ML20058F125
| ML20058F125 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 10/29/1990 |
| From: | Taylor J NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | Levin C SENATE |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9011080099 | |
| Download: ML20058F125 (2) | |
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UNITED sTATts
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION g.
5 y-WA6HINGTON, D. C 20666 October 29, 1990 a
4 iThe Honorable Carl Levin
= United States Senate Washington, D.C. 20510-2202
Dear' Senator Levin:
I am res >onding to your letter of October 10, 1990, enclosing a letter from U-ECynthia Fraser concerning the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Connission's (NRC's)
. efforts in ensuring the safety of nuclear-power plants. The NRC continually J
strives to ensure that nuclear power facilities are operated in a manner that ensures the health and safety of the public. Each nuclear plant is subject to daily monitoring and periodic inspections by qualified NAC inspectors stationed at that nuclear power plant.
In addition, NRC technical experts perform numerous m
other specialized inspections at each plant throughout its lifetime. The NRC promptly identifies tnd deals with violations and deviations from its rules and
-regulations and strictly enforces compliance with those regulations.
I am i
unaware of any instances where we have deliberately ignored or failed to act on
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safety issues..
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.The NRC staff is concerned with.the quality.of. materials used in safety
- applications at nuclear plants and has identified several instances in which substandard material was supplied to and installed in nuclear power plants.
L In most cases, these materials were installed in non-critical applications or l
were analyzed and found capable of performing their functions. Those materials that failed the analysis were prom)tly removed from' service. However, we remain concerned and diligent regarding tie possible use of counterfeit or substandard 4
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materials.--The NRC staff has issued a number.of information notices and L-
- bulletins _ warning'the nuclear industry of possible substandard materials. We l
.have also asked the nuclear industry to evaluate its procurement and product acceptance programs to increase the-ability to-detect nonconforming, substandard.
or fraudulent materials.
Finally, the NRC is continuing its leadership in ;)reventing the use of
-substandard materials in nuclear power plants. Tie NRC staff cortinues to monitor operating experience of nuclear plants across the country to identify substandard materials issues.
In addition,-the NRC inspects and investigates vendors of suspect material;and takes appropriate regulatory and legal action when it identifies infractions.
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,'I The Honorable Carl Levin
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I hope the information provided responds to your needs and adequately addresses
. the concerns raised by your constituent.- If you need further information, please
'let us know.
Sincerely, Od hal Signed Pyg t
hes M. Taylor James M. Taylor 2.
Executive Director for Operations
Enclosure:
Incoming letter dated October 10, 1990 w/ Attachment DISTRIBUTION VIB R/F ED0 Ticket No. 0005918 DRIS R/F
~JSniezek GCmalina HThompson BBrach JBlaha BKGrimes EDO Reading File WRussell-R. Bernero, NHSS TMurley SECY(CRC.901131)
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- 10/ /90 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY Document Name: LETTER TO LEVIN
.. cant. Lev w-co**'tties ODV N N AL at,alft5 BM ALL SW51 NESS TCnHeb hies, Senate w ADMisooTON. O C. 80810 October 10, 1990 Mr. Dennis K. Rathbu'.'n Office of Government and Public Affairs i
U. S. Nuclear: Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C.
20555
Dear Mr. Rathburn:
. Enclosed is correspondence from Cynthia Fraser of Berkley, Michigan.. I would appreciate your looking into this matter f or me..Please address your reply, along with the original correspondence, to Michael Simonicie of my staff.
Thank you for your cooperation, dneeretp Carl Levin CL/msj Enclosure 4
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i dlII Sune 7, 1990 F
Dean Sena' ton Levin, Recently I have become concerned with the conduct of t h e A'RC, I never nealiped how a small pant of the povernment I
could effect so many lives.
t These seems to be some weaknesses in the A'RC's snfoncement of aules 'that govenn the nuclean powes industay, Possibly these is a failune in our system of checks & balances.
These problems wese identified'in a congressional heaning that the A'RC maybe negligent.
The A'RC has bes.n accused of ignoning its duty to unge safety in a nuclear envinoment.
s Ay bippest concern aae the materials that have been used in'these powen plants. ' Why ans' these commenclal materials being usedinsafetyassas?
I believe those maissials to be.sub-N standand ana unsafe.
Yhis has me questioning the safety of f
- all nu'elean powen plants.
e I hope you will find time to check into my concesns,
/
5 Cynthia-Faasen
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