ML20037B605
| ML20037B605 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Dresden  |
| Issue date: | 03/28/1978 |
| From: | Gossick L NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | Stafford R SENATE |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20037B606 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8010230723 | |
| Download: ML20037B605 (2) | |
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e DISTRIBUTION Docket (50-10 OCA (3) b NRC PDR GErtter (EDO-03471)
L Local PDR MGroff Docket No. 50-10 MAR 2 819M EDO Reading EPeyton
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EGCase DZiemann DCrutchfield VStello pf RBoyd SECY 78-0406 (3).
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The Honorable Robert T. Stafford g
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United States Senate OEL3 Washington, D. C.
20510
Dear Senater Stafford:
This is in response to your Harch 8,1978 letter requesting infomation for one of your constituents. The Reverend J. Gecree Butler, regarding the Dresden Nuclear Power Station Unit No. I located in Grundy County, Illinois. His request relates to the current operating status and plans for continued operation of the Dresden 1 facility. His three specific cuestiens and our response follows:
1.
Is Dresden still operating?
Yes, Dresden Unit No.1 is currently operating. The facility has been in operation since it was initf ally licensed in 1959, except.
for periodic shutdowns for routine maintenance and refueling.
2.
Are you licensing it to continue operating even though it is
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unsafe?
Facility Operating 1.icense No. DPR-2 f or Dresden Unit No.1 pernits operation of the plant until hay 4,1996. During the period of the Ifcense tte safety of the facility operation is assured by strict Comission's requirements. To assure compliance with our requiremnts an intensive inspection progran is carried cut oy t2C's Office of Inspection and Enforcenent.
In addition to the NRC review of the Dresden Unit No.1 operatforal safety performance, the Co cission, from tioe to time, has required licensees to nodify their operating facilities to nake them confom with IPC require ents that were established subsecuent to ifcensing of a facility if these requirements are determined to provide sub-stantial additional protection for the health and safety of the public.
In the case of Dresden Unit ko. I the N2C has required Comonwealth Edison to:
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Augent its energency core cooling systen by the addition of a
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Redesign and riodify the reactor protection syste's used to gg shutdown the reactor to brino it into confomance with l=
current IRC criteria for reactor protection systens, and
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Replace, relocate or modify equipment inportant to safety J
such that the ability of this equipment to function following exposure to the envircnnental effect of all postulated accicents is assured.
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The above nodifications will require the performance of a significant anount of work in areas of the facility adjacent to the reactor primary coolant system, which contains radioactive contaninstien. Commonwealth Ediscn has proposed to decontaminate the reactor primary coolant syste9 50 that these modifications may be perfortred with a ninism of unnecessary radiation exposure to plant personnel.
To surnarize the Dresden Unit IJo. I status, it should be noted that the planned shutdown of the facility is not because it is unsafe to operate or "is so hot that it must be closed down", but rather to make modift-F cations to upgrado its safety systens ti conforn with new criteria that have evolved since the fecility was inittelly constructed and licensed
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for operation. Such tuprovenents in facility design are riace to enhance
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the safety of the facility, but it ones not r.sen that present operation.
of the facility is unsafe.
3.
If it is running, when will it be shut down, and for approximately how lonn?
Comonwealth Edison plans to shut Dresden Unit Nn. I do.in at the end of
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October 197A to begin the decontamin: tion and plant rodifications. The duration of the shutdmin is expected to be 6 to 12 r:enths.
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te hope t'ils provides the information you desire. If we can be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Sincerely, UTeod) Lee V. Cesstat i
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a DISTRIBUTION Docket (50-ld OCA (3)
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Docket No. 50-10 EDO Reading EPeyton-r NRR Reading P0'Connor e
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EGCase DZiemann-s; T
onorable Pobert T. Stafford
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Uni ed States Senate RBoyd SECY 78-0406 (3) washi'ngton, D. C.
20510 HDenton RMattson
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Dear Senator Stafford:
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K ints is in response to your I; arch R.1976 letter reouesting infometion h.1 fcr one of ycur constituents, The Reverer.d J. George Butler, regarding the Dresden L -lear Power Station Unit tio. I located in Grundy County.
Illinois. His egest relates to the current coereting status and plans for continued op. ation of the Dresden i facility. His three specific i
q sestior.2 and our.spense follows:
E-1.
Is Presden still
,u ating?
-fg Yes, Cresden Unit kog1, the first cow.ercial nuclear peiter
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plant in ti:e United Stqtes is currer.tly onerating. The facility has been in oneration sipce it was initially licensed in 1959, except for periodic snute ins for routine nainter.ance and refueling.
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Are you licensing it to ccnt eue operating even though it is cesafe?
Facility r;perating License !fo. 0. '-2 for Dresden !! nit No.1 pernits operation of the plant urtil t'3y 4,1996. Durina the period of t7e lice::s0 the safety o, the facility operatior is assated by strict Comission's rec 41 enants. To assure comultance with our reccirenects an intensive insgection prog *a, is carried.
out hy HP.C's Of fice of Insoection and _ forcemnt.
In addition to the centi:nral hP.C review o the Uresden Unit No. 1.
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operattenel safety perfornance, the Cor:nission, from the to tive, has renJired licensees tc nodify their opera ing facilities to t
Dake them confern witti 10C requirennts that 'were established E
subsequent to licenstag of a facility if these\\reentrew:nts are
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niernined tu provide substantial additions) orotection for tha 2
U heelth and safety of tne public. In the case of Dresden Unit I!o.1 the !9C hes required Comon sealt's Edison -to:
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