ML20136C365

Requests NRC Ensure That Senate Is Regularly Briefed on New Developments & Provided Info Re Extent of Reviews, Frequency of Insps & Insp Practices

ML20136C365
Person / Time
Site:	Marble Hill
Issue date:	08/03/1979
From:	William Ford, Simpson A, Stafford R SENATE, ENVIRONMENT & PUBLIC WORKS
To:	Hendrie J NRC COMMISSION (OCM)
References
NUDOCS 7909200138
Download: ML20136C365 (3)

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COMMtTTEE ON ENVIRONMENT AND PueUC WORMS m"MND[E"-

WAeMINGTON. Q.C. 20510 8

9 August 3, 1979 21Pz.

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T Mr. Joseph M. Hendrie 9;

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Chairman U.S. Nuclear Regulatory

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Washington, D.C. 20555

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Dear Mr. Chairman:

Recent disclosures of construction deficiencies in safety-related structures and systems at the Marble Hill Nuclear power plant in Indiana raise serious questions aboutWe are also conc the safe construction of the facility.

that the problems encountered at Marble Hill may raise major issues regarding nuclear power plant construction generally.

We, therefore, wish to be kept fully and currently informed of the facts surrounding construction at Marble Hill so that the Subcommittee on Nuclear Regulation of the Committee on Environment and Public Works can conduct a thorough review of the matter.

In addition to the Commission ensuring that our staff is regularly briefed by the Commission staff on new developments, particularly before any regulatory action is taken by thewe re Commiss, ion, information:

to which the Commission reviewed the

1. The exten't quality-assurance / quality-control organizational procedures of the licensee at the pre-docketing stage and at the construction-permit stage, and the Commission's assessment of these procedures at the time the construction permit was issued.

2. The extent to which the Commission reviewed, prior the to issuance of the construction permit, capabilities of the utility to manage the construction and the findings of that review.

of the plant,

3. The Commission's present assessment of the utility's construction-management capabilities.

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The apparent reasons for the breakdown in the quality-assurance / quality-control procedures at the site.

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Any affidavits in the possession of the Commission from Marble Hill constructi'on workers relating to information about construction problems.

16.

The hiring practices of Marble Hill construction contractors and the extent to which workers experienced in nuclear facility construction were sought out and utilized by the contractors.

17.

The inspection practices used by the contractor and the utility and the extent to which the NRC trains non-Commission inspectors and approves inspection methods used by them.

We ask that your response to this request for information be forwarded to us within two weeks of the date of this letter.

Truly, e

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Robert T. Stafford I

nnings PAndol'ph Ranki finority Member hairman

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. Simpson Gary H t

Ranking Minority Member Chai an, bcommittee on Subcommittee on Nuclear Nuclear R ulation Regulation A*A J grh Wendell H. Ford Irch ayh l

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>n I I.. the Pid.3, table 1365 ctates the design requinnent:

c: e.115-n: Orsex will call for it to sustain winc.-spe w of 2.

nph tungental and c0=ph translationa'..

This a;;pe.rs t:

..for to the design busia tornado cht.racteristics f. T:egion

~ ume the URO Eegulatory Guide 1.76.

However, Hef-i;n II co :'e:s cete West coast and arizona.' For Region I, which cove.--s

.exas, O' e design basis for tornudos ~ :. for :.:axinu.. ein.:. ;;m.

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cf 36.' nph, rotational speeds cf 29C nph, am o naxi...:n

.insi :ional speed of 70 nph.

ellens Creek has been cavir.71--

design [ below the required design basis for tornsics.

J I balleve nis apparent. nistake is unfortunate, cince numeros authorities state. Texas hr.s c. ore torn: cos t... :. : ny state er the L~nion.

Dudley lynch quoted figures that shor.el Texas h.cl the nost tornt os fron 1916 to 1968 (Torntwo: Te:. 3 4

7eten in the Wind.Texian Prest, 1970, ~.iaco Tents, P. MO.)

~..rter. fu*ty asserts Texas hti, the highest 1.rnus1 u ter:.ge of torr. Jtos (109) fron 1953 ts 1963 (ioul ?s.n-ions r.satre. d

Ocut Scoms, Dodd, Ee.ai, dc Cor.pany,1970, New York, }. 79.-)

,.s I n :ed in ry contentions, scent.4.os we:e sighte: 1.

the Ecuston Gsive::t:n crea recently.

7909200 O 53 T2.is is disturhing when you loc /. t.: the.i..yout :>f ellena Orsek an. note the ci:c.: cull f or tr dectric.1 :r:.. f ern- '. a i

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1 ection. Ccnceivably a tornado to s built naked and with no pri e

couli co.+ in hnd wipe cut all tin transformers, thuc' :.ffecting i inportant safety equipnent.

Also the denages at Gulf State Nuclear Project in itississipi i

es11 into r,he ques; ion the ubi.lity of non--reactor bundL.gs :c.

I can tnink of a scenario in which n ternado resist preforation.-

sets down necr the plant, curves around it rippir4 up all trans 1

f rc.ars, 20.i seniing nissiles. ortecring into the contr:

.nd diesel generator b"" ding, wiping out all pcwer cr...ing Based en the. Gulf.itate sc.:. es. to operate safety equipnent.

exgrience, a tornado or tornano generated missiles cold preforate :.he rt.nuanta building, and cllow dangercus w.cten Als: if to be sucked up and strewn abouT. tha countryside.

a tornade preforstes and damages the turbine building, a.i delstroys the turbines, a financial burden :.ight ba plc.t ad c.'.

t.tc applicant becuase of this andHIld might be rcr:ei '.n:o

2.A.uptcy.,

Therifore, I contend to ccunter tnis, all of the pit.nt be placei underground or cov2 red with a c.irt nound.

Contention II I contena u".less.sCNGS is buried hs suggested in Contention I, it should have a backup systen for the ECCS opert_ted tf air pressure, hydrcli: net.:ns, or machanically.

An.'m.rican Citi2.er.,

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