ML20137U295

Forwards Correspondence from Constituent RG Dobson Re 850801 Incident at Facility.Review & Rept Requested

ML20137U295
Person / Time
Site:	Limerick
Issue date:	10/29/1985
From:	Schulze D HOUSE OF REP.
To:	Kammerer C NRC OFFICE OF CONGRESSIONAL AFFAIRS (OCA)
Shared Package
ML20137U274	List: ML20137U269 ML20137U295
References
NUDOCS 8512090258
Download: ML20137U295 (3)

Text

RICHARD T. SCHUt.ZE WAYS AND MEANS Eru Dista d. Ps==syttama COMMITTEE 2

Congregg of tIJe lHuiteb fptates Douse of Representatides = Mastjington, BC 20515

" October 29, 1985 Mr. Carlton Kammerer Director, Office of Congressional Affairs Nuclear Regulatory Commission 1717 H Street, N.W.

Washington, D. C. 20555

Dear Mr. Kammerer:

Enclosed please find correspondence which I have received from my constituent, Mr. Robert G. Dobson, of Kimberton, Pennsylvania, concerning the " incident" at the Limerick plant last August 1st.

I would appreciate your reviewing the points raised and giving me a report of your findings on this matter.

Thank you for your prompt attention t his once n.

Sin rely DICK SCH ZE Member Congress enclosure RTS:mt

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PLEASE RESPOND TO.

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Wasmnoton. DC 20515 Paou. PA 19301 (202)226-6768 800-362-6652 (rott ense) 215-640 4558

4 Robert G. Dobson, Jr.

East Seven Stars Road Post Office Box 541 OCT 2 3 GB6 Kimberton, PA. 19442 October 14, 1985 OCI2 3 EUS

Dear Representaive Schulze,

Enclosed is a copy of an article which appeared in The Evening Phoenix" on October 4, 1985 in reference to the Limerick Nuclear Generating Station. I think there should be a full scale investigation, at the state and federal level, into why they had this leak of reactor coolant, and why the public was never told about it until two months later. The manner in which this happened does not reinforce Philadelphia Electric Company claims that they can safely operate the plant. I am outraged that PE does not consider public safety, only profits for stockholders.

I am disturbed that the plant is allowed to continue to operate, even though this conatminated coolant has not been completely cleaned up. I understand now (by way of another newspaper article) that the coolant which is in the reactor (which should be stabilized, extremely pure water),

has particles of metals floating in it. This would cause excessive radiation to be picked up in the cooling system and possibly transferred outside the plant and into the environment, not to mention more radioactive junk.

I do not believe the Nuclear Regulatory Commission cares about the public, only about promoting nuclear power.

If I were a regulator, and an organization I regulated attemted to cover up something, there would be a full scale investigation, finen, and possibly even revoking there lisconse for a period of time. In the nuclear power industry, there is blatant disregard for human and environmental safety, because no matter what happens, a liscensee never loses a liscense, and they rarely even get

,a fine.

~

- In closing, I would like to say that I am tired of

,- hearing how " safe" (I don't believe a word of it) nuclear power is. I think something should be done to control what is rapidly becoming an uncontrolled industry. I would appreciate hearing your veiws on this matter. Thank you very much for your time, and I will look forward to your reply.

. Sincerely, Robert G. Dobson, Jr.

34 b//

~PE sued over '"

Phoenixville, Po.-

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nuke accident at Limerick .

Radioabtive water leaked By MARIANNA HASSRICK Abraham said the water did not g at the threat ofloss of her job,even Staff Writer present a hazard since it contained IIIbIIO though she had an existing baek NORRISTOWN - An Elverson cnly 4 percent of the radiation D M c ndition and was physically woman has filed suit against permittad by the NRC. hFh unable to do this type of work. She Philadelphia Electric Co. (PE), "It was a rather inconsequential "I am very sensitive to this sort contends that she aggravated her alleging she wasinjured during the happening," Abraham said this of thing," he said, adding that the back condition when she had to cleanup of thousands of gallons of rnorning. "Our office sent an in- spilled reactor mter has been stretch out to remove a pulley radioactive water that leaked at spector to the plant on Aug. 6. His pumped back into the reae'or sespended at the end of a wooden the utility's Limerick nuclear report is beinst typed and will be cooling system. platform.

power plantlast month. included in the monthly report DOLAN LAWSUIT Dolan contends that the Negligence by the PE personel which should be ready shortly." According to court documents, equipment was heavie- than she resulted in permanent weakness to Abraham added that PE was not Dolan was part of a " rad-waste" could handle and this was well-the prt existing back ailment of required to submit a license event group at the time of the Aug. I known to her employrr and in-Miriam Dolan, an employee of report (LER) because the water accident, which required her to fit cluded in her medical records.

Bechtel Power Corp, the suit was confined to the plant. respiratory equipment to be used According to her suit, sle was not (Deaes. in entering contaminated areas; given any assistance by PE per-The suit, filed Wednesday in PERESPONSE She charges that when she sonnel, although they aad begun Montromery County Court, says PE spokesman Ron Harper sa.d i reported to work on Aug. 6, she the equipment removal to avoid a PE personnel were trying to this morning that the leak went periodically checked to see if " confrontation with NRC per-

" clean up the contaminated - unreported, except for a "cour- workers involved in the cleanup sonnel."

reactor Unit 2 as soon as possible tesy" call to the NRC, because it needed protective clothing. A PE Because of herinjur) . Dolan has since representatives of the did not present a danger to plant employee supervising the cleanup been unable to return t) work. She Nuclear Regulatory Commission employees or the environment directed Dolan to remove a is suling PE forin excess of $20,000 (NRC) were coming in." outside the plant. scaffold and pulley that had been in damages. Her husband, John,is According to NRC spokesman He said the water that leaked set up to remove the contaminated suing for in excess of 320,000 also Karl Abraham, the accident oc. had circulated through the Unit I water, claiming the loss of consortion of curred on Aug. I and was reactor, but was contaminated at The suit states that Dolan was his wife and medical expenses he -

discovered on Aug. 2. He srJd the low levels because the reactor had required to remove the scaffolding hasincurred on her behalf.

NRC office in King of Prussia was been operating at less than 5 '~ ~

informed on Aug. 2. A security percent of fullpower.

geard discovered about a half-inch "No public report of the Aug.1 of waterin the pit of the unfinished incident was required or Unit 2 building. By the following warranted since the water was day, the water had stabilized at confined to the plantand was only 4 about the18-inchievel percent of limits allowed by the A faulty threguarter-inch hand NRC," he said.

- valve had allowed between 10,000 Harper emphasized that the and 20,000 gallons of water con- incident had not been concealed taining lowlevels of radiation from delibere'df.

UnitI toleakinto the pit of Unit 2. (See LIMERICK, P2) 4