ML20006A223
| ML20006A223 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Comanche Peak  |
| Issue date: | 01/22/1990 |
| From: | Taylor J NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | Bentsen L SENATE |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20006A224 | List: |
| References | |
| CCS, NUDOCS 9001250475 | |
| Download: ML20006A223 (10) | |
Text
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- 4 January 22, 1990 L
The Honorable Lloyd Bentsen United States Senator i
961 Federal Building Austin, Texas 78701
Dear Senator Bentsen:
I am responding to your letter of December 28, 1989, in which you forwarded a letter from Kendall and Virginia McCook regarding the concerns raised by i
Citizens for Fair Utility Regulation (CFUR) about the safety of-the Comanche j
Peak Steam Electric Station.
On-October 16, 1989, CFUR filed a Request for Stay with.the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in anticipation of-the issuance of a low-power 1
license for Comanche Peak. The Commission denied the request because of a pending lawsuit filed by CFUR in the Fifth Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals. However, the Commission: directed the NRC staff to resolve CFUR's concerns in accordance with the Commission's procedures for. handling l
allegations.
As part of that process, the NRC staff held a meeting with'CFUR's representatives on December 7,1989, to discuss their concerns, as described in the McCooks'-
letter. The NRC staff will use the transcript from that meeting to categorize and evaluate CFUR's issues. The NRC staff will: assure that these' issues are-l l-acceptably resolved before a low-power license is' issued for Comanche Peak l_
Unit 1.
In addition, the NRC staff will inform CFUR,-in writing, of the-l-
disposition of their concerns.in accordance with our allegation management --
l procedures. We will provide you with a copy of'the staff's evaluation at the i
same time.
The NRC has in no way " gloss (ed) over serious safety problems"-at Comanche Peak.-
On the contrary, we have thoroughly investigated issues related to Kapton wiring, substandard fasteners,-welding, construction quality and the other concerns raised by CFUR. These issues were discussed in our letters:to.you-dated September '19, October 13, October 16, November 9, ' December 1, and December -5,1989.
Contrary to the McCooks' belief that these issues "are probably impossible to solve with any certainty in a reasonable period of time," we believe that these issues can be resolved in a reasonable period of time.
Based on these and other comments made by the CFUR representatives, it appears that at least-some of the CFUR representatives will not be satisfied with the~ staff's--resolution 9001250475 900122 FDR ADOCK 05000445 PDC D Fo i
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The Honorable Lloyd Bentsen i of these issues. Nevertheless, the NRC will not issue a license for Comanche J
Peak until we are satisfied that there is reasonable assurance that plant operation will not endanger the health and safety of the public.
I trust that this information is responsive to your request.
Sincerely, j
l Original Signed By:
James M. Taylor James M. Taylor Executive Director for Operations Distribution: See next page i
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The Honorable Lloyd 8entsen United States Senator 961 Federal Building Austin, Texas 78701
Dear Senator Bentsen:
I am responding to your letter of December 28,1989, ip which you forwarded a letter from Kendall and Virginia McCook re Citizens for Fair Utility Regulation (CFUR) garding t e concerns raised by about t safety of the Comanche Peak Steam Electric Station.
On October 16, 1989, CFUR filed a Request for S y with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in anticipation of he issuance of a low-power license for Comanche Peak. The Commission de ied the request because of a pending lawsuit filed by CFUR in the Fifth rcuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals. However, the Commission directed he NRC staff to resolve CFUR's t
concerns in accordance with the Commissio s procedures for handling allegations.
j As part of that process, the NRC staf held a meeting with CFOR's representatives j
on December 7, 1989, to discuss thei concerns, as described in the McCooks' i
letter. The NRC staff will use th transcript from that meeting to categorize i
and evaluate CFUR's issues. The C staff will assure that these issues are i
acceptably resolved before a 1 ower license is issued for Comanche Peak j
Unit 1.
In addition, the NRC s ff will inform CFUR in writing, of the disposition of their concerns n accordance with our, allegation management.
procedures. We will provide ou with a copy of the staff's evaluation at the 1
same tire.
I TheNRChasinnoway"g}horoughlyinvestigatedissuesrelatedtoKaptonwiring ss(ed) over serious safety problems" at Comanche Peak.
On the contrary, we have t
. i substandardfasteners,Aelding,constructionquality-andtheotherconcerns raised by CFUR.
Thesp issues were discussed in our letters to you dated:
September 19, October 13, October 16, November 9, December 1, and December 5,,1989.
In deference to t McCooks' belief that these issues "are to solve with any' certainty in a reasonable period of time,grobably impossible j
we believe that-these issues ca and other comme,n be resolved in a reasonable period of time. ' Based on these
_ l nts made by the CFUR representatives it. appears that at least someoftheCFURrepresentativeswillnotbesatisfledwiththestaff'sresolution l
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The Honorable Lloyd Bentsen
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of these issues. Nevertheless, the NRC will not issue a license for Comanche Peak until we are satisfied that there is reasonable assurance ph'at plant operation will not endanger the health and safety of the public.
1 I trust that this information is responsive to your request Sincerely, l
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James M. Tay/ector Executive Dj for Oper tions Distributiot See next page i
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of these issues. Nevertheless, the NRC will not issue 6 license for' Comanche Peak until we are satisfied that there is reasonable assurance that plant operation will not endanger the health and safety of the public.-
I hope that this information is responsive to your request.
Sincerely,
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James M. Taylor Executive Director for Operations be
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f The Honorable Lloyd Bentsen i
United States Senator 961 Federal Building Austin, Texas 78701 Dear Senator Bentsen; i
1 am responding to your letter of December 28, 1989, in which you forwarded a letter from Kendall and Virginia McCook regarding the concerns raised by Citizens for Fair Utility Regulation (CFUR) about the safety of the Comanche Peak Steam Electric Station, j
On October 16, 1989 CFUR filed a Pequest for Stay with the U.S. Duclear Regulatory Comission (NRC) in anticipation of the issuance of a low-power license for Comanche Peak. The Comission denied the request because of a pending lawsuit filed by CFUR in the Fifth Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals. However, the Commission directed the NRC staff to resolve CFUR's concerns in accoraante with the Comission's procedures for handling allegations.
As part of that process, the NRC staff held a meeting with CFUR's representatives on December 7,1989, to discuss their concerns, as described in the McCooks' letter. The NRC staff will use the transcript from that meeting to categorize dnd evaluate CFUR's issues. The NRC staff will assure that these issues are acceptably resolved before a low-power license is issued for Comanche Peak Unit 1.
In addition, the NRC staff will inform CFUR, in writing, of the disposition of their concerns in accordance with our allegation management procedures.
We will provide you with a copy of the staff's evaluation at the same time.
to solve with any certainty in a reasonable period of time,grobably impossible In deference to the McCooks' belief that these issues "are we believe that these issues can be resolved in a reasonable period of time.
Based on these and other coments made by the CFUR representatives, it ap) ears that at least some of the CFUR representatives will not be satisfied wit 1 the staff's resolution of these issues. Nevertheless, the NRC will not issue a license for Comanche l
Peak until we are satisfied that there is reasonable assurance that plant l
operation will not endenger the health and safety of the public.
I hope that this information is responsive to your request.
Sincerely, 1
l l
James M. Taylor Executive Director for Operations Distribution:
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EDO Principal Correspondence Control FROM:
DUE: 01/17/90 EDO CONTROL: 0005033 DOC DT: 12/28/89 FINAL REPLY:
S;n. Lloyd Bentsen TO:
D nnis Rathbun, OCA FOR SIGNATURE OF:
- GRN CRC NO: 90-0006 Exscutive Director DESC:
ROUTING:
ENCLOSES LETTER FROM KENDALL & VIRGINIA MCCOOK RMartin, RIV CONCERNING COMANCHE PEAK DATE: 01/03/90 ASSIGNED TO:
CONTACT:
NRR Murley gIbbo b[h
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NRR RECEIVED: JANUARY 4, 1990 ACTION:
.ADSP:CRUTCHFIELDJ NRR ROUTING:
MURLEY/SNIEZEK MIRAGLIA PARTLOW GILLESPIE M0SSBURG ACTION DUE TO NRR DIRECTOR'S OFFICE BY Ow.
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CRC-90-0006 LOGGING DATE: Jan 3 90 ACTION OFFICE:
EDO AUTHOR:-
Lloyd Bentsen--Const Ref AFFILIATION:
UNITED STATES SENATE LETTER DATE:
Dec 28 89 FILE CODE: ID&R-5 Comanche Peak
SUBJECT:
Licensing of the Comanche Peak facility ACTION:'
Direct Reply DISTRIBUTION:
OCA to Ack, DSB SPECIAL HANDLING: None NOTES:
Lloyd Bentsen DATE DUE:
Jan 18 90 SIGNATURE:
DATE SIGNED:
AFFILIATION:
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