ML20154E830

Responds to Re NRC Decision to Permit Restart of Plant.Nrc Decision to Permit Restart of Plant Based on Extensive Performance Improvement Program Completed by Util & Thorough Evaluation by NRC of Previous Deficiencies

ML20154E830
Person / Time
Site:	Rancho Seco
Issue date:	05/16/1988
From:	Murley T Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:	Nowick M AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED
Shared Package
ML20154E832	List: ML20154E830 ML20154F194
References
NUDOCS 8805200343
Download: ML20154E830 (4)

Text

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MAY 161988 -

Ms. Marla Nowick 7642 Windbridge Drive #137 Sacramento, CA 95831

Dear Ms. Nowick:

This is in response to your letter dated March 22, 1988 to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Chairman, Lando Zech. In your letter, you expressed concern over the high cost of utility bills in the Sacramento area. Additionally, you questioned the prudence of the NRC decision to pennit restart of the Rancho _

_ Seco Nuclear Generating. Station.in light of equipment problems at the' plant and poor perfornance by operators.

The NRC decision to permit Rancho Seco to restart was based on an extensive performance improvement program completed by the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) and a thorough evaluation by the NRC staff of previously existing Rancho Seco deficiencies and the effectiveness of completed improve-ments.

The resulting upgrading of Rancho Seco was extensive and was not completed until March 1988. The NRC does not regulate the financial aspects of utility operations; howevor, the safety-related irrprovements at Rancho Secc were necessary to meet NRC-regulated Federal safety standards.

The improvement program at Pancho Seco addressed equipment-related deficiencies as well as management, personnel, and procedural issues. The scope of the improvement effort is described in detail in the Rancho Seco restart safety evaluation report, NUREG-1?86, issued in October 1987, and NUREG-1286, Supplement 1, issued in March 1968. The reports are available in the Sacramento area at the Public Document Room. Sacramento City-County Library, 828 I Street, Sacramento, California. The evaluations conclude that improvements rade at i i

Rancho Seco during the 27-month shutdown were effective and should result in '

more reliable and safe operation at the plant.

On the basis of extensive engineering evaluations and inspections, there is no indicationofdefectsintheRanchoSecoreactor(NUREG-1286,Section3.2.2)to i support the allegation of reactor deficiencies as expressed in your letter. I Radioactive liquid handling systems have been modified, associated procedures '

have been revised, and personnel have been trained in liquid handling (NUREG-1286, Supplement 1,Section4.3)toprecludethelikelihoodofrecurrenceofthe i "spills" referenced in your letter.  !

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O SMUD personnel implicated in illegal drug use at Rancho Seco were dismissed by the utility and a drug detection program was established to reduce the likeli-hood of future drug use by SMUD employees.

In conclusion, w concur that a wide range of problems existed at Rancho Seco.

The severity of the problems was sufficient to warrant a shutdown of the facility to effect improvements. As described in the restart safety evalua-tion, the NRC staff evaluated the Rancho Seco improverrents and concluded that the plant could restart and operate safely. On the basis of this evalua-tion, the Commission voted on March 22, 1988, to permit SMUD to restart Rancho Seco.

Sincerely, Original signed by James H. Sniezek j Thomas E. Murley, Director h[ Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation DISTRIBUTION 00CAET FILE DMOSSBURG (GT03565) W/ INCOMING NRC & LOCAL PDR PRV GT FILE W/ INCOMING ED0 RDG. DCRUTCHFIELD TMURLEY/JSNIEZEX GHOLAHAN GKALMAN OGC FGILLESPIE GKNIGHTON JNARTIN, RV TMARTIN, NRR

• Previously concurred

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EDO PRINCIPAL CORRESPONDENCE CONTROL

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FROM: DUE: 05/16/88 EDO CONTROL: 003656 DOC DT 03/22/88 )

MARLA NOWICK FINAL REPLY SACRAMENTO, CA TO:

CHAIRMAN ZECH FOR SIGNATURE OF: ** GREEN ** SECY NO: 88-367 MURLEY DESC: ROUTING:

CONCERNED ABOUT THE RESTART OF THE RANCHO SECO JMARTIN PLANT DATE: 04/29/88 ASSIGNED TO: NRR CONTACT: MURLEY CPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR REMARKS: -

MRR RECEIVED: APRIL 29, 1988 V"+ (f<< :\g'\ D i

ACTION: !DRSP:CRIIICHPIELD 4 j NRR ROUTING: MURLEY/SNIEZEK MIRAGLIA MARTIN GILLESPIE FOSSBURG ACTION l DUE TO NRR DIRECTORS OFFICE l

BY  % //, /M l r -

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OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY CORRESPONDENCE CONTROL TICKET PAPER NUMBER: CRC-88-0367 LOGGING DATE: Apr 28 88 ACTION OFFICE: EDO AUTHOR: M. Novick AFFILIATION: CA (CALIFORNIA)

LETTER DATE: Mar 22 88 FILE CODE: ID&R-5 Rancho Seco

SUBJECT:

Concerned about the restart of the Rancho Seco plant ACTION: Direct Reply DISTRIBUTION: Docket SPECIAL HANDLING: None NOTES:

DATE DUE: May 16 88 SIGNATURE: . DATE SIGNED:

AFFILIATION:

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