ML20137A807
| ML20137A807 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 08/12/1985 |
| From: | Dircks W NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | Lujan M HOUSE OF REP. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20137A811 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8508210485 | |
| Download: ML20137A807 (5) | |
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The Honorable Manuel Lujan, Jr.
United States House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515
Dear Congressman Lujan:
Thank you for forwarding Mr. Charles Young's letters of August 22, 1984 and September 10, 1984 expressing his concerns over safety of nuclear power plants.
We share these same concerns, especially with respect to the operation of automatic safety sy. stems.
As you are aware, there are established Technical Specifications and operating procedures to ensure the availability of safety systems and equipment during plant operations.
There are, however, two occasions when it is necessary and appropriate to secure a safety system..The first occasion is when it is necessary to perform maintenance or testing of the system. The second occasion is when the safety system is no longer required for plant safety.
In this case, before the operators are allowed to shut down emergency equipment, they must verify that all critical safety functions are within specified parameters. Guidance to the operators in the area of
' safety system service and use has improved considerably since the accident at TMI-2.
We require all nuclear power plants to operate in accordance with their license Technical Specifications and established plant operating procedures.
The purpose of the rule change (10 CFR 50.54) was to address operator actions for those unanticipated events, not covered by plant procedures or Technical Specifications, where action by the operator is imediately required to protect public health and safety.
In this case the operator is permitted to take actions outside the plant's procedures, if in his judgment such action is necessary to put the plant in a safe condition.
Clearly, this is an extreme case involving an event not covered by existing procedures, where there is insufficient time to change the procedure or consult with utility management or the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and action is 2$
immediately required. An. operator taking action under this regulation would
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be required to imediately report such action tc NRC via the hot line to the g{l NRC's incident response center.
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Please let '
I hope this letter has adequately addressed Mr. Young's concerns.
me know if I can be of further help.
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The Honorable Manuel Lujan, Jr.
The United States House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515
Dear Con \\'ressman lujan:
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Thank you r forwarding Mr. Charles Young's letters of August.22, 1984 and September 1 1984 expressing his concerns over safety o.f/ nuclear power plants. We s are these same concerns, especially wit fespect to the operation of a tomatic safety systems.
As you are aware, there are established Technic Specifications and operating procedur s to ensure the availabili of safety systems and equipment during pl t operatiors.
There e, however, two occasions when it is necessary and ppropriate to secure safety system. The first occasion is when it i necessary to per rm maintenance or testing of the system. The second oc sion is when e safety system is no longer required for plant safety.
In t s case, bef re the operators are allowed to shut down emergency equipment, they mus verify that all critical safety functions are within specified param ters. Guidance to the operators in the area of safety systen service and u h s improved considerably since the accident at TMI-2.
We require _ all nuclear power nts to operate in accordance with their license Technical Specificati ns and established plant operating procedures.
The purpose of the rule char e (10 FR 50.54) was to address operator actions for those unanticipated eve ts, not overed by plant procedures or Technical Specifications, where actio by the o erator is imediately required to protect public health and afety.
In his case the operator is permitted to take actions outside the p ant's proced res, if in his judgment such action is necessary to put the p ant in a safe ondition. Clearly, this is an extreme case involving an event not cover d by existing procedures, where there is insufficient tin > to change the p ocedure or consult with utility management or the U.S. Nyclear Regulatory C.. mission (NRC) and action is immediately required. An operator taking ac ion under this regulation would be required to immediatgly report such action to NRC via the hot line to the NRC's incident response center.
I hope this letter has adequately addressed Mr. Yo g's concerns.
Please let me know if I can be of further help.
Sincerely, DDIR:NRR DIR:NRR ED0 OCA DEisenhut HDenton WDircks DW:LTR FOR UDALL: EAT 0N2 f,nk j 8/ /85 8/ /85 8/ /85 8/, /85 t,
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EDO PRINCIPAL CORRESPONDENCE CONTROL
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DUE: 00 /'?, / S I EDO CONTROL: 000856 DOC DT: 07/17/85 REP. MANUEL LUJAN, JR.
FINAL REPLY:
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TO:
CHAIRMAN PALLADINO FOR SIGNATURE OF:
GREEN SECY NO: 85-603 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DESC:
ROUTING:
ENCLOSES TWO LETTERS FROM CHARLES YOUNG EXPRESSING MINOGUE CONCERN OVER NRC RULES ALLOWING SENIOR REACTOR TAYLOR OPERATORS TO SHUT.DOWN REACTOR SAFETY SYSTEMS GCUNNINGHAM DATE: 07/23/85 ASSIGNED _T_0_:
NRR CONTACT: DENTON SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR REMARKS:
NRR RECEIVED: 07/24/85 ACTI0ft :
DHFS, W. RUSSELL ROUTING: DENTON/EISENHUT~
PPAS l
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CORRESPONDENCE CONTROL TICKET SECY NUMBER:
85-603 LOGGING DATE 7/22/85 0FFICE OF THE SECRETARY ACTION OFFICE:
EDO AUTHOR:
Manuel Lujan AFFILIATION:
U.S. House of Representatives LETTER DATE:
7/17/8G FILE CODE ADDRESSEE:
Palledino
SUBJECT:
Constituent, Charles Young, expresses concern over NRC rules allowing senior reactor operators to shut down reactor safety systems.
ACTION:
~ED0 for ED0's Signature.
Suspense:
7/31 DISTRIBUTION:
RF, OCA to Acknowledge.
SPECIAL HANDLING:
SIGNATURE DATE:
FOR THE COMMISSION TRC oate....]. ;A25-l[~ **
I" Time...: 2.
E D O ---- 000856
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