ML20210A864
| ML20210A864 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Vermont Yankee File:NorthStar Vermont Yankee icon.png |
| Issue date: | 01/30/1987 |
| From: | Shannon J, Sneider C MASSACHUSETTS, COMMONWEALTH OF |
| To: | NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| References | |
| CON-#187-2436 OLA, NUDOCS 8702090031 | |
| Download: ML20210A864 (4) | |
Text
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DCCFE u r UNITED STATES OF AMERICA' M 'O NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
'87 FEB -5 A11 :17
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In the Matter of
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Power Corporation
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Docket No. 50-271
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(Vermont Yankee Nuclear
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Power Station)
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ATTORNEY GENERAL JAMES M.
SHANNON'S REQUEST FOR A HEARING AND PETITION TO INTERVENE WITH RESPECT TO VERMONT YANKEE'S SPENT FUEL POOL EXPANSION REQUEST Attorriey General James M.
Shannon hereby requests a hearing with respect to Vermont Yankee's request to expand spent fuel storage capacity, noticed at 51 Fed. Reg. 22,245 (June 18, 1986), in accordance with the " Notice of Consideration of Issuance of Amendment to Facility Operating License and Proposed No Significant Hazards Consideration Determination and Opportunity for Hearing," noticed at 51 Fed. Reg. 47324 (December 31, 1986), and in accordance with the hybrid hearing procedures set forth therein, and the Attorney General further petitions pursuant to 10 C.F.R. S 2.714 and S 2.715(c) for 1
leave to intervene in that proceeding.
1 Attorney General Shannon seeks to intervene in this proceeding on behalf of the citizens of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Several Massachusetts communities are located within ten miles of the Vermont Yankee site (the plume exposure emergency planning zone), and a large portion of the Commonwealth lies within fifty miles of the site (the ingestion exposure emergency planning :one).
The health and safety of Massachusetts citizens could therefore be affected by the
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outcome of this proceeding.
Attorney General Shannon also has a right to participate in this proceeding as a representative of an interested State pursuant to 10 C.F.R. 5 2.715(c).
The Attorney General asserts that Vermont Yankee's request to expand its spent fuel pool storage capacity presents a significant hazards consideration.
Boiling water reactor probabilistic risk assessment studies indicate that the frequency of severe accidents for these reactors is non-n'egligible.
A significant quantity of hydrogen gas could be generated in the event of a severe accident, even if the accident is terminated.
Through containment leakage or containment failure, this hydrogen gas would be released to the reactor building.
It is likely that this hydrogen gas will burn or detonate, generating pressure that will threaten the structural integrity of the reactor building.
Given the location of the spent fuel pool, it is possible that either:
i (a) spent fuel cooling systems will be damaged and rendered inoperable and that limited access to the building will prevent repair; or (b) the structural integrity of the spent fuel pool will be breached.
Inadequate cooling of the fuel in the spent fuel pool can then lead to a radiological release.
The greater the number of fuel assemblies in the spent fuel pool, the larger the release is likely to be.
There are alternatives to increasing the spent fuel pool that the licensee has not proposed, and that should be
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considered, including at least the following:
(a) constructing a dry spent fuel storage facility, or (b) constructing an in-ground spent fuel pool.
Attorney General Shannon wishes to participate in this proceeding with respect to the issues set forth above.
Respectfully submitted, JAMES M.
- SHANNON, ATTORNEY GENERAL of the COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS 5 k O W C L '!
By:
CAROL S. SNEIDER Assistant Attorney General E'.vironmental Protection Division Department of the Attorney General One Ashburton Place Boston, MA 02108 Dated:
January 30, 1987 l
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00f. KE IL; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
'87 FEB -5 A11 :18
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In the Matter of
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E E A6 U' Vermont Yankee Nuclear
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Power Corporation
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Docket No. 50-271
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(Vermont Yankee Nuclear
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Power Station)
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CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I, Carol-S. Sneider, hereby certify that on January 30, 1987, I made service of the within document by mailing copies thereof, postage prepaid, by first class mail, to:
Secretary of the Commission U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C.
20555 Attention:
Docketing and Service Branch Office of the General Counsel-Bethesda U.S. Nuclear. Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C.
20555 John A. Ritcher, Esquire Ropes and Gray 225 Franklin Street Boston, Massachusetts 02110 (Lk d $ '51 Li
( t Carol S.
Sneider Assistant Attorney General Environmental Protection Division Dated:
January 30, 1987 l
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