ML20151Z022

Informs That R Bassilakis & Gejdenson Share Same Concerns Re Recent Incidents at Connecticut Yankee Reactor in Haddam Neck,Ct & Hope That NRC Address Concerns Promptly

ML20151Z022
Person / Time
Site:	Haddam Neck File:Connecticut Yankee Atomic Power Co icon.png
Issue date:	07/10/1998
From:	Gejdenson S HOUSE OF REP.
To:	Shirley Ann Jackson, The Chairman NRC COMMISSION (OCM)
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ML20151Z009	List: ML20151Z006 ML20151Z022
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NUDOCS 9809210107
Download: ML20151Z022 (1)

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' ASHINGTON OFFICE SAM GEJDENSON 1401 LomowoarN stnoomo 20 DISTLICT e WAsnmo?oN. DC 20615 CONNECTICUT >

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1Basliington, B6 20515 July 10,1998 The Honorable Shirley Ann Jackson Chainnan, Nuclear Regulatory Commission RCC'D By Eg)ington,DC 20555

Dear Chainnan Jackson:

16 JJ. 98 9 : 18 I have been contacted by Rosemary Bassilakis, a constituent of mine, about recent incider.ts at the Connecticut Yankee reactor in Haddam Neck, Connecticut. I write today to let you know that I share Mrs.

Bassilakis' concerns and hope you will address them promptly.

Specifically, Mrs. Bassilakis notes that there is no longer a requirement that a licensed reactor operator be on-site at all times as shift manager. Is this true? If so, what qualified personnel remain on site to respond to l potential problems with oft-loaded fuel? Did the absence of a licensed operator on site contribute to valves being inadvertently opened on June 20 and radioactive waste being released into the environment?

in addition, is the NRC concerned about a string of recent proNems at the plant that may suggest lax operating procedures? I understand that Connecticut Yankee had a stand down on July 9th to ensure that all j employees are aware of the importance of safety regulations. Is the NRC convinced that there is,in fact, a safety  ;

concious work environment? l 1 recognize that Connecticut Yankee is in the process of being deconunissioned and is not operating, Nevertheless, the plant contains highly radioactive spent fuel which must be managed as if the plant was generating power. I am sure that you share my concern that decommissioning procedures proceed in the safest possible manner.

I have enclosed a copy of Mrs. Bassilakis' letter for your review. I hope that you can provide us with a prompt response, in light of the fact that activity at the Connecticut Yankee plant is moving rapidly.

l Thank you for your consideration of this critical matter. ,

cerely. l l

\

SAM ') ENSON

! Men' er of Congress

!- cc: Mrs. Rosemary Bassilakis 54 Old Turnpike Road Haddam, CT 06438 9809210107 980911 PDR COMMS MtCC CORRESPONDENCE PDR ,

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. i  ! M E- t . .a ,f ITIZEN~S AWARENESS ETWORK July 7,1998 Honorable Shirley Jackson, Chairwoman

• U.S.Nucicar Regulatory Commission Washington,DC 20555 Re: June 20*,1998 Inadvertent Radwaste Discharge from the Haddam Neck Reactor

. Dear Chairwoman Jackson.

On June 20*,1998 the lladdam Neck Nuclear Reactor operated by Connecticut Yankee Atomic Power Company (CYAPCo) had an inadvertont radweste tank dipcharge into the Connecticut River Daily Events Report, Event Number 34422 and MR Number 1 '

0034]. This diselia[rge went unreported to your agency by the licensee for light of these events which occurred less than 2 months aRer your agenep lified the Confirmatory Action Letter restricting radiological activitics, we request that your agency address, as quickly as reasonaNy possible, our questions and requests detailed below.

1) is it true that the NRC no longer requires that there be licensed reactor operators on

' staff at the Haddam Neck Reactor to serve as shift managers? If this is tme, how can CYAPCo meet their Quality Assurance requirements? These requirements assure that safety reviews are done by trained licent.ed operators beforo vv.rious system manipulations take place, including those which result in radiological and chemical releases into the environment. If an unplanned event does occur, it is also the licensed shift manager's responsibility to recognize that the event is reportablo and to make sure that NRC Headquarters is notified in a timely manner as is required by law. CYAPCo's shiil manager failed to mcct this basic requirement.

2) Why are there valvers at Haddam Neck which can be inadvertently manipulated causing unplanned, uncontrolled and unmonitomd mdiological and chemical releases into the environment? " Accidental" draining of radwaste tanks should simply not be possible.

3) Why, so soon after the June 20* event, have additional radiological releases from the Haddam Neck reactor been permitted prior to placing all discharge valves that serve as environmental barriors under lock and key, as is a gonorally accepted industry corrective action for inadvertent releases, g Q @ D\ 0 3#4b-

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Page2 Jackson ,

7/6/98 .

We believe that your agency's willingness to allow CYAPCo to proceed with radiological discharges with minimal correctivo action is dangerous and again calls i question the Region I stafTs ability to assure comp,liance with regulations and to pro adequate protection ofpUblic and worker health and safety. This is especially true gi-CYAPCo's lax radiological control history. We request that you dispatch a team of f inspectors, completely independent ofRegion 1, to investigate Region l's ability to regulate elTectively.

Given that chemical decontamination of the irradiated primary reactor cooling syster scheduled to take place next week (. Tune 14*), wo also request that your stafTimmedi intervene to postpone this event until such a time that the NRC can assure that CYAPCo's Quality Assurance requirements are being met and that none of the valve IIaddam Neck which wrve as environmental barriers, can he inadvertently manipular Primary system decontamination will result in a substantial redistribution of the radionuclide inventory at the site which poses a threat to. workers through' direct expc and to our community through batch releases into the environment.

Sincerely .,

Rosemary Bassilakis Research Director Cc:

NRC Commissioners Leonard J. Callan, Executive Director of Operations Hubert Bell, inspector Ocneral .

Senator Joseph Lieberman Senator Christopher Dodd SenatorJoseph Bido'n Representative Sam Gejdenson l Donald W. Downes Chairman CT DPUC )

Richard Blumenthal,CT Attorney General '

l Paul Choiniere, Reporter for the New London Day

' Sue Kinsmen, Reporter for the Hartford Courant Eric Hesselberg, Reporter for the Middletown Press j I

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