ML20204C720

Ack Receipt of Expressing Concern Over Sale of Certain Properties by Commonwealth Edison Co

ML20204C720
Person / Time
Site:	Braidwood
Issue date:	03/16/1999
From:	Collins S NRC (Affiliation Not Assigned)
To:	Hoffman G AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED
Shared Package
ML20204C724	List: ML20204C720 ML20204C726
References
NUDOCS 9903230238
Download: ML20204C720 (7)

Text

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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20066 4001 March 16,1999 Mr. George Hoffman, Township Supervisor Township of Essex P.O. Box 64 Essex, Illinois 60935

SUBJECT:

TOWNSHIP OF ESSEX RESOLUTION NO. 2-99 BRAIDWOOD

Dear Mr. Hoffman:

Thank you for your letter dated February 3,1999, in which you expressed concem over the sale of certain properties by the Commonwealth Edison Company (Comed). You stated that the i sale could present a risk to the heslth and safety of the residents of the area because of the loss of emergency cooling water for the Braidwood Station. The source of cooling water in question is a series of lakes (strip-mine ponds) located on the properties that are being sold.

You stated that Comed had previously used water from these ponds and may need it in the l future to support the safe operation of Braidwood. The concerns were promulgated in the Township of Essex Resolution No. 2-99 that resolved to seek the assistance of Federal and State govemment agencies to prevent the transfer of these properties.

Braidwood's licensing by the U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) does not specify the use of the strip-mine ponds as sources of cooling water. The ultimate heat sink (source of cooling water) for Braidwood is provided by the essential cooling pond-an excavated depression within the main cooling pond. The plant is designed such that with a pond level of at least 590 feet above sea level, the ultimate heat sink provides enough water to cool the essential heat loads of both units for at least 30 days without makeup water under worst-case conditions. The plant's Technical Specifications require Comed to maintain a pond water level of at least 590 feet or to begin shutdown of the plant. The normal source of makeup water for Braidwood Station's cooling pond is from the Kankakee River. In situations of severe drought, the strip-mine ponds could be used to augment this source and reduce the drain on the Kankakee River; however, the ponds are not needed to safely shut down the plant or to maintain the plant in a safe condition.

In summary, plant safety is ensured by the design of the essential cooling pond and by the water level requirements in Braidwood's Technical Specifications. Therefore, there is no J regulatory basis for the NRC to require Comed to rely on the strip-mine ponds as a l supplemental source of cooling weter or to maintain ownership of the land as part of the Braidwood Station property.

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Mr. George Hoffman I wish to thank you for bringing your concerns to my attention, and I hope the information we are providing you is responsive to your concerns.

i Sincerely, l

amue p ins, Director i Office of Nuclear Reactc; Regulation Docket Nos. STN 50-456 and STN 50-457 cc w/ encl: See next page

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March 16, 1999 Mr. George Hoffman I wish to thank you for bringing your concems to my attention, and I hope the information we are providing you is responsive to your concems.

Sincerely, ORIG. SIGNED BY Samuel J. Collins, Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. STN 50-456 and STN 50-457 cc w/ encl: See next page This correspondence addresses policy issues previously resolved by the Commission, transmits factual information, or restates Commission policy.

DISTRIBUTION:

Docket File PUBLIC PDill-2 r/f NRR Mailroom (G19990078)

S. Collins EDO Mailroom (G19990078)

R. Zimmerman W. Kane B. Sheron J. Zwolinski S. Richards C. Moore S. Bailey W. Travers M.Knapp F. Miraglia

• P. Norry J. Blaha S. Burns J. Dyer, Rlll OGC,015B18 M. Jordan, Rlll ACRS, T2E26 ED0 r/f DOCUMENT NAME: G:\PD3-2\GRN99078.WPD See previous concurrence

• TO RECEIVE A COPY OF THIS DOCUMENT, INDICATE IN THE BOX: "C" = COPY WITHOUT ENCLOSURES *E" = COPY WITH ENCLOSURES "N" OFFICE PM:PDill-2 6

LA:PDill-2 g TECH EDITOR D:PDill-2 D:DLPM NAME SBailey:sp 6Ld b oor h g .J BCalure* 8Richards* JZwolinski*

DATE 3/ / /99 2/25/99 'l t{Th 2/24/99 2/24/99 2/25/99 OFFICE s D:NRR A EDO { 1---7 OCM/SAJ ADPT j/6gR )

NAMEfyCollins WTravYs ' SJackson BSheron* ig)

DATE k 3/ A /99 _; 3/ M/99' 3/ /k 199 2/26/99 3/W /99 py Official Record Copy

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Braidwood Station .

Units 1 and 2 cc:

Mr. O. Kingsley, President Mr. Ron Stephens Nuclear Generation Group Illinois Emergency Services Commonwealth Edison Company and Disaster Agency Executive Towers West lli 110 E. Adams Street 1400 Opus Place, Suite 500 Springfield, Illinois 62706 Downers Grove, lIlinois 60515 Ms. Lorraine Creek Ms. C. Sue Hauser, Project Manager RR 1, Box 182 Westinghouse Electric Corporation - Manteno, Illinois 60950 Energy Systems Business Unit Port Office Box 355 Attorney General Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15230 500 S. Second Street Springfield, Illinois 62701 Joseph Gallo Gallo & Ross George L. Edgar 1025 Connecticut Ave., N.W., Suite 1014 Morgan, Lewis and Bochius Washington, DC 20036 1800 M Street, N.W.

Washington, DC 20036 Regiont.! Administrator U.S. NRC, Region lli Illinois Department of Nuclear Safety 801 Warrenville Road Office of Nuclear Facility Safety Lisle, Illinois 60532-4351 1035 Outer Park Drive Springfield, Illinois 62704 Ms. Bridget Little Rorem Appleseed Coordinator Commonwealth Edison Company 117 N. Linden Street Braidwood Station Manaaer Essex, Illinois 60935 RR 1, Box 84 Braceville, Illinois 60407-9619 Howard A. Leamer Environmantal Law and Policy Document Control Desk-Licensing Center of the Midwest Commonwealth Edison Company 35 East Wacker Drive 1400 Opus Place,- Suite 400 Suite 1300 Downers Grove, Illinois 60515 Chicago, Illinois 60601 Commonwealth Edison Company U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Site Vice Presideni- Braidwood Braidwood Resident inspectors Office RR 1, Box 84 Rural Route #1, Box 79 Braceville, IL 60407-9619 Braceville, Illinois 60407 Chairman Will County Board of Supervisors Will County Board Courthouse Joliet, Illinois 60434

I Braidwood Station .  ;

Units 1 and 2 l

l Mr. David Helwig Senior Vice President Commonwealth Edison Company Executive Towers West lli 1400 Opus Place, Suite 900 l Downers Grove, Illinois 60515 Mr. Gene H. Stanley PWR Vice President i Commonwealth Edison Company Executive Towers West lli 1400 Opus Place, Suite 900 Downers Grove, Illinois 60515 ,

Mr. Christopher Crane  !

BWR Vice President 1 Commonwealth Edison Company l Executive Towers West lli 1400 Opus Place, Suite 900 J Downers Grove, Illinois 60515 Mr. R. M. Krich Vice President - Regulatory Services ]

Commonwealth Edison Company )

Executive Towers West lil '

1400 Opus Place, Suite SGw i i Downers Grove, Illinois 60515 l 1

Commonwealth Edison Company Reg. Assurance Supervisor - Braidwood RR 1, Box 84 Braceville, Illinois 60407-9619 l

Ms. Pamela B. Stroebel Senior Vice President and General Counsel l Commonwealth Edison Company i P.O. Box 767 Chicago, Illinois 60690-0767 l

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EDO Principal Correspondence Control l QA N 'l1/11 FROM: DUE: 0)./-357J9 EDO CONTROL:'G19990078 DOC DT: 02/03/99 FINAL REPLY:

G orge Hoffman Town'; hip of Essex - Illinois TO: l Chairman Jackson l

FOR SIGNATURE OF : ** GRN **

CRC HO: 99-0136 l Collins, NRR DESC: ROUTING:

EMERGENCY COOLING' WASTE FOR THE BRAIDWOOD POWER . Travers .

STATION Knapp Miraglia Norry Blaha Burns DATE: 02/16/99 ' '

Dyer, RIII ASSIGNED TO: CONTACT:

NRR _ _ Collins SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR REMARKS:

Add EDO and Chairman on for concurrence.

Chairman's office to review response prior to dispatch.

dahi ACTlCN f)(l0eCZx>.*Off/72'$w/h/fi9 y)(l4 /8tM!I'4 DUE TO NRR DIRECTOR'S OFFICE

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OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY ,

CORRESPONDENCE CONTROL TICKET  !

PAPER NUMBER: CRC-99-0136 LOGGING DATE: Feb 12 99 i ACTION OFFICE: EDO AUTHOR: GEORGE HOFFMAN ,

AFFILIATION: ILLINOIS ADDRESSEE: CHAIRMAN JACKSON LETTER DATE: Feb 3 99 FILE CODE: IDR 5 BRAIDWOOD -:

SUBJECT:

EMERGENCY COOLING WATER FOR THE BRAIDWOOD POWER STATION ACTION: Direct Reply  ;

DISTRIBUTION: CHAIRMAN, COMRS SPECIAL HANDLING: SECY TO ACK CONSTITUENT:

NOTES: CHAIRMAN SHOULD REVIEW RESPONSE PRIOR TO DISPATCH DATE DUE: Mar 1 99 SIGNATURE: . DATE SIGNED:

AFFILIATION:

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I EDO --Gl9990078

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