ML20008E227

Discusses CA Sinderbrand 801003 Concerns,Nrc 800808 Authorization & Response to State of Wi Environ Decade 800826 Ltr Re Facility Operation Resumption.Certificate of Svc Encl

ML20008E227
Person / Time
Site:	Point Beach
Issue date:	10/21/1980
From:	Charnoff G SHAW, PITTMAN, POTTS & TROWBRIDGE
To:	Ahearne J, Gilinsky V, Hendrie J NRC COMMISSION (OCM)
References
NUDOCS 8010240435
Download: ML20008E227 (3)

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October 21, 1980 The Honorable John F. Ahearne, The Honorable Joseph M. Hendrie,

, Chairman Commissioner U.S. Nuclear Regulatory U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission- Commission Washington, D.C. 20555 Washington, D.C. 20555 The Honorable Victor Gilinsky, The Honorable Peter A. Bradford, Commissioner Commissioner U.S. Nuclear Regulatory U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Commission Washington, D.C. 20555 Washington, D.C. 20555 Re: Wisconsin Electric Power Company (Point Beach Nuclear Plant - Unit 1)

Docket No. 50-266 Gentlemen:

By letter dated October 3, 1980, Assistant Attorney General Carl A. Sinderbrand, on behalf of.the State of Wisconsin, expressed concern regarding the actions of the NRR Staff in " authorizing" by letter dated August 8, 1980 " resumption of operations at Point Beach [ Nuclear Plant Unit] 1" after completion of a series of tests on the steam generator tubes. Mr. Sinderbrand also noted his dismay at the Staff's response to a letter dated August 26, 1980 from Wisconsin's Environmental Decade (" Decade")

to the NRC Commissioners objecting to the NRR Staff's decision to

" authorize" continued operation by a letter rather than by a formal " confirmatory order." Mr. Sinderbrand ends by urging the Commission to grant the hearing which Decade has requested.

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l SHAW, PITTMAN, POTTS & TROWBRIDGE October 21, 1980 Page Two By a filing dated September 19, 1980, the NRC Staff

, responded to the allegations made by Decade's August 26, 1980 letter. The Staff correctly noted that a confirmatory order was simply inappropriate where no additional conditions were imposed on the Licensee, Wisconsin Electric Power Company. A specific authorization was not required for Point Beach Unit 1 to resume operation. Wisconsin Electric was only required to obtain a determination from NRR in writing that the results of the tests on the steam generator tubes were acceptable.

The Staff's characterization was correct both as a matter of law and logic. Wisconsin Electric holds a license to operate Point. Beach Unit 1. The license was not revoked or suspended.

An additional condition was placed on the license, which, as in the case of all other license conditions, is no more than a prerequisite of operations. While Mr. Sinderbrand was dismayed at the " tone" of the Staff', September 19, 1980 response, he apparently could not fault it as a matter of law.

Whsther there should be a hearing on the November 30, 1979 Confirmatory order is presently a matter pending befora the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board. As a matter of law, where a petitioner (as in the case of Decade) simply asserts that an order does not go f ar enough or that more stringent actions are required, petitioner has no right to a hearing. This Commission restated that principal recently in Houston Lighting and Power Company (South Texas Project, Units 1 and 2), Memorard.m C a Order, NRC (September 22,1980) (slip opinion at 13) .

As indicated in the most recent safety evaluation report issued by NRR, "some of the remedial actions taken by the licensee following the October 1979 inspection, particularly the lower temperature operation, may be succeeding in retarding the rate of tubesheet crevice corrosion." Safetv Evaluation Report Related To Point Beach Unit 1 Steam Generator Tube Degradation, Docket No. 50-266 i (August 8, 1980). Neither Decade nor Mr. Sinderbrand has offered any information to the contrary. A hearing would serve no purpose and is not warranted in this case.

Si'ncerely yours, i.e l b /

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l Gerald Charnoff /

l l cc: Service List

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• 1 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION In the Matter of )

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WISCONSIN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY ) Docket No. $0-266 (Point Beach Nuclear Plant, )

Unit 1) )

SERVICE LIST Herbert Grossman, Esq. C. F . Riederer, P. E.

Chairman . Public Service Commission Atomic Safety and Licensing Board of Wisconsin U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Hill Farms State Office Washington, D.C. 20555 Building ,

4802 Sheboygan Avenue Dr. Richard F. Cole Madison, Wisconsin 53702 Atomic Safety and Licensing Board U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Kathleen M. Falk, Esquire Washington, D.C. 20555 Wisconsin's E.tvironmental Decade, Inc. - Suite 205 Dr. J. Venn Leeds 302 East Washington Avenue Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Madigon, Wisconsin 53703 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555 Docketing and Service Section Office of the Secretary Karen D. Cyr, Esquire U.S. Nuclear Regulatory U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Commission Office of the Executive Washington, D.C. 20555 Legal Director Washington, D.C. 20555 Carl A. Sinderbrand Assistant Attorney General Ms. Jacqueline Reynolds The State of Wisconsin Public Service Commission of Department of Justice Wisconsin Madison, Wisconsin 53702 Hill Farms State Office Building 4802 Sheboygan Avenue Madison, Wisconsin 53702

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