ML19257C511
| ML19257C511 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Sequoyah, North Anna  |
| Issue date: | 01/23/1980 |
| From: | Whitehurst G HOUSE OF REP. |
| To: | Harold Denton Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8001290271 | |
| Download: ML19257C511 (1) | |
Text
G. 59)
T/HITEHURST waseawevon orries.
2ase DesTsucT. YunasenA 2427 RAvemos Sunawee Wasunscton. D.C.
20515 (202) 225-4218 cowwrvisam
_.__",7....
Congressof tfjeIHnitch!btates
' " ^ " " ' " = = =
^"~'
.T.
"'"'*",'.'CJTs'""* **
J)0ugt of Representatibeg
- - = = = = = - = = =
RESEAACH AND DEVELOPMENT
~v'""'""
Easfjington, D.C.
20515
(
'I
- I
- PEMM ANENT SELECT COMMITTEE VEMENA C. WASSERMAN ON INTELUGENCE orres sanseAeta SWacometerTTEESs ROOM.01. PEMBACICE CNS PROGRAM AND BOOGET AllTHORIZATION v,- -. anacn.vm o.A u4 2 o,,,,,,,,
( ***) *""
U.S. DELEGATE To
' 23, 1980 January eLANCHE W. BOYLES crrics asAsenaam NORTH ATLMJT1C ASSEMBLY Mr. Harold R.
Denton Director Office of ' uclear Reactor Regulation U.
S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission WasM ngton, D. C.
20555
Dear Mr. Denton:
Mr. Stanle'/ Ragone, President of the Virginia Electric and a
Power Company, has shared with me a copy of his recent letter tc rou relative to the ';RC licensing of tha North Anna II nuclear power plant.
While Mr. Ragone is pleased that the NRC is now currently preparing a Safety Evaluation Report for the issuance of a lower power license for Sequoyah Unit I, he is concerned that NRC officials are not actively pursing a review of the North Anna II license on the same schedule.
I believe Mr. Ragone has made an e::c 211en t point relative to the issuance of licenses for these two plants simultaneously, and I hope that every consideration can be given to his views.
3 Dn Thanking you, I remain Sincerely, y,
s G. WILLIAM WHITEHUR3T GWW:DT'i hCS S///
on;g~J AA~ab 1o G. BR.kl 1840 319 E
8001290
VIHOINIA EI.EcTnIc AND Powzn COMPANY Rrcnxonn,Vrnorx A accGL 8""""^
January 17, 1910 Passssant Mr. Harold R.
Denton, Director Office Of Nuclear Reactor Regulation U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Cormission Washington, D. C.
20555
Dear Mr. Denton:
It is my understanding based on discussions our licensing representatives have had with NRC proj ect personnel recently that a concerted effort is under way to prepare the Safety Evaluation Report for issuance of a low power license for Sequoyah Unit 1.
We are encouraged to learn that work is proceeding for issuance of that license, but I am disappointed that the staff is not actively pursuing a review of North Anna Unit 2 license on the same schedule.
We believe they should be pursued simultaneourly, especially since our unit has been essentially completed and ready for fuel loading since July 1979.
Vepco has diligently pursued the implementation of the short-term lessons learned recommendations following TMI.
Also, the Company has cocmitted to a special training test program similar to TVA to enable our operators to actually observe the effects of natural circulatien in the primary coolant system; One overriding situation that should encourage the NRC to concentrate en getting North Anna Unit 2 in service as soon as possible by taking the steps necessary to attain fuel loading and power ascension is the maj or reduction in oil consumption that the placing of this unit has on our system and the nation as a whole.
TVA is primarily a coal-burning utility and the Sequoyah unit will displace coal, not oil.
North Anna Unit 2 will primarily displace oil, most of it imported.
At a 607. capacity factor, each month's improvement in placing our unit in full service reduces the Company's and nation 's dependence on this cil by approximately three-quarters to one million barrels per month.
The President has taken a strong porition with regard to reducing oil imports, and he has endorsed the need for nuclear power to meet this nation's basic energy needs.
The Ccmpany is striving, through our nuclear program and coal conversion program (12?'
MW already converred from oil back to coal, with 239 MW additional capacity scheduled fer 1980 and 394 MW for 1982 conversions back to coal), to comply with his plea to reduce oil consumption.
The NRC therefore should be making every possible effort to get those nuclear units in service that dis-place oil as quickly as pcssible.
1840 320 7fl 5),)
h, /
2 491 e a
,0 0$ fh )b I
sacax:A Etzernic A'f D Pow 23 CCMPANT TJ Mr-Harold R. Denton Page 2 1/17/80 In past correspondence, I have conveyed to you the grave consequences of the nuclear licensing pause.
In the latter half of 1979, maj or power purchases frot. neighboring utilities were necessarf to maintain reliability and to try to reduce the consumption of high quantities of oil required to replace North Anna Unit 2.
This detri-mentally impacted on Vepco's ratepayers through higher electric bil'_s and capital requirements.
Carrying the unused investment in North Anna Unit 2 continues to mount, and this will further impact on Vepco's customers and the economic well-being of the area we serve.
We understand the Special Inquiry Study (Rogovin Report) will be submitted to the NRC by January 25.
Following that it would appear that the Commission could proceed promptly with the issuance of opera-ting licenses well before mid-February for North Anna Unit 2, Sequoyah Unit 1 and possibly others.
I sincerely hope that you will pursue the North Anna Unit 2 license as fast and diligently as is humanly possible to get this unit in service promptly.
I respectively request that licensing of North Anna Unit 2 proceed in parallel with the Sequoyah unit for the reascns stated above.
If you have any questions or would like to meet to dis-cuss this, please let me knew.
Since ely, e
/f f
/
n.
< d @, ^[on Stanle SR/eeh cc:
The Honorable Charles W.
Duncan, Jr.,
Department of Energy Virginia Congressional Delegation 1840 321
__