ML20128F376

Responds to 921231 Postcard Suggesting That Something Definitive Be Done,Such as Shutting Down All Nuclear Power Reactors,Because of Recent Instances of ECCS Blockage,Per Info Notice 92-085

ML20128F376
Person / Time
Site:	Limerick
Issue date:	02/04/1993
From:	Grimes B Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:	Lewis M LEWIS, M.
References
2.206, IEIN-92-085, IEIN-92-85, NUDOCS 9302110370
Download: ML20128F376 (2)

Text

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7 February 4, 1993 .

Mr. Marvin Lewis 7801 Roosevelt Blvd. (#62)

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19152

Dear Mr. Lewis:

I am responding to the postcard of December 31, 1992, in which you suggested that "something definitive" be done, such as shutting down all U.S. nuclear power reactors, because of recent instances of emergency core cooling system (ECCS) blockage, as described in NRC Information Notice 92-85, " Potential failures of Emergency Core Cooling Systems Caused by Foreign Material Blockage," and undefined past instances of ECCS blockage. You further requested that this suggestion be treated as a Petition pursuant to Section 2.206 of Title 10 of the [g.dg M Federal Reaulations (10 CFR 2.206).

As grounds for your request, you stated that " foreign material has been blocking ECCS's for decades." However, you did not cite any instances of ECCS blockage other than those noted in the information notice. You merely declared that because you recall past blockage events, it is now time to shut down all U.S. nucicar power reactors. You submitted no factual basis to support your contention that shutting down all U.S. nuclear power reactors is an appropriate course of action. The applicable regulation (10 CFR 2.206).

requires that the Petition " set forth.the facts that constitute the basis for the request." Philadelphlt Electric A (Limerick Generating Station, Units 1 and 2), DD 85-11, 22 NRC 149, 154 (1985).

Accordingly, it is not appropriate to consider your Petition pursuant to 10 CFR 2.206, and no further action will be taken on your request under 10 CFR 2.206. The NRC, however, cos iders the potential blockage of engineered safety feature systems to be a matter of significant concern and '

brought this concern to the attention of all U.S. nuclear power plant licensees by issuing the information notice. By this mechanism, the NRC has reemphasized the importance of exercising vigilance to avoid the presence of foreign material in fluid systems performing safety related functions.

Sincerely, R m smn d by s

Odsil K. CdWS Brian K. Grimes, Director Division of Operating Reactor Support

- Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation T. Murley, NRR B. Grimes, DORS, NRR R. C. Jones, NRR F, Miraglia, NRR J. Shapaker, D0RS, NRR OCA J. Partlow, NRR 1Centralc Filesi OPA J. Goldberg, 0GC NRC and LPDR S. Lewis, OGC DORS R/F DOCUM.ENT NAME: LEWISLTR.206 -

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Mr. Marvin Lewis 7801 Roosevelt Blvd. (#62)

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19152

SUBJECT:

PETITION PURSUANT 10 10 CFR 2.206 FOR SHUTTING DOWN NUCLEAR POWER REACTORS PROMPTED BY NRC INFORMATION NOTICE 92-85, " POTENTIAL FAILURES OF EMERGENCY CORE COOLING SYSTEMS CAUSED BY FOREIGN

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-This-isJnj-re@sponieltb7fic) e postcard,Jaled December 31,1992,-thatI you sent-ttr- '

'me suggest/ing' that "something definitive" be done, such as shutting down all U.S. nuclear power reactors, because of recent instances of emergency core cooling system (ECCS) blockage, as described in NRC Information Notice 92-85, and undefined past instances of ECCS blockage.

this suggestion be treated as a Petit on pur YoufurtherrequgstettAat_

tog 0CFR2.20%.jkgg, II As grounds for your request, you state)that " foreign material has beeg JF g J 1ocking ECCS's for decades." However, you'.haveJai-led-td cite -thel/ instances O oflemergencynorewool-ing-system 3 blockage that would sup) ort an argumentttitahf) a major safety concerns ex kt v You merely declaref,that )ecause you recal i

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reactors. You submitted no factual basis to support your contention that shutting down all U.S. nuclear power reactors is an appropriate course of Dr/lg ua ;

action. 1he applicable regulation (10 CFR 2.206) requires that the l d ition1 gt;m g g m

• set forth the facts tisat constitute the basis for the request." /Philadelpd) (tuM $r tei)g fitdris (q (Limerick Generating Station, Units 1 and 2), DD 85-11 22 NRC 149, 154 (1985).

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Accordingly, it is not appropriate to consider your Petition pursuant to 10 CFR 2.206, and no further action will be taken on your request under hogas2 10 CFR 2.206. Nevertheless, the above determination does not reduce our concern or attention.with-respect-td the issue of cooling system blockage.

Sincerely, Brian K. Grimes, Director Division of Operating Reactor Support Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Distribution:

T. Hurley, NRR B. Grimes, DORS, NRR F. Miraglia, NRR J. Shapaker, DORS, NRR J. Partlow, NRR Central Files J. Goldberg, OGC NRC and LPDR S. Lewis, OGC DORS R/F OPA OCA l DOCUMENT NAME: LEWISLTR.206

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