ML20024F503
| ML20024F503 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Pilgrim |
| Issue date: | 09/01/1983 |
| From: | Harrington W BOSTON EDISON CO. |
| To: | Harold Denton Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8309090434 | |
| Download: ML20024F503 (2) | |
Text
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BOSTON EDISDN COMPANY B00 BovLSTON STREET SOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS O2199 WILLIAM D. HARRINGTON
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N33CL.A8 September 1,1983 (d-M O Mr. Harold Denton United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C.
20555
Dear Mr. Denton:
I don't know if the editorial which appeared in the August 26, 1983 edition of the Boston Globe was brought to your attention so I am enclosing a copy.
I believe it is accurate and describes our efforts during those hectic weeks.
I wish, again, to thank you and your staff for the professional manner in which the matter was handled.
Sincerely, William D. Harr gton WDH/mg Enclosure 1
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8309090434 830901 PDR ADOCK 05000293 P
I THE BC$$N OtDBE FRIDAY. AtJGUST 26.1983 I
j Sensible regulation 1he Nuclear Regulatory Commission has water from the reactor to steam generators. In shown an appropriate level of concern coupled he case of Edison, complete replacement. coup-with practicaljudgment in setting out a varied ed with the additional costs of fossil fuel, timetable for potential replacement of major vould run about $50 million. Edison says.
piping in five nuclear power plants, including licightened concern about the piping has al
- Boston Edison s Pilgrim I plant in Plymouth _;d
.eady alerted plant operating personnel to the Originally worried about unexpectedly deep iced for special monitoring of the plants cracks appearing in boiling water plants built against irregularities in the way the plant by General Electr c. the NRC staff had called works. Edison has imposed tighter standards for immediate shutdown and inspection of the 'or plant shutdowns in the case of greater-plants last month. On appeal by the utilities..han permitted rates of leakage into sumps at the NRC agreed to temporary postponement to.he plant's base. Other operators have already allow for plant-by-plant evaluations of the 1ecided to shut some plants for total replace-risks involved, short of direct inspection of the ment of the suspect piping.
pipes themselves, possible only during a shut-i The significant adjustment made by the down.
NRC in dealing with the current problem is a In the case of the Edison plant, shutdown change from a blanket rule to a case-by'-case was scheduled for January in any event to per-ludgment. Shifts of this sort offer better assur-mit refueling and routine maintenance. t e ance to the public and to operators that regula-Th NRC has now deemed a Dec.10 shutdown ade-tion reflects closer attention to plants as they quate in terms of its safety concerns. While the actually operatej NRC does not include economic issues in mak-With only 75 functioning nuclear plants in ing such decisions, the fact is that continued the country today, the NRC is in a position to operation until the December date will spare pay close attention to detailed aspects of their New Englanders the additional costs of more merican nu-ve fossil fuels, primarily o!!. In generat conditions and the way they run.@d reputation pe clear operators have a highly mixe Y.d and foreign engineers have commented repeat-Cracks have been discovered in 12 of 17 edly in the past on the comparatively low level plants inspected so far. requiring repairs rang of training for personnel in this country. The ing from welding to the placing of heavyjackets NRC ruling is one more reminder of the need for around the suspect areas to complete replace very high levels of competence and tight proce-ment of the piping, which carries superheated dures for running such plantsj 7
7/M/73
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