ML20245H322

Expresses Concern About 890412 Event at Plant & Status of Radiological Emergency Plans for Town & Problems Encountered During Restart

ML20245H322
Person / Time
Site:	Pilgrim
Issue date:	05/15/1989
From:	Thompson A PLYMOUTH, MA
To:	Zech L NRC COMMISSION (OCM)
Shared Package
ML20245H302	List: ML20245H297 ML20245H304 ML20245H322
References
NUDOCS 8906290459
Download: ML20245H322 (2)

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q[ TOWN OF PLYMOUTH V SELECTMEN gg . OFFICE OF :

m 'THE SELECTMEN ""g a" d A RS GECmGE W. CAMERON .

11 IJncoln Street WILLIAM R GRIFTIN 11ymouth. Massachusetts 02360 .$"c ONIs chainna n '-

' EXECtmVE SECRETARY '-

(508) 747-1620 May 15,'1989 Lando Zech, Chairman Nuclear. Regulatory Commission 1 White flint North 11555.Rockville Pike

'Rockville, MD 20852

Dear Chairman Zech:

It has been less than six months since the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station in this community began the re-start process.

In that period of time a series.of mishaps, personnel errors, and maintenance problems has closed tt i plant seven times.

The' record brings into question the a Svisability of your granting permission for-the plant to move beyond the 25%

ascension power level. Indeed that record should give the Nuclear-Regulatory Commission cause for genuine alarm.

There has been a' wash of public relation words issuing from the owners,.the Boston Edison Company. Palliative statements from NRC officials have also been quoted in the' press.  ;

1 Finally the NRC on May 8, 1989, issued a report (Docket 50- j 293) on the April 12 accident involving a malfunction and j personnel errors, and a spill of radioactive water. This is 1 the same accident about which we wrote you in our letter l dated April 25, 1989.

The following is a quote from your Docket 50-293 report on the April 12, 1989 incident:

"There were however numerous proximate human factors and equipment-related causes that,' considered collectively, raised a broader and more fundamental issue regarding your processes to assure defense in depth in the conduct of plant operations. Significant weaknesses at several working levels in your organization (Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station) were ,

revealed regarding shift supervision's control of i surveillance testing, licensed operator cognizance of plant I conditions, procedural adherence / validation and independent j verification of work activities."  !

1 8906290459 890615 P

, PDR- COMMS NRCC l CORRESPONDENCE PNV I

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You'aust.know we are compelled, and it isLthe purpose of this

letter to. reiterate our deep. concern for the capability.of Pilgrim to operate safely.- Because our radiological emergency. plans are all-in draft form only,'are also. .

p incomplete, and have~never.been tested by any exercise', we L ' feel our. town to'be especially. vulnerable.

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None of'thislis news to you. We"have. testified, spoken,cand' written without'end. In every. case, you have chosen to

. accept:the reports of~your own staff'rather than the facts

-presented to you by this Board.of Selectmen' relative to our emergency planning.

Now, we -have' arrivec" at a' point where the past troubled .

-history of the Pih,r3m Plant up to the time of shut-down in 1986 is'being rept4ted in spite-.of vast outlays of money and'

-many administration r.hanges.

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In the face of these disturbing events which have occurred since the December'1988 restart and in the face of what we know about the state of emergency planning, we again reflect our concern-to the NRC which has always~ maintained its full jurisdiction in nuclear matter. That. jurisdiction makes you responsible for the safety of Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station-and of this town in the event of radiological emergency.

We, the Selectmen of. Plymouth, a community which is entirely within the Emergency. Planning Zone, a community-of.45,000 inhabitants, a community of 103 square miles, a community with over 8,000 children in schools which do not yet have an emergency plan, remind you.of your responsibility not only to oversee the Pilgrim Nuclear. Power. Station, but toLconsider, the~public safety.

Sincerely, h3 Alba C. Thompso Chairman ACT/It cc D. Hadfield, Plymouth Civil Defense Director P. Agnes, Assistant Secretary, Public Safety EPZ Communities Representative Robert Kraus Representative Peter Forman Senator Edward Kirby Congressman Gerry Studds Senator Edward Kennedy Senator John Kerry

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