ML19325F281
| ML19325F281 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Comanche Peak  |
| Issue date: | 11/09/1989 |
| From: | Taylor J NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | Bentsen L SENATE |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19325F282 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8911200072 | |
| Download: ML19325F281 (6) | |
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- The Honorable.Lloyd Bentsen United States Senator 3
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'961 Federal Building JAustin, Texas 178701
Dear; Senator'Bentsen:
^ ! am responding 'to your letter of October 23, 1989, in which youlforwarded a -
4' letter from Mr. Daniel E.: von Bose of Fort Worth, Texas. Mr. von Bose-states that he opposes,the Comanche Peak' plant for economic and ecologica1' reasons.
showing up in testing.gerous plant yet built because of "the many failures and-it:is the most dan I cannot' comment on the broad statements made by f
Mr. von Bose on the economic aspects of nuclear power. However,'the NRC does take very seriously its responsibility to protect the public safety.and the-environment.
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The failures during testing that Mr. von Bose is apparently referring to-concerned;several check valves that stuck openc causing hot water to blister i
n-peint on the piping for the auxiliary feedwater s h
the J
_ subject of an NRC augmented inspection team (AIT)ystem. T at event was inspection.
I have enclosed
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i a copy of cur letter of September 19 '1989, in which we' forwarded a' copy of.
' the-AIT report. ~' Although 'several valuable lessons were:1 earned from.the AIT.'s s
findings and a. number of.. issues were raised that must be resolved before the l'[
NRC will grant a low-power:11 cense for Comanche Peak, we do not consider this
- i experience evidence,tnat the. plant is dangerous.in'any way. On the contrary, this testing, along'with other' inspections and tests, is intended to identify any problems so that they can be corrected before the plant begins operation..
j I' hope that.this information is responsive to'your request.
E,1 S1'nceiely, Original Signed Byi..
James M.Ta#
James M. Taylor Acting Executive Director for Operations 1;
, Enclosure-
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Letter to Senator Bentsen dated September 19, 1989
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y The Honorabic Lloyd Bentsen United States Senator 961 Federal Building Austin., Texas 78701 s
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Dear Senator' Bentsen:
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I am responding to your letter of October 23, 1989, in whig you forwarded a that he opposes the Comanche Peak plant for economic anq/eco. von Bost:
letter from Mr.' Daniel E. -von Bose of Fort Worth,- Texas. Mr states f
logical reasons.
He concludes. generally that nuclear power is neither-ipexpensive nor riean and.specifically that Comanche Peak is the most'dangefous plant'yet bu!1t.
because of'"the many failures showing up._in testin licannot coment on the economic'espects of Mr. von Bose's concerns because e
these issues'are beyond the statutory authority,df the U; S. Nuclear Regulatory Comission,(NRC). Similarly, with regard to the ecologic'al impacts, Mr. von Bose has apparently judged nuclear power in relati,dn to solar and renewable energy sources on the basis of.research and development investments.
The failures during~ testing that Mr. von,Bose is apparently referring to concerned several check valves that stuck open, causing hot water to blister.
paint on the piping for the auxiliary feedwater system. That event was the subjectofanNRCaugmentedinspectionteam(AIT) inspection.
I have enclosed:
a copy of our letter of September 19{1989, in which we forwarded a copy of the 1
AIT report. Although several valuable lessons'were learned from the AIT's 4
. findings and a number of issues were raised that must be resolved before the NRC will grant a low-power license f,dr Comanche Peak,' we do not consider this expe-
' rience evidence that the plant /s dangerous in any way. On the' contrary, this I
testing, along with other inspections and tests, is intended to identify any problems so that they can.be corrected before the plant begins operation.
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l l' hope.that this informati n is responsive to-your request.
l Sincerely, 1
James M. Taylor Acting Executive Director for Operations
Enclosure:
- Letter to Senat r Bentsen
. dated Septembe 19, 1989 Distribution
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Dear Se'nator Bentsen:
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'(;u I am responding to your letter of October 23, 1989, in which you forwarded a 1
4 letter from Mr. Daniel E. von' Bose of Fort Worth, Texas. Mr. von Bose states "
that' he opposes the Comanche Peak plant for economic and ecological reasonsd J:
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, afVI 987H4"y +"' "~ 1 < Evo M ths m651 dar,i,;ress plOnt l/0t built jarm ea M "t%
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I can co ent on t e econom aspects of Mr. von Bose's concerns because 4
the issu are be nd the' tutory auMlority of tht/. S. Nuc1 > r Regulatory l
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issi (NRC).
Simila
, with re rd to the ec gical im ts, Mr Bose j
I s ap rently ' dged ny(lear power n relation t s ar anf enewab ergy j
sour s on t _ basis qi.-research nd'developmen iny stments.
j The failures during testing that Mr. von Bose is a arently referring to l
concerned.several check valves that stuck open, e sing. hot water to blister paint on the piping for the auxiliary feedwater stem. That event was the a
subjectofanNRC'augmentedinspectionteam(AI inspection.
I have enclosed a copy of our letter of September 19, 1989, i which we forwarded a: copy of the
'I AIT report. Although several valuable lessor were learned from the AIT's findings and a nunber of issues were raise that must be resolved before the NRC 1
will grant a low-power license for Comanc Peak, we do not consider this expe-rience evidence that the plant is dange us in any way. On the contrary, this 1
testing, along with other inspections nd tests, is intended to identify any i
problems so that they can be corre ed before the plant begins operation.
I I hope that this information responsive to your request.
Sincerely, James M. Taylor Acting Executive Director for Operations E
osure:
etter-to Senator Bentsen dated September 19, 1989
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ggp 191980 The Honorable Lleyd Sentsen United States Senator 961 Federal Bulding Austin. Texas
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Dear Senator 8entsen:
1 This responds to your letter of August 21, 1989 which requested that you be kept apprised of the continuing status of the Comanche Peak power plant. We discussed the request with your staff and we understand that you are particularly interested in the results of the Augmented Inspection Team (AIT) investigation of check valve fa11eres durin of the licensing activities. g ' hot functional testing." and the general status We have enclosed a copy of the AIT report and TU tlectric's response to that
- report, This matter was also addressed in our letter to you, dated July 7,198g.
i responding to the concerns raised by your constituent. J. C. Dodsen.
The AIT's findings have raised two concerns. The first is a fairly straight-forward harduem problem, the failure of the check valves. The second concern relates to broader o anizational weaknesses divulged by this event.
In both cases, we are followi TU Electric's corrective actions, as we would with any t
other significant inspection findings, to assure that these problems are effec-tively resolved before we would grant a license.
e TU Electric has indicated that they expect to complete all of the construction work and operational preparations for licensing in October 198g. The NRC staff 1
is carefully monitoring all of these activities.
There is still a considerable amount of work to be completed before TU Electric will be able to certify that the plant has been completed in accordance with their license application; however, they are continuing to make substantial progress.
The NRC staff will send an Operational Readiness Assessment Team to the plant in the middle of l
October.
Based on that inspection, we will determine the extent to which the plant is ready for a low-license (for the purpose of loading fuel and conducting start-up testi
).
Our decision on whether to grant a low-power license will also depend on satisfactory resolution of the issues that have been raised during the course of the staff's technical review and inspection activ-i ities, including the check valve failures and the organizational weaknesses identified by the AIT.
We hope that this infomation is responsive to your request.
Sincere 1 Original BFi hans W. Taylor '
James M. Taylor Acting Executive Director for Operations 1.
AIT Report 2.
TU Electric Letter. W. J. Cahill to USMC dated 8/14/89 SUM o L-
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ROUTING:
-ENCLOSES LETTER.FROM DANIEL'E. VON BOSE CONCERNING RMartin, RIV COMANCHE ~ PEAL j
- DATE: 10/27/99' i
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ASSIGNED TO:'
CONTACT:
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SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR REMARKS:
REPLY TO AUSTIN, TEXAS OFFICE..
i NRR RECEIVED: 0CTOBER'27, 1989
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PAPER NUMBER:
CRC-89-1167 LOGGING DATE: Oct 26 89 ACTION OFFICE:-
EDO Lloyd Bentsen--Const Ref
' AUTHOR:
UNITED STATES SENATE AFFILIATION:.
LETTER DATE:
Oct 23 89.
FILE CODEt'ID&R-5 Comanche Peak
SUBJECT:
Opposesthe1ComanchePeaknucpow$rplantfor economic and. ecological: reasons ACTION:
Direct Reply' DISTRI3UTION:
OCA to Ack, DSB SPECIAL HANDLING:-None NOTES:
Daniel E. von Bose
.DATE DUEL-Nov 9 89
. SIGNATURE:
DATE SIGNED:
AFFILIATION:
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