ML20054E604
| ML20054E604 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 06/11/1982 |
| From: | Palladino N NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Markey E HOUSE OF REP., INTERIOR & INSULAR AFFAIRS |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20054E605 | List: |
| References | |
| REF-GTECI-A-49, REF-GTECI-RV, TASK-A-49, TASK-OR NUDOCS 8206130057 | |
| Download: ML20054E604 (2) | |
Text
7 4
UNITED STATES
[I 21
~j NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION W ASHINGTON, D.C. 20555 f
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June 11, 1982 OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN 5
s The Honorable Edward J. Markey, Chairman Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Comittee on Interior and Insular Affairs United States House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Mr. Chairman:
This is in response to your letter of May 13, 1982 which expressed your reactions to the testimony on pressurized thermal shock presented to the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations on May 7,1982.
I would like to comment briefly on the three steps you indicated should be taken by the NRC.
First, the NRC staff is taking steps to obtain, as soon as practical, the control and safety system design information that we believe is necessary to perform our planned independent studies of event sequences that could lead to pressurized thermal shock accidents for selected plants.
Second, the staff's forthcoming interim report on pressurized thermal shock will address the feasibility, need for, and benefits of, a variety of possible immediate actions that could reduce the rate of pressure vessel embrittlement and reduce the likelihood of pressurized thermal shock events.
I have been informed that the actions being considered include those you mention:
changes in fuel management schemes ard core configurations to reduce neutron flux at critical weld locations and increased temperature of the emergency core cooling water.
Your third suggestion regarding the possible conduct by NRC of a large scale demonstration of in situ thermal annealirg of an embrittled vessel at an older, already out-of-service plant warrants careful consideration.
In the near future, the staff will perform an initial study of the feasibility of including such a demonstration test as part of the long-term research program for pressurized thermal shock. Many questions need to be answered concerning the information that would be gained beyond that available from smaller scale tests of samples; the general applicability of the results, considering the typicality of the vessel and plant configuration chosen for the demonstration; and the cost effectiveness, funding arrangements, and possible schedule for such a demonstration.
8206130057 ~
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e O-2 I appreciate your continued interest in this issue.
2.
Sincerely, M
NunzYo alladino l
Chairman l
cc: The Honorable Ronald C. Marlenee
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