ML19290E427

Forwards SB Rubin Inquiry,Re Nuclear Plant Licensing,For Response.Nrc 791219 News Release Encl

ML19290E427
Person / Time
Site:	Crane
Issue date:	01/28/1980
From:	Magnuson W SENATE, APPROPRIATIONS
To:	NRC COMMISSION (OCM)
Shared Package
ML19290E417	List: ML19290E416 ML19290E427
References
NUDOCS 8003110122
Download: ML19290E427 (4)

Text

+

_.sEL9tu.eT_Wh88 EL A.see

=/::::::

=r =.

'2,Cm.ich States Sennie

~~ ~

=r,, - -

wuwirnsou - arxna r.,:=:;:,~;;2 m

- 7,g

,,,,,,,rn, _

wo.nuoren.o.c. ouo

%"l:'.'.". a"" "..

January 28, 1980 REQUEST FOR RESPONSE TO CONSTITUENT INQUIRY Please find an enclosure from:

Mr. Steven B. Rubin 7027 139th Place N.E.

l Redmond, Washington 98052 6'

Mr. Rubin recently contacted me concerning a situation within the purview of the Nuclear Regulatory Commicsion.

Your report in duplicate along with the return of the enclosure will be appreciated.

1[

S

cerely, I

t WARREN G. MAI SON,b.S.S.

I WGM:tm

(

T f

k

• i j.'

F t

e-an i22_

I.,.'

-. m.m -._.,. -

.,y. 3. m..,ns1 w m.

y.,. u..,,y, v..,

s

.s

,.e 4 - :

.m,an.-

... n

=

' e. * $: 41 o 't

_n g

\\

,u..cc r..."

. /,l'..

\\

f

'b

STEVEN B. RUBIN an 12 880 SOFTWARE DESIGNER. EDP CONSULTANT

$2cbaf2:xAtixme:

SODODtXXYJACEMKEprVEK20cs5x 7027 139th P1 NE Redmond, WA 98052 7 January 1980 Senator Warren G. Magnuson U.S. Senate Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator Magnuson,

I am very concerned about several actions I am discovering that the U.S. government is taking.

I hope you will be able to explain them to me.

1.

The US Navy is planning to build a Water Pit facility at PSNS.

What is a " Water Pit"?

Why Bremerton? and what does it mean to the rest of the Puget Sound area?

2.

The US NRC is,considering obtaining experimental inform-ation from new unlicensed power reactors.

(see copy of memo between ACRS and NRC attached.)

Why haven't they obtained this necessary information a.

be6 ore?

b.

Isn't it more expensive, to fix/ correct a power reactor after it has been started up?

(it may be impossible to fix some components.)

3 I heard that Three Mile Island #2 which had the accident was " grandfathered" into operation.

That is new safety standards did not have to apply to it since it a was "in-process".

Is this true?

4.

Will nearly completed and still unlicensed plants be grandfathered into operation?

If your office is unable to obtain these answers, could you tell me where I may write to obtain them.

t i

Concerned.

b i

i f

.i enclosure 4

?

I-t

I r""%,

UNITED STATES f.d,r il NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Office of Public Affairs A,

Washington, Dec. 20555 e...e VMst 5. WiP9tt 45 84It (EMkf. CIC!rEIR 19. 1979 NEWS RELEASES jygg q g mg gi b fu, L d bL

,9-m

,,, 1-m m

....ae, one ~ u. 197, Co.taats Joh. Repean fatalled - Deeember 13. 1979)

Tel.

201/492-7715 g/,

unC Arraovts amoot Is1 Ann Acazzararr r

// g to aze. tuts u.s or CAaTAls mAnlcaCTzvt MAnalA14 f

Ch Jeren F. Aheerne

]8 Dr i-i

ah,g ;/T,;-r c-2-*

.t w1.u eo.m.a e,t.,,, e.

. s t o.,,a s.,,r-o

. r. emmy u,e.oe m.o e, wu o.t u,m.-m. r.ne-u

-mia. i n.

ae.

u,.

i wm,a..

o f

u,..u...,. n o-, C-i. u...

e.e.

1. t-

1..,

ne a,.

et.m - of f u J.. o. m a o..

y 1. m l

o - or. --

re.,on. m. m u., u,. s 1

o

,o, u.ena

~ Pr-to

'. - - as -- ~~ a Ic-~

.n.or m..re.

.t

.ru,.

u.

1.s,. m.

..... e t

e

- ~u i

f

,,ro.o.a m m.. m.e...e.at.a u s.,au. a.d u,en. au 1

-- -f etr -- - afe--

-al-f- -

., o a.af. u

.a u a m ue..f,1su,,..au e t.a u.,. m.t t

e mau T, e oe mao afeau 1- - d - - = e - r ur o.eu u,w m o.

,e. m o..e..e, re...a m e,.,oe - s.o 94-eue1re--oed a tra. -n. -.se

,io -

u ed.m.

m-i., m ae, T,,... e,..,,,o.t.a m,i.

-C. n se.a.o. e.,u.ter,,ro,ra...uo m o..at.nu.1.ef,eo i.

. m ao f., oe e

--,t uen nr.a -

reum u.or-i.i -

-,.r.

. -..a.e *-e

-a. -re a-d a-

,enu, of e.t. m,eose

.u.tv u - a a

this repet arul in.stC arul 1suiastry staa11 ass (b) twiew.

The Comunassio. has found that the radiata. co. trol sens16ertrag the roeimmendettere set forth ta thle reporte program proposed try Rhode Island is eenpetable wit.h the NRC the omisetancy of the prospective sferating Ilcer.ee to Progras and as adegaste t. protect the pub 118 heath and manage tre plant and the mWa**y of its training program safety. The agreement, as appr.wed by the Cteumicato. Se the for es* rating personns1r ard (c) ameditian 11 cessing us.n same as the.no gnablished f or publie comment in the f ederal twiew and spytreal.f the stata ard local ausr9ency plans'.

Register once eac;1 week for four.onsecutive treeks beginalag June 29, 1979.

Since inauance of thle report, tfe Wuclear Po,ulatory Canalweten has outad that trere will be a pnee of enny senths before the asc will 11 Rhode Island becomes the 24th. Late to el,. such ea

,,,y of the remeters raw neartrup restinnes for areretten due safety 8,re - nt with w maC.

law.we.ents are =ormed out f-the reacters alre=9y in opretion. taneer Ot.her.tates wuch n ve already assumed this authority

'I*'"*#"**'

fro. the waC ares Alabama. Art Cueroo. noud.. C o,,1a. m.sona. Ar kansas. California, The A,ct$,,agre,e,s w1.h most of,the.,,,,, rtlare.ade by t,he,,,Pr,eside.nt's,,,

,o. o n....

.e. m,. 1.u..na,

.ue,,,,,en,,,

'7,',:"he"'::'r'" @.":'d;;J::".':,"J"."*C"0:,ee,

c-asi- *ia a **u --- ia -uf$=u- *-

e Co.u.. re.ne.... Tesa. so.a sun,t.

dia-i i 1.

Tte A*R$ beltowse

• hat the risk to tre pelle health arut safety 41ch is gg, smeed ey the overs; tag meleer,ummer piar.a la omsperable to er probatdy smaller than tre risa pneed by other esistless metrede of,wursung the mane craantity of electricity. The ots else bellwee that thle risk is comparable to or less than that pened by.any other tettemlogical activ1-No.79-222 FOR IMrcDIATE RZ! East ties of.selety.

Con tact s John Ropech (Malled - December it.19 79) 7w1.

201/492-7715 the Acts has. Ah the past arut again.alnes the Three stue taland maridente seensuuruled that the act erut the m:last truhastry taae en)er stets to in-prove the safety of nuclear power reeeters. The Acts beltwee thet it la soTE TO EDITOR $1 proper that esclear power be safer than other sangerable technologies.

The causittee has soug%t this vaal. It belsewee that the cowstry wenta e ht,%er level of safet; fee miclear reacters armi le willing to pey far it.

The Nuclear ko.ulet.ry Cosesloelon h'as received two reports The Cts aise telleres tt-st the saneitry amats e higher degr-et assurance from its Advisory Comunattee on anactor safeguards. The reports as to tre level of esfe.T teilch ta beleg attained.

are attached.

W11e the Act5 believes that interia licenstm.f the nest sta to eseles One report concer.e the NRc's pause 1. licenol.g of.uclear nuclear prmser remeters for eseretten en the name teste as la new being power planta, eccepted for currently eserating reacters tauld ret 1.ee erubs rien to the smadic healtA arms safety, tre acts fevers the som 16eration of additlanal the second report concerns a proposal for interim, low-power leprovementa in their safety an a case-ty can. Nsis, as recuswended ter the seperation of the sequoyah Nuclear Power Flant, which to located Prul6ent's Countasien. hoverthalens. tre fallwirup additamel analdere.

Comty. Tennessee about 17 miles northeast of tiens can and should have a stsang bearing en the aswelfic est egyreach and e-' i - a fa this regardr esista the posalb111ty that a cuewideratde tody of esserimen'i'"' nfor.'ation II I'

"' 3*" '

Ih*'

6 tal i havirig either e plant-opecifig er a omral aefety elr-tficarse ten be ab=

Attath.aata tained try perfor.irup appropriate testa e. systmas er tre entire plant at powere up to atawt St af full puner. These are tests ele 4 are not eeusily

• ~ -

rsst "-+ et tre time they curimses, they esould efferd enam,tially ese P

risa to tre pat,11e beenth and safety. 1here alas entsts *he realbulty.f providtrg_more than the rareal training of operstars.

[d

' \\. f j !. \\

r

.3 t

r'

' L ') 'l'I 1 s 'l! 'i i' ',;i

• )(! j,(d I) f

./ 2; If the 88C peJee teennes relatively erte.uted, Dere eey arise 4 The Esporen alte le core 16ered my the NSC $taf f ta to tF.tr.I'. tr.e $e.1%e*P. nore severe nattenal reoc for additieral electric pe=or. Se A3ts reces- %s;1ey a.u! Move tectanar provsace. The mas se-r. t astar t: ea:Wena w.r.tr. meMe that cena16eretten to given to permitting newly c15;eted swalsar ti!!s tectanic provirre is the 1817 mdifie* norta111 Interairy farCf WI passer plante elCh meet the reqdif muenta of brJIrcC578 te start up ed earthgaene in C11es Coety, Virginas. Arirq tre caratretter perCt revies, meerge untirg at sewer amis e to not er TSt of f.ill smer, ef ter ele the esc suff concl.ssed trat e and1fte: me er reen ae em:tr.s-seeres they seuld me paced in a amrsdesi amadition, a allatie for call in us et c. nee oss seeeptasle as tre safe autoes. urthemae. sure that time, event et national need, elle trie see rese%.s a reeelutten as to tre adot-tre seic staff has edepted meUnds elch to4d Crerecterlee a* m: VI!! tional saf ety rentraments it will t=raa-tefers pralturg normal omnmer-urtigmae with tre more conservative respues r,eetrum specified in cial ope <ation. Reg 4atory cuide 1.sc steered at s.259 h M The Acts n=11 won that tre estety teneve ents roose=noed my the Tte Aw11eant, in response ta sec staff reowee,asuens, has welated tim presteent's (meentesten, tre verleue neC Tesa rotone md the Aos staed, Embermh assign using a ette-speelf te mare erwte ei response a:ectrue ereuld he evaluated eM setad upmn orpeditieualy. henever, the Acts oeweiesed from teerth Aasrican ard Italian strerg entier: recorts af apprw-Dellevaa that a jditious cholee le rewired as to ele reewesendattere priate magn 3tiale and epleestral distance eru$ bas campared the probar.ility require aussementation promptly, ele repare laslanantation en a epoc1* of the safe erwtosun earthstmas timing escoeded at Segmyne to that et flee time scale eartig which seeeters are permitted ta operata, ard ele other Tarvensee valley Asthority Wants that meet the Statutard moview corrent ettsty arul resolut1m en osas specified and eselwahle time scale. plem. It has been conc 1=sied that the risa of esteed1 rug tre present design "Te A33 eJpports the rapid steSe betry taaen by the IeC to develop an esectrum arul the risa of escoeding ste ette-o;eelfle a;ectrwr are cmperaale setten plan aM vsla espedite its rutw of the plan. and that tre prom.3111ry of asemedits tre m.f s,utose urtrarmae la ret e@reciahly dif ferent f rom that ter etter planta in this regles. The IOC 4. Although the A3t$ telieves that operatirq resetare enould receive staff has reviewed the Aplicartt's evalustaen aruS has surelis*ed that the priertry, eral trat teetters weer emetruction also require egrante f re* 5*haryth plant is adegunta ta withstand the effecta of tne safe shutdem the asc staff. the Careittee recuseends that the acc staff taae steps in earthwaas without iema of Sta capeellity ta perform repared safety timely fesnian to redirect, as appropriata, the design of reacters for f.ertlers. The tsC Staff, to verity their }uognents regarding stnetwal each a construction permit hee not been 'grantad or ter enich tenstructien and coepenent design mergine, has performed an e.a!!! ef tre assign mergins has ret toen initiated. Ceeral vsidence, se sell as sensesta for stis!1ee in representative critical emettens af the ruetar arus easillary tu11 ding et design alternatives could es useful in this regard. The C=amittee to-structarea and in representative comperenta repared for este erwtoom. 11 eves that the tr.itiation of penalble design es ges need ret easit the emaplete development of a finsi seC peattlan m manged er addittenal re". The ComeLittee recueurends that tale girogree for the wantification of the guarements for resetare dich have set yet received e construetten permit aeteale design margin to cantinued and espanded to tre este t necessary to ersare that all structastes aru$ epigment necessary to acevaplian safe anatos=e se inceed heve ease margin. stallar rozzrerstatleen hevo twee The acts la eve!!able to tort with the toc staff to help esteve trees ande try the Carsnittee far the North Anna Power Station, Unita 1 eru! 2, and actime. the tevis-tesse tasit 1 in $ta reperre dated Jaruary 17, 1977 aM Jamary 14, $1 re1Ye 1979. This matter ermuld te resolved en a a:hed le and in e samer satia-g f actory to the staff. The Deervancy Care Ces1&ng pretene (E=S) for tre Sequoyah Nuclear Plant mas tr. Carten troerparate the Uper need Injeetten (1RI) system. The nec staff has Chairman can6eted Sta review of the bestirghouse Ciectric Coryerstlan C"::S evai-untien model for planta epiped with LE1. armt the Cannattee le its April

12. 1975 report en the McGuire staclear Statier, has conmarret vita the Staf f's conclastons. The asC 5taff has cumpleted its review of the applicatie of this aproved evalustian modal ta tre sepoyan bziear Plant and concurs with the Applicant.

December 11, 1979 fts Cersalttee has toen se iewing tre cirematances relatire to the recent eetident at the Three Mile taland enaclear Statten Unit 2 aru! has made reewsmeruistiere for leprevenee.ts in plant design and operating preewkrea =Alch armuld be censidered for all pressarined =eter reactars. The C metttee la continuing its review of tree 1ssalicaties of this actident aiul especta to provide addittenal tearseendations. It is espected that these recuorendatters will to car.sidered and implemented as a;propriate try amnerable Jern F. Nearns the 85C Staff. The Camittme wtanes to to kapt informed. Chaireen The tsC Staf f has ident!!!ad a rhanner of outstand 1rq inswas, eunfirmatory g g issued, and lleensing sendittens, not related ta TM1-2 accidest canaider-stjens, mAlen have n>t toen specifically addressed in this report. hee gUh7E:"T s Iarrm1M 13 PWER (Ptmelm tr p stnKM "W PM 1soms should to reasived in a manrer natlafectory to the asc staff. g.y 3 verteus generic probleus are discussed in tre Cantattee's re; ort, *$tatue tear Dr. Ahurus et Generic itses helatirq to Lignt-estar neeetarse heprrt he. 7,* dated nere 21, Im. hoe proMme n1want to W Seveyan ulaar Plant furing sto 236th meettrg, tecember 6-4, 1979, the Casalttee omsidered a ce dealt M try me W 5taH m3 W Ap41mt as emes an proposal for interia, low gener eteratten of the 5erreysh bzioar Pwer f eed. The relevant itsus arer 54-60, D-45, 69, 71, 72, 74, arms 76. Plant, Unit 1. At its 129th meeting, May 10-12. 1979 aru$ alas et 1t4 229th emeting, April S-7,1979 the Cast 3ttae had eensidered es;ects of The 85C Staf f has ret cmapleted Sta review of the Segwynh nuclear Pwer the omlication of the Tennessee Valley Authority (hereinaf ter referred to Plant application for a rernal operating Ilcerse at fi.11 prmer, and as tre Aplicant! for.,tfertsatten to e$erate the 5egmyth haclear Pwer verteus ig11 cations of tre Three R11e Islarm$ a-cidant en the Segeyth Plant, tetits 1 stu! 2. A tour of tre facilley nos sede try meaners of the Mast to n ta to decided. h M has ret Wetad its em twtw in surrcselttee en Jem.ary 24, 1976 and the aplication eos considered at neerd to Wee utters. Sdeme=Attee meetirgs en mards 12, 1979 and en towester 5,1979. Dur ing its review, the Carust ttee had the tenef f t of dia:Nesslers with representa= h AMmt has pupf a pugres d inW1a b gwer opie to tives and ennultants of the App!! cant, the testfrunneuse Cloctric Corprs= pnvide Wrwed emam training eM the dwels;sent of addittenal on-tien, e'uS the is.slaar nepistory casuisaien Osc) Staff. The Cmmittee Perisintal intonatten a the tenwier of a rmadear mit and Sta eyetmee aloe had the tianuf tt et the doements listed. The Cme'ttee reportad en oder transint canditiana. h Applicant haa proposed a special M the opplicatlan for a constructien permit for this plant en february 11, series thach incia Ses the followings 1970. 1. hetural Circulatten following a almisted tacter trip. The 5egueyeh Wuclear Power Plant la located en tre eest thank of the Tevessee River in han11 tan County in asutheastern Torinassee approstastaly 2* 96stural circulation followirq a simisted loss of affatte 17 alles rertheast of the cantar of Chattanoogs, Tennessee. Constrirtlen P'*I* en Unit 1 la essentially empleta and construetten of Unit 2 is ateut 904 complete. fac% mit wiu utilise a four-leep pressurised tar reaeter tural cir ten with lus of pesmartsar hutars. raclear steen suply syntaa havire a ps or level of 3411 sedt and an ice candenser eyetan erelened within a free-standing steel etetaitseent weasel 4, gyg,,g,g,g,,,,,n,,,,,, g,,g,gg,,,,,,gg,,g gg,,,g,gg,,, emich is marrounded ty a reinferond coeurreta shield tuildtrg. The ice asentenser eyetas la stallar to that med la tne edette neuelaar Station arul 5* Wal c1% tim at MM puan, the Donald C. thea ehrlear Plant. The Applicant has modilled the Lee sordenser eyetas as a reaalk of toe eserating esportesco gelned in the 6. MM @!1W of W Mire erut leh syntaa. Donald C. Coca suelut P1mt. TSs App 11 cant ed the tsC Ctaff Pave made plans as armiter the perferennee of the lee condenaer centairrents at the 7. heat renoval followirq a simisted loss of ensite a'ul of fsite Segeyah St. clear Pwer Plant Generit Itas 61 in the Acts reporte 'Sta de 3g p.,g, of Canaric Itmas Relating to Light-*etar maaeteres Depart he. 7,* dated mars 21,19791. The Casmittee roccame uss that each plans to 1m;alemented.

s. tatatlisvent et ret.aral ctrti. latten from stapant flew acrd1t tena.

The Esquoyeh skaleer Plant will wt!!!se 17s17 fuel ammeabiles. A surveillance program has toen develated tsy tre seC staff to follow the 9. bron alaing and coaldanet. banevler of treme sesemblies, anaf data are telrg set.alnad frem several plants now in operettan in e41ch auch aseeelies have t6en installed for test. EsTerterre to data has toen sattafectory. 1he Cmenittee wtanas to The tsc Staf f plans ta rewton the proposed emperimental progree in detell te kept infereed of the resulta of the verjoue 17:17 anaest;1y ins;oettens to assure Itself that all safety-related as;ects are teing dealt with and test pogrene row iseer me). approptistely. The Committee wishes to te kept ingsruM. 2}}