ML20138E457

Responds to 850911 Request Re Constituent GL Rausch Ltr on Safety of Plant During Hurricane.Design of Plant Protects Against Winds Up to 140 Mph & Associated Tides & Waves

ML20138E457
Person / Time
Site:	Crystal River
Issue date:	10/18/1985
From:	Dircks W NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO)
To:	Chiles L SENATE
Shared Package
ML20138E462	List: ML20138E457 ML20138E475
References
NUDOCS 8510250027
Download: ML20138E457 (7)

Text

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OCT 181985 The Honorable Lawton Chiles United States Senator Federal Building Lakeland, Florida 33801

Dear Senator Chiles:

This is in reply to your letter of September 11, 1985 requesting a response to the letter of Genevieve L. Rausch concerning the safety of the Crystal River Unit 3_(CR-3) nuclear plant during a hurricane.

Since the Crystal River plant site is in an area of frequent hurricane exposure, the plant has been designed to provide protection against hurricanes with winds of up to 149 mph and associated tides and wave action.

These winds are well in excess of what was seen during hurricane Elena.

The plant is protected by raised ground 10 feet above mean low water level (MLW) and an embankment 30 feet above MLW. When a hurricane storm surge of 10 feet is reached, the plant is required to initiate shutdown and close all watertight doors. No flooding at the plant is expected unless the storm surge were to overtop the embankment. This would not result in an unsafe condition because specially designed concrete barriers, raised vents, and watertight doors would protect critical areas of the plant up to an elevation of about 41 feet against flooding and wave action.

Ms. Rausch mentions in her letter her belief that the plant was shutdown until October. In fact, the plant had been shutdown from March through August for refueling and various modifications, and was operating at

. 41% power during the Elena threat. Hurricane Elena remained approximately 60 miles off the coast for nearly two days before taking a course away from the plant. Neither sustained hurricane force winds nor significant storm water surge occurred. However, as a precaution the watertight flood control doors were closed and the plant staff was increased upon notification by the National Weather Service of the hurricane warning.

I hope the above discussion adequately addresses the concerns raised by Ms. Rausch on this issue.

Sincerely, (Slaned) T. A, Rehm W

William J. Dircks 0

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The Honorable Lawton Chiles Federal Building Lakeland, Florida 33801

Dear Senator Chiles:

This is in reply to your letter of September 11, 1985 requesting a response to the letter of Genevieve L. Rausch concerning tne safety of the Crystal River Unit 3 (CR-3) nuclear plant during a hurricane.

Since the Crystal River plant site is in an area.of frequent hurricane exposure, the plant h_as been designed to provi protection against hurricanes with winds' f up to 149 mph and ase ciated tides and wave action.

These winds are well in xcess of what was s en during hurricane Elena.

The plant is protected by r ' sed ground 1 feet above mean low water level (MLW) and an embankment 30 fe above M . When a hurricane storm surge of 10 feet is reached, the plant i requi ed to initiate shutdcwn and close all watertight doors. No flooding a th plant is expected unless the storm

. surge were to overtop the embankme . This would not result in an unsafe condition because specially desig concrete barriers, raised vents, and watertight doors would protect c tic areas of the plant up to an elevation of about 41 feet against floodi g and w e action. ,

Ms. Rausch mentions in her le ter her beli that the plant was shutdown until October. In fact, th plant had been hutdown from March through August for refueling and v ious modification and was opercting at 41% power during the Elan threat. Hurricane ena remained approximately 60 miles off the coast f nearly two days befor taking a course away from the plant. Neither sus ined hurricane force win nor significant starm water surge occurred, owever, as a precaution the atertight flood control doors were closed and the plant staff was increased u on notification by the National Weather Ser ice of the hurricane warning.

I hope the above d scussion adequately addresses the conc rns raised by Ms. Rausch en this issue.

Sincerely, William J. Dircks .

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g. e The Honorable Lawton Chiles United States Senator Federal Building Lakeland, Florida 33801 i

Dear Senator Chiles:

This is in reply to your letter of September 11, 1985 requesting a response to the letter of Genevieve L. Rausch concerning the safety of the Crystal River Unit 3 (CR-3) nuclear plant during a hurricane.

Since the Crystal River plant site is in an area of frequent hurricane exposure, the plant has been designed to provide protection against hurricanes with winds of up to 149 mph and associated tides and wave act'on.

, These winds are well in excess of what was seen during hurricane Elena.

4 The plant is protected by raised ground 10 feet above mean low water level (MLW) and an embankment 30 feet above MLW. When a hurricane storm surge of 10 feet is reached, the plant is required to initiate shutdown and close all watertight doors. No flooding at the plant is expected unless the storm surge were to overtop the embankment. This would not result in an unsafe condition because specially designed concreta barriers, raised vents, and watertight doors would protect critical areas of the plant up to an elevation of about 41 feet against flooding and wave action.

Ms. Rausch mentions in her letter her belief that the plant was shutdown until October. In fact, the plant had been shutdown from March through

• August for refueling and various modifications, and was operating at 41% power during the Elena threat. Hurricane Elena remained approximately 60 miles off the coast for nearly two days before taking a course away from

the plant. Neither sustained hurricane force winds nor significant stonr.

water surge occurred. However, as a precaution the watertight flood control

doors were closed and the plant staff was increased upon notification by the National Weather Service of the hurricane warning.

I hope the above discussion adequately addresses'the concerns raised by l Ms. Rausch on this issue. -

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Sincerely, l (Sisced) T. A Rehm W

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FROM: DUE: +o v , .' 1 EDO CONTROL: 001013 DOC DT: 09/11/85 SEN.~LAWTON CHILES  ! FINAL REPLY:

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KAMMERER-FOR SIGNATURE OF

** GREEN ** SECY NO: 85-808 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DESC: ROUTING:

f' ENCLOSES LETTER FROM GENEVIEVE L. RAUSCH RE TAYLOR i SAFETY OF NUCLEAR PLANTS DURING HURRICANES GRACE I

DATE: 09/23/85 ASSIGNED TO: NRR CONTACT: DENTON SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR REMARKS:

RETURN INCOMING WITH REPLY TO LAKELAND, FLORIDA OFFICE.

-NRRRECElyED;,,,09/24/85 FACTION:bl u n ot.6TieMPSON f

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SECY NUMBER: 85-808 LOGGING DATE 9/20/85 ACTION OFFICE: EDO AUTHOR: Sen Lawton Chiles--Const Ref AFFILIATION: -Genevieve Rausch LETTER DATE: 9/11/85 FILE' CODE ADDRESSEE: OCA

SUBJECT:

Ques plant safety during an earthquake--Crystal River power, plants ACTION: Direct Reply.... Suspense: Oct 1 DISTRIBUTION: OCA to Ack SPECIAL HANDLING: None SIGNATURE DATE: FOR THE COP 94ISSION Champ Reed cit. gn Date.,,,

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