ML20154D708
| ML20154D708 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | River Bend  |
| Issue date: | 05/12/1988 |
| From: | Irving S IRVING, S.M. |
| To: | Murley T Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8805190307 | |
| Download: ML20154D708 (2) | |
Text
...vc ATTORN EY AT LAW 3SS N APOLEON STR E ET Stephen M. Ireeny e
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(so4) u...m May 12, 1988 Dr. Thomas Murley Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington D.C.
20555 Re: River Bend Station Gulf States Utilities
Dear Sir:
I am writing this letter on behalf of a client who owns property adjacent to River Bend Station located on Grant's Bayou that was directly affected by past events referenced below.
Please receive this letter as notification to the Commission of the existance of a significant hazard to the public health and safety in connection with the operation of the above facility.
We request that the Commission take immediate action to correct the following conditions:
1.
Gulf States Utilities has been unable to maintain the "prompt notification system" in working order.
There were numerous instances of inadvertent activation of this system during 1987 and in January and April of this year.
As a result of these inadvertent activations, Gulf States Utities deactivated the main system computers of the emergency operations center on or about April 25, 1988.
In the event of a plant emergency requiring activation of the prompt notification system it is now necessary to reactivate the computer system manually.
2.
The condensate water storage tank containing up to 550,000 gallons of contaminated water and sludge is located within eight feet of a storm sewer. We believe this sewer to be connected to East and West Creeks and thereafter connected to Grant's Bayou and ultimately the Mississippi River. There are also numerous other storm sewers located close to the unleveed tank.
Yet it does not have a
levee or other secondary containment or protective barrier capable of containing the contents in the event that the tank ruptures or is otherwise breached.
River Bend Station had an incident on June 11 and 12, 1987 wherein a tank containing sodium hypochlorite was breached and at h
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least 1600 gallons of the total of 22,000 gallons which escaped from the tank drained into Grant's Bayou through, we believe, the same pathway suggested above.
The condensate water storage tank is currently marked with a
yellow and magenta radiation cordon warning workers not to approach the tank due to the presence of radiation.
The cordon extends wthin six feet of the storm sewer referenced above. Motor vehicles pass within fifteen feet of this tank on a
regular basis.
While there are protective barriers around the tank in some areas, there is at least twenty feet of the circumference of the tank directly exposed to vehicular traffic.
The combination of the above conditions creates a situation in where there is a substantial likelihood of escape of radioactive material through the storm sewer with little likelihood that residents living near the plant will be notified in time to protect themselves from this or any other release.
I request that I be notified as to all action taken on this complaint.
I specifically request that under the freedom of information act I be furnished copies of all letters or other documents including memoranda of telephone calls received or produced inconnection with this complaint.
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hn Ir i cc Senator Jo n Breaux Richard ffman l
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