ML20204E334

Expresses Appreciation for Re Concerns Over Sale of Certain Properties by Licensee.No Regulatory Basis for NRC to Require Util to Rely on strip-mine Ponds as Suppl Source of Cooling Water

ML20204E334
Person / Time
Site:	Braidwood
Issue date:	03/16/1999
From:	Collins S NRC (Affiliation Not Assigned)
To:	Dvorak D AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED
References
NUDOCS 9903250003
Download: ML20204E334 (7)

Text

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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. enana anni fp454 gf T

• • • • • March 16, 1999 Mr. David Dvorak, Village President The Village of Essex P.O. Box 175 Essex, Illinois 60935

SUBJECT:

VILLAGE OF ESSEX RESOLUTION NO. 2-99 BRAIDWOOD

Dear Mr. Dvorak:

Thank you for your letter dated February 3,1999, in which you expressed concem over the sale of certain properties by the Ccmmonwealth Edison Company (Comed). You stated that the sale could present a risk to the health 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 future to support the safe operation of Braidwood. The concems were promulgated in the Village of Essex Resolution No. 2-99 that resolved to seek the assistance of Federal and State govemment ag ncies 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 wa;er 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-esse 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 piant or to j maintain the plant in a safe condition.

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

Braidwood Station property, i

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i Mr. David Dvorak, Village President The Village of Essex

- P.O. Box 175 Essex, Illinois 60935

SUBJECT:

TOWNSHIP OF ESSEX RESOLUTION NO. 2-99 BRAIDWOOD

Dear Mr. Dvorak:

In your letter dated February 3,1999, you expressed concem over the sale of certain properties by the Commonwealth Edison Company (Comed). You stated that the sale could present a risk to the health 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 future to support the safe operation of Braidwood. The concems were promu' gated 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 ecoling water) for Braidwood is provided by the essential cooling pond-an excavated depres. ion 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 sourcund reduce the drain on the Kankakee River; however, the pond , are no' needed to wifely 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 regulatory basis for the NRC to require Comed to rely on the strip-mine ponds as a supplemental source of cooling water or to maintain ownership of the land as part of the Braidwood Station property.

Sincerely, Samuel J. Collins, Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. STN 50-456 d STN 50-457 DISTRl5UTION See next page cc w/ encl: See next page/

DOCUMENT NAME: G:\PD3-2\GRN99082.WPD SEE PREVIOUS CONCURRENCE

• 1 TO RECEfVE A COPY OF TH18 DOCUteENT, WDICATE IN THE SOK: "C" = COPY WITHOUT ENCLOSURES *E" e COPY WITH ENCLOSURES "N" OFFICE PM:PDill-2 6 1A:PDill 2 [ TECH EDITOR D:PDill-2 D:DLPM NAME' SBasley sp <J4 hooreJM BCalure* SRichards' JZwolinsid Ashusemi'ImamEmma m man mElmImmmmmmmmesummEM y m,i,,,,,g,,,,,,,

2 OFFICE D:NRR EDO OCM/SAJ NAME SColkns Wiravers SJackson DATE 2/ /99 2/ 199 2/ /99 2/ MM 2/ /99 Official Record Copy

. I

David Dvorak, Village President Village of Essex P.O. Box 175 Essex, Illinoir 60935

SUBJECT:

TOWNSHIP OF ESStiX RESOLUTION NO,2-99 BRAIDWOOD

Dear Mr. Dvorak:

In your letter dated February 3,1999, you expressed concem over the sale of certain properties by the Commonwealth Edison Company (Comed). You stated that the sale could present a

- risk to the health and safety of the residents of the area due to the loss of emergency cooling water for the Braidwood Nuclear Power Station (Braidwood). 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 has previously used water from these ponds and may need it in the 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 re on the strip-mine ponds as sources of cooling water. The ultimate heat sink (source of cool' g water) for Braidwood is provided by the essential cooling pond - an excavated depression ithin the main cooling pond. The plant is designed such that, with a pond level of at least 0 feet above sea level, the ultimate heat sink provides enough water to cool the essential he loads of both units for at least 30 days without makeup water under worst case conditions. he plant's Technical Specifications require Comed to maintain a pond water level of a east 590 feet or commence a plant shutdown. The normal source of makeup water for Br dwood Station's cooling pond is from the Kankakee River. In situations of severe droug , the strip-mine ponds could be used to augment this source and reduce the drain on the Ka akee River; however, the ponds are not needed to safely shut down the plant or to maintai the plant in a safe condition.

In summary, plant safety is assured by the design of the essen ' I cooling pond and by the water level requirements in Braidwood's Technical Specificati ns. Therefore, there is no regulatory basis for the NRC to require Commonwealth Edi n Company to rely on the strip-mine ponds as a supplemental source of cooling water or maintain ownsrship of the land as part of the Braidwood Nuclear Power Station property. c' Sincerely Sam J. Collins, Director Offi of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. STN 50-456 and STN 50-457 / DISTRIBUTION: See next page n cc w/ encl: See next page DOCUMENT NAME: G:\PD3-2tGRN99082.WPD f

/

TO RECENE A COPY OF THIS DOCURAENT. WDICATE W THE BOX: "C" = CO WITHOUT ENCLOSURES *E" e COPY WITH ENCLOSURES *N" OFFICE PM:PDill-2 6 LA:PDill-2 O/ TECH EDITOR /k D;PDill-2 C- D:DLPM NAME SBailey[ YMoore Q [ [ fj h SRichards # JZwolinski m e e massa OFFICE D;NRR EDO OCM/SAJ NAME SCollins WTravers '[ SJackson DATE 2/ /99 2/ /99/ 2/ /99 2/ /99 2/ /99 t/ Official RoCord Copy

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March 16,1999 Mr. David Dvorak l I wish to thank you for bringing your concerns to my attention, and I hope the information we I are providing you is responsive to your concerns. l Sincerely, ORIG. SIGNED BY I 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 Comrnission, transmits factual information, or restates Commission Policy.

DISTRIBUTION:

' Docket File 3 PUBLlO PDill-2 r/f NRR Mailroom (G19990082)

S. Collins EDO Mailroom (G19990082)

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, Rill OGC,015B18 ACRS, T2E26 M. Jordan, Rill ED0 r/f DOCUMENT NAME: G:\PD3-2\GRN99082.WPD SEE PREVIOUS CONCURRENCE

• TO CECElVE A COPY OF THIS DOCUMENT, INDICATE IN THE BOX: "C" = COPY WITHOUT ENCLOSURES "E" = COPY WITH ENCLOSURES "N" OFFICE PM:PDill-2 LA:PDlll-2 TECH D:PDill-2 D:DLPM 6 EDITOR NAME SBailey:sp $M NAoore* (Q BCalure* SRichards* JZwolinski*

DATE 3/ / /99 2/25/99 I \$99 2/24/99 2/24/99 2/25/91 OFFICE D:NRR np? EDO i OCM/SAJ ADPT h)

NAMEk SCollins WTravNs '

SJackson B. Sheron* (sig)

DATE I 3/ ds /99 2 3/ U /99 3/16 /99 2/26/99 3/ if , /99 EBarnhill for Official Record Copy

i Mr. David Dvorak 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 concerns.

Sincerely, I

i a ue cl ins, irector Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. STN 50-456 and STN 50-457 cc w/ encl: See next page i

l

Braidwood Station .

t Units 1 and 2 I cc:

Mr. O. Kingsley, President Mr. Ron Stephens Nuclear Generation Group filinois Emergency Services Commonwealth Edison Company and Disaster Agency Executive Towers West 111 110 E. Adams Street 1400 Opus Place, Suite 500 Springfield, Illinois 62706 Downers Grove, Illinois 60515 l Ms. Lorraine Creek Ms. C. Sue Hauser, Project Manager RR 1, Box 182  ;

Westinghouse Electric Corporation Manteno, Illinois 60950 Energy Systems Business Unit l Post Office Box 355 Attomey General Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15230 500 S. Second Street  ;

Springfield, Illinois 62701  !

Joseph Gallo i 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 Regional Administrator U.S. NRC, Region 111 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 Manager Essex, Illinois 60935 RR 1, Box 84 Braceville,Illinoi6 60407-9619 Howard A. Learner Environmental Law and Policy Document Con <rol 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 President - 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

1 Braidwood Station .

l Units 1 and 2 Mr. David Helwig Senior Vice President Commonwealth Edison Company Executive Towers West lli 1400 Opus Place, Suite 900 Downers Grove, Illinois 60515 -

Mr. Gene H. Stanley PWR Vice President Commonwealth Edison Company Executive Towers West lll 1400 Opus Place, Suite 900 Downers Grove, Illinois 60515 Mr. Christopher Crane BWR Vice President Commonwealth Edison Company Executive Towers West lll 1400 Opus Place, Suite 900 Downers Grove, Illinois 60515 Mr. R. M. Krich Vice President - Regulatory Services Commonwealth Edison Compsny Executive Towers West lll 1400 Opus Place, Suite 500 Downers Grove, Illinois 60515 Commonwealth Edison Company  ;

Reg. Assurance Supervisor- Braidwood j RR 1, Box 84  !

Braceville, Illinois 60407-9619 Ms. Pamela B. Stroebel Senior Vice President and General Counsel Commonwealth Edison Company P.O. Box 767 Chicago, Illinois 60690-0767 I