ML20246L439

Urges NRC to Move W/Mods to Improve BWR Mark I Containment Performance,While Assuring Adequate Protection of Surrounding Communities

ML20246L439
Person / Time
Site:	Yankee Rowe
Issue date:	04/13/1989
From:	Kunin M VERMONT, STATE OF
To:	Zech L NRC COMMISSION (OCM)
Shared Package
ML20246L417	List: ML20246L414 ML20246L439
References
NUDOCS 8905180317
Download: ML20246L439 (2)

Text

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M ADC.LCINE M. KUNIN CCV3%N33 4 y,[ =,. / ;

STATE OF VERMONT OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR 109 8 TATE STREET MONTPEUER. VERMONT 05502 (403)828-3333 April 13, 1989 Commissioner Lando W. Zech, Jr.

Chairman Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555

Dear Chairman Zech:

I would like to take this opportunity to urge your consideration of the State's position concerning the BWR Mark I containment, that modifications should be made to improve containment performance, while assuring adequate protection of surrounding communities. Vermont's concerns derive from the location of the Vermont Yankee Mark I containment within the State, and we have been highly involved with the issue since Mr. Harold Denton's statement about 90% severe accident failure probability in 1986. Since that time we have required a containment safsty study from Vermont Yankee, we have commissioned an independent assessment of this study, and we have met with menters of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff seven times in Vermont over the issue.

On January 26, 1989, you were briefed by the NRC staff, with its recommendation in favor of modifications to improve Mark I containment performance. It is reported that you are balancing the staff recommendation against an Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) preference for folding containment modifications into further probabilistic evaluations (Individual Plant Evaluations) .

We have felt from the outset that the major emphasis must be placed on fixing the Mark I containment to accommodate severe accidents. Probabilistic evaluations are fraught with .: certainties, while beyond-design-basis accidents like Three Mile Island and Chernobyl are a reality. Consequently, I believe modifications must be made to the Mark I containment to improve performance now.

8905180317 890505 PDR COMMS NRCC CORRESPONDENCE PDC

m 9 .

Commissioner Lando W. Zech, Jr.

April 13, 1989 Page 2 Again, the State position is to modify the Mark I containment population isso long as adequate protection of the surrounding retained.

While further study is necessary and useful, it is clear to us that this study need not further delay proposed modifications. In the interest of the people of Vermont, I urge you to move ahead with modifications to improve Mark I containment performance.

Sincerely yours, e

1 A. =< -

.pm adeleine M. Kunin Governor pl cc: Commissioner Thomas M. Roberts Commissioner Kenneth M. Carr Consissioner Kenneth C. Rogers Commissioner James R. Curtiss

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