ML20154D091

Responds to 980824 RAI Re Resolution of Potential Safety Isuues Raised by Dienethal & Robarge Re Zion Npp.Informs That NRC Continues to Review & Evaluate Concerns Raised & Will Maintain Oversight During Decommissioning of Zion NPP

ML20154D091
Person / Time
Site:	Zion  File:ZionSolutions icon.png
Issue date:	10/01/1998
From:	Callan L NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO)
To:	Geokaris A ILLINOIS, STATE OF
Shared Package
ML20154D097	List: ML20154D091 ML20154D127
References
NUDOCS 9810070121
Download: ML20154D091 (10)

Text

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UNITED STATES I

! NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 206664 201 4 , . g ,o October 1, 1998 I l

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l' 9 The Honorable Adeline J. Geo-Karis

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l Assistant Majority Leader

' lilinois State Senate i P.O. Box 248 I Zion, Illinois 60099 1

Dear Senator Geo-Karis:

In your letter of August 24,1998, you requested additionalinformation regarding the l resolution of potential safety issues raised by Mr. Dienethat and Mr. Robarge concerning I the Zion Nuclear Plant. As you know, Mr. Dienethal, Mr. Robarge and the Committee for Safety of Plant Zion have petitioned to intervene in a licensing action, citing concerns with management integrity and public safety. Although the license action was issued on i July 24,1998,' in accordance with our rules and regulations, we continue to review ano evaluate the concerns rcised by Messrs. Dienethat and Robarge, in addition to the information provided in a September 24,1998, letter from John Hoyle, se,retary of the Commission to you, we have enclosed a brief description of our review process. I I

The NRC will continue to maintain oversight of the Zion Nuclear Plant during {

decommissioning. When regulatory and safety issued are identified, the NRC will continue j to take appropriate action, including enforcement, to ensure protection of public health j and safety. l If you should have additional concerns or questions, please contact Mr. Sy Weiss or Mr. Tony Markley of my staff at (301) 415-2170.

! Sincerely, \

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l L. J sph Callan g(0 l

Exec; ive Director l fo Operations t

Enclosure:

As stated cc: Mayor Chuck Pax *.on Q S / f i' Congressman John Porter go %p [a ~] h f. .% W~h 1NiDO*

p' 9810070121 981001 PDR ADOCK 05000295 P PDR 91wopt

l Mr. Edwin Dienethal, Mr. Randy Robarge, and their Committee for Safety at Plant Zion have petitioned the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for leave to intervene in a l licensing action at Commonwealth Edison's Zion Nuclear Plant. In their petition, your constituents luve presented a number of contentions regarding management integrity and pub;;c safety for which they are seeking a hearing in this licensing action.

Under the Commission's regulations, an interested party can petition to intervene in a l licensing action. Once such a petition is received, an Atomic Safety Licensing Board (ASLB) is established to evaluate the petition. This evaluation includes a determination of-

the petitioner's standing and whether any of the petitioner's contentions should be admitted for a hearing. The ASLB, which is independent of the NRC staff, has the authority to determine whether to grant the petitioner's request for a hearing. Under the Commission's regulations, the NRC staff is perrnitted to issue a licensing action on which a petition to intervene has been received. The NRC staff may issue the challenged I

licensing action provided that a No Significant Hazards Consideration (NSHC)

, determinatioriis made and the Cc,mmission does not object to the issuance of the

)

licensing a.9 tion. The Commission's rules provide that hearings, if warranted, may be l conducted after the issuance of the subject licensing action if a final NSHC finding is made.

With respect to the challenged Zion license amendment, the NRC staff did mak'e an NSHC I determination and the Commission did not object to the issuance of the requested license i

amendment. The license amendment was issued on July 24,1998. These proceedings are ongoing and may provide an adjudicatory forum for the resolution of some of the concerns expressed by the petitioners. Further, some of the petitioners' concerns, documented in U.S. Department of Labor proceedings, have come to our attention in i I i

[ materials that the petitionere fiied before the ASLB on July 31,1998, and are being j

reviewed by staff in the NRC's Region lli Office in Lisle, INois.

J ENCLOSURE

The Honorabia Adalina J. Gao-Karis Assistant MaPcrity Leader October 1, 1998 lilinois Stata Ssnate P.O. Box 248 Zion, Illinois 60099

Dear Senator Geo-Karis:

In your letter of August 24,1998, you requested additionalinformation regarding the resolution of potential safety issues raised by Mr. Dienethal and Mr. Robarge concerning the Zion Nuclear Plant. As you know, Mr. Dienethal, Mr. Robarge and the Committee for Safety of Plant Zion have petitioned to intervene in a licensing action, citing concerns with management integrity and public safety. Although the license action was issued ori July 24,1998, in accordance with our rules and regulations, we continue to review and evaluate the concerns raised by Messrs. Dienethal and Robarge. In addition to the information provided in a September 24,1998, letter from John Hoyle, Secretary of the Commission to you, we have enclosed a brief description of our review process.

The NRC will continue to maintain oversight of the Zion Nuclear Plant during decommissioning. When regulatory and safety issued are identified, the NRC will continue to take appropriate action, including enforcement, to ensure protection of public health and safety.

If you should have additional concerns or questions, please contact Mr. Sy Weiss or Mr. Tony Markley of my staff at (301) 415-2170.

Sincerely, k.,. }. CS*

L. Joseph Callan Executive Director for Operations

Enclosure:

As stated cc: Mayor C ck Paxton Congressman John Porter l

l Qi,STRIBUTJ.QN: See next page

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i The Honorable Adeline J. Geo-Karia l

Assistant Majority Leader litinois State Senate P.O. Box 248 Zion, Illinois 60099 7

Dear Senator Geo-Karis:

In your letter of August 24,1998, you requested additional information r arding the resolution of potential safety issues raised by Mr. Dienethal and Mr. R rge concerning the Zion Nuclear Plant. As you may know, Mr. Dienethat, Mr. Robarp and the Committee for Safety of Plant Zion have petitioned to intervene in a licensing etion, citing concerns with management integrity and public safety. Although the lice action was issued on July 24,1998, in accordance with our rules and regulations, vy continue to review and evaluate the concerns raised by Messrs. Dienethal and Roba de. A brief description of our review process is enclosed.

The NRC will continue to maintain oversight of the Zi Nuclear Plant during decommissioning. When regulatory and safety issy d are identified, the NRC will continue to take appropriate action, including enforcement /to ensure protection of public health and safety.

Thank you for your continued interest in pp ential sa%y issues associated with the Zion Nuclear Plant. If you should havt additional corems or cuestions, please contact Mr. Sy Weiss or Mr. Tony Markley of h staff at (301) 4 %2171 Sincerely, L. Joseph Callan Executive Director for Operations

Enclosure:

As stated l

DISTRIBUTION: See next page

*PREVIOUSLY CONCURRED c D

PDND:PM TECH ED.* PDND:

• PDND:(A)SC DN :D* DRPM:(A)D R EDO Markley RSanders EHylto r MMysnik SWeiss JRoe ins LCallan

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The Honorable Adeline J. Geo-Karis Senator - 31st District Assistant Majority Leader 2610 Sheridan Road, Suite 213 j

P.O. Box 248 Zion, Illinois 60099

Dear Senator Geo-Karis:

In your letter of August 24,1998, you roquested additionalinformation regarding the msolution of potential safety issues raised by Mr. Dienethat and Mr. Robarge concerning

. o Zion Nuclear Plant. As you may know, Mr. Dienethal, Mr. Robarge, and the Cominittee for Safety at Plant Zion have petitioned to intervene in a licensing action, citing concerns with management integrity and public safety. Although the licensing action was issued, in i r accordance with our rules and regulations, on July 24,1998, we continue to review and evaluate the concerns raised by the petitioners. A brief description of our review process is enclosed.

The NRC will continue to maintain oversight of the Zion Nuclear Plant during decommissioning. When regulatory and safety issues are identified, the NRC will continue to take appropriate action, incluaing enforcement, to ensure protection of public health and safety.

Thank you for your continued interest in potential safety issues associated with the Zion Nuclear Plant. If you shocid have additional concerns or questions, please contact Mr. Sy Weise y Mr. Tony Markley of my staff at (301) 415-2170.

Sincerely, L. Joseph Callan Executive Director for Operations

Enclosure:

As stated DISTRIBUTION: See next page

'PREVIOUSLY CONCURRED q b

PDND:P ECH ED.* PDND:L i PDND:(A)SC PDND:D' DRPM:(A)D* DONRR EDO AMark! RSanders EHylton f MMasnik SWeiss JRoe SCollins LCallan

'T/ZY/ 9/16/98 q /p/98 / /98 9/22/98 9/22/98 / /98 / /98 OGC+

STurk C/24/98 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY

- DOCUMENT NAME: G:\SECY\ACTN_ITM\GT560.AM 1

m- e ,-, r rm

i The Honorable Adeline J. Geo-Karis Senator - 31st District l Assistant Majority Leader l

2610 Sheridan Road, Suite 213 P.O. Box 248 Zion, Illinois 60099 /

/

Dear Senator Geo-Karis:

/

In your letter of August 24,1998, you requested additional rmation regarding the resolution of potential safety issues raised by Mr. Dieneth'al and Mr. Robarge. As you mcy know, Mr. Dienethal, Mr. Robarge, and the Committee'for Safety of Plant Zion have petitioned to intervene in a licensing action, citing, concerns with management integrity and public safety. Although the license action was issued, in accordance with our rules and regulations, on July 24,1998, we continue tyIeview and evaluate the concerns raised by Messrs. Dienethal and Robarge. A brief description of our review process is enclosed.

The NRC will continue to maintain oversight of the Zion Nuclear Plant during decommissioning. When regulatory,a'nd safety issues are identified, the NRC will continue to take appropriate action, includi,ng enforcemer.t, to ensure protection of public health and safety, ,/

/

Thank you for your continued interest in potential safety issues associated with the Zion Nuclear Plant, if you should have additional concerns or questions, please contact Mr. Sy Weiss or Mr. Ton'y Markley of my staff at (301) 415 2170.

/

,/ Sincerely,

/ L. Joseph Callan Executive Director for Operations Enciosurc:

As stated

/

DISTRIBUTION: See next page

'PREVIOUSLY CONCURRED PDND:PM TECH ED.* i PDND: PDND:(A)SC PDND:D' DRPM:(A)D* DONRR EDO AM J rk! RSanders - IHyltod ' MMasnik SWeiss JRoe SCollins LCallan 7/4/ 9/16/98  % /98 / /98 9/22/98 9/22/98 / /98 / /98 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY DOCUMENT NAME: G:\SECY\ACTN_lTM\GT560.AM gC-(d,b iv@

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The Honorable Adeline J. Geo-Karis Senator - 31st D: strict Assistant Majority Leader 2610 Sheridan Road, Suite 213 P.O. Box 248 Zion, Illinois 60099 f'

Dear Senator Geu-Karis:

In your letter of August 24,1998, you requested additional infoJmation regarding the resolution of potential safety issues raised by Mr. Dienethal and Mr. Robarge. As you may know, Mr. Dienethal, Mr. Robarge and the Committee for Safety of Plant Zion have petitioned to intervene in a licensing action, citing concerrfs with management integrity and public safety. Although the license action was issued,dn accordance with our rules and 4 regulations, on July 24,1998, we continue to review and evaluate the concerns reised by l Messrs. Dienethat and Robarge. A brief descrip/tio'n of our review process is enclosed.

The NRC will continue to maintain oversight'o the Zion Nuclear Plant during decommissioning. When regulatory and sa'fety issued are identified, the NRC will continue to take appropriate action, including er)forcement, to ensure protection of public health and l safety. j/ )

/

Thank you for your continued interest in potential safety issues associated with the Zion Nuclear Plant. If you should.have additional concerns or questions, please contact '

Mr. Sy Weiss or Mr. Tony Markley of my staff at (301) 415-2170. )

7 Sincerely,

/

/

,/

/ L. Joseph Callan

/ Executive Director for Operations Enclo[ re:

As,itated DISTRIBUTION: See next page "PREVIOUSLY CONCURRED PDND:P ECH ED." PDND:LA PDND:(A)SC PDND:D* DRPM:(A)D* DONRR EDO AMarkt Sanders EHylton MMasnik SWeiss JRoe SCollins LCallan 7/ 2f/9 9/16/98 / /98 / /98 9/22/98 9/22/98 / /98 / /98 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY l DOCUMENT NAME: G:\SECY\ACTN_lTM\GT560.AM  ;

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l The Honorable Adeline J. Geo-Karis ' As you are aware, the NRC has maintained oversight of the Zion Nuclear Plant throughout its history in your community. Whenever regulatory issues have been identified by l concerned citizens or through the NRC's oversight efforts, the staff has ta. ken appropriate l enforcement action. The NRC will continue to maintain oversight of the. Zion Nuclear Plant

!; during decommissioning and, when warranted, will take appropriate reg'ulatory action to

! - ensure the continued protection of public health and safety /

I l Sincerely, i

h Callan L. Josep'e' Director Executiv for, Operations

,. 1

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. DISTRIBUTION: See next page l

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'PREVIOUSLY CONCURRED / I PDND:P ECH ED.* fDND: PDND:(A)SC  : D .(A)D DONRR EDO

,- AMarkl RSanders ., tEHylton7 MMasni ) Weiss J SCollins LCallan i j

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The 'Honorable Adeline J. Geo-Karis As you are aware, the NRC has raaintained oversight of the Zion Nuclear Plant throughout its history in your community. Whenever regulatory issues have been identified from concerned citizens or through its oversight efforts, the NRC has taken appropriate enforcement ction. The NRC will continue to maintain oversight of the Zion Nuclear Plant during decom 'ssioning and when warranted will take appropriate regulatory action to ensure the conti ed protection of public health and safety.

Sincerely, L. Joseph Callan Executive Director for Operations DISTRIBUTION: See next page  ;

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