ML20217Q723

Expresses Appreciation of Petition Dtd 980405,submitted on Behalf of Ucs.Petition Addressed to EDO of Us NRC & Requests That Operating License for Browns Ferry,Unit 1 Be Revoked. Fr Notice & Petition Processing Pamphlet Encl

ML20217Q723
Person / Time
Site:	Browns Ferry
Issue date:	04/29/1998
From:	Collins S NRC (Affiliation Not Assigned)
To:	Lochbaum D UNION OF CONCERNED SCIENTISTS
Shared Package
ML20217Q725	List: ML20217Q723 ML20217Q727
References
2.206, NUDOCS 9805110040
Download: ML20217Q723 (4)

Text

_ ________ _ . . _ _

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l g y- 4 UNITED STATES

< E NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION f WASHINGTON, D.C. 2055H001 J

%. p April 29, 1998 Mr. David A. Lochbaum Union of Concerned Scientists 1616 P Street, NW, Suite 310 Washington, DC 20036-1495

Dear Mr. Lochbaum:

This letter is to acknowledge receipt of a petition dated April 5,1998, submitted by you on behalf of the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS). The petition ras addressed to the Executive Director for Operations of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). The petition requests (1) that the Operating License for Browns Feny, Unit 1 be revoked and (2) that the NRC should require the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to submit either a decommissioning plan or a lay-up plan for Browns Ferry, Unit 1. As the basis for the UCS request, the petition asserts that because Browns Ferry Unit 1 has been on " administrative hold" since June 1,1995, and has not operated since then, revocation of the operating license and requiring relicensing, if TVA later decides to restart Unit 1, is a better, safer process than is the current inspection Manual Chapter 0350 restart process. Further, the petition asserts that requiring a decommissioning plan would provide issurance that the irradiated fuelis stored safety and that Units 2 and 3 are sufficiently indeper *nt of Unit i for safe operation.

The pe. on has been referred to me pursuant to 10 CFR 2.206 of the Commission's regulations.

As provided by Section 2.206, action will be taken on the request within a reasonable time.

In the UCS petition, you requested a hearing to present new information on Browns Ferry, Unit 1 that would include a discussion of the licensing basis reconstitution that would be required to support restart, and certain financial aspects that might be a consideration for the TVA's decision for retaining the Browns Ferry, Unit 1 Operating License. NRC policy, as defined in Management Directive 8.11, " Review Process for 10 CFR 2.206 Petitions,"is to hold an informal public hearing if the 2.206 Petition meets either of the following criteria:

The petition provides new information with reasonable supporting facts that raise the potential for a significant safety issue. /

+

The petition alleges violations of NRC requirements involving a significant safety issue for  !

which new information or a new approach has been provided and presents reasonable supporting facts that tend to establish that the violation occurred. ,

The petition does not provide new information that raises the potential for a significant safety '

issue. According to the guidance in Management Directive 8.11, a significant safety issue would be one that could lead to an occupational exposure dose equivalent exce7 ding 10 rem, could cause significant core damage, or could otherwise significan1y reduce the protection of public health and safety. Furthermore, the Petition does not allege any violations of NRC requirements.

Therefore, the NRC does not intend to hold an informal hearing regarding the UCS Petition.

With regard to any new information that you believe should be considered by my staff in 1

I evaluating the issues in the UCS petition, please provide that information promptly in writing to Mr. Frederick J. Hebdon, U.S. NRC, PDil-3, M/S 014B21, Washington, DC 20555.

q 9805110040 980429 PDR ADOCK 05000259

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l-D. Lochbaum . April 29,1998 I have enclosed for your information a copy of the notice that is being filed with the Office of the i - Federal Register for publication. I have also enclosed a pamphlet on the public petition process.

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Sincerely,

. Odginalsignedby SamuelJ. Collins  ;

Samuel J. Collins, Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Enclosures:

1. Federa/RegisterNotice

2. Petition Process Pamphlet cc: See next page w/o Enclosure 2 Distribution - 2.206 Acknowledgment Letter to D. Lochbaum I w/o Enclosure 2 Docket File (50-259) S. Burns, OGC PUBOO (w/ incoming letter) K. Cyr, OGC ED V 'i980199 J. Goldberg, OGC L. Callan W. Gleaves H. Thompson B. Sheron A. Thadani W. Travers P. Norry J. Roe J. Blaha R. Zimmerman S. Collins /F. Miraglia L. Reyes, Ril B. Boger OPA BFN r/f OCA J. Zwolinski B. Clayton F. Hebdon A. DeAgazio w/ incoming EDO Reading M. Boyle (e-mail only MLB4)

M. Thadani NRR Mail Room (EDO#G980199 w/ incoming)

R. Laskins

- J. Goldberg L. Plisco, Region ll

'*SEE PREVIOUS CONCURRENCE , r OFFICE PDll-3/PM M PDll-3/lA, PDil-3/D , ) TECH Eh QGC h1 NAME nuFAGAZIO:cw dCLAh FHEBDO BCalure h4 DATE '//#V/98 d /dL/98 4 /24/98 04/24/98 8 OFFICE DRPE/D(A) . ADP(A) .k NR M W 9ll$9 (ji Qw.eze e

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lV l D. Lochbaum -2'- April 29, 1998 i:

I have enclosed for your information a copy of the notice that is being filed with the Office of the .

Federal Register for publication. I have also enclosed a pamphlet on the public petition process.

Sincerely,  ;

o I

l S

ffice of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Enclosures:

~ 1. - Federal Register Notice

2. Petition Process Pamphlet cc: See next page .;

- w/o Enclosure' 2

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- Mr. O. J. Zeringue BROWNS FERRY NUCLEAR PLANT Tennessee Valley Authority cc:

Mr. J. A. Scalice, Senior Vice President Mr. Mark J. Burzynski, Managar l Nuclear Operations Nuclear Licensing Tennessee Valley Authority Tennessee Valley Authority 6A Lookout Place 4J Blue Ridge 1101 Market Street 1101 Market Street Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 l Mr. Jack A. Bailey, Vice President - Mr. Timothy E. Abncy, Manager Engineering & Technical Services Licensing and Industry Affairs Tennessee Valley Authority Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant 6A Lookout Place Tennessee Valley Authority 1101 Market Street P.O. Box 2000 Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 Decatur, AL 37402-2801 Mr. C. M. Crane, Site Vice President Regional Administrator, Region il Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant- U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Tennessee Valley Authority 61 Forsyth Street, SW., Suite 23T85 P.O. Box 2000 Atlanta, GA 30303-3415 Decatur, AL 35609 Mr. Leonard D. Wert General Counsel Senior Resident inspector Tennessee Valley Authority U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ET 10H Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant 400 West Summit Hill Drive 10833 Shaw Road Knoxville, TN 37902 Athens, AL 35611 Mr. Raul R. Baron, General Manager State Health Officer Nuclear Assurance Alabama Dept. of Public Health Tennessee Valley Authority 434 Monroe Street 4J Blue Ridge Montgomery, AL 35130-1701 1101 Market Street

' Chattanooga, TN 37402-2801 Chairman Limestone County Commission Mr. Karl W. Singer, Plant Manager 310 West Washington Street Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant Athens, AL 35611 Tennessee Valley Authority P.O. Box 2000 Decatur, AL- 35609