ML20087P053

Discusses Encl Newspaper Article Re QA Problems at Facility. Increase in Number of Inspectors at Plant Requested

ML20087P053
Person / Time
Site:	Midland
Issue date:	01/30/1984
From:	Romo L LONE TREE COUNCIL
To:	Palladino N NRC COMMISSION (OCM)
Shared Package
ML20087P051	List: ML20087P053
References
NUDOCS 8404050484
Download: ML20087P053 (2)

Text

r-LONE TREE COUNCIL P. O. box 421 Essexville. Michigan 48732 JOSEdH SHEER AN. ATTORNEY PATRICI A HE A prRON. CHILD MMUN C ATION WOR ER OF AMERIC A BARBARA ML MA5Z W K. ATTORNEY QUINTER BURNETT' M D UAW CARCO NC DR DAvl0 DALG ARN. ASSOCI ATE

' FATHER JOHN GUSSENBAUER PROF ESSOR OF BIOLOGY, SVSC January 30, 1984 Nunzio Palladino United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C.

20555

Dear Chairman Palladino,

I read with great dismay the enclosed article in our local M r. Marabito of Region III says the "ex ten t of the press.

quality assurance problems at Midland are not as pervasive as they were at Zimmer."

This certainly is not encouraging for the many citizens who for years have wanted increased NRC involvement at Midland.

Mr. James Keppler, Region III administrator, reviewed a partial list of the Quality Assurance problems at Midland before the Subcommittee on Energy and the Environment on June 16, 1983.

This, and the fact that the Construction Completion Program (which will identify problems) make Mr. Marabito's statement a bit premature.

On January 20, 1984, I spoke with an official in Mr. Richard DeYoung's office on the subject of increased NRC inspectors.

I was referred to a response M r.

DeYoung made to a citizen's petition on October 6, 1983.

In it he indicated that this would l

be determined by "the Commission budget process."

(Docket No.

50-329, 50-330, 10CFR 2206, p.3)

With the recent decisions at Byron, Marble Hill, Zimmer and Limerick, it would seem that additional inspectors could be added without expanding the budget.

There are only five inspectors l

working on 15 years of errors.

Indeed, it would seem foolish for the NRC not to do this.

My request is simple.

Will you please increase the number of NRC inspectors at Midland?

i I look forward to your response.

Sincerely, l

8404050484 840312

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H pm Leo R. Romo eaENTiriCATiOs PuRROsEs ONt, Corresponding Secretary j

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__r THURSDAY, JANUARY 26,1984 L..TheSaginaw NER$ Q

More NRC inspectors sought

.1 (Group wants staff shifted from nuke plants that: floundered &

BY KEITH NAUGHTON -

.. ficult reinspection in the nuclear in 1979 because it found quallity *,

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INews Staff Writer industry today," Ms. Garde said.. assurance and management prob-e

. Anuclearpowerwatchdoggroup "It would take.a minimum of a lems at the plant.

dozen people to effectively monitor S pressuring the U.S. Nuclear Reg-

If the Midland staff is not in-the (construction completion pro.- creased in size,.it will slow-the.;'

ulatory Commission to beef up its staff inspectin the Midland Nucle. gram). Less than that jeopardizes ' plant's construction program and.!

'ar Plant. - - g - - - -

-- - theictegrityof the program.".,, - eventually delay the completion of ;.

A five-man NRC team. monitors the project,Ms. Garde claimed..

Government Accountability Pro. the Midla'nd plant now,Jwith two pect, a Washington-based citizens c.You ;could have :s situation ggroup, will send a Jetter to the members of the team at the plant- ;where people 'are sitting around

• site full time.

commission Friday urging it to y-t twiddling their th'umbs, waiting for "

tshift inspectors who had been as.

The NRC.has not determined

.anNRCinspector,'?shesaid. 4 -

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isigned to nuclear projects that what it will do with the inspectors The utility does nQt believe the!

from Zimmer and Marble Hill, -

have floundered recently to the NRC spokesman Russ Marabito size of the NRC team will have an '

I impact on' implementation of' the' f fidlandleam.

e said.

i in the past two weeks, two Mid -

. peonstruction program, Consumers "Some of.them may be shifted : spokesmanJamesStoreysaid.

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trestern nuclear plants have halted Eonstruction - the Zimmer Nucle, over to possibly the Midland 4, a.The NRC is not scheduled, un '

l hr Plant in Ohio and the Marble (plant), 'Marabito said.

der the plan we drafted, to get that 5

.w Jill! Nuclear Plant in Indiana.

Zimmer had a stalf of eight full._ involved vin the day-to-day. pro-!?

i E The three Ohio utilities that own time inspectors with three inspec.- cess,"Storeysaid. - ~) 3... l f. 1

!Elmmer announced Saturday the tors on ' call. wheneveh needed,S + TheiNRC on$ered Consume'rs

• O f

' plant will be converted to a coal-Marabito.

t F Power Co. to drait a formal com-!

I fired operation. Public Service of (But Midland does not need 'asl pletion plan forits plant after fed-l large a staff because it'is not'as eral inspectors;found severallr.

l Jndiana closed Marble Hill Jan~.15 troubled as Zimmer was, he said.Mquality assursnee problems at the because the utility ran out of mon-

"The extent of the quality assur-plant in 1982. i n

[ey to complete it.

4

'e 1'

Billie Garde, an investigator for ance problems: tat Midland)'are 9 :Storeywouldnotsayif the utility' 1

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_ 4 e citizens group, said Midland "not as pervasive as they were at 'is pleased with the performance of; -

j th l

needs a larger NRC ctaff bscaus~"Zimmer,"Merabitosaid;"7"'. the present NRC:

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Staff o' 'If 'addF' ~ "

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of the ? comprehensive" comple-Marble Hill is not similar in any - tional staffing is necessary.

i ti k on ' program the plant is way to Midland because it was not 1'NRC has to determine.'.. it's their l"Tha l.

fundergoing.

a troubled plant,1 Marabito

. The construction completion' ~ claimed.

i'.'~

' role and responsibility to deter-l 8

p program is the most stringent, ' But the NRC stopped all safety mine the staff thatis neededhere," ;

I t most comprehensive and most dif-related construction at Marble Hill ' Storey said. -

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