ML20126G098
| ML20126G098 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Pilgrim |
| Issue date: | 12/03/1992 |
| From: | Lambert M DUXBURY, MA |
| To: | Chilk NRC OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY (SECY) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20126F796 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9301040061 | |
| Download: ML20126G098 (3) | |
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L Duxbury Nuclear Advisory Committee 148 Washington Street Duxbury, Massachusetts 02332 December 3, 1992 Rot Request For NRC Public Heeting To Up Date Community On Status Condensate Pot (Water Measuring Device)
At Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station Dear Secretary Chilk!
The Duxbury Nuclear Advisory Committee requests the NRC come to Plymouth to up-dato us on the status of the condensate pot. We furthur request the meeting be scheduled quickly.
Many meetings, theories and discussions have transpired since August (1992) between the NRC, Boston Edison and the Boiling Water Operators Group on this subject.
We would like to hear about these theories-what they are and-an evaluation of their strengths and weaknesses.
Furthur, we would like to be appraised of future actions planned and time tables.
Unfortunately, we as citizens are left-to rely largely on newspaper articles for our information as we can not readily travel to Washington. This is not satisfactory.
We understand that the Condensate Pot in the main instrument to measure the water level in the reactor core.
According to Paul Blanche, an engineer from Northeast Utilities, its design is faulty.
This has been confirmed by the NRC in, for example, their recent Inspection Roport No. 50-293/92-17.
The device will give erroneously high readings during an accident (or during any rapid depressurization), showing that the reactor core is covered with water when in fact it could
' be dangerously exposed, and thus lead to a serious melt down.
At Pilgrim, there is a history of faulty readings with this instrument.
t The Plymouth Board of Selectmen invited the NRC, as you know, to a meeting in Plymouth on August 29, 1992 to answer.
questions concerning the condensato pot.-The NRC_was asked at that time to bring to the meeting experts from their Research Division so matters of technical substance could be addressed at the meeting. 'Also, Paul Blanche and representatives from Boston Edison attended. The public was free to ask questions.
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9301040061 921222 PDR ADOCK 05000293 P
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We request any up-coming meeting follow the same format; and i
Mr. Thadani, along with other NRC " experts" and individuals of responsibility, be present.
Some of our concerns, and reasons for wanting a public meeting in the very near future, are as follows:
After the August meeting, The Duxbury Nuclear Advisory Committee submitted a list of written questions to the NRC (Docket No.
50-293).
Please make note of question 17, p.7.
Q.
"Would NRC regulations require Pilgrim station to shut down if the reactor water level instrumentation was completely inoperable?"
A.
"Yes...
would require a reactor shutdown if the reactor vessel water level instrumentation were inoperable."
One issue, then, is the definition of " inoperable". A Patriot Ledger article recently quoted Paul Blanche as saying,
"...we should declare those instruments inoperable."
In that same Patriot Ledger article, Ashok Thadani, Director of Systems Safety Analysis at the NRC was quoted as saying, "It's still an important enough issue that they'll (BECO) have to make improvements.
We really want instruments to be: reliable."
Ivan Selin, the Chairman of the NRC, was quoted as being,
" fuzzy on the issue"--so are we.
We have also been told by BECO and the NRC to, Relax, Be Happy" because the operators have undergone special training to learn how to interpret inaccurate readings and what actions to take when vessel level cannot-be accurately determined. However, in the-NRC Inspection Report No. S0-293/92-17 (Oct 7,1992),
done area identified for improvement related to the operators capabilities for using the Safety parameter Display System (SPDS) computer.
Some operators were D91 familiar with the comouter systems response to reactor Water lgyg1 instrument failures. The-inspector recognized that part of the problem could be that the SPDS computer is not functional in the plant specific simulator."
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The " toy" is schedulod to be fixed next year.
To a layman, it would coom ronsonable to focus efforts on fixing the problom--the condensato pot.
A few wooks ago, tho Boiling Wator Reactor ownero Group mot with the NRC and hoard from Boston Edison.
At that mooting, Pilgrim claimod to have found the solution to the falso readings. According to the Patriot Lodgor,
" Hoston Edison said it found tiny leaks in Pilgrim's.
water-lovel instrumentation that apparently allow gas to enter tho-gaugo.
They hope that fixing tho'loaks will y
put an ond to falso readings".
Although, the public must roly on newspaper articles, it J
appears there are contrary opinions-the jury is still out on i
the issuo. My understanding is that neither Ashok_Thadani of the NRC nor Paul Blancho of Northeast utilition fool it will "fix" the problom. Data has boon presented to the NRC and it is again timo for the public to moot with the NRC for_a progross report.
J Wo look forward to your prompt responsot'and, to an up-coming mooting so we can fool assured the NRC has embarked on a path regarding this important device that is truly protectivo of public health and safety.
Sincoroly, OTCUvL Q k ~ ll R A, )
Mary E112aboth Lamport Chair, Duxbury Nuclear 1 Advisory Committoo cc Vico President ~ Elect Al Goro Sonator Edward Kennedy Senator John Kerry Hoprosentativo Gerry Studds
.Roprosentative Joseph Kennedy Governor William Wold SonatorsElect Brian Mcdonald Senator Elect-Thorosa Murray-Selectmen, Towns-of Duxbury,-Kingston, Plymouth i
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