ML20236B820

Responds to 760304 Inquiry Re Questions Directed to Author by J Schuchman Concerning Effect of Potential Earthquake Activity on State of CA Nuclear Power Plants.Executive Summary of Reactor Safety Study Encl.W/O Stated Encl

ML20236B820
Person / Time
Site:	Diablo Canyon, 05000000
Issue date:	04/07/1976
From:	Dircks W NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO)
To:	Mondale W SENATE
Shared Package
ML20236A877	List: ML20236A874 ML20236A896 ML20236A920 ML20236A950 ML20236A959 ML20236A975 ML20236B012 ML20236B016 ML20236B024 ML20236B067 ML20236B072 ML20236B116 ML20236B278 ML20236B286 ML20236B312 ML20236B315 ML20236B345 ML20236B356 ML20236B362 ML20236B403 ML20236B420 ML20236B436 ML20236B440 ML20236B476 ML20236B480 ML20236B506 ML20236B514 ML20236B522 ML20236B539 ML20236B547 ML20236B550 ML20236B560 ML20236B571 ML20236B594 ML20236B612 ML20236B630 ML20236B635 ML20236B650 ML20236B655 ML20236B670 ML20236B686 ML20236B695 ML20236B701 ML20236B705 ML20236B708 ML20236B726 ML20236B737 ML20236B748 ML20236B755 ML20236B793 ... further results
References
FOIA-87-214 NUDOCS 8707290247
Download: ML20236B820 (3)

Text

- _ _ _ - .

8% g

+

April 7,1976 Docket No. 50-275 l

Honorable Walter F. Mondale United States Senate

Dear Senator Mondale:

l l

This is in response to your inquiry of March 4, 1976, regarding 1 questions directed to you by Ms. Joan Schuchman of St. Paul, {

Minnesota. She expressed concern about nuclear reactors in Cali-i '

fornia because of potential future earthquake activity, specifically along the San Andreas fault, t I

The Commission's general design criteria given in 10 CFR Part 50, I require that nuclear power plants be designed to withstand the effects of natural phenomena such as earthquakes.

To provide guidance to the utilities in their investigation of the earthquake potential for a site, the Nuclear Regulatory Comission (formerly the Atomic Energy Connission) adopted criteria for the seiamic and geologic evaluation of nuclear power plants. These are Biven in 10 CFR Part 100, Appendix A (copy en.:losed).

These criteria represent the Commission's decision as to what geologic and seismic data are necessary to determine site suitability and to provide reasonable assurance that a nuclear power plant can be con-structed and operated at a proposed site without undue risk to the health and safety of the public. The development of the criteria was initiated in 1966. They were completed and adopted for use in reviewing and evaluating nuclear power plant sites in November 1973. ,

I The adoption of the criteria followed extensive review and revision after comments by the utilities, their consultants, and by rovern-ment cgencies, particularly the United States Geological Sarvey.

The public riska from potential reactor accidents from all causes, including earthquakes, have recently been estimated in a study  ;

j directed by Dr. Norman Rasmussen of the Massachusetts Institute of '

i i

l 9707290247 ON)721 bh PDR FOIA )

CONNOR87-214 PDR 1

a e

, Honorable Walter F. Mondale Technology. This study shows that the likelihood of reactor accidents is nuch smaller than that of many non-nuclear accidents having similar consequences. All non-nuclear accidents examined in the study, including fires, explosions, toxic chemical releases, dam f ailures, airplane crashes, earthquakes, hurricanes and tornadoes, are auch more likely to occur and can have consequences comparable to, or

. larger than, those of nuclear accidents. Two copias of the executive summary of this report are enclosed.

With respect to Ms. Schuchman's first question, there are four nuclear power plants in California. - The first three of these, which are located near the cities of San Clemente, Eureka, and Sacramento, have received operating licenses. The fourth,'Diablo Canyon in San Luis Obispo County, is under final licensing review. The Commission has rejected two applications to construct nuclear plants because of their proximity to the San Andreas fault and the unacceptably high earthquake risk involved. These were the Bodega Bay and Mendocino sites located north of San Francisco.

1 Vs. Schuchman's second question was "Can they become inactive quickly?"

Reactor shutdown and protection systema are included in all reactors l to monitor essential parameters in the operation of the plant and to '

cause alarm or automatic shutdown when off-normal conditions occur.- ,

These systems can terminate the fission process very quickly, and other safety systems provide continued cooling of the fuel following a shutdown.

We are pleased to be of assistance in this inquiry.

Sincerely,

\Villiam I. Dircks Ascittant E:.ecutive Director t:r Ope 2at2ons

Enclosures:

1. Referral slip dtd 3/4/76 transmitting ltr dtd 2/28/76 fm Jnan Schuchman

2. " Reactor Safety Study" (Executive Summary)

WASH-1400 (2)

3. 10 CFR Part 100, Appendix A-i 1

1

)

s.+~

a

+ Honorable Walter F. Mondale  :

r

, Distribution: )

'j. Docket Files (50-275) .j NRR Rdg l j

GSB Rdg DSE Rdg EDO Rdg

.j JStepp WGammill DMuller ,

HDenton

, BRusche ,

. ECase 1 I

RHeineman RBoyd l

JMiller VStello MGroff (9972) i VMoore GKnighton WRegan BYoungblood ELD OCA (3) l LGossick I&E l

NRC P OC L o c..l T D R S

l (' i F

• ELD

• See previous concurrences f h.14

, 4/ /76 , .

! DSE:S :GSB_ , ' ,,,, .. _,,,,,EQQ,,-M

,ove:maih .DSEpT oFric *

...D . % B ,,,

,,,QgA ga ,,hj

.R.Ga . i. l.... -

DMuL. tt / EC g I evaNa==> '.1ePP. . . HDe: t a ... m ..LGossick t Date> ,,,,h. , .! 7 h ,,,,h[,, ,,,[,f.b ' h.), , ,,,[ 7,h ,,,,h. ,, ,, 2h ,,,,,,,,,,h[.. ,[1h ..,,h [ ,,((h,,,,,,,,,

-} Form AEC.318 (Rev.'9 53) AECM 0240 W u, s. ooVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICES 9974 536148 I'