ML19330A058
| ML19330A058 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Midland |
| Issue date: | 11/17/1977 |
| From: | Case E Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Wasserbach A NEW YORK FEDERATION FOR SAFE ENERGY |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19330A059 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8007140862 | |
| Download: ML19330A058 (5) | |
Text
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j NOV 171971
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Anna E. Wasserbach, Chnn.
50 329 i
N. Y. Federation for Safe Energy t
Box 2308 W. Saugerties Road Saugerties, New York 12477 V-
Dear lis. Wasserbach:
Your letter of November 2,1977 to Cornissfocer Gilinsky was referred to me for a response to the question on what would have happened if the chlorine release that took place at the Midland Dow Chemical Plant y'
._~ in October of this year had ~ occurred when the Midland fluclear Plant was in operation.
Our licensing criteria require that a control room be provided fron which actions can be taken to operate the nuclear plant unit safely under normal conditions and to maintain it in a safe condition under c
accident conditions.dke reautre the operator of a power plant to design their facility so that releases of hazardous chenicals which
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are close to the plant do not jeopardize the ability to perform this function.
Although the licensing review of the proposed liidland tiuclear Plant is still in progress, a preliminary review of the control roem design with respect to toxic gas protection features indicates that the control room operators would he adequately protected against the effects of chlorine.
Consequently, a chlorine release, such as the one at the Midland Dow Chemical site, would not require evacuation of the flidland fluclear Plant control room operators.
It is our understanding that chlorine was not observed at the nuclear site during the October 1977 release. Had !!1dland Nuclear Plant been in operation, and had the released chlorine reached the site in detectable concentrations, the control room would have automatically been placed in an emergency ventilation mode providing a safe and habitable environment within the control room. Non-essential plant personnel other than the control room operators would have been evacuated to safe areas, if necessary. However, the control room opera-tors and other essential personnel would have been able to continue their functions within the centrol roca and bring the plant to a safe shutdown, if necessary.
In the licensing process, each nuclear plant license application is reviewed with respect to sources of toxic gases that may be stored on t
the plant site, stored in the vicinity of the site, or transported on W '/
nearby roads, railways, or waterways. The NP.C staff also reviews the 3
control room design thoroughly in tems of construction features, nomal
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I Anna E. Wasserbach 2
and emergency air ventilation systems, and toxic gas detection instetrien-tation. The criterion for acceptance of a control rocm design is the assur-ance that the control room area will be haoitable in the event of a toxic gas condition and its evacuation will not be required. Specific guidance used by the staff during its review of toxic gas protection requirements is described in Regulatory Guides 1.78 and 1.95 (enclosed).
The l'idland Huclear Plant is required to meet the above-ncnt.oned flRC crf-teria. The control room will be provided with nultiple halogen as well as i
hydrocarbon gas detectors in the ventilation system air intakes. In the event of a chlorine release, either on site, or at a nearby location such as the Dow. Chemical Plant, the halogen detectors would isolate the control recm ventilation system within six (6) seconds from detection of chlorine at the air intakes. Within eighteen (18) seconds of isolation, the control room would be pressurized to a 1/8-inch water gauge pressure, thereby preventing infiltration of contaminated air, using a three (3) hour bottled air suoply.
The control reon air would be recirculated automatically through charcoal filters to rerove any chlorine that may be in the air.
In addition, the control room personnel are provided with self-contained breathing air units and breathing air with a capacity of six (6) hours each.
In strrary, the liidland Nuclear Plant is fully protected against the conse-quences of a chlorine release such as that which took place at the Dow Chemical Plant in October.
Very truly yours, Origbal Signed By E. G. Case Edson G. Case, Acting Director 1
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Enclosures:
1.
Pegulatory Guide 1.78 2.
Regulatory Guide 1.95 Draft of ltr blue bagged' to Commissioner Gilinsky -
Phone call back from Staff ass't, saying it was o.k.
Distribution:
L. Gossick V. Stello M. Jambor NRC PDR W. Dircks H. Denton M. Stakem Local PDR E. Case D. Muller D. Bunch Docket File D. Crutchfield R. Vollmer L. Soffer ED0 Rdg. File D,M R. Boyd G. Ertter (ED0-02780)
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REA4 ARKS Control No. 02780, Inquires on Midland Plant operating at time of chlorine release by Dow C
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Do NOT use this form as a RECORD of opprovals, concurrences, disapprovals, clearances, and sirnilar actions FR0et (N*me. *Itsee are. set er seemuont es,n D. F. Bunch,/ h,,
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COMPL DEADLINE ]jf}$/J J. Y. Federa?.ica @r Safe Encrjy ACKNOWLEDGMENT DATE OF DOCUMENT 3augerties. it. Y.
INTERIM REPLY 1l/N/77 TO:
PREPARE FOR SIGNATURE OF:
$/, , u FINAL REPLY O CHAIRMAN
{4):(ii$3jQQ g [jljy$%f FILE LOCATION p /.pp 7 O EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OTHER:
W' DESCRIPTION G LETTER OMEMO O REPORT C OTHER SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR REMARKS Inquires want woul'd naw happened if the Didlanc plant has opJrating at tim of the cnicritic releasa by Ccw Chanical Clar response with Cerm. Gilinsky q,
CLASSIFIED DATA I
OOCUMENT/ COPY NO.
C LASSIFIC ATIONl NUMBER OF PAGES CATEGORY i
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0 YES O NO I NRC FORM 232 EXECbTIVE blRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS 00 NOT REAf0VE THIS COPY PRINCIPAL CORRESPONDENCE CONTROL
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77-1740 11/4/77 ton, o.te NRC SECRETARf AT TO:
Commissioner Date U Exec. DirJOper.
O Gen. Counsei O Cong.ti.ison O Soiicitor O Public Affairs O Secretary 0
incoming: Anna E. Wasserbach. Chmn.. N_Y Federa-F rom; tion for Safe Energy To; Cmr_ Gilincky D.te 11/2/77 Subi Inntiirpe what wnes1 d haun hmnnannA 4' Midland DT1: ant Was operatina~it tiWOf D69"Chent cal's chlorine release in October 1977.
Prep.re reply for signature of:
O Cn.irm.n O Commissioner EDO. GC, C L, SOL, PA, SECY O Signature biock omitted O neturn origin.i of incoming itn response XO For direct reply
- SUSPENSE:
11/14/77 O For.oprooriate.ction For information For recommendation
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cv Cmrs. Gilinsky Please clear resonnto with rnmmiecinnor milincky For the Commission:
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