ML19325E274
| ML19325E274 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Pilgrim |
| Issue date: | 10/26/1989 |
| From: | Wessman R Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Dixon D PLYMOUTH, MA |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19325E275 | List: |
| References | |
| RTR-NUREG-CR-5124 GL-89-16, NUDOCS 8911060056 | |
| Download: ML19325E274 (6) | |
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October 26, 1989 Mr. David Dixon c/o Town of Plymouth 11 Lincoln Street Plymouth, Massachussetts 02360
Dear Mr. Dixon:
I am providing the NRC staff's response to your letter of September 20, 1989, which has been sent to several individuals both in Headquarters and our Region I Office. You requested comments on the recently installed hardened wetwell vent,referredtoastheDirectTorusVent(DTV)l and the reactor core isolation cooling (RCIC)systemoverpressureeventonApri 12, 1989, at tne Pilgrim Nuclear PowerStation(PNPS).
Regarding the DTV, you indicated that you could not determine from the available i
documentation the basis on which the staff found the installed system and associated Boston Edison Company (BEco) analysis acceptable as indicated in Generic Letter 89-16, " Installation of a Hardened Wetwell Vent." You further expressed concern about the design being implemented under the provisions n
I of 10 CFR 50.59, " Changes, Tests and Experiments," and when the venting capability would be used. We have extensively reviewed the DTV modification and the procedures for its use, should that unlikely need ever arise, and have l
concluded that the' installation is acceptable.
i During the public meetings held in Plymouth on February 18, 1988, the staff received comments regarding the Pilgrim containment and the Safety Enhancement Program (SEP) in which the DTV modification was included. The staff responded to the comments in a public meeting also held in Plymouth on May 11, 1988. The staff depth"provided background information on the licensing process, the " defense-in-concept for safety at nuclear plants, and the monitoring process after l
initial licensing. The transcripts of these meetings are available in the I
Local Public Document Room (LPDR) at the Plymouth Library. Also available in the LPDR are a number of other documents that contain information regarding the I
DTV modification and the NRC's evaluations of that modification. These documents I
include the staff's review of the PNPS Procedure Generation Package which L
implements the Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) Emergency Procedure Guidelines, Revision 4, which include primary containment venting and NRC inspection reports o
addressing the installation, documentation, training, and procedures for the use of the DTV. The information provided in the transcripts and the other references listed in the enclosure to this letter should adequately respond to your concerns.
Regarding the RCIC event of April 12, 1989, you asserted that there were errors L
in the NRC staff's Augmented Inspection Team (AIT) report dated May 8, 1989, and l
requested comments. The staff and I disagree with your assertions. The AIT L
was a multidiscipline team of technical specialists, composed of Headquarters i
and regional staff members, which was dispatched to the Pilgrim site on April 13, 1988. The resulting AIT report issued on May 8, 1989, Report Number 50-293/89-80, is technically and factually accurate.
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tV Mr. David Dixon, October 26, 1989 t
The pof'nt's you raise, which are based on the same factual information, involve conflicting judgments by the NRC staff and yourself.
The deliberate, phased reactor restart and power ascension program with augmented NRC staff oversight, which the Consnission endorsed, has provided the staff ample opportunity to assess the performance of PNPS and we find the performance meets regulatory standards.
I can assure you that the Pilgrim Restart Assessment Panel has kept and will continue to keep the Commission informed on the operational status of the PNPS.
The panel considers the safety significance of these issues and all safety aspects of the operation of the Pilgrim facility in its deliberations, including the monitoring of the status of emergency preparedness, to support the determination of reasonable assurance that the PNPS can be operated safely and that the public health and safety can and will be protected.
Sincerely, Original signed by; Richard H. Wessman Director Project Directorate I-3 Division of Reactor Projects I/II Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Enclosure:
As stated DISTRIBUTION Docket File T. Murley J. Sniezek J. Partlow S. Varga B. Boger R. Wessman D. Mcdonald w/cy incomir.g M. Rushbrook D. Mossburg, PMAS (0899223)
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ENCLOSURE It
_ REFERENCES The following references are available at the local Public Document Roon.
Plymouth Public Library,11 North Street, Plymouth, Massachusetts 02360.
Direct Torus Vent (DTV) 1.
Letter dated April 30, 1987, S. Varga (NRC) to R. Bird (BECo), regarding proposed enchancements to the Park I containment - Pilgrim station.
2.
Letter dated July 8, 1987, R. Bird (BECo) to S. Varga (NRC), regarding F
informatfon on the Pilgrim Safety Enhancement Program.
3.
Letter dated August 21, 1987, S. Varga (NRC) to R. Bird (BECo), regarding initial assessment of the Pilgrim Safety Enhancement Program.
4.
Letter dated August 21, 1987, T. Murley (NRC) to W. Golden (MA Senate),
regarding Interim Director's Decision D0-87-04 Under 10 CFR 2.206.
5.
Letter dated November 20, 1989 P. Bird (BECo) to Document Control Desk (NRC), regarding additicnal information on Pilgrim SEP operation-oriented improvements.
6.
Letter dated February 22, 1908, R. Bird (BEco) to Document Control Desk (NRC), regardino assessment of the Pilgrim Safety Enhancement Program (response to a August 21, 1987 request).
7.
Letter dated February 29, 1388, D. Mcdonald (NRC) to R. Bird (BECo),
regarding the DTV.
8.
Lt.tter dated March 30, 1988 D. Mcdonald (NRC) to R. Bird (DECO), regarding the DTV (correction to Letter of February 29,1988).
9.
Letter dated May 27, 1988, T. Murley (NRC) to J. Shannon (MA Attorney General), Interim Director's Decision D0-88-07 Under 10 CFR 2.206.
D. Mcdonald (NRC) to R. Bird (BECo), regarding).
10.
Letter dated June 29, 1988 the Pilgrim Safety Enhancement Program (request for additional information 11.
Letter dated August 18, 1988, R. Bird (PECo) to Document Control Desk (NRC), regarding revised information on the Pilgrim Safety Enhancement Program.
12.
Letter dated September ', 1988, R. Bird (BEco) to Document Control Desk (NRC), regarding the Pilgrim Safety Enhancement Program response to a reauest for additional information of June 29,10P8.
13.
Letter dated October 12, 1988, S. Varga (NRC) to R. Bird (REco), regardino supplemental assessment of the Pilgrim Safety Enhancement Procram.
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4 ENCLOSURE 2
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Letter dated September 1,1989, to All Holders of Operating Licenses ' lor E
Nuclear Power Reactors With Mark i Containments, Generic Letter 89-16:
" Installation of A Hardened Wetwell Vent."
15.
NRC inspection Reports Related to the DTV:
Report No. 50-293/88-07, dated May 6, 1988 50-293/88-12, dated May 31, 1988 bb~h h 8h'hk ha Nd bS$ob h '1k 989 16.
Other Referenced Documents-DTV l
NUREG-0474, "A Technical tipdate on Pressure Suppression Type Conteinments in Use in U.S. Light Water Reactor ~ Nuclear Power Plants," July 1978.
NUREG-1285, "NRC Staff Evaluation of the General Electric Company Nuclear Reactor Study (Reed Report) " July 1987 Policy Statement on Severe Reactor Accidents Regarding future Designs and Existing Plants, 50 Federal Register 32138, August 8, 1985.
WASH-1400 (NUREG-75/014) "Peactor Safety Study: An Assessment of Accident Pisks in U.S. Commercial Nuclear Power Plants," October 1975.
NUREG-1150, " Reactor Risk Reference Document, Draft for Comment, February 1987."
Procedures Generation Package (PGP) 17 Meeting Summary dated August 11. 1987, Memorandum to File (?!DC) of the August a, 1987 meeting.
18.
Meeting Sumary dated December 21, 1987 Pemorandum to File (NRC) of the December 10, 1987 meeting.
19.
Letter dated December 14, 1987, R. Bird (PEco) to Document Control Desk (NRC), regarding the Emergency Operating Procedures and Procedure Generation Package.
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20.
Letter dated February 5, 1988, R. Wessman (NRC) to R. Bird (BEco), regarding the NRC evaluation of the Pilgrim Emergency Operating Procedures.
21.
Letter dated April 6, 1988, P. Bird (BEco) to Document Control Desk (NRC) regarding the revised Procedures Generation Package and related commitments.
t 22.
Letter dated June 6, 1988, D. Mcdonald (NRC) to R. Bird (BECo), regarding the Pilgrim Procedures Generation Package-Safety Evaluation.
23.
NRC Inspection Reports Related to the PGPs:
Report No. 50-293/88-11. dated May 17, 1988 50-293/88-19, dated June 29, 1988 Ar,ril 12, 1989, Overpressure Event IRCIC) 24.
NRC Inspection Reports Related to the April 12, 1989 Event:
Report No. 50-293/89-80, dated May 8, 1989 (AIT report' 25.
Letter dated April 21, 1989, R. Bird (BECo) to Document Control Desk (NRC), regarding resumption of the-Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station Power Ascension Program.
-26. Letter dated September 22, 1989, R. Bird (BECo) to Document Control Desk (NRC), reply to Notice of Violation and Proposed Imposition of Civil Penalties.
- 27. Licensee Event Reports (LEPs)' Applicable to April 12, 1989 Event:
LER 89-014-00, dated May 15, 1989 LER 89-014-01, dated August 3, 1989.
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ORIGINAL DUE DT: 11/06/89 T1Ch.EI NO: 0899227 DOC DT: 10/06/89 I
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PLYMOUTH NUCLEAR MATTERS COMMITTEE CORRESPONDENCE MURLEY/5NIEZEK 1~
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SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS:
REFERENCE YELLOW TICKET 899223. SEE JAES H. SNIEZEK.
1 Please review t.he dute date i mmedi at el y:
'l f. the due date does not allow acMquat e ti me to respond to this
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The request must have b
prior approval i ram t he appropriate Associate Director or NRR l
tiepotv' Direct.w and must include a valid j us t i t i c a t i on.
Contact NRh msii l rod en.,~ 1 t h the new due dato (Dor i s Mossburo. x-2WJ72).
l Fl esp 10 r) ? -t' c J,r r, Coricurt ence pacLege?. to D.trectors office w i t h o+.it t: e isc.nq thr oingh the NRR mallroom.
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