ML20154A512
| ML20154A512 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Calvert Cliffs  |
| Issue date: | 09/22/1998 |
| From: | Callan L NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | Sarbanes P SENATE |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20154A162 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9810020333 | |
| Download: ML20154A512 (3) | |
Text
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Sept ember 22, 1998 S:nitor Paul S. Serbin:s United States S: nite 3gg "g Washington, DC 20510 2002
Dear Senator Sarbanes:
I am responding to your letter of August 12,1998, to Dennis K. Rathbun of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) concerning a letter to you from Dr. T. S. Margulies. In your August 12 letter, you requested that we review Dr. Margulies' concerns and provide you with an appropriate response.
The NRC has an extensive inspection and licensing program to ensure that Calvert Cliffs is operating safely. In addition, we have inspectors in residence at every operating nuclear power plant who routinely inspect to de'. ermine whether or not operations are being conducted in accordance with the provisions of the plant's license. We believe this process provides reasonable assurance that the plant will continue to operate in a manner that will pose no undue risk to public health and safety in accordance with the Commission's regulatic,ns. In addition, the Commission evaluat3s issues that affect all plants or a group of plants on a generic basis, if the Commission finds that certain generic issues are applicable to Calvert Cliffs, the NRC will take appropriate action.
It may be helpful for you to be aware that Dr. Margulies is a former employee of the NRC and that the issues he raises in his letter to you were of great interest several years ago when he was employed here. The issues, Event V and Station Black-out, are severe accident sequences that have been studied by the NRC. NRC action on Event V has been completed.
The NRC has also taken action on Station Black-out; however, the need for additional action is still under consideration. This issue may affect multiple facilities. After a generic resolution for this issue is identified, it will be implemented for all affected plants. It is premature to determine whether or not resolution of this generic issue has any special relevance to the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant. The cost / benefit analyses Dr. Margulies offers are somewhat similar to analyses performed by the NRC staff. To the extent that it adds to our knowledge, Dr.
Margulies' analyses will be taken into account in the regulatory process. It should be noted that Dr. Margulies has written to the NRC regarding issues such as these on two different occasions. The NRC responded to Dr. Margulies by letters dated August 18 and 28,1998.
Thank you for giving us the opportunity to address this issue.
Sincerely, Original signed by LJCallan I
i f '< n I 9810020333 980922 L. Joseph Callan PDR ADOCK 05000317 Executive Director H
PDR for Operations
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Enclosures:
As stated gg au CEMIS COM DISTRIBUTION:
d3 i
See attached list p'.
i DOCUMENT NAME: G:\\CC1-2\\SARBANES.GT
- See Previous Concurrence To rIceive a copy of this document, indicate in the box: 'C" = Copy without attachment / enclosure "E" = Copy with attachment / enclosure
'N' = No copy 0FFICE PM:PDI-1 lE LA:PDI-1 l
NRR;DRPM:PERB*
l D:PDI-1 l
TECH ED*
l NAME ADromerick/rsi Slittle CM111er SBajwa BCalure pTE 09/ /98 09/ /98 09/04/98 09/ /98 09/08/98 0FFICE D:DRPE(A)*
l ADPR:NRR(A)*
l D:NRR*
l EDW l
OCM fi l
NAME JZwolinski BBoger SCollins T
DATE 09/08/98 09/09/98 09/14/98 09fv}98 09/ < /98
- ial Record Copy
O cta ng g
i UNITED STATES j
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 308664001 o
September 22, 1998 Senator Paul S. Sarbanes United States Senate Washington, DC 20510-2002
Dear Senator Sarbanes:
I am responding to your letter of August 12,1998, to Dennis K. Rathbun of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) concerning a letter to you from Dr. T. S. Margulies, in your August 12 letter, you requested that we review Dr. Margulies' concerns and provide you with an appropriate response.
The NRC has an extensive inspection and licensing program to ensure that Calvert Cliffs is operating safely, in addition, we have inspectors in residence at every operating nuclear power plant who routinely inspect to determine whether or not operations are being conducted in accordance with the provisions of the plant's license. We believe this process provides reasonable assurance that the plant will continue to operate in a manner that will pose no undue risk to public health and safety in accordance with the Commission's regulations. In
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addition, the Commission evaluates issues that affect all plants or a group of plants on a generic basis. If the Commission finds that certain generic issues are applicable to Calvert Cliffs, the NRC will take appropriate action.
It may be helpful for you to be aware that Dr. Margulies is a former employee of the NRC and that the issues he raises in his letter to you were of great interest several years ago when he was employed here. The issues, Event V and Station Black-out, are severe accident sequences that have been studied by the NRC. NRC action on Event V has been completed.
The NRC has also taken action on Station Black out; however, the need for additional action is still under consideration. This issue may affect multiple facilities. After a generic resolution for c
this issue is identified, it will be implemented for all affected plants. It is premature to determine whether or not resolution of this generic issue has any special relevance to the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant. The cost / benefit analyses Dr. Margulies offers are somewhat similar to analyses performed by the NRC staff. To the extent that it adds to our knowledge, Dr.
Margulies' analyses will be taken into account in the regulatory process. It should be noted that Dr. Margulies has written to the NRC regarding issues such as these on two different occasions. The NRC responded to Dr. Margulies by letters dated August 18 and 28,1998.
Thank you for giving us the opportunity to address this issue.
Sincerely, L. J ph Callan Exe tive Director for Operations
Enclosures:
As stated
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DISTRIBUTION:
Docket File (50-317) w/ original incoming S. Bajwa J. Roe PUBLIC W. Travers T. Martin EDO #G980511 C. Norsworthy B. Sheron L Callan OGC H. Thompson-OPA A. Thadani OCM P. Nony NRR Mail Room (EDO#G980511 J. Blaha w/ incoming) 012G18 S. Collins /F. Miraglia N. Olson t
l B. Boger R. Laskin PDl-1 R/F w/ incoming A. Dromerick(w/ incoming)
J. Zwolinski(A)
S. Little EDO R/F C. Heh!, Region l C. Paperiello SECY # (CRC-98-0775) l l
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