ML19310A934
| ML19310A934 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Marble Hill |
| Issue date: | 06/10/1980 |
| From: | Shewmaker R NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE) |
| To: | Frey D SASSAFRAS AUDUBON SOCIETY |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19310A926 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8007010046 | |
| Download: ML19310A934 (2) | |
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY; COMMISSION
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' WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555
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JUN 101980 Mrs. David G.'Frey i
2625 S. Smith Road Bloomington, Indiana 47401
Dear Mrs. Frey:
Thank you for your prompt reply of May 15,' 1980 to our request for the background i
information on the Sassafras Audubon Society's statement regarding " heavy faults" l
made in the September 1, 1979 request for hearing, i
It appears that the terminology, " heavy faults," was inappropriate since those j
involved in the nuclear industry use the term " fault" in the civil engineering discipline to denote a geologic phenomenon.
It is clear from the newspaper-i article, that the major concern was related to an expansion joint adjacent to the containment building.
The proposition that the expansion joint-problem alleged by Mr. Mortenson in his affidavit would lead to any significant crack.
in the base of the containment is technically unfounded.
For your information reinforced concrete structures sometimes experience minor cracking under normal-loads and also from shrinkage and drying even before loads are applied.
The
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design and use of concrete as a structural material is based on control of the cracking.
It is anticipated that any concrete structure will exhibit cracks in varying degrees.
It should be noted however, that such cracking does not affect the integrity or functional ability of the structures since the purpose of the reinforcing steel is to supplement the structural properties of the concrete.
We have again examined the affidavit of Mr. Carl E. Turner, who-was earlier-contacted by the NRC, and find that there is no information contained in that
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document that is " disturbing" from a technical and safety viewpoint. :It is correct that certain areas cannot be tested by ultrasonics, however, concrete structures in general cannot be tested for compressive strength with any high degree of accuracy by ultrasonics.
No question has been raised concerning the adequacy of the compressive strength of the Marble Hill concrete.
Instead, the question has been one of determining whether significant voids exist in the
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structures and it was for this determination that ultrasonics were used.
There is therefore no effort underway or contemplated to execute any additional. testing for concrete compressive strength.
As indicated at the public meeting held in Madison, Indiana on March 25, 1980 Mr. Scello, the Director of the Office of Inspection and Enforcement, agreed b
to discuss with Mr. Dattilo, representing Save The Valley, the possibility of the use of an outside consultant.
As of this date the NRC has agreed to utilize the services of an independent engineer as a consultant in determining 8007010 CN
Mrs'., David G. Frey JUN 101980 the integrity of existing concrete placements.
A panel of individuals with appropriate expertise from which the consultant can be selected has been developed and provided to Mr. Dattilo.
The individual recommended by Mr. Dattilo has also been included on the list.
Discussion is currently undemay with Mr. Dattilo regarding the specific qualifications of these individuals.
Again, thank you for the source document to the specific section of the Sassafras Audubon Society's statement.
I hope the answers provided to your questions are considered to be as responsive to your questions.
Sincerely, 49<d74 '
R. E. Shewmaker P. E.
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Senior Struct al Engineer DivisionofRdactorConstruction Inspection Office of Inspection and Enforcement 1
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