ML20204F936

Responds to from R Blank,Addressing Concerns Re Safety of Older Nuclear Plants,Per SO Conte 860701 Request

ML20204F936
Person / Time
Site:	Vermont Yankee, Yankee Rowe, 05000000
Issue date:	07/30/1986
From:	Stello V NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO)
To:	Conte S HOUSE OF REP.
Shared Package
ML20204F940	List: ML20204F936 ML20204F942 ML20204F948
References
NUDOCS 8608070009
Download: ML20204F936 (3)

Text

.

Docket Nos.50-029 g gg g and 50-271 The Honorable Silvio 0. Conte United States House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515

Dear Congressman Conte:

Your . letter of July 1,1986 regarding a June 16, 1986 letter from one of your constituents, Dr. Ronald Blank (enclosed), has been referred to me for response.

Dr. Blank's letter refers to a nuclear power station at Rowe, VT. There are two nuclear power stations to which he may be referring. One is a station at Rowe, Massachusetts which started operation in 1960 and is called Yankee. The other is a station in Vernon, Vermont which started operation in 1972 and is called Vermont Yankee. The Vermont Yankee plant recently resumed operation following a nine month outage for plant upgrades. Our response applies to both nuclear plants.

Dr. Blank's letter expresses a concern that operation of an older nuclear facility poses a hazard to the public. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has regulations which contain several provisions that provide assurance that aging will not impair safe plant operation; discussion of some of these provisions follows.

Surveillance testing of important equipment is required to be performed on a routine basis to ensure that such systems can function if needed. ' Inservice inspection and testing programs are also conducted for pumps and valves.

NRC regulations regarding qualification of electrical equipment important to safety specifically require that the effects of aging be evaluated to demonstrate the qualified life of such equipment. Replacement or refurbishment would be required prior to reaching this equipment lifetime.

Structures and major equipment were conservatively designed for the operating life of the facility. However, should any signs of degradation occur, the equipment or structures would be evaluated by both the licensee and the NRC to assess the effect on the plant.

Dr. Blank's letter also indicates a concern that an older plant might be techno-logically outdated. As new safety concerns are raised after licensing of a plant, evaluations are performed by both the licensee and the NRC to determine the need for plant upgrades. For example, following the event at Three Mile-Island 2, many changes in plant design, operator training and emergency 860807o009 86073o PDR ADOCK 05000o29 H pop

planning were implemented at all nuclear power plants. Also, operating experience in both the United States and abroad is carefully examined to identify possible problems and corrective actions. At Vermont Yankee, recirculation system piping was replaced during the past outage with piping material of superior resistance to cracking; this was in response to indications that had been found in similar piping in other plants.

The NRC is actively participating in a government-wide program to understand the Chernobyl accident. As information becomes available, the NRC will review the need for any changes to its regulations.

Plants that have been operating for many years often have the advantages of experienced people knowledgeable of the design of the plant and of well established programs for maintenance and operation. The NRC Systematic Assessment of Licensee Performance (SALP) program provides a comprehensive review of the licensee's performance in such areas as operations, main-tenance, surveillance testing, and radiation protection. A low rating would warrant increased attention by NRC or the licensees. Both the Yankee and Vermont Yankee plants have received good ratings in the SALP program, with no areas receiving low ratings.

The licensing proceedings and informational exchange between the NRC and the licensees for the Yankee and the Vermont Yankee power plants are part of the public record. They are available to anyone for review in the local public document rooms, in the Greenfield Community College Library, Greenfield, MA for Yankee and at the Brooks Memorial Library, Brattleboro, VT for the Vermont Yankee plant.

I hope the above information is responsive to the concerns expressed by Dr.

Blank and want to assure you that every effort is being made to ensure the continued protection of the health and safety of the public.

Sincerely, (semed) T. A.*

Victor Stello, Jr.

Executive Director for Operations

Enclosure:

As Stated

• SEE PREVIOUS CONCURRENCE Office: LA/ PAD #1 PM/ PAD #1 PD/ PAD #1 BWD2 BWD2 Surname: *PShuttleworth *EMcKenna/tg *Glear *VRooney *DMuller Date: 07/23/86 07/23/86 07/23/ 6 07/23/86 07/24/86 Office: AD PWR- D/BWR DD/NR ' Y D/N EDO[ OCN Surname: T va RBerne o RVo mer HD on VSfeld 9[

Date: 07/ /F6 07/ 2i/86 07 /86 07 /86 07 /86 '7 b

f- .

Performance (SALP) program also provides a comprehensive review of the

-licensee's performance. Both the Yankee and Vermont Yankee plants hav received good ratings in the SALP program.

.The licensing proceedings and informational exchange between the C and the licensees for thc.. Yankee and the Vermont Yankee power plants ar part of the public record. They are available to anyone for review in the ocal public document rooms, in the Greenfield Community College Library, reenfield, MA

-.for Yankee and at the Brooks Memorial Library, Brattleboro, T for the Vermont Yankee plant.

I hope the above information answers your questions. W appreciate your concern and want to assure you that every effort is b ng made to ensure the continued protection of the health and safety of the ublic.

Sincerely, i Victor tello, Jr.

Execu ve Director fo Operations P

pk Office: LA/ PAD #1 PMgg PD/ PAD #1 BWD2 BWD?pg p i/) # k Surname: PShuttleIo'rYh EMcKenna/tg GLeak/,7 VRooney h11er Date: 07/p//86 07/23/86 07/1.3/86 07/A%86 07/p//86 Office: AD/PWR-A D/BWR DD/NRR D/NRR ED0 Surname: TNovak RBernero RVollmer HDenton VStello Date: 07/ /86 07/ /86 07/ /86 07/ /86 07/ /86