ML20244D652

Responds to to Chairman Zech Re Concerns W/Status of Emergency Preparedness at Facility.Commission Continues to Endorse Deliberate,Phased Startup Program,Over 4 to 6 Month Period,W/Augmented NRC Oversight

ML20244D652
Person / Time
Site:	Pilgrim
Issue date:	04/17/1989
From:	Murley T Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:	Lampert E AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED
Shared Package
ML20244D654	List: ML20244D652 ML20244D682
References
NUDOCS 8904240059
Download: ML20244D652 (4)

Text

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APR 17100 k ..... f l Ms. Mary Elizabeth Lampert 148 Washington Street .

Duxbury, Massachusetts 02332

Dear Ms._Lampert:

I aru responding to your letter to Chairman Lando W. Zech, Jr. of February 18, 1989, in which you expressed your concern regarding the status of emergency preparedness.for the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant. -

As you are aware, after giving careful consideration to the views expressed

on the emergency. preparedness issue at both the October 14 and December 9 Comission meetings, the Comission voted unanimously on December 21, 1988, to endorse the Nuclear Regulatory Comission (NRC) staff's proposal to permit the supervised restart of the Pilgrim facility. The decision was based on a thorough assessment of the management and technical issues, which were the original bases for the plant shutdown, as well as the status and progress toward resolution of the emergency planning issues.

The Comission's action did not result in the imediate resumption of full-power operations at Pilgrim. Rather, the Commission endorsed a deliberate, phased start-up program over a 4- to 6-month period, with augmented NRC oversight.

Moreover, the Comission required the NRC staff to subeit formal reports at each of six hold points. These reports were to include an assessment of progress made toward resolution of the Pilgrim emergency preparedness issues.

The Comission believed the supervised restert approach would provide the opportunity for the Commonwealth and local governments to make further progress

.on improvements in emergency planning while the NRC staff assessed the operating capability of the licensee. The start-up program has reached the 25 percent power level with NRC approval having been obtained at each hold point. The reports that the staff has prepared have included the status of emergency preparedness. The NRC staff evaluation of emergency preparedness issues indicates that progress has been made.

Mth respect to the issue of the reception centers, the NRC staff provided its L

assessment of this issue at both the October 14 and December 9,1988, Comission meetings. Although proposed improvements to the reception centers had not yet

. been completed, the staff concluded that, if needed, the f acilities could be l used to carry out energency response functions, including registration, I monitoring, and decontamination of evacuees. In making its determination, the I staff visited the Taunton and Bridgewater facilities, and considered the scope I of the functions to be performed at reception centers, the existence of plans and procedures for the operation of the facilities, and the turrent availability l

or accessibility of equipment for use at the facilities in the event of an OFM I I 2

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Ms. Mary Elizabeth Lampert emergency at Pilgrim. In addition to NRC staff observations,-information' provided by the Civil Defense Director for Taunton indicates that the Taunton State. Hospital could function adequately as a reception center during an emergency. The hRC staff concluded that, although improvements should be completed, the facilities and related planning for operation of the facilities are sufficient to ensure that the reception centers could be used effectively ,

I in the event of an emergency at Pilgrim. The Commonwealth's efforts to complete the reception center improvements, with the assistance of the Boston Edison Company, art expected to enhance the capability of these facilities to-operate. in an emerp cy.

To sumarize, the Commission continues to endorse a deliberate, phased start-up program, over a 4- to 6-month period, with augmented NRC oversight. The NRC staff will continue to monitor _both the operating performance of the licensee and the progress of the Commonwealth and. local governments in improving offsite emergency preparedness. . In this regard, the Comission strongly encourages cooperative and expeditious action by Boston Edison, the Commonwealth, and local governments to further improve the state of emergency preparedness for the area

. surrounding the Pilgrim facility.

Sincerely,

. Original signed by, Thomas E. }!nrloy, Thomas E. Murley, Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation DISTRIBUTION:

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FROM: DUE: EDO CONTROL:-OOO4324 DOC DT: 02/18/89 FINAL REPLY:

l Mary Elizabr'th Lampert Duxbury,-Massachusetts TO:

Chairman Zech FOR SIGNATURE OF: ** GRN ** CRC NO: 89-0208 DESC: ROUTING:

l EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS IN THE TJWNS AROUND Russell, RI PILGRI,M DATE: 03/14/b9 ASSIGNED TO: CONTACT:

NRR Murley

~SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR REMARKS:

For Appropriate Action NRR RECEIVED: MARCH 15, 1989 ACTION: {DREP:C0NGEL ,

NRR ROUTING: MURLEY/SNIEZEK MIRAGLIA VARGA CRUTCHFIELD GILLESPIE M0SSBURG f

___-- _ - _ - - - _ - - - - - - _ - - _ - -._ _ )

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OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY CORRESPONDENCE CONTROL TICKET PAPER NUMBER: CRC-89-0208 LOGGING DATE:~ Mar 10 89

ACTION OFFICE:. EDO AUTHOR: M.E. Lampert

!' AFFILIATION:- MA (MASSACHUSETTS)

LETTER DATE: Feb 15 89 FILE CODE: ID&R-5 Pilgrim

SUBJECT:

Emergency preparedness in the towns around Pilgrim

... ACTION : Appropriate DISTRIBUTION: Docket SPECIAL HANDLING: None NOTES:

DATE DUE:

SIGNATURE: . DATE SIGNED:

AFFILIATION:

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