ML20236X815

Responds to 980729 & 30 Ltrs to Hj Miller Expressing Concern About Recent Events at Haddam Neck & Requests NRC Intervention at Site.Nrc Closely Monitoring Licensee Current Efforts at RCS Decontamination

ML20236X815
Person / Time
Site:	Haddam Neck File:Connecticut Yankee Atomic Power Co icon.png
Issue date:	07/30/1998
From:	Blough A NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I)
To:	Lochbaum D UNION OF CONCERNED SCIENTISTS
References
NUDOCS 9808100277
Download: ML20236X815 (3)

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July 30,1998 Mr. David A. Lochbaum Nuclear Safety Engineer Union of Concerned Scientists 1G16 P Street, NW Suite 310 Washington, DC 20036-1495

Dear Mr. Lochbaum:

This responds to your letters of July 29 and 30,1998, to Hubert J. Miller, Regional Administrator. In those letters you express concems about recent events at Haddam Neck and request NRC intervention at the site.

Although we may have a different understanding than you on some of the factual details, we nonetheless agree that the recent events are cause for increased !nterest and regulatory attention at the facility.

In response to the series of valve lineup and configuration control errors, the NRC closely monitored and observed licensee efforts to evaluate the events (individually and collectively); to determine causes; and to develop, implement, and confirm corrective measures. Before proceeding with the reactor coolant system (RCS) decontamination, the licensee committed to perform several actions to prepare for the RCS decontamination, and respond to potential problems. The licensee briefed the NRC on the preparatory actions taken and NRC reviewed a detailed written submittal on these actions dated July 16,1998.

We are monitoring closely the licensee's current efforts at RCS decontamination. The difficulties encountered so far do not appear to present a hazard to the public. Very close attention to worker safety is warranted, of course, due to the fact that the RCS decontamination uses aggressive chemicals and is designed to remove previously fixed contamination from the system. Further, a comprehensive licensee evaluation of each unplanned occurrence during RCS decontamination is warranted to identify root causes and implement appropriate corrective actions. We also share the view that a careful approach is required to proceed with a safe decommissioning.

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9909100277 PDR 99073o /

H ADOCK 05000213 PDR OFFICIAL RECORD COPY

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D. A. Lochbaum 2 Our inspectors will closely observe activities, NRC management will monitor the situation closely, we will request licensee management briefings or meetings as appropriate, and we will take other regulatory action if we believe it is necessary to fulfill our Agency's safety mission to protect the health and safety of workers and the public. We intend to use the experiences at Haddam Neck to enhance our guidance to and inspection of future decommissioning to ensure that preventable events are avoided. ,

1 Sincerely, Original Signed By:

A. Randolph Blough, Director Division of Nuclear Materials Safety cc:

D. Davis, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer R. A. Mellor, Vice President, Operations and Decommissioning Connecticut Yankee Atomic Power Company T. Bennet, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer D. Amerine, Vice President, Human Services G. Bouchard, Unit Director J. Haseltine, Engineering Director G. van Noordennen, Licensing Manager J. Ritsher, CYAPCO Counsel R. Bassilakis, Citizens Awareness Network J. Block, Attorney for CAN J. Brooks, CT Attomey Genert.l Office K. Ainsworth, Town of Haddam State of Connecticut SLO I

D. A. Lochbaurn 3 Distribution w/ encl:

Region i Docket Room (with concurrences)

PUBLIC Nuclear Safety Information Center (NSIC)

NRC Resident inspector D. Screnci, PAO J. Wiggins, DRS J. White, DRS J. Nick, DNMS R. Bellamy, DNMS Distribution w/enci (VIA E MAIL):

B. McCabe, OEDO S. Weiss, NRR, DRPM, PDND T. Fredrichs, PM, NRR M. Callahan, OCA SPO,NRR R. Correia, NRR F. Talbot, NRR D. Screnci, PAO, ORA DOCDESK Inspection Program Branch, NRR (IPAS)

DOCUMENT NAME: G:d&lbihn\lockbaum,wpd To receive a copy of this document, indicate in the box: "C" = Copy without attachment / enclosure *E" = Copy with attachment / enclosure "N" = No copy 0FFICE RI/DNHS / RI/D / NRR / NRR 0 NAME M ROBERTS tert. R BLOUGH S WEISS Y T FREDRICHS H )fitLER DATE 07/30/98 07/J 2/98 07/ N98 07/ A /98 7// \/98 0FFICIAL RECORD COPY aq V(n j

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