ML20100F366

From kanterella
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Requests Results of Reanalysis of ECCS Failures as Soon as Practicable
ML20100F366
Person / Time
Site: Oyster Creek
Issue date: 09/09/1971
From: Williams H
SENATE
To: Schlesinger J, The Chairman
NRC COMMISSION (OCM)
Shared Package
ML20100F143 List:
References
FOIA-95-389 NUDOCS 9602210229
Download: ML20100F366 (3)


Text

.

vg,,..

._,3,.

i u ;.~.l:.,~_.~nw ~.

=:c=32:3.

- y h

g:=l7."C".lll;""*-yg E.n 9hifeb Sfafeo Senate "at."."f i

g=gs

..rm

.u.

^

"" O E i W e* @ !f' wassiuorou.a.c. aosia September 9, 1971

.-]

4 4

l' l

Mr. James R. Schlesinger

~

j Chairman l

-Atomic Energy Commission

" Washington,"D.

C..

"2054'5 s

<, y

Dear Mr. Schlesinger:

~

This is to-acknowledge the response of former Chairman Seaborg to my letter of June 24th, in which I requested infor-mation on the effect of emergency core cooling system (ECCS) failures on certain nuclear powered reactors.

In regard to the reanalysis being required of the emer-gency core cooling systems at Oypter Creek and at other plants being constructed or planned for New Jersey.

I would appre-ciate being informed of the results of the reanalysis as soon as is practicab.le.

,In that same vein, I would also appreciate a response from you on the following points:

., q 1)

Will the reanalysis of the ECCS in operation ~at

,N-Oyster Creek, under construction'at Salem, and h

(i at other plants being planned for New Jersey in

(, ir s

.e Island,beperformedonasmallsemi-scale'reactot}

Union County, at Forked River, and at Newbold

.v. N mockiip similar to those used in the Idaho tests?j/

2)

Upon what was the preliminary information on the gf Oyster Creek plant which the AEC received from y'y /\\

l

- General. Electric Company based?

Small semi-scale

.)

mode'.. tests, theoretical calce".ations,. testing of )

/f',

actual equipment, or a combination of these three?/

pmallsemi-scaleexperimentsandlargepowerreactors,Q If there are significant differences between the 3) are there any other models more similar in construction

~g*r? '

-andl performance to large reactors upon which the AEC

.can' base its reliance?

h'

/'- /s

'~

Daa V//bl2/

' O 's d M yA. 3727 -

Tima

~

9602210229 960129 PDR FOIA DEKOK95-389 PDR y

v

bp,*. 'Q.),'. j., _

l Y.-4. ; 9 ',.Mr_.: (Jamis i R._ Sch5 singer,

e V

Se'pt' ember 9, 1971 l

4 Page_Two~

i A

4)

Since it is my understanding that there have bcen errors experienced in estimating fuel-cladding fc temperatures,given.the,critienl-importanceofthe,.)I Ti

}

ECCS whose effectiveness;is now suspect, should j

nuclear power reactors be permitted to produce.,,

3 theii normal electrical power output? _

15)

On page 2 of your July 26th letter, you state that v.*&aJeommissionisey authoris4 full, powerseposetion ;-

1 7

of the-reactor (if a limitation ~were im' posed) for[ p~,:

  • " 1
  • limited' period"..What type of administrative 5

, procedure would be employed by.the Commission in,,

this event?

~

t 6)

Given the AEC's defense-in-depth concept, istherehcE any other system present in the normal reactor to

~

reduce the temperature of a molten core, if the l'

ECCS fails?

7)

If'the primary assurance of react,or safety in a f,

j nuclear power plant is by " correctly designing, be constructing and operating the reactor", is there

}

also"a process of extensive testing of all systems I

{

before normal operations are allowed?

I

8) 'What is the earliest possible time that the emer-G'!

gency core cooling systems could be improved as-I' N,..

opposed to a July 1,1974, limit?

~ '

In closirig, let-me state that the. doubts on the reliability

}

.(.

}

,of.the ECCS raised by these test failures should cause the AEC to postpone indefinitelys administrative procedures to modify the.

' ()

L license of Jer.sey Central Power and Light Company to operate the

_ Oyster Creek Nuclear Powe'r Plant Unit No. 1 at increased power l

levels, until full-scale tests can be' conducted.to demonstrate

. the effectiveness of safety features.

l l.-

Again, I wish;to. emphasize that your assistance in. answering. l i

these qu'estions will be greatly appreciated.

4

(

h i

i g,y p ~ e

>ns

.w.,4.

..r y r A

. : -3Zh:

64

{

I I..-'

. s.= - ---'

~.

4*H es m.,+. -

w

4., :.

, ' -MrL-J mes' R.. Schl$u-er f s.

.JJ....;

s.

t,d' september 9, 1971:

i 1

~Page Three' 1

1 a.

With best wishes, e

i

^,..,q,,'--

a Sin /^cerely,',

l

/

f,f,,f l

~

</

f/ h.?$!G.l,G1/

d.b 5 --.

)

Harrison A. Wil1[ams, Jr.

~

g(L

.,+

~

g W +' $

HAW:rdb'b a

e 0

0

+

ph-+$ '

t l

9

  • a 4

I r

{

t S

e' se j

e t

e.

-4 j

I o.4 e

N O

i N.,.

a I

,y L

t g

s g

4 i

~

.. [

1

,3 i

e W

0 1

0, e

dV% b

,r:.pemn 4,.

,,$l3 G_;W]p.;.,w p n.~

I 4;'.

2 a

e g

j 4

.m R

'$ MfN e,

%i