ML19309B689
| ML19309B689 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Sequoyah  |
| Issue date: | 03/17/1980 |
| From: | Harold Denton Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Bissell A AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19309B690 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8004070075 | |
| Download: ML19309B689 (2) | |
Text
.__
Sn a
[3 o,h UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION D
E WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555
%*****/
MAR 171980
-TheHonorableA.K.BisseQ' "g Mayor of Oak Ridge Post Office Box 1 Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830
Dear Mayor Bissell:
Please accept ray apologies for the delay in responding to your letter of December 1979, addressed to the President and referred to me for reply.
As you probably now know, we issued a license on February 29,1980 for fuel loading and low-power testing at the Sequoyah Unit 1.
This effort at Sequoyah will take about 6 months to complete. The tests are related to the natural circulation phenomena in pres'surized water reactors which are of particular interest to the nuclear comunity.
In conjunction with the technical knowledge gained from these tests, it also provides valuable operator training in the conduct of such tests at the plant. We are also proceeding as expeditiously as possible to issue several other near-term operating licenses in the same manner as Sequoyah.
Let me assure you that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff is continuing its intensive review of issues which need resolution in order to proceed beyond the current low power test program. This is best illu~strated by briefly describing some of the activities that have taken place and are underway.
As a result of the TMI-2 accident, the effort of the staff is concentrated on evaluating the accident and assessing the remedial measures to be required, i.e., imediate, near-term, and long-term.
In July 1979, we issued NUREG-0578, "TMI-2 Lessons Learned Task Force Status Report and Short-Term Recommendations."
This early guidance by NRC was supplemented by the recommendations contained in the Kemeny Commission Report (October 1979) and the Rogovin Report (January 1980).
To provide further detailed guidance to the nuclear industry, the NRC staff developed its draft document in December 1979, NUREG-0660, " Action Plan for Implementing Recommendations of the President's Commission and Other
~ Studies Related to the THI-2 Accident." Revisions have subsequently taken place to take into consideration the Rogovin work, coments from the Advisory Conunittee on Reactor Safeguards, and many other sources of information. The
' Action Plan represents a major ongoing effort on the part of the NRC staff to define all of the new requirements as a result of the TMI-2 accident and the appropriate methods of implementation. A plan will be established by the Commission in the near future as guidance to industry.
8 004 070 c75
The Honorable A. K. Bissell-.
We believe the reports cited above, along with our. continuing discussions with the ACRS and industry, will result in stronger safety standards for the pro-tection of the public health and safety.
We trust that this letter is responsive to your inquiry.
Sincerely, cridaat synei b1 n.it.c:ata J Harold R. Denton, Director Office. of Nuclear Reactor Regulation i
)
1
-e
,