ML20245J493
| ML20245J493 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Pilgrim |
| Issue date: | 06/23/1989 |
| From: | Zech L NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Dukakis M MASSACHUSETTS, COMMONWEALTH OF |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20245J497 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8907030068 | |
| Download: ML20245J493 (4) | |
Text
Distribution:
Docket File BBoger
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION a
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'. g WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555 rley/JSniezek PDI-3 r/f PDM GT S Wyj4,8 June 23, 1989 FMiraglia DCrutchfield CHAIRMAN DMossburg VStello JTaylor The Honorable Michael S. Dukakis HThompson Governor of Massachusetts JBlaha Boston, Massachusetts 02133 s
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Dear Governor Dukakis:
Ru hbr k I am responding to your letter of May 18, 1989, regarding problems encountered during restart of the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station and the April 12, 1989 overpressure transient on the reactor core isolation cooling (RCIC) system.
As you are aware, a Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) augmented inspection team (AIT) of technical specialists was dispatched to the Pilgrim site on April 13, 1989.
I can assure you that the Pilgrim Restart Assessment Panel will consider in its deliberations.the safety significance of the April 12 event, the AIT report on the event, other incidents that have occurred during restart, and subsequent Boston Edison Company activities.
As you may recall, this panel is a key element in the augmented NRC staff oversight of the Pilgrim facility during the phased restart endorsed by the Commission in December, 1988.
The May 1989 AIT report to which you referred in your letter as the result of the AIT's assessment of the event and the licensee's response to it.
The team concluded in its report that the safety significance of the event was minor and that the effects on the RCIC system equipment were minimal.
As you noted, there was concern about Boston Edison's processes to assure defense in depth
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in the conduct of plant operations However, the team further t
concluded that the licensee's appro.ach to the event was well structured and comprehensive and that the licensee had proposed sound corrective actions that correlated well with the principal causal factors of the event.
The broader, lon actions remain to be assessed by the licensee'g-term corrective s peer review processes as well as by the NRC's Pilgrim Restart Assessment Panel.
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Although an enforcement conference was held with Boston Edison Company on June 19, 1989, the HRC staff has not yet reached any decision on whether enforcement action is warranted as a result of the April 12 event.
If the NRC were to take enforcement action against the licensee, however, it would do so in accordance with j
10 CFR Part 2, Appendix C. " General Statement of Policy and Procedure for NRC Enforcement Actions," and applicable procedural l
regulations.
i The same procedures are applied, when necessary, at every licensed nuclear power plant, i
Enforcement actions are a matter of public record.not just the Pilgrim facility.
I s9o7030068 890623 PDR COMMS NRCC pp CORRESPONDENCE PDC Originated: NRR:Rushbrook I
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.., My letter of January 11, 1989, addressed emergency preparedness and our response to your requests for an adjudicatory hearing and the suspension of the Pilgrim license.
I noted that your requests were considered by the NRC staff under 10 CFR 2.206 of the Commission's regulations and denied.
The decision was in accord with governing law, and we find no reason to reverse it.
The Commission continues to endorse.a deliberate, phased reactor startup and power ascension program at the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station with augmented NRC staff oversight.
Sincerely, M
Lando W. Zec, Jr.
cc: The Honorable James M. Shannon 1
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UNITED STATES.
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION n
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WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555 f'
EDO Princioal Correspondence Control
'FROM:
DUE: 06/02/89 EDO CONTROL: 0004507 L
-DOC DT: 05/10/89 FINAL REPLY:
Governor Michael S.'Dukakis i
James M.
Shannon, Attorney General State of Massachusetts TOs Chairman Zech l
FOR SIGNATURE OF '
- PRI- **
CRC NO: 89-0497 1
Chairman DESC:
. ROUTING:
CONCERNING PILGRIM Stello Taylor DATE: 05/23/89 Thompson Blaha ASSIGNED.TO:
CONTACT:
Russell, RI NRR Murley Scinto, DGC SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR REMARKS:
l NRR RECEIVED: 5/23/89 ACTION:
"'MORPR:VARGM NRR ROUTING:
MURLEY/SNIEZEK, PARTLOW MIRAGLIA CRUTCHFIELD MOSSBURG l
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OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY CORRESPONDENCE CONTROL TICKET-PAPER NUMBER:
CRC- 09-0497 LOGGING DATE: May 23 89
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ACTION OFFICE:
M ED AUTHOR:
M.S. Dukakis & James Shannon AFFILIATION:
MA, GOVERNOR
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LETTER DATE:
May 18 89 FILE CODE: ID&R-5 Pilgrim J
SUBJECT:
Reg for full hearing on Pilgrim, urging the suspension of Pilgrim's license and action to be taken by Boston Edison before reinstatement
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ACTION:
Signature of Chairman
' DISTRIBUTION:
EDO,.RF, Cars, DSB, Secy, GPA/SLITP to Ack SPECIAL HANDLING: None NOTES:
COMMISSION REVIEW l
DATE DUE:
Jun-7 89
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i SIGNATURE:
DATE SIGNED:
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-AFFILIATION:
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