ML20207G262

Forwards P Birnie Re Peach Bottom Subsequent to Reactor Power Oscillations Following 880309 LaSalle Event

ML20207G262
Person / Time
Site:	Peach Bottom, LaSalle, 05000000
Issue date:	07/28/1988
From:	Mikulski B SENATE
To:	Bradburne J NRC OFFICE OF GOVERNMENTAL & PUBLIC AFFAIRS (GPA)
Shared Package
ML20207G227	List: ML20207G221 ML20207G262
References
NUDOCS 8808240041
Download: ML20207G262 (2)

Text

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BAABARA h MIK,ULSKI MARYLANO l

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9ltnifeb afales Senate

! W ASHINGTON, D.C. 205*0 l

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July 28, 1988 l

Mr. John C. Bradburne Office of Government and Public Affairs U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555 1

Dear Mr. Bradburne:

Enclosed, please find a copy of a letter which I recently received from Ms. Patricia Birnie. Ms. Birnie has i raised some concerns regarding the Peach Bottom Nuclear  ;

Power Station. As you know, I, too, am concerned about the 1

I safety of the Mark One reactors used at the Peach Bottom Nuclear Power Plant in Pennsylvania.

I respectfully request that you review Ms. Birnie's letter and respond to me concerning the issues that have l

been raised.

Your prompt reply is greatly appreciated. )

Sincerely, Barbara A. Mikulski ,

United States Senator i BAM:mch Enclosure 8808240041gj$$oh74 PDR ADOCK PNV h

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eener@altematWes July 5, 1988 enator Barbara Mikulski United States Senate 320 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Senator Mikulski:

We are writing in regard to the "Suppression of Reactor.

Power Oscillations" affecting all boiling water reactors, subsequent to the LaSalle 2 incident March 9, 1988.

In as much as Peach Bottom is an ageing reactor, now 1 -1 years old, we have little confidence that its system could be robust enough to withstand the shocks of power surges such as the 4-year old LaSalle reactor was subjected to.

We ask that the ACRS review of Peach Bottom include an analysis of the structure of the reactor, to critique its ability to withstand such power oscillations, its e.dequacy of instrumentation to reflect accurately what is going on inside the reactor, and adequacy of training of personnel to follow appropriate procedures in case of this kind of emergency. We ask that any ACRS recommendations for improvements in regard to this problem be fully implemented and operational prior to any consideration of restart.

It is distressing that it took the NRC more than three months following the LaSalle incident to notify other BWR operators, for what appears to be a significant safety problem.

It is further distressing that the NRC's notification appears to be essentially advisory in nature.

We urge your office to follow this issue and to help Insure its effective resolution.

Sincerely, EQPH902/ COLUMBIA,MD/21044 (301) 3 5-2?14/453-4674