ML19259C033
| ML19259C033 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 04/25/1979 |
| From: | Chilk S NRC OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY (SECY) |
| To: | Gossick L NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19259C031 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7906120095 | |
| Download: ML19259C033 (1) | |
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UNITED STATES 0
'o, NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
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WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555
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April 25, 1979 OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY MEMORANDUM FOR:
Lee V. Gossick Executive Director for Opemtions FROM:
Samuel J. Chilk, Secreta
SUBJECT:
UCS EMERGENCY PETITION On March 28, 1979, the Union of Ccncerned Scientists (UCS) filed the attached petition with the Commission entitled, " Emergency Petition for the Reanalysis of the Capacity of Operating Plants to Withstand Earthquakes." The Commission believes that this should be treated as a petition filed under 10 CFR 2.206 and that the initial response to the UCS should come from the Director, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
The Commission will have the opportunity sua sponte to review the staff decision under 10 CFR 2.206(c).
The Commission has requested that, consistent with available staff resources, the staff should promptly respond to the petition.
Please advise the.Commi.ssio_n_wi_t.h_in one week..of_
an approximate staff schedule.
cc: Chairman Hendrie Commissioner Gilinsky Commissioner Kennedy Commissioner Bradford Commissioner Ahearne A. Kenneke L. Bickwit 79061200W D
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PETITiCN RULE PD-SHEI. DON, HARMON, ROISMAN & WEISS e O 2 5 I S* ST R C CT, N.W.
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March 28, 1979 oce,,,,,
usume Joseph M.
Hendrie, Chairman
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Richard T.
Kennedy, Commissioner i
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4 Peter A.
Bradford, Commissioner
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Nuclear Regulatory Commission g
Washington, D.C.
20555 Gentlemen:
Enclosed is a copy of a pr i. tion which the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) has filed this day asking the Commission to order an immediate re-analysis of operating plants to determine whether they are adequately protected against earthquakes.
In our view, the events surrounding the Commission's shutdown of 5 operating plants because of an error in one computer code have revealed a serious nd more widespread problem.
The methods for analyzing earthquake hazards have changed enormously over the years.
Operating plants were approved on the basis of methods which are unacceptable today.
Yet, there has apparently been no effort made to look back at the operating plants, using today's sophisticated methods, to determine whether they are sufficiently safe.
The fortuitous comparison of the old and new Stone and Webster pipe stress codes in connection with the Beaver Valley incident has shown that the difference in results depending on which code is used can be critical.
This is compounded by the fact that the staff has never systemati-cally reviewed the vendors' computer codes, but has permit-ted their use on the basis of only cursory comparison with other codes.
The petition asks the Commission to impose some order and rationality by identifying current state-of-the-art methods of seismic analysis and reassessing all operating ni,,.e
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. der to determine modifications are DUPLICATE DOCUMENT Entire document previously entered into system under:
PoSZ30199 77002 W 7Yf xNo No. of pages:
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