the eight mile wide flight corridor would be one and one half miles from the Plant. Following the change in routing, there were no overflights of the Big Rock Point Plant until July 1979 when a flight strayed out of the corridor. The fact that the July 1979 overflight was the first since 1971, indicates that the revisions to the route in 1971 were generally effective. However, in response to a telegram from CPC to the Department of Defense following the July 1979 overflight, the Air Force initiated an investigation of the overflight and issued instructions for the purpose of reducing the likelihood of future overflights. We will investigate the need for further corrective action if the overflights are repeated.
The concern regarding the handling of a spill is not clear. We assume your constituent is concerned about a small leak found in the primary coolant pressure boundary. On April 20, 1979, CPC reported a small leak which was found during a routine primary system hydrostatic test following a refueling outage. CPC issued a news release which stated that one to> two quarts of primary coolant had leaked from the reactor vessel during the hydrostatic test. NRC inspections verified that the leak was small, was properly contained and posed no hazard to the public or to CPC's employees. The reactor has remained shutdown since the leak was detected to effect a repair of the leak and to perform other maintenance. CPC has completed the repair of the leak and is continuing other maintenance efforts scheduled to be completed prior to startup of the reactor.
We hope this infomation is responsive to your request.
Sincerely, ORIGtNAL SIGNED BY R. G. SMITH
/- Lee V. Gossick Executive Director for Operations 1341 207