ML20149M145

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Forwards Article from Wiscasset Maine Paper on 961121 Re Review of Maine Yankee
ML20149M145
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Site: Maine Yankee
Issue date: 11/30/1996
From: Blanch P
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NUDOCS 9612120346
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Text

--

From:

PAUL BLANCH <PMBLANCH91x.netcom.com>

To:

WN02.WNP3(jaz,jnh),TWDI.TWP4(gam,wjs),ARDI.ARPI(dr...

Date:

11/30/96 4:43am

Subject:

Quote of the Day The following appeared in the Wiscasset Maine paper on November 21, -

1996. Maybe some utility would like to give this guy a job as a - public relations executive.

l Nuclear Regulatory Comission Turns On Itself By RICH SHEW According to transcripts of an Oct.18 meeting between Nuclear -

l Regulatory Comissioners and the leaders of the Independent Safety -

Assessment Team which conducted a review of Maine Yankee this sumer, - the NRC's Director Shirley Ann Jackson has developed concern over her - agency-B9s effectiveness in overseeing Maine Yankee. The meeting, - held in Rockville, Md. roughly a week after the NRC released the ISAT - review revealed a clear difference in comfort level between the team - members and the current NRC comissioners.

"You say quality of maintenance is a strength," Jackson said to one - of the team leaders, Ellis Merschoff, "but you have inconsistent - equipment reliability, including a system that you say is very safety - significant.

That's an oxymoron.

Comissioner Kenneth Rogers went even further, by wondering-aloud - how the team could be certain the plant's maintenance is good if = their testing is poor.

Comissioner Edward McGaffigan likened the team's assessment of the - plant as acceptable to grade inflation.

"The acceptable is darn close to unacceptable, and we don't have an -

unacceptable category," said 'McGaffigan.

Of the five commissioners attending the meeting, however, only Rogers - had previously served a full five-year term as a commissioner.

McGaffigan, Nils Diaz,and Greta Joy Dicus are commissioners. Jackson = was appointed last year, and STATE NUCLEAR SAFETY ADVISOR ULDIS -

VANAGS SAID TUESDAY COMMISSIONERS MAY HAVE SP0 KEN OUT OF INEXPERIENCE.

"I SENSED FROM THE NEW COMMISSIONERS THAT THERE WAS A LACK 0F -

UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THE SYSTEM WORKED," SAID VANAGS.

Paul M. Blanch Energy Consultant 135 Hyde Rd.

West Hartford CT 06117 Tel: 860-236-0326 Fax: 860-232-9350 l

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9612120346 961210 PDR ORG NRRA PDR

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