ML20212D396

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Requests Listed Info Re Recent Accident,W/Fatalities, Involving Radioactive Steam & Water.Response by 861231 Requested
ML20212D396
Person / Time
Site: Surry  Dominion icon.png
Issue date: 12/18/1986
From: Markey E
HOUSE OF REP., ENERGY & COMMERCE
To: Zech L
NRC COMMISSION (OCM)
Shared Package
ML20209D110 List:
References
NUDOCS 8703040108
Download: ML20212D396 (3)
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u ,,,ici uso.a. COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND COMMERCE )

The Honorable Lando W. Zech, Jr.

Chairman U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 1717 H Street, N.W. -

Washington, D.C. 20555

Dear Chairman Zech:

I view the recent accident at Virginia Power's Surry nuclear ,

powerplant which killed four workers and left two others hospitalized both as a tragedy and a sad indicator of a f atal pattern at the Surry nuclear powerplant. Although the accident.

involved non-radioactive steam and water, this accident, like the f atal accident at the Kerr-McGee Sequoyah Fuels f acility last' January, _and like earlier steam accidents at. the Surry facility, demonstrate that the NRC must be mindful of dangers common to industrial processes. This accident is a tragic reminder that the NRC must focus on all facets of nuclear powerplants to ensure that the public health and safety is protected.

It is important that the Subcommittee and the public fully.

understand this tragic accident. Please provide the Subcommittee with the following information. ,

1. Provide the Subcommittee with a complete description of ,

the accident. Include in this description a detailed chronology 1 of events and the federal, state and local officials who were l

. contacted and by whom. '

2. Please provide an operational history of the Surry facility. Include in this history a chronology of all notices of unusual events and all enforcement actions taken against the facility.
3. How many people have been injured onsite at Surry?

Provide the Subcommittee with a list of each accident at the Surry facility where a worker, either an employee or a contractor, has ,

been injured and hospitalized, giving the date of the accident, l the nature of the injury and the cause of the' accident. l 4 4. How many people have died of injuries received onsite at Surry? Provide the Subcommittee with a list of each accident at the Surry facility where a worker, either an employee or a contractor, has been killed, giving the date and cause of the accident.

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The Honorable Lando W. Zech, Jr.

Page 2 December 18, 1986

5. How many people have died at all operating nuclear powerplants since 19727 Provide .the Subcommittee with a list of each accident, the operating plant, the date and cause of the ,

l accident.

6. Provide the Subcommittee with a recent update on the findings of the Augmented Inspection Team's investigation of the accident. In addition, provide the Subcommittee with a draf t copy )

of this report as soon as it has been completed. l

7. Is the Commission aware of a steam pipe rupturing at any l other nuclear f acility that has caused serious injury, f atality, '

or interf ered with the operation of the f acility? If yes, provide the Subcommittee with a list of each occurrence.

8. Was the Commission made aware of a steam pipe rupturing at any generating station, either coal- or oil-fired, in the past -

two years? If the answer is yes, please answer the following questions:

a. Provide the Subcommittee with the details of the incident. Compare the rupture in that incident with the rupture of the pipe at the Surry plant. Was the rupture along the wall of the pipe? What was the original thickness of the pipe? What was the pressure of the steam?

4

b. Did the Commission notify licensees of the potential danger of a similar accident occuring at a nuclear l facility? If yes, provide the Subcommittee with documentation. If no, why not?
c. Has the Commission notified licensees regarding the integrity of pipes carrying high-pressure steam or water?

Provide the Subcommittee with all Office of Inspection and Enforcement Preliminary Notifications or Information Notices and Bulletins relating to pipe inspection, pipe i examination, and pipe integrity.

9. This accident appear to be highly unusual since the pipe did not rupture at the weld but it has been reported that the wall of the pipe ruptured.
a. Do the Commission's inspections include the integrity of the wall of a pipe carrying water or steam, radioactive or non-radioactive?

i Zech, Jr.

The Honorable Lando W.

I- Psga 3 Daccmber 18, 1986 b.

Does the Commission's probabilistic risk assessment examine the possibility of the wall of a pipe rupturing? If If yes, provide the Subcommittee with that analysis?

no, why not?

10. Describe the existing NRC regulations about pipes carrying radioactive water and steam and non-radioactive water and steam. Include in this description any requirements for inspections of each of these class of pipes.

11.

How does the NRC view the record of theabove Surryorfacility?

below Are average?

the number of accidents, f atal and non-f atal,Does the Commission Does the Commission plan a special ef fort to arrest acceptable? .I l

this alarming pattern?

l

12. Provide the Subcommittee with all correspondence between i the NRC and Virginia Power regarding the piping system andIn addition, provide steam-related accidents at Surry since 1972. i the Subcommittee with all correspondence between the NRC and Virginia Power af ter the report of the accident.
13. On July 23, 1986, I wrote to the Commission and l

requested an OI investigation into allegations concerning the I received an interim response j

for Power Plant Specialist Inc. . Please indicating that an investigation had been undertaken.

provide the Subcommittee with the status of this investigation and

' a copy of the draf t report ~ and any other documents generated f rom I this investigation.

Please provide a response to these questions by December 31, 1986.

3 Your attention to this matter is appreciated.

Sincerely, f

Edward J. Marke

/'

Chairman l

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