ML20135E036

Responds to Requesting That USNRC Require Myaps to Resolve Problems Already Identified by Independent SA Insp & to Inspect,Evaluate, & Upgrade All Plant Sys Prior to Restarting Myaps

ML20135E036
Person / Time
Site:	Maine Yankee
Issue date:	02/28/1997
From:	Zwolinski J NRC (Affiliation Not Assigned)
To:	Herz M AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED
Shared Package
ML20135E037	List: ML20135E036 ML20135E038
References
NUDOCS 9703060218
Download: ML20135E036 (5)

Text

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February 28, 1997 Q O@

. Dr. Michael Herz Head Tide Alna, ME 04535

Dear Dr. Herz:

I am responding to your letter to Chairman Jackson dated February 18, 1997, in which you requested that the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) require Maine Yankee Atomic Power Company (MYAPCo) to resolve the problems already identified by the Independent Safety Assessment (ISA) inspection and to carefully inspect, evaluate, and upgrade all plant systems prior to restarting Maine Yankee.

On February 4, 1997, during the Commission meeting with MYAPCo and the NRC staff, Chairman Jackson asked Mr. G. Leitch, Vice President - Operations at Maine Yankee, about the adequacy of structures, systems, and components that were not inspected as part of the ISA. The response, in essence, was that MYAPCo has committed to basically do a design basis reconstitution of safety-related systems not already covered by such a review. This commitment was submitted in writing to the NRC on February 7, 1997, in response to the October 9, 1996, request to all licensees of operating reactors for information pursuant to 10 CFR 50.54(f) regarding adequacy and availability of design bases information. The completion of the licensee's review of safety systems is expected by the last quarter of 1998.

While it is early to evaluate the effectiveness of either the licensee's planned corrective actions or the design basis reconstitution, the NRC will continue to closely monitor the licensee's progress. The NRC will not allow restart until satisfied that the licensee's actions provide reascnable assurance that the plant will be operated in a manner that will pose no undue risk to public health and safety.

Sincerely, Original signed by:

John A. Zwolinski, Deputy Director Division of Reactor Projects - I/II Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation -

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l Dr. Michael Herz Head Tide Alna, ME 04535

Dear Dr. Herz:

l l I am responding to your letter to Chairman Jackson dated February 18, 1997, in l which you requested that the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) require Maine Yankee Atomic Power Company (MYAPCo) to resolve the problems already l identified by the Independent Safety Assessment (ISA) inspection and to

!~ carefully inspect, evaluate, and upgrade all plant systems prior to restarting 1 l

Maine Yankee.

On February 4, 1997, during the Commission meeting with MYAPCo and the NRC

! staff, Chairman Jackson asked Mr. G. Leitch, Vice President - Operations.at

! Maine Yankee, about the adequacy of structures, systems, and components that l were not inspected as part of the ISA. The response, in essence, was that ,

! MYAPCo has committed to basically do a design basis reconstitution of safety- l t

related systems not already covered by such a review. This commitment was submitted in writing to the NRC on February 7, 1997, in response to the October 9, 1996, request to all licensees of operating redctors for

!- information pursuant to 10 CFR 50.54(f) regarding adequacy and availability of ,

design bases information. The completion of the licensee's review of safety i systems is expected by the last quarter of 1998.

While it is early to evaluate the effectiveness of either the licensee's planned corrective actions or the design basis reconstitution, the NRC will continue to closely monitor the licensee's progress. The NRC will not allow restart until satisfied that the licensee's actions provide reasonable assurance that the plant will be operated in a manner that will pose no undue risk to public health and safety.

If you have any additional questions regarding safe operation of Maine Yankee, please contact me at 301-415-1453.

Sincerely, (-

(

! John . Zwolinski, Deputy Director Divis n of Reactor Projects - I/II Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation o

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DISTRIBUTION: for letter to M. Herz dated February 28, 1997 ,

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$FROMi ' DUE: 03/05/97 EDO CONTROL: G970112 '

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' .. .. . FINAL REPLY:-

'Michool'Herz

' :Alna, Maine if TOs i

Chairman' Jackson

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' Collins SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR': REMARKS:

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'l PAPER NUMBER: CRC-97-0154 LOGGING DATE: Feb 19 97 ACTION OFFICE: EDO- ,

AUTHOR: MICHAEL HERZ  ;

AFFILIATION: MAINE ADDRESSEE: CHAIRMAN JACKSON-1 LETTER DATE: Feb.-18 97 FILE CODE: IDR-5 MAINE YANKEE  !

SUBJECT:

MAINE YANKEE ACTION: ' Direct Reply DISTRIBUTION: CHAIRMAN, COMRS, SECY SPECIAL HANDLING: NONE CONSTITUENT:

NOTES: j DATE DUE:.

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SIGNATURE: . DATE SIGNED: i AFFILIATION:

EDO -- G970112

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