ML20206D971

Forwards Ltrs Exchanged Between NRC & Author in 1984 Re Problems in Commercial Nuclear Power Field & Change in Federal Regulations to Allow Senior Reactor Operator to Deviate from Tech Specs in Emergency

ML20206D971
Person / Time
Site:	Three Mile Island, 05000000
Issue date:	09/08/1988
From:	Cale Young AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED
To:	Zech L NRC COMMISSION (OCM)
Shared Package
ML20206D924	List: ML20206D920 ML20206D945 ML20206D950 ML20206D971 ML20206D992 ML20206D997 ML20206E005 ML20206E028 ML20206E036 ML20206E043 ML20206E070 ML20206E074 ML20206E086 ML20206E090 ML20206E095 ML20206E228 ML20206G865 ML20207B103
References
NUDOCS 8811170337
Download: ML20206D971 (2)

Text

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262 She2 field Lane Glen Ellyn, 11. 60137 6eptember 8, 1988 Hr. Lando W. Zech, Jr.

Chairman U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555 .

'I

Dear Lando:

During our telephone conversation on 17 August, I told you I had been working on problems in the commercial nuclear power field for a long time. In 1984, I wrote three letters to 1 Chairman Palladino critic 1cing the chLnge in Federal  !

Regulations which authorize- a Senior operator to deviate i from technical specificatis in an emergency. >

Marold Denton replied to my letters. In his letter dated July ,

31, 1984 Mr. Denton listed specific circumstances which must b exist before the-neu rule can be used. I replied to Mr. (

i- Dentou on August 6, 1984. In my letter, I showed that Mr.  !

Denton's specific circumstances existed at Three Mile Isli..d while the nuclear plant operators had the emergency core cooling system shut down:

An emergency existed. The Senior Operator thought that it was reasonable to shut down the emergency core cooling system because it was not immediately apparent to him that following -

Technica) Specifications was providing protection. It was not immediatt , apparent to the Senior Operator that following i Technical Specifications was needed to protect public health  !

and safety. It was not immediately apparent to him that fuel  :

design limits might be exceeded threatening a barrier i designed to protect public health and safety by preventing  !

the release of radioactive fission products. l Region I of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission was notified ,

four hours and forty-five minutes after the accident began.  !

At this time, reactor coolant system pressure was below the  ;

set point of the emergency core cooling system but the i cooling syntem was shut down. The licensee continued to  !

deviate from Technical Specifications. Fuel design limits t were exceeded, fission products released, and the health and safety of the public threatened. ,

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l Rather than permitting operators to deviate from Technical l Specifications when operating Three Mile Irland, operator 5 '

should have been required to follow Technical Specifications. l ItiMetropolitan Edison executives had required that Three Mile Island be operated as stipulated in the Operating ,

License and Technical Specifications, there would have been  ;

no accident. [

t Mr. Denton did not reply to my. August 6 .'etter. l Enclosed are copies of letters exchanged between the Nuclear Regulatory Commission ar.d me in 1984.  !

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{

sincerely yours,  ;

bt f-7 }

Charles Young  !

Enclosures:

Hy letter to Chairmin Palladino dated May 3, 1984 Hy letter to Chairman Palladino dated June 14, 1984 i My letter to Chairman Palladino dated July 17, 1934  !

Mr. Denton's letter to me dated July 31, 1984 [

Hy reply to Mr. Denton dated August 6, 1984 i Hr. Denton's letter to me dated August 23,1984 [,

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