ML20062B442

Responds to Shanaman Re Allegations of Const Deficiencies.Faults Not Capable & Methods Used to Repair Fracture Zones Acceptable.Allegations of Improperly Mixed & Placed Concrete Investigated in Previous Insp Repts

ML20062B442
Person / Time
Site:	Limerick
Issue date:	07/08/1982
From:	Harold Denton Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:	Greenleaf S PENNSYLVANIA, COMMONWEALTH OF
References
NUDOCS 8208040488
Download: ML20062B442 (9)

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The Honorable Stewart J. Greenleaf Pennsylvania State Senate Senate Post Office 1

The State Capitol Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17120

Dear Senator Greenleaf:

i Your May 25, 1982 letter to Susan Shananan, Chainnan, Pennsylvania Public Utilities Cnmoission, which refers to a letter to the editor sent to you by Mrs. M. E. Hill of Norristown alleging certain constnJction deficiencies at the Lirerick Generating Station, has been forwarded to us for consideration.

We are pleased to provide you with our response.

The letter to the editor, written by Frank R. Romano, an intervenor in the Linerick operating license proceeding, states that the Unit I reactor is constructed directly over a known earthquake fault. Mr. Romano's concerns regarding site geology, fracture zones, and the adequacy of the foundations have been addressed in the Limerick Safety Evaluation Report issued in Noventer 1971 and in the enclosed staff evaluation of faulting in the excavation issued January 23, 1975.

In these previous reviews of faulting at the Limerick site, i

the staff concluded that (1) the faults were not capable faults and (2) the rethods used to repair the fracture zones were acceptable.

fir. Ronano's letter to the editor aise states that "NRC inspectors found inproperly mixed and improperly placed concrete, with large gaping holes" in the reactor containnent wall. Additionally, the article states that "in patching up the wall, further NRC inspections found improperly spaced reinforcenent rods, as well as rods bent and nicked during the repair job." Defects in the contain-rent concrete in the vicinity of certain accessways were found by the applicant and later observed by NRC inspectors. The problem was investigated by HRC, corrected by PECO, and satisfactorily resolved. The documentation on this natter is found in I & E Inspection Reports 352/76-08, 352/77-01, and 352/77-15, copies of which are enclosed. The problen was first docurented in 352/76-08 and a subsequent inspection of the repairs by a concrete specialist fran NRC was reported in 352/77-01.

Issues lef t open in 352/77-01 were finally closed in 352/77-15.

If you have arry additional questions concerning this natter, we will be happy to cM discuss then with you.

"O Do Sincerely,

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See attached page The Honorable Stewart J. dreenleaf Pennsylvania State Senate \\

Senate Post Office

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Harrisburg Pennsylvania 17120 S2mM5 *v

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Dear-MN Greenleaf:

s Your May 25, 1982 letter to Susan Sitenaman, Chairman, P nnsylvania Public Utilities Conmission, which refers to a letter to the itor sent to you

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by Mrs. MtE.11111 of Norristown allegi < certain const jetion deficiencies at the Limerick Generating Station, has een forwarded to us for consideration.

We are pleased to provide you with our r soonse.

The letter to the editor, written by Frank

. Ronano an intervenor in the Limerick operating license proceeding, stat s that t e Unit I reactor is constructed directly over a known earthquake aul t.

Mr. Romano's concerns regarding site geology, fracture zones, and t ade uacy of the foundations have been addressed in the Limerick Safety Evaluati n Report issued in Novertier 1971 and in the enclosed staff evaluation of fa It 9 in the excavation issued January 23, 1975.

In these previous reviews of a lting at the Limerick site, the staff concluded that (1) the faults wre not apable faults and (2) the methods used to repair the fracture zones were ac table.

Mr. Romano's letter to the editor also states th t tRC inspectors found improperly mixed and improperly placed concrete wit large gaping holes" in the reactor containment well. Additionally, t arti le states that "in patching up the wall, further NRC inspections found imp perly spaced reinforcement rods, as well as rods bent and nicked during the rep ir job.

Defects in the contain-ment concrete in the vicinity of certain acce ways wer found by the applicant and later observed by NRC inspectors. The pr blem was i vestigated by NRC, corrected by PEC0, and satisfactorily resolv d.

The docu ntation on this matter is found in I & E Inspection Reports 352/76-8, 352/77-01, and 352/77-15, copies of which are enclosed. The problem was fir t docunented i 352/76-08 and a subsequent inspection of the repairs by a c nerete speciali t fron NRC was reported in 352/77-01.

Issues lef t open i 352/77-01 were nally closed in 352/77-15.

If you have any additional questions conc rning this matter, we will be happy to discuss tflem with you.

Sincerely, DL:LB#2/PM DL:LB#2/BC Habel son:kw*

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6/23/82 6/23/82 Harold R. Denton, Director

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See attached page The Honorable Stewart Greenleaf Pennsylvania State Senat Senate Post Office The State Capitol Harrisburg, Pennsylvania l'120

Dear Mr. Greenleaf:

Your May 25, 1982 letter to Su qn Shananan, hairman, Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission, which ref s to a let r to the editor sent to you by Mrs. M.E. Hill of Horristown leging ce tain construction deficiencies at the Limerick Generating Statio has bee forwarded to us for consideration.

We are pleased to provide you with r res nse.

The letter to the editor, written by rank R. Romano, an intervenor in the Limerick operating license proceeding sta s that the Unit I reactor is constructed directly over a known eart qu e fault. Mr. Romano's concerns regarding site geology, fracture zones, a d the adequacy of the foundations have been addressed in the Linerick Safe Evaluation Report issued in November 1971 and in the enclosed, staff evaluatio of faulting in the excavation issued January 23, 1975.

In these previous rev ws of faulting at the Limerick site, the staff concluded that (1) the faults e not capable faults and (2) the methods used to repair the fracture zon re acceptable.

Mr. Romano's letter to the editor also tate that "HRC inspectors found improperly mixed and improperly placed oncre e, with large gaping holes" in the reactor containment tell. Additio ally, article states that "in patching up the wall, further NRC inspections f und inp operly spaced reinforcement rods, as well as rods bent and nicked durine the repa r job." Defects in the contain-ment concrete in the vicinity of cert in access ys were in fact observed by NRC inspectors in 1976. The problem as investi ated by NRC, corrected by PEC0, and saticfactorily resolved. The do mentation o this matter is found in I & E Inspection Reports 352/76-08, 352/77 01, and 352/ 7-15, which are available in the Public Document Room at Pottsto The prob 1 was first identified in 352/76-08 and a subsequent inspecti n of the repai s by a concrete specialist g

from NRC was reported in 352/77-01.

Issues left o n in 352/77-01 were finally closed in 352/77-15.

If you have any additional cuestions concerning this tter, we will be happy to diseuss them with you.

Sincerely, DL:LB#2/PM DL:LB#2/BC Habel son :kw*

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6/23/82 6/23/82 Harold R. Denton, Director

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See attached page The Honorable Stewart J. Greenleaf Pennsylvania State Senate Senate Post Office The State Capitol Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17120

Dear Mr. Greenleaf:

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Your May 25, 1982 letter to Susan Sh' naman, haiman, Pennsylvania Public a

Utilities Commission, which refers to\\a let r to the editor sent to you by Mrs. M.E. Hill of Horristown allegiqg ce tain construction deficiencies at the Limerick Generating Station, has\\ bee forwarded to us for consideration.

We are pleased to provide you with our tes nse.

The letter to the editor, written by Fra R. Romano, an intervenor in the Limerick operating license proceeding, st tes that the Unit 1 reactor is constructed directly over a known earthqu ke fault. Mr. Romano's concerns regarding site geology, fracture zones, nd\\the adequacy of the foundations have been addressed in the Limerick Safe y fvaluation Report issued in Noverter 1971 and in the enclosed staff evaluatio of \\ faulting in the excavation issued January 23, 1975.

In these previous re ews nf faulting at the Limerick site, the staff concluded that (1) the faults were not capable faults and (2) the methods used to repair the fracture zon s were acceptable.

Mr. Romano's letter to the editor also states t at "NRC inspectors found improperly mixed and improperly placed concrete, with large gaping holes" in the reactor contaiment wall. Additio ally, the article states that "in patching up the wall, further NRC inspections ound impro rly spaced reinforcement rods, as well as rods bent and mixed during the repair j b."

Defects in the contain-ment concrete in the vicinity of cer in accessway were in fact observed by HRC inspectors in 1976. The problem as investigat 'd by HRC, corrected.by PECO, '

and satisfactorily resolved. The do uraentation on is matter is found in I & E Inspection Reports 352/76-08, 352/7 -01, and 352/77-5, which are available in the Public Document Room at Pottsto n.

The problem s first identified in 352/76-08 and a subsequent inspect on of the repairs y a concrete specialist from NRC was reported in 352/77-01 Issues left open n 352/77-01 were finally closed in 352/77-15.

If you have any additional questions concerning this natter, we will be happy to discuss them with you.

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PEN N SYLVANI A PUBLec UTILITY COMMIS SION COMMONwCALTN.OF PE NtiSYLVANIA PO Box 3265 NAnnis eURG, PENN SYLVANIA $7620

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r SUSAN M. SHANAMAN

. N A, _. N June 1, 1982 The Honorable Stewart J. Greenleaf Senate of Pennsylvania Senate Post Office Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17120

Dear Senator Greenleaf:

I am writing in response to your May 25 letter concerning the

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Limerick Unit i nuclear plant.

Prior to your letter,' I had not heard the theory that the reactor was being constructed over an earthquake fault.

In making our recommendation that Philadelphia Electric Com-pany should cancel or suspend construction of Limerick Unit 2, we were not making a policy statement on nuclear energy. We were simply ex-pressing our feelings on the best alternative to meet the energy needs of PECO customers in the most cost-efficient way.

The ultimate authority in making site and construction in-spections and decisions rests with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

If the earthquake fault allegation is to be investigated, it would be the NRC that would have to do it.

I have taken the liberty of forwarding your letter and Mr. Romano's letter to the editor to the NRC for their consideration.

Thank you for your concern.

Sincerely, SUSAN M. SHANAMAN Chairman SMS/ksb cc:

Nuclear Regulatory Commission e

taTM OleTWICT COMMITTEES

'h STEWART J. GREENLEAF 66 EASTON ROAD law a JUSTICE. CNAIRWAN WILLOW GROVE. PA 19090

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Susan M. Shanaman, Esq.

h Chairman, Public Utility Commission s,,3 6 P. O. Box 3265 Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17120

Dear Commissioner Shanaman:

I am enclosing herewith a copy of an article forwarded to me by Mrs. M. E. Hill, 2425 Springview Road, Norristown, Pa. 19401.

Mrs. Hill questions that portion of the article which is under-lined and states that if this paragraph is true, Philadelphia Electric should not be permitted to complete Unit 1.

I would appreciate your comments in this regard.

Sincerely, 4

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L Stewart J. Greenleaf

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cc: Mrs. M. E. Hill l

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Our Headers bay:

e To Pe Editor:

which the crippled TMI The decision of. the reactor just sits there Public Utllity Commis-capable of going wild sion in ru!!ng Philadel-again, as even TMI of-phia Electric should ficials have stated, we complete its 1 it 1 re-are forced to put our actor but not ti.s Unit 2 lives in the hands of the reactor was a surprise nuclear establishment to many people. How-which has proven itself ever, even with one re-incapable of hand!!ng actor I regard it as the the never-before en-nuclear establishment. countered, unsolvable permission to continue problems posed by the the game of Nuclear crippled reactor at Russian Roulette...

TMI.

using one gun on one In fact the decision of side of our head, rather the PUC demonstrates than one on each side.

the degree to which the Since'one reactor is Nuclear Regulatory sufficient to pose a Commission has dis-night and day threat of quallfled itself in the disaster for all of Mont-regulatory role author-gomery County and Ized by the Atomic beyond, there is no way Energy Act, which now that P.E. be allowed t must be challenged.

complete the unneeded That Act on its face -

Unit I reactor. I am not now is seen as haviny, against one reactor or unconstitutionally gaf t wh'at ter:or a abridged the natural right of self preserva-nuclear reactors are tion of millions of Penn-

. capable of bringing into sylvanians by denying our midst*

them the right to op-And if either of the pose nuclear reactors two reactors were to be on the basis of radi-completed it should def-ation hazzards. There initely not he the Unit _1 is no better example of reactor. Tliat recctor is cruel and unusual

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constructed directly punishment.

cnown e n rth-OVer #"Ta~) ult. But more with one more to go In But it is one down...

qtiali'e p'articularly because the meantime, P.E. can tIie Nuclear Regulatory avert bankruptcy by Cominission inspece converting both reac-founa improperly mix.

tors to safe, non pollut-cd'ano improceriv_

ing coal to liberate the piacea concrete, with billions of dollars in Pa.

largE~ gaping notes 2o.

coal, giving thousands Inra2most colnpletely and thousands of min-7 l

througn ine six foc.t ers.and railroaders thi& Unit I reactor core containment w'iiiC jobs instead of welfare.

Em m patening up iile Additionally, we waH. Iurther NRC ip-should give our high specuons found improp-school and college erly spaceu re-intoIce-youth the same time, mtrCrods, as we!! as money and glory given roos uem anu nWd kins one repair job, ball around. bushing a to students et's give

. Tolijustrate Philadel-them the challenge of phia Electric's careless developing solar, wind, Pattern of w ork-hydro-power and con-manship,, welds made servation progr;1ms to and inspected by P.E.

return sanity to our and signed out as O.K.

trectment of beautiful were afterwards found Pennsylvania.

i to be..not in confor-Frank R. Romano I

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mance with American

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Welding Society stan-e dards. The foregoing, with many other infrac-

I dures, certainly merit a l

Congressional investi-i gation, because that pa-i

[ ached up wall and questionable welds may l

l translate to lives of I

thousands.

l Additionally, with 3 years gone by during

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