ML20236B903

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Responds to Expressing Opposition to Allowing Plant to Operate Close to Major Active Fault & Informing NRC of Cooling Tank Malfunction.Nrc Currently Evaluating OL Application & Has Made No Decision Re Seismic Design
ML20236B903
Person / Time
Site: Diablo Canyon, 05000000
Issue date: 03/09/1976
From: Deyoung R
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To: Hill V
AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED
Shared Package
ML20236A877 List: ... further results
References
FOIA-87-214 NUDOCS 8707290281
Download: ML20236B903 (5)
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Distribution P Oocket File GErtter (# 9872)

NRC PDR JCook Local PDR MGroff UN 8 NRR Reading (M. Groff) EHughes LWR #3 Shill BRusche IE(3)

EGCase LWR Branch Chiefs i Docket Nos. 50-275 JMiller WRoss i HDenton WHaass and 50-323 RHeineman RCDeYoung VStello SECY Mail Facility (3)

RSBoyd (#76-1275)

Mr. Vincent A. hill DAllison EGoulbourne 330 Pinal ELD Crcutt , California 93454

Dear dr. riill:

Your letter of February 20, 1976 has been referred to me for reply. Your letter expressed opposition to allowing the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power flant to operate close to a cajor active fault and informed ua of a cooling i Lang . malfunction.

I First, let me say that there is currently no alqnificent ris.< to tne public bealta and safety associated with earthquakes at the Diablo Canyon site.

The reactors nave never operated and do not havc opcrating licenses. l heific sas and Electric Company does nave a licenae for stora;e of new j reactor fuel at the site. Tne Co.nission's ataff nds evaluated this new '

fuel storage and determined that it involves no si.;nificant risk cycn if ca cartacuar:c abould coeur salan 10 muca core severe tnan those considered in tae plant's desica.

Wita recard to an operatin: licence, it mu.st be eateblished that tne plant  ;

in adequately designed to sitnatand carthquaxos which could occar at tne j site cercre an operatinr, licence can ce lasued. The Comission's staff )

10 currently evaluating tne operatine licence application and haa not yet nade final conclusions concernirq tne seisric dcaign of tne plant. Ine enclos arc provides further details concerniu:', this evaluation. I csn assure yo; tnat all actions necessary to ensure en acceptaDie level of safety will be required before an operatin? license can be issued.

41tn reyard to tne coolin: tanc. malfunction you mentioned, se nave enocked tita tae Coaission's inspcotors in California. The malfunction which yoa des 0riacd la appr.rently on instance shere the Water icvel in the spent fuc1 storade pool was lowcred six inches below the level required by the fuel storage license for a snort period of ti p . The spent fuel storace pool in currently being used to store the new fuel discueced aboyc. This cvent nad no effect on public health an cafety, but it has been reported to tne Co=13sion and corrective action to prevent a recurrence will be W..

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I Form AEC-318 (Rev. 9 53) MCM 0240 W u. s. noVERNMENT PRINTING OrFICER 1974 926.lte )

87072902B1 870721 f PDR FOIA CONNORB70214 PDR

g gw t's . 'v'in c e n t A. tiill - 2-I trust you will find this information responsive to your conoorns.

Sincerely, o.

O'idual signed by II. C. DeYoung R. C. DeYoung, Assistant Director for Lignt 'nater Reactors Division of Project Management

Enclosure:

Diablo Canyon Seismic  !

Fvaluation 1

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..v. 3/g/76 3/9/76 3/976 Form ABC 318 (Rev. 9 53) AECM 0240 W u. e. oovanauswv enin num orrects sev4.sas.ies 5

ENCLOSUR" D1ABLO CANYON SEIStlIC DESIGN EVALUATION l The Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant is located on the coast about 12 miles from San Luis Obispo, California. Construction is naarly complet ed for the first of the two units at this site. The owner, Paci fic Gas and Electric Company, applied for an operating license in 1973. The Conmission's staff is currrotly evaluating the operating license application. This evaluation, which is now nearing completion, has been delayed nearly two years by considerations associated with the llosgri fault.

Construction permits were issued in 1968 and 1970 for Units 1 and 2, respectively, at t h.: Diablo Canyon site. Based on the investigations conducted at that time the plant was designed to withntand the following  !

earthquaks:

(1)' A great earthquake of magnitude 8'.5 along the San Andreas faul t 48 miles from the plant.

(2) A major earthquake of magnitude 7.25 along the Nacimiento f ault. j 20 miles from the plant.

(3) A riajor carthquake of raagnitude 7.5 along the of f-shore extension of the Santa Yncz fault 50 miles from the plant.

(4)  : af tershock of raagnitude 6.75 not associated with a known Iault a miles from the plant. j After the construction permits were issued, offshore Investigations conducted by Shell 011 Company showed the existence of a fault which  ;

had previously been unmapped. This is the Hosgri fault which runs i offshore from the vicinity of Point Sal on the south to Point San Simeon on the north and passes within about 3 1/2 niles of the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant at its closest approach.  !

Since the beginning of the operating license revieu, pacific Gas and Electric Company has conducted additional investigations and submitted  !

extensive information on the characteristics of the fault, its cap-

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abilities for producing earthquakes and the ability of the plant to 1 withstand earthquakes which are more severe than those considered in  !

the original design. The l'. S. Geological Surve: Ins also cenducted j extensive investigations concerning the characteristics anJ capabilities of the llosgri fault. The staff has not yet nade final conclusions on the capabilities of this fault for producing carthquaken or the acceptability I of the plant's seismic design.

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In evaluating these matters the staff has the assistance of its consultancy, including the U. S. Geological Survey. When the staff's evaluation is completed these matters must be considered by other bodies before an operating license can be issued. They will first be evaluated by the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards. Then the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board will hold public hearings near the plant site. At these hearings the Board will consider the evidence- and recommendations presented by Pacific Gas and Electric Company, the Commission's staff, the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards and other parties, including the State of California and interested citizens, before making a decision concerning an operating license. -

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_____________________a

oo, 76- 1275 togging oate .2/25/76

. ** NRC SECRETARIAT TO:

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Commissioner' Date 2/25/76

, @ Exec. DirdOper. O cen. Counsei O Cong. Liaison Soiicitor -

O Public Affairs O Secretary O

incoming: Vincent A. Hill. 330 PINAL. Orcut t- L From: Ca. 93454 To: Commissioners Date 2/20

Subject:

Prnpnend nporgtinn gg n.;;;;;7 p; ;;

Dinbin enn inn.

O Prepare repiv for signature of:

Chairman Commissioner E DO, GC, C L, SOL, P A, SECY Signature block omitted O

O Return originai of incoming with response 3 For direct repiv' SUSPENSE: March 16' O For 1.poropriate action s c'a ett '4

, S p's th b For inf ormation -

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For recommendation --(J-- ' (* <' ~

Remark si, Cy of incoming to Cmrs., D&SS.

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. . M.odheYo~nkmission: L vv L) -

4;dj' hdp3/cTpies of reply to Secy Mail Facility NRC42 ACTION SLIP I

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