ML20135D846

Responds to to Lj Callan Re NRC Ltr Discussing Among Other Things San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station Unit 1 Spent Fuel Pool

ML20135D846
Person / Time
Site:	San Onofre
Issue date:	02/28/1997
From:	Weiss S NRC (Affiliation Not Assigned)
To:	Mills G AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED
References
NUDOCS 9703060026
Download: ML20135D846 (3)

Text

___________.-.______.___._._m _

', 5 0 4 0 lo 1 [_ #2"%,*, UNITED STATES g j 2

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 30866 4 001 4 February 28, 1997

%*****[

Mr. Glen R. Mills P.O. Box 3393 Mission Viejo, CA 92690 4

Dear Mr. Mills:

j I.am responding to your letter of October 25, 1996, to Mr. L. J. Callan,

j. Regional Administrator, NRC Region IV, regarding a July 29,.1996, letter from Mr. Callan to you that discussed, among other things, the San Onofre Nuclear I. Generating Station Unit 1 (SONGS 1) spent fuel pool. In your October 25 l

! - letter you question why the NRC has not issued certain regulatory requirements j related to degradation of structures in nuclear power plants.

You note that in the NRC letter of July 29, 1996, we stated, "NRC has not j issued regulatory requirements or guidance for periodically inspecting

incidents of degradation of-structures in nuclear power plants or to report

! incidents." The NRC has not explicitly identified the periodicity at which

! every component in every system or structure must be inspected; rather, NRC .

L. regulations (Section 50.65 of 10 CFR Part 50) require licensees to monitor the  !

,~ performance or condition of those structures, systems, or components in a '

manner suff!clent te give reasonable assurance that these structures, systems, i or components are capable of fulfilling their intended function. i

[ Additionally, Section 50.65 requires the licensee to take corrective action J

!. when the performance or condition of a component does not conform to j established goals.  !

E

. Your second concern was that the NRC has "not established requirements ,

evaluating and monitoring the effects of salt water on components." l

Consistent with the previous paragraph, the reason that.the NRC has not issued -!

l regulations that explicitly impose requirements for monitoring salt water

[ degradation of components is, as with.other environmental considerations, salc l

water may or may not be a factor at a given site. Again, for those plants at which salt' water may affect plant systems, structures, or components, NRC .

regulations require licensees to monitor the performance or condition of those '

structures, systems, or components (given the potential effects of salt water) in a manner sufficient.to give reasonable assurance that these structures, systems, or components are capable of fulfilling their intended function. To assure that licensees are monitoring the performance or condition of these ,

structures, systems, or components, the NRC conducts periodic inspections. '

If you believe that the current regulations do not adequately address your i concerns, you have the opportunity to petition the Commission to issue, amend, 1 or rescind any regulation. Your petition for rulemaking should be addressed '

to the Secretary, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, D.C. 20555, Attention:: Chief, Docketing and Service oranch. Guidance is provided in i Section 802 of Part 2 of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations,10 CFR 2.802. If you have questions regarding petitioning the Commission, you may i contact Mr. Michael Lesar of the Office of Administration at 301-415-7163. 1 9703060026 970224 MM g{ O PDR ADOCK 05000a06 i H- PDR i

Mr. Glen R. Mills February 28, 1997 The NRC will continue to critically evaluate NRC-licensed activities at the SONGS facility. However, I consider the issues that you have raised regarding  :

the potential impact of salt water on the SONGS, Unit 1, spent fuel pool to be '

4 closed and do not intend to take further actions on this matter unless you are l

. able to provide new information specific to the SONGS facility. '

Sincerely, l Original signed by-Seymour H. Weiss, Director Non-Power Reactors and Decommmisioning Project Directorate Division of Reactor Program Mamagement Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation 1 i

DISTRIBUTION:

Docket File 50-206 MMasnik OGC (015-B-18)

PUBLIC EHylton MWeber (T7-F27)

PDND r/f MWebb Region IV TMartin RDudley LThonus SWeiss PHarris MFairtile JLae WBateman (013-E16)

PDND:PM PDjj PDND:(A)SC PDIV-1:PD- D :D MWebb W ERy b n MMasnik MM WBateman SWeiss 1 /21/97 1/41/97 7,////97 7/g/97 7/)J/97 0FFICIAL RECORD COPY DOCUMENT NAME: G:\SECY\WEBB\ MILL 1025.EKW

D f

Mr. Glen R. Mills The NRC will continue to critically evaluate NRC-licensed activities at the SONGS facility. However, I consider the issues that you have raised regarding the potential impact of salt water on the SONGS, Unit 1, spent fuel pool to be closed and do not intend to take further actions on this matter unless you are able to provide new information specific to the SONGS facility.

Sincerely, Y J' <-d l Seymour H. Weiss, Director Non-Power Reactors and Decommmisioning Project Directorate Division of Reactor Program Mamagement Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation 4

i