ML20154R588

Informs That Commission Has Not Made Decision Re Resumption of Plant Operations & Will Not Proceed Until Issues Addressed Satisfactorily.Nrc Evaluation of Direct Torus Vent Sys Will Determine Need for Environ Assessment

ML20154R588
Person / Time
Site:	Pilgrim
Issue date:	05/27/1988
From:	Zech L NRC COMMISSION (OCM)
To:	Studds G HOUSE OF REP.
Shared Package
ML20154R592	List: ML20154R588 ML20154R618
References
NUDOCS 8806080026
Download: ML20154R588 (4)

Text

Distribution:

[weeg'og IteT1o i  !" - pe UNITED STATES Taylor ~ '

/ { I i NUCLEAR REGJLATORY COMMISSION Rehm WASMGToN o C. 20066 EDO 3693 o,'+, .o'/ NRC POR

• • "* Docket File 50-293 CHAIRMAN Nay 27s 1988 TMurley/JSNiezek FMiraglia TMartin FGillespie The Honorable Gerry E. Studds PDI-3 r/f United States House of Representatives SVarga (2) MRushbroo Washington 0.C. 20515 BBoger DMossburg OGC SCollins

Dear Congres. - Studds:

WRussell RBlough JMurray JCraig I am responding to your letter of May 9, 1988, in which you DMcDonald expressed concern about remarks recently made by two NRC RWessman Commissioners regarding resumption of operations at the Pilgrim JThoma Nuclear Power Plant. I assure you that the Commission has not made a decision on Pilgrim's restart and will not do so until the issues are addressed to our satisfaction.

The remarks of Commissioners Rogers and Carr need to be viewed in the context in which they were made. The two Commissioners had just completed tours of the site and each indicated that, based upon what they had observed of the physical condition of the Pilgrim facility, there appeared to be no major impediments to Pilgrim restart. Cc=missioner Carr's visit was his second to the site, and his remarks reflected his impression of the improvements in the plant since his first visit in May 1986. Commissioner Rogers' comments on his visit were provided in a separate letter to you. In making their statements, the Commissioners were fully aware that the staff had yet to complete a detailed evaluation of the multiple issues which will be considered thoroughly by the Commission in a restart decision, i Visits to the plant by Commissioners are but one part of our extensive efforts to evaluate the acceptability of Pilgrim's i restart. In fact, such visits are responsive to the requests of Senator Kennedy and others that the Commissioners see the plant for themselves. Nonetheless, despite the physical appearance, the Commissioners do not believe that the plant can be considered fully ready for restart at this time. Technical, emergency planning, and management issues need to be resolved by Boston Edison before the staff recommends to the Commission any action on Pilgrim's restart. ,

Boston Edison is addressing unresolved items and is in the process of completing its own readiness assessment. The NRC staff will shortly commence a detailed site review and make an assessment regarding Boston Edison's readiness to resume operation of the Pilgrim facility. Boston Edison and the staff are currently scheduled to brief the Commission on the status of the restart issues on June 9, 1988. Another meeting is planned later this year at which the Commission vill consider a restart decision.

Other NRC-sponsored meetings will be held locally prior to the restart decision to discuss issues bearing on restart.

Originated: NRR:JThoma g60gg 27 CORRESPONDENCE PDR

p - _ - _ _ _

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9 You requested information on the status of our evaluation of t'

' q Direct Torus Vent System (DTVS). The Mark I contain-

n. grim meets established NRC requirements. The DTVS is dn ent proposed by the licensee. The DTVS system inst at Pilgrim is not currently operational. The staff revh ;he proposed DTVS system and inspected the installation of the bTVS piping and found that neither the DTVS piping installction nor the system's operation must be addressed before restart. Because the NRC is awaiting the licensee's response to a series of questions regarding operation of the DTVS, I am not able at this time to provide a schedule for the completion of the DTVS operability review. As stated in my letter of November 24, 1987, the NRC staff's evaluation of the operation of the DTVS will determine the need for an environmental assessment.

I appreciate your continuing interest in this matter and hope that this letter will resolve your concerns.

Sincerely, hate (N. k.

Lando W. Z h, Jq

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-d >* **Kuq;(

UNITED STATES 8 ) ( g -NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

. t j WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555

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• EDO Principal Correspondence Control

/7 FROM: -DUE: OS/.gif/88 EDO CONTROL: 0003693 DOC DT: 05/09/88 FINAL REPLY:

R3p. Gerry E. Studds i

TO:

Chairman Zech FOR SIGNATURE OF: ** PRI ** CRC NO: 88-0433 Chmirman Zech DESC: ROUTING:

RESTART OF PILGRIM Stello Taylor DATE: 05/12/88 Rehm Russell ASSIGNED TO: CONTACT: Murray e Murley SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR REMARKS:

Raf. EDO 3236 NRR RECEIVED:y MAY-13,11988 3

ACTION:

DRPKiVARGAJ]

NRR ROUTING: MURLEY/SNIEZEK

-MIRAGLIA MARTIN GILLESPIE MOSSBURG 1

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1 s  !

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l OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY CORRESPONDENCE CONTROL TICKET PAPER NUMBER: CRC-88-0433 LOGGING DATE: May 12 88 ACTION OFFICE: EDO AUTHOR: G.E. Studds AFFILIATION: U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES LETTER DATE: May 9 88 FILE CODE: ID&R-5 Pilgrim

SUBJECT:

Ques in re to remarks by the Comm about the reopening of the Pilgrim Power Plant ACTION: Signature of Chairman DISTRIBUTION: OCA to Ack, RF, Cmrs, Docket SPECIAL HANDLING: None NOTES:

DATE DUE: May 23 88 SIGNATURE: . DATE SIGNED:

AFFILIATION:

Ric'd Off. EDO Date- ' f - 1 J ' 5' <T Time .__ k P, __.

EEO---00J693

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