ML20209D695

Ack Receipt of Which Requested That NRC Reconsider Decision to Move NRC Resident Inspector from Big Rock Point Plant.Determined Decision to Be Correct One

ML20209D695
Person / Time
Site:	Big Rock Point File:Consumers Energy icon.png
Issue date:	07/07/1999
From:	Pederson C NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION III)
To:	Winnell M DON'T WASTE MICHIGAN
Shared Package
ML20209D700	List: ML20209D695 ML20209D701
References
NUDOCS 9907130201
Download: ML20209D695 (2)

Text

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• • • • • July 7, 1999 Mr. Michael Winnell Don't Waste Michigan - Northem Chapter 3250 Krause Road I Petosky, MI 49770

Dear Mr. Winnell:

Thank you for your letter of June 11,1999. Your letter requested that NRC reconsider its decision to move the NRC resident inspector from his current assignment at the Big Rock Point plant to a new assignment in the NRC Region lli office.

We have reviewed the decision, and, based on the inspection needs at Big Rock Point and elsewhere in the region, we believe the decision is the correct one.

The NRC inspection program for reactors undergoing decommissioning is govemed by our Manual Chapter (MC) 2561, " Decommissioning Power Reactor inspection Program." I am enclosing a copy of the Manual Chapter for your reference.

Under MC-2561, (see Section 06.07, page 10) a resident inspector may be retained at an actively decommissioning, single-unit site for up to 12 months. Big Rock Point shut down permanently in October 1997, and our inspector will be at Big Rock Point until October of this year, therefore, the resident inspector coverage at the site will have continued _for 24 months after the plant was shut down. We decided to exceed the normal 12 months because of the nature and scope of planned utility actMties for 1999, especially the types and quantitles of radioactive materials to be processed. The inspector's wishes were also taken into account. l I

We have reviewed the quality of safety performance in decommissioning activities at Big Rock Point to date. That performance has been good. We have also considered the nature and scope of upcoming decommissioning activities. Those actMties are compatible with less overali Inspection effort, and_ with inspection by personnel based in the Regional office.

We intend to perform the "High Decommissioning Activity" (HDA) inspection program, as it is defined in Appendix A to MC-2561 with some selected inmection procedures from Appendix B added in. Next year's inspection level will remain above the target for inspection hours contained in the "HDA" column of Appendix A. Planned inspector hours may be adjusted at any time if performance problems occur.

Having an onsite inspector has clearly been an asset for us at Big Rock Point. If he is available, we will use him in the future. You should know, however, that he afso conducted inspections at sites away from Big Rock Point during the past year, and he was periodically absent for training and leave. Other regional inspectors, especially radiation specialists visited the site at various times. We expect that inspectors with a variety of specialties will continue to be utilized in the coming years.

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y I M. Winnell The interest shown in the NRC's regulatory oversight at Big Rock Point by Don't Waste Michigain is appreciated. We have twice before correspanded with Ms. Doris Schaller Vemon of your organization on the subject of inspection coverage, ana wo em providing a copy of this response to her.

Sincerely,

/s/ C. D. Pederson Cynthia D. Pederson, Director Division of Nuclear Materials Safety

Enclosure:

As stated cc w/o encl: Ms. Doris Schaller Vemon 1028 Hoffman Street Petosky, MI 49770

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