ML20100F359

Expresses Concern Re Failure of Emergency Cooling Sys for Atomic Reactor at Oyster Creek,Nj

ML20100F359
Person / Time
Site:	Oyster Creek
Issue date:	06/24/1971
From:	Williams H SENATE
To:	Seaborg G US ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION (AEC)
Shared Package
ML20100F143	List: ML20100F160 ML20100F182 ML20100F185 ML20100F195 ML20100F197 ML20100F258 ML20100F262 ML20100F282 ML20100F287 ML20100F294 ML20100F348 ML20100F352 ML20100F359 ML20100F366 ML20100F374 ML20100F475 ML20100F526 ML20100G217 ML20100G279 ML20100G466 ML20100G473 ML20100G496 ML20100G505 ML20100G514 ML20100G519 ML20100G549 ML20100G558 ML20100G579 ML20100G591 ML20100G611 ML20100G620 ML20100G695 ML20105B001 ML20105B005 ML20105B301
References
FOIA-95-389 NUDOCS 9602210219
Download: ML20100F359 (2)

Text

. - - . - . - - . - . .__ _ _ , _ . _

. a

{

s . .y g,_a_w -

_- = . w

_-. = .  !

• ~ ."".l3lll "=" """ ..

M - _

YEF [dE==,= 3(nileb Mlaies comun, ou -

Senals . l T '"-"* n . .Aeose AND PUSUC WELFAfeE f

- wasuine, row, p.c. zosto '

M I b".=Em~m. e"." ' r June 24, 1971- j i

Dr. Glenn'T. Seaborg , j Chairman

- Atomic Energy Commission l Washington',-D. C. 20545

Dear:

Dr. Seaborg: ,

i Givenlthe ever-present worry about nuclear-power plant. J

. safety and the constant threat of. power shortages to which the citizens of New Jersey have been subjected, recent newspaper articles on the failure. of emergency . cooling systems for atomic j reactors naturally concern me.

As you are aware,.the Washington Post, on May 28th, re-ported that " test failures of an emergency cooling system for atomic reactors" may force the Commission to " curtail the electrical output of twenty-two nuclear power plants in: twelve states". Furthermore, it was reported that five utilities were informed that they can expect delays in obtaining licenses to '

build and, operate their power plants because of this fundamental design problem.

I would appreciate learning how these core-cooling failures will affect the. nuclear power plant presently operating at Oyster Creek, New Jersey, and the five other plants presently being constructed, or now planned, for.New Jersey. Will the lowering of the core temperatures allow the affected plants to maintain the margin of safety as is employ.ed in power plants operating in normal situations. Should the margin of safety be increased by lowering even -further the core operating temperatures to ciom-pensate for this defect?-

Will- this proposed reduction 'of power output in twenty-two plants affect' other plants- forming the PJM Interconnection, of which New Jersey plants are member? Also, will'the licensing delays for the five. facilities affect this same " power pool"?

Rec'd OH U . of os &

' ~

~1R -3521 m;^ jd:dch '

9602210219 960129' *.

PDR FOIA l DEKOK95-389 PDR L ~ . - - m_.._ __ _

_ _ ((~

e -n-- e e- ~ e w m- -

s- - - - -w-.

7 .

M .Y.

1

. . ~

Dri Clenn T. Seabor ^ - i Jurie 24,1971 -

u Page 2.'

j I note that, in an address on May 17th George A. Lincoln, ,

Chairman of the Joint Board on Fuel Supply ~and Fuel. Transport, l reported that "a reserve margin.of 20% of expected peak loads is  !

considered generally necessary.. . ," and then pointed out that the  !

PJM Interconnection would have a reserve of 15.4% this summer, an i inadequate and possibly~over-optimistic figure. Would the reduction  ;

in generating capacity implied by these problems seriously hamper  ;

the ability of facilities in New Jerspy, and within the PJM " pool", i to handle effectively _the heavy power demands that can be reasonably expected during the coming- summer days? Certainly, any delays in plant construction can affect their ability to meet long-range power expectations and would necessitate revised planning for viable alternatives to nuclear power generation.  :

Finally, assuming that the newly-announced safety require-ments remain in effect throughout the summer, in the event that  ;

power reserves fail to satisfy' consumer demands and load shedding is contemplated, would these affected plants be allowed to operate l at full generating capacity to meet the extraordinary need? Nat- i urally, I am concerned that over-all, long-range public safety not l be sacrificed rashly, in the face of the present situation, to satisfy short-term requests.

Your prompt attention to these inquiries.will be greatly appreciated.

With best wishes, Sincerely, j $hl t/ Y Harrison A. Williams , Jr.

HAW:rdbb S '

4 1

1 L.

I l

t

. e

_,s-_ - _ _._._.x - - . . . . . _ . . ... . _ _ _ _ . _ ,  ;

a m ,. .-e

-e - - - + -s + .- -

, ~ < - - -,ce