ML20245J506

Requests That NRC Formally Suspend Pilgrim License & Begin to Address Addl Util Actions Required Prior to Reinstatement of License

ML20245J506
Person / Time
Site:	Pilgrim
Issue date:	05/18/1989
From:	Dukakis M MASSACHUSETTS, COMMONWEALTH OF
To:	Zech L NRC COMMISSION (OCM)
Shared Package
ML20245J497	List: ML20245J493 ML20245J506
References
NUDOCS 8907030071
Download: ML20245J506 (2)

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THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS 1 EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT y STATE HOUSE + BOSTON 02133 MICHAEL S. DUKAKIS ooVERNOR l

May 18, 1989 ]

l Mr. Lando W. Zech, Jr., Chairman U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

, One White Flint North i 11555 Rockville Pike i Rockville, Maryland 20852

Dear Chairman Zech:

l On May 8, 1989, the NRC Staff issued its inspection report on the overpressurization of the reactor core isolation cooling system which occurred on April 12, 1989 at Pilgrim Station in a Plymouth, Massachusetts.. That event was only the latest in a J series of disturbing technical and management lapses at Pilgrim since you and your fellow Commissioners permitted the plant to restart in December. l l

l Back then, the Commission and the Staff.gave the plant and )

Boston Edison a " clean bill of health" claiming that its i management deficiencies had been cured during the shutdown.

The NRC permitted restart over the strenuous objections of the i Commonwealth and its communities within and nearby'the Pilgrim i EPZ concerning Boston Edison's longstanding management problems and the shortcomings in emergency planning. Now, only 5 months 4 later, the Staff has rediscovered "[ significant weaknesses at several working levels in [ Boston Edison's] organization" which ,

raise a broad and " fundamental issue regarding [ Boston  ;

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Edison's] processes to assure defense in depth in the conduct of plant operations." Of course, the NRC has touted the i defense in depth concept as a significant means to assure  !

public safety in the operation of nuclear facilities. When fundamental issues are raised about Boston Edison's adherence to the concept, fundamental issues are raised about public safety.

The Staff now says that it is considering enforcement action against Boston Edison. Unfortunately, the track record of the NRC is to conduct its enforcement proceedings behind closed doors-as private dialogues between the Staff and the licensee.

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8907030071 890623 I PDR COMMS NRCC CORRESPONDENCE PDC i

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Lando W. Zech, Jr., Chairman May 18, 1989 l

Page Two )

1 It is time for you and your fellow Commissioners to recognize both that our concerns and the concerns of our citizens are serious and that we have a legitimate place in the process. We have asked in'every conceivable way to participate in a full and fair adjudicatory hearing concerning Pilgrim. j Eact time the NRC denied the request and claimed that public safety could best be assured without a hearing. That approach, aside from being i'11egal, has simply not worked.

The only rational course is to formally suspend Pilgrim's i license and begin a proceeding to address what additional J actions Boston Edison must.take before the license may be reinstated. Once again, the' Commonwealth ~ requests full rights ,

i to participate.

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, Sin ely, j

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chVel S."Dukahi~

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, l-JJnes M. ~ Shannon A]torneyGeneral MSD/cas cc: William T. Russell, Regional Administrator, NRC.

Stephen J. Sweeney, Chairman and CEO, Boston Edison Company

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