ML20207D993
| ML20207D993 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Millstone  |
| Issue date: | 03/01/1999 |
| From: | Bill Dean NRC (Affiliation Not Assigned) |
| To: | Wasley M AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20207D997 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9903100114 | |
| Download: ML20207D993 (5) | |
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UNITED STATES l
5 NUCLEAR. REGULATORY COMMISSION k*****
j WASHINGTON, D.C. 20$65-0001 March 1,1999 l
Margaret G. Wasley 246 Old Black Point Road 3
i Niantic, CT 06357 i
Dear Ms. Wasley:
I am responding to your letter of January 22,1999, in which you expressed concems about j
operating history and lack of safety at Millstone Units 2 and 3.
j The overall plant performance at Millstone Unit 3 since its restart in July 1998 has been generally typical of a plant retuming to service after a lengthy shutdown. The plant has i
experienced several trips which resulted in the expected reactor transients, and no abnormalities were observed either during the events or during plant recovery. The overall risk i.
significance of these plant shutdowns was low and plant operators respondeo well to the challenges, exhibiting conservative decision making and deliberate efforts to ensure compliance l
with procedural requirements. Licensee msnagement has initiated an assessment of the j
r; umber and severity of challenges facing the plant operations staff since the return to power operations. Recognition on the part of senior licensee management of the need for increased l
attention to this area, as well as to the reduction of existing operator burdens, is reflected in its recent initiative to provide a renewed " operational focus" to all activities and decisions affecting
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the unit. As with any NRC Category 2 watchlist plant, the NRC plans to continue increased regulatory oversight at Millstone Unit 3 until the plant establishes and maintains the appropriate level of safety performance, As referenced in your letter, on January 4,1999, water containing low levels of tritium and trace amounts of other radionuclides (a total of approximately 0.0217 curies) leaked out of the Millstone Unit 3 waste test tank before the licensee could isolate the leak. Heavy rain at that time carried the slightly contaminated water to Niantic Bay. A berm, which was designed to retain any water leaking from the tank, failed to contain the leak. The tritium release was diluted in Niantic Bay and doses were evaluated na:ed on fish and seafood consumption, as well as recreational use of the Bay. The dose is well be!ow radiation dose design objectives for maintaining effluent releases as low as reasonably achievable in accordance with Appendir.1 to 10 CFR Part 50 (NRC regulations). (The doses to a member of the public calculated to result from the release of this radioactivity would be 2.2 x 10d" rem, as compared to the public dose.
limit from licensed activities,0.1 rem, found in 10 CFR 20.1301.) The licensee has investigated why the berm did not contain the leak and subsequently lined the berm with an impermeable membrane. After the appropriate analysis was performed on the remaining water in the waste test tank, the contents (more than 15,000 gallons) were released to Niantic Bay through the t
normal release path, which is a normal evolution at the plant and allowed under NRC
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l M. Wasley
- March 1,1999 With regard to Millstone Unit 2, the staff is utilizing' NRC Inspection Manual Chapter (IMC) 0350, " Staff Guidelines for Restart Authorization," as a guide for plant restart. As part of its -
l execution of IMC 0350, the staff developed a Restart Assessment Plan to capture all the expected NRC actions required before the NRC approves plant restart. The results of the i
NRC's inspections and the status of Millstone Unit 2 plant readiness are discussed at periodic public meetings in the vicinity of the Millstone site. The last such meeting was held on i.
January 11,1999. During the meetirg, the staff answered questions from members of the
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public regarding many aspects of NRC regulatory oversight. ' Let me assure you that a j
Commission decision authorizing the restart of Millstone Unit 2 will be made only when the Commission is satisfied that the condit'ons that led to the extended shutdown have been
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corrected to our satisfaction, regardless of the length of time that process may take. '
j Sincerely, s
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William M. Dean, Director Project Directorate 1-2 Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-336 & 50-423
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M. Wasley
-2 March 1,1999
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With regard to Mi!! stone Unit 2, the staff is utilizing NRC inspection Manual Chapter (IMC) 0350, " Staff Guidelines for Restart Authorization," as a guide for plant restart. As part of its execution of IMC 0350, the staff developed a Restart Assessment Plan to capture all the expected NRC actions required before the NRC approves plant restart. The results of the NRC's inspections and the status of Millstone Unit 2 plant readiness are discussed at periodic public meetings in the vicinity of the Millstone site. The last such meeting was held on j
January 11,1999. During the meeting, the staff answered questions from members of the i
public regarding many aspects of NRC regulatory oversight. Let me assure you that a Commission decision authorizing the restart of Millstone Unit 2 will be made only wtien the Commission is satisfied that the conditions that led to the extended shutdown have been corrected to our satisfaction, regardless of the length of time that process may take.
Sincerely,
/s/
l William M. Dean, Director Project Directorate 1-2 Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Docket Nos. 50-336 & 50-423 DISTRIBUTION Docket File PUBLIC (w/ incoming)
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- /3 /99 O //S/99 99 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY DOCUMENT NAME: YT9944
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TICKET NO: 019990044 DOC DT: 01/22/99 NRR RCVD DATE: 02/11/99 TO:
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i, 0,'C_C)lNrtS, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY
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PAPER NUMBER:
CRC-99-0126 LOGGING DATE:-Feb 9 99 ACTION OFFICE:
EDO AUTHOR:
MARGARET WASLEY
- -ys: Travers AFFILIATION:
CONNECTICUT MN (l4 ADDRESSEE:
CHAIRMAN JACKSON-Blehe LETTER DATE:
Jan 22 99 FILE CODE: IDR 5 MILLSTONE kt SUBJFCT:
MILLSTONE ACTION:
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CHAIRMAN, COMRS i
SPECIAL HANDLING: NONE CONSTITUENT:
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