ML20005B380
| ML20005B380 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Allens Creek File:Houston Lighting and Power Company icon.png |
| Issue date: | 06/22/1981 |
| From: | Doherty J AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED |
| To: | Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel |
| References | |
| ISSUANCES-CP, NUDOCS 8107080155 | |
| Download: ML20005B380 (3) | |
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E o3 NUCLEAR REGULb. TORY CCHMISSIGH 8
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U oy BEFORE THE ATOMIC SAFETY & LICEUSING BOARD D87A,.i 4-m,h In the Matter of:
.CUSTON LIGHTIUG & FOWER CO.
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(hilons Creek Nuclear Generating Station, Docket Nos P
Unit 1)
IHTERVE30R DOHERTY'S REQUEST 3DR LEAVE TO FILE CONTENTION 57, AND CONTEUTIOU 57, Titled: VULUERASILITY OF COliTROL SYSTEMS TO ELECTROMAGUETIC PULSES.
Recuest for leave to file.
John F. Doherty, J.
D., of Houston, Texas, Intervenor oro se in the above construction permit proceedings now files the above motion and contention.
Leave to file is recuested because even thourh the hearings may terminate in late September, the subject matter of the contention is very significant to the operation of the plant, particularl7 with regard to public safety under energency conditions as described below. In addition, the issue of electro-magnetic pulses (EMP) has not been made public until recently.
Contention 57 Intervenor contends there is alnerability of control sys-teas of the ACUGS to electro-magnetic pulses which should be eliminating by use of shielding or other measures planned prior to beginning of construction and installed concurrent with construction.
The control systems at issue here are those with microwave diodes, integrated circuits, medium and high power transistors, and low voltage tantalum containing. Exam-oles of reactor systems include ?rocess computers, control room instruments, connuter power sucolies, alarm systems, transistorized power supplies and any semiconductor devices terminating in long cable runs.
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Further Information Electro-magnetic culses (EMP) are induced curTents or
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voltage surges through electrical conductors.
The pulses are known to be produced by the detonation of conventional explosives, but nuclear weapons exploded at high altitude have become the chief source of concern.
In 1962, a Paci-fic Islands atomic " test" blast effected street lighting and intrusion alarms 800 miles away at Oahu, Hawaii.
(Hote: the contention does not specify a hit by an atomic bomb on the plant, but rather that a major blast above ground and several hundred miles distant may effect safe operation of the plan.
The blast may be either nuclear or not.)
The Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) has shielded between 150 and 203 of the 600 radio stations that make up its voluntary emergency broadcast network,(acord-ing to Science News of Hay 16, 1981 (vol. 219), to protect against pulses induced in the manner described above.
How-ever, because the EMP issue is related to military prepared-ness, it has been treated somewhat secretly.
This Intervenor has found no URG rescarch or evaluations on plant safety with regard to EMP.
Timeliness under <3 CFR 2.714 Commission Rules of Practice Suboart (a): Cause for this late filing is unavailable information until the Science News article cited above, which indicates the issue had been kept somewhat quiet due to mili-tary purooses.
The issue of EMP has not be revealed as a concern of the URC or vendors to the public.
Subcart (b): This Intervenor knows of no rulemaking, standard setting or regulatory guidance being developed on the effect of 3:1P on safe operation of nuclear plants. Hence, no other way appears to protect his interests.
Subcart (c):
T here is no doubt the described pulses do occur.
Inclusion of such pulses, where they effect many systems of the plant will improve the record, because of the significance of th' issue.
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Subeart (d): Ho other party has raised the issue.
The SER and PSAR do not sention the effects of Z:IP on control systems.
Subnart (e): An eleventh hour issue is obviously not wel-comed, but balancing the need to hear the issue against the need to proceed with no additional hours or days of hearing results in a favorable reading for the contention.
Where applicant has indicated two more years will be needed for con-struction of the ACHGS because there is insufficient capital to proceed on a faster construction schedule, an issue of mul-tinle control system failure is worthy of consideration.
Therefore on consideration of the five segments of 10 CFR 2 714, the issue should be a part of the construction permit hearings, although filed lately.
Intervenor urges the Board to include this Contention in its deliberation of the Construction Permit for the Allens Creek Huclear Generatine Station.
Respectfully Submitted, h1beim T.l?
(JohnF.Dohert'y,J.D.
Certificate of Service Copies of "IliTERVEXCR DOICRTT'S REQUEST FOR LEAVE TO FILE COH-TENTICII 57, AUD COUTENTION 57, Titled: VULUERABILITY OF CONTROL SYSTEMS TO EL2CTROMAGUETIC FULSES." were served 'oy First Class U. c. l'ostal Service, tais 22as of June, 1981 from Houston, Texas, on the parties below:
Sheldon klolfe, Esq. ASLB Gustave A. Linenberger, ASLB Dr. E. Leonard Cheatua, ASLB Steven M. Schinki, Esc. Staff J. Gregory Coceland, Esq, Applicant Jack R. Newman, Esq. Apolicant Atomic Safety & Licensing Appeal Board Docketing & Service 3 ranch The Several Intervening Parties, at their previously filed addresces w $ h W p? O.
John F. Donerty, J.D.
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