ML19260C595
| ML19260C595 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Davis Besse, Perry, Zimmer  |
| Issue date: | 12/28/1979 |
| From: | Harold Denton Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Wojtanowski D OHIO, STATE OF |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8001080076 | |
| Download: ML19260C595 (8) | |
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aIMJN. f s, ~ p DEC 2 81979 The Honorable Dennis L. Wojtanowski Ohio House of Representatives Columbus, Ohio 43215
Dear Mr. Wojtanowski:
This is in reply to your letter of November 21, 1979, to Richard Cleveland, asking for responses to eleven questions. Those responses are enclosed, together with additional material regarding questions 1, 4, and 11.
As a general response, we would like to assure you that every effort is being made to protect the public health and safety at all nuclear power plants that are currently operating or that may begin operating in the future.
Si ncerely, Original Signed by Darrell0. Eisenhut, Harold R. Denton, Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Enclosure:
Responses to Questions 1701 338 8001080 0 7g
Question 1:
Is there an NRC list available af radiation inducted deaths?
If so, I would appreciate a copy.
Resoonse:
There have been no known deaths from radiation in connection with the operation of commercial nuclear power plants. There were three radiation deaths at the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory in accidents involving the assembly of a critical mass of fissionable material, one in each of the years 1945, 1946, and 1958. There were three deaths in 1961 in a criticality accident at the Stationary Lcw Power Plant No.1, a prototype reactor in a development program of the Army, located at the site of the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory; although lethal doses of radiation were emitted, the immediate cause of death was mechanical injuries.
The only radiation death in a licensed facility occurred in 1964 in Rhode Island at the Wood River Junction Plant of United Nuclear Corporation, resulting from accidental criticality of fissionable material in a scrap recovery operation.
Question 2:
Is there an NRC list or compendium of nuclear operating plant, reprocessing plant and/or waste storage site accidents? Please send me a copy if available.
_m
Response
Enclosed are 17 issues of the NRC " Report to the Congress on Abnormal Occurrences" in the NUREG-0090 series for the period of January 1975 through June 1979.
These cover nuclear power plants, fuel cycle facilities (other than nuclear power plants), other NRC licensees (industrial radio-graphers, medical institutions, industrial users, etc.), and Agreement-S; ate licenseas.
Question 3: Are there any tentative or future glans for stationing an HRC representative at each operating nuclear plant site on an ongoing basis?
Response
In May 1977, the NRC adopted a resident inspection program for nuclear power plants. The first resident inspectors were assigned to 15 sites during the Summer of 1978. At present, there are 43 resident inspectors at operating nuclear power plants, including more than one resident inspector at a site in some cases.
In addition, there are 12 resident inspectors at nuclear power plants under construction. The number of sites covered is in the process of being expanded. When the program is fully implemented in September 1981, at least as many resident inspectors will be assigned to each site of-an operating nuclear power plant as there are operating power reactors there. All of these resident ir.spectors will serve a tour of duty at their assigned plant, followed by rotation to another site, a regional office, or NRC headquarters.
1701 339
- %es
, Question 4: What specifically is the NRC's involvement in the develop-ment of evacuation plans for the Davis Besse, Zimmer and Perry plants in Ohio?
Response
Enclosed is NRC report NUREG-75/lli on " Guide and Checklist for Development and Evaluation of State and Local Government Radiological Emergency Response Plans in Support of Fixed Nuclear Facilities;" items 6 and 7 on pages 26-27 deal with evacuation.
The State of Ohio has submitted to the NRC a Radio-logical Emergency Response Plan that includes a local government plan for Ottawa County where the Davis-Besse site is located, and this plan is currently under review. Local government plans for Clermont County where the Zimmer site is located and for Lake County where the Perry site is located will be submitted later for review.
An NRC policy statement on " Planning Basis for Emergency Responses to Nuclear Power Reactor Accidents" appeared in the Federal Register of October 23, 1979, and a copy is enclosed.
This refers to report NUREG-0396 of December 1978 on " Planning Basis for the Development of State and Local Government Radiological Emergency Response Plans in Support of Light Water Nuclear Power Plants," prepared by a Task Force on Emergency Planning of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency; a copy is enclosed. The concept of Emergency Planning Zones (EPZ) around nuclear power plants, where predetermined protective action plans are needed, has been endorsed by the NRC. The EPZ for airborne exposure has a radius of about 10 miles; the EPZ for contaiminated food has a radius of about 50 miles.
Part 50 of NRC Rules and Regulations includes an Appendix E on " Emergency Plans for Production and Utilization Facilities," and a copy is enclosed.
Davis-Besse Unit I has an operating license and a site emergency plan approved by the NRC.
The site emergency plan for the Zimmer unit is currently undergoing additional review. A site emergency plan for the Perry plant will be submitted with the final safety analysis report when the utility applies for an operating license.
The NRC is sending emergency preparedness teams to operating nuclear power plants and to those expected to be ready for operation in the near future to review emergency plans.
The purpose is to improve the capability of the licensee and to assure the capability of offsite agencies to take appropriate emergency actions.
This includes an integrated aesessment of licensee, local, and State capabilities and interfaces.
There is a meeting i701 540
. in the site area to provide upgraded criteria and identify to licensees and local and State organizati as the aspects requiring improvement, one objective being to facilitate working relationships and communications among all parties. There is also an opportunity for expression of concerns by the public. The site visit for Zimmer was completed on November 8, 1979. A site visit for Davis-Besse is planned but the date has not yet been set. The situation at Perry is less urgent, since the first unit there is not expected to be ready for operation until 1983.
Five weeks after a site visit, the licensee is to submit to the NRC upgraded licensee, local, and State plans, which will be reviewed by the NRC team and the findings summarized in a Safety Evaluation Report. This will include an ioentification of areas requiring improvement, a schedule for implementation of the improvements, and a specification of any required interim measures.
In the longer term, there will be periodic reviews of implementing procedures, including in-plant and offsite personnel and equipment, the conduct and critique of exercises involving licensee, local, and State capabilities, and within about 5 years (before January 1,1981 for new operating licenses) the conduct and critique of an exercise involving licensee, local, State, and Federal capabilities.
Question 5: What specifically is the NRC's involvement in the decommissioning plans of the Davis Besse plant?
Response
In the case of an application for an operating license for a nuclear power plant, the application shall include information showing that the applicant possesses er has reasonable assurance of obtaining the funds necessary to cover the estimated costs of permanently shutting the facility down and maintaining it in a safe position.
In the case of Davis-Besse Unit 1, the applicants assumed that the plant would be entombed, by sealing all remaining highly radioactive components within a biologically secure structure after having removed all fuel assemblies and radioactive fluids and waste.
An alternative is to dismantle the plant completely, perhaps after a period of entombment. Detailed consideration of decommissioning is not expected until near the end of the plant's useful life.
1701 W
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Question 6:
Does the NRC plan to hold off final licensing procedures and approval of the Zimmer plant based on the Kenery [ sic]
Commission's report?
Response
The unit under construction at the Zimmer plant has been estimated to be ready for fuel loading in July 1980.
As a result of the Three Mile Island accident, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission estimated on November 9,1977, that it will take several months to develop new or improved safety objectives, detailed criteria for their implementation, and various implementation deadlines and that new plants will not be licensed until the required criteria have been developed.
It is recognized that there will be a significant effect on the availability of power generating capacity if those plants now in the final stages of construction do not receive operating licenses by the dates previously anticipated, and every effort will be made to avoid unnecessary delays.
The effect on the issuance of an operating license for the Zimmer unit has not yet been determined.
Question 7: What is the NRC's definition of excess capacity? What is considered excessive excess capacity?
Response
Electric geneating capacity in excess of expected peak load requirements is called reserves.
This additional capacity is needed to ensure generating reliability and is used to supply power during periods of scheduled mainten-ance, forced outages, and higher than anticipated demand. Most U. S.
electric systems operate on the basis of a probability of one generating outage in ten years. This corresponds to reserve requirements of between 15% and 25% of peak load, varying with characteristics of the individual system.
Question 8:
What interface does NRC have with the Ohio Power Siting Commission in the approval of a nuclear plant site?
Response
NRC Draft Environmental Statements for proposed nuclear power plants in Ohio have been reviewed by the Ohio Power Siting commission.
Its comments are included in letters to the NRC from the Director of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency on January 8,1974, for Perry Units 1 and 2, on June 24, 1975, for Davis-Besse Unit 1, and on December 27, 1976, for Zimmer and from the Secretary of the Ohio Power Siting Commission on April 8,1975, for Davis-Besse Units 2 and 3 and on February 3,1978, for Erie Units 1 and 2.
1701 342
What is NRC's role specific to the planning, licensing, Question 9:
construction, generation and monitoring of nuclear plants?
Response
The Nuclear Regulatary Commission is responsible for regulating civilian nuclear activities to ensure that they are conducted in a manner that will protect public health and safety, maintain national security, and comply It is also responsible for evaluating the impact with the antitrust laws.
on the environment of major nuclear facilities proposed to be licensed and for balancing the benefits of such facilities against their environmental ans social costs.
A construction permit issued by the NRC is required for each nuclear power pl a nt. Before applying for a construciton permit, a utility may request an early site review to provide resolution of one or more issues relating to site acceptability.
Obtaining a construction permit involves (a) filing and acceptance of the application, generally consisting of eight or nine large volumes of material covering both safety and environmental factors; (b) safety, environmental, safeguards, and antiturst reviews by the NRC staff; (c) a safety review by the independent Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards; and (d) a mandatory public hearing by a three-man Atomic Safety and Licensing Board, which then makes an initial decision as to whether the This decision is subject to appeal to an Atomic permit should be granted.
Safety and Licensing Appeal Board and ultimately to the Nuclear Regulatory Commissioners.
When a plant is nearing completion, the applicant must go through a similar process for an operating license.
A public hearing is not mandatory at this stage, but one may be held if requested by affected Each operating members of the public or at the initiative of the Commission.
license contains technical specifications setting forth the particular safety and enviromnental protection measures to be imposed upon the facility and the operating conditions to be met.
Once licensed, a nuclear facility remains under NRC surveillance and undergoes inspections throughout its operating life.
Question 10:
Who is the person (s) representing the NRC that public officials in Ohio can contact for fast, accurate information regarding nuclear plants, safety and monitoring?
Response
The person to call is the NRC Project Manager for each plant, whose name and telephone number is given below:
Davis-Besse Unit 1 Daniel J. Garner (301) 492-7435 Davis-Besse Units 2 and 3 Robert A. Benedict
-7317 Erie Units 1 and 2 Dean L. Tibbitts
-7821 Perry Units 1 and 2 Carl G. Stable
-8474 Zimmer Irving A. Peltier
-8379 1701 343
e.
Question 11: Please send an organization chart of the NRC with respective names and addresses of office holders.
Response
Enclosed is an NRC organization chr.rt as of October 1979.
Included on the The mail chart are the names of the persons holding the various pcsitions.
address of all of them is U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commisswn, Washington, D. C.
20555.
1701 344
ENCLOSURES TO RESPONSES TO 00ESTIONS Reports to the Congress on Abnormal Occurrences - January 1975 through 1.
June 1979.
2.
NUREG-75/lll, Supplement 1, " Guide and Checklist for Development and Evaluation of State and Local Government Radiological Emergency Response Plans in Su? port of Fixed Nuclear Facilities."
3.
Copy of Federal Register Notice of October 22, 1979 on " Planning Basis for Emergency Responses to Nuclear Power Reactor Accidents."
4.
NUREG-0396 " Planning Basis for the Development of State and Local Government Radiological Emergency Response Plans in Support of Light Water Nuclear Power Plants" 5.
Copy of Appendix E to Part 50 of NRC Rules and Regulations on " Emergency Plans for Production and Utilization Facilities."
6.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission Organizational Chart of October 1979.
1701 345
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'S Novenber 21, 1979 Q
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o Mr. Richard Cleveland
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Nuclear Regulatory Cczmussion Washington, D.C.
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Dear Mr. Cleveland:
I want to extend my sincere appreciation for your attendance at the Citizens' Ccrmtission on Nuclear Pcer hearing held on Saturday, Novenber 10 in Cincinnati.
Your testimony was well received by all of the Ccxmussion mErbers and the general public in attendance.
It was a very productive day and your contnbution to v.he success of this hearing was truly appreciated.
'Ihe Ccrmussion will continue to plan similar hearings in the future and we would like to keep your name on file, in the hope that we might have the pleasure of hearing ycu speak again.
If I can ever be of Again, I want to thank you for attending this hearing.
service to you, please feel free to contact me. With this, I remain Very truly yours, k'
I C-DEMES L.
NOGKI State Representative 74th House District DIW:shn 1701 346 1
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Mr. Richard Cleveland Nove2 er 21, 1979 Page.2 tank you very much for your cooperaticn and assistance on these matters. As you know, nuclear power is an issue that concerns an increasing nurber of people throughout Ohio and across the nation, and it is ever more essential that both officials and the public have good, fair and accurate information. I appreciate your efforts in this direction and thank you again for your participation in the Noveder 11 hearings.
Very truly yours, DENNIS L. NOTI'ANGSKI State Papresentative 74th House District DUi:shn x.c.
Michele Brockert 1701 347