ML20248A157

Responds to Forwarding Inquiry from Constituent, D Hawey Re Future Operation of Unit 1.NRC Technical Reviews & Insp Activities Provide Assurance That Plant Const Meets NRC Requirements.Record Copy

ML20248A157
Person / Time
Site:	Comanche Peak
Issue date:	04/06/1989
From:	Stello V NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO)
To:	Bentsen L SENATE
References
CCS, NUDOCS 8904100146
Download: ML20248A157 (5)

Text

. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.

m April 6 1989 0

The Honorable Lloyd Bentsen United States Senator 961 Federal Building Austin, Texas 78701

Dear Senator Bentsen:

This responds to your letter of March 7,1989, that forwarded an inquiry from a constituent, Mr. Dan Hawey, who expressed general concern about the future operation of Comanche Peak Steam Electric Station (CPSES), Unit 1.

Mr. Hawey's concern about Comanche Peak most likely stems from the considerable public interest in CPSES over the past several years because of design and construction deficiencies identified during NRC's Atomic Safety and Licensing Board hearings. As a result, Texas Utilities Electric Company has developed substantial investigation and corrective action programs to complete construction of Unit 1.

Their corrective actica efforts are nearly complete.

and the NRC has been monitor :q carefully these activities. Texas Utilities Electric Company presently projects that Unit I will be ready to load fuel in October 1989. Construction activities at Unit 2 have been suspended since March 1988 pending completion of Unit 1.

The NRC has expended and will continue to expend considerable resources on the CPSES licensing activities to ensure that both Units 1 and 2 are adequately designed and constructed. NRC's oversight of a facility's startup activities, power ascension testing programs, and initial power operations are also exten-sive and rigorous.

In response to Mr. Hawey's concern, I firmly believe that NRC technical reviews and inspection activities provide substantial assurance that Comanche Peak, is being constructed in accordance with NRC requirements.

Furthermore, we will not grant an operating license unless we believe the plant can be operated safely.

We hope that this information will be helpful to you in replying to your constituent.

Sincerely, Original Signed By.

James M. Taylor Victor Stello, Jr.

Executive Director for Operations Distribution

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v April 6, 1989 The Honorable Lloyd Bentsen United States Senator 961 Federal Building Austin, Texas 78701

Dear Senator Bentsen:

This letter 1 in response to your letter of March 7,1989, to Mr. Carlton C. e mmerer that forwarded an inquiry from a constituent, Mr. Dan Hawey, wh expressed general concern about the future operation of Comanche Peak St Electric Station (CPSES), Unit 1.

Mr. Hawey's' concern abou Comanche Peak most likely stems from the considerable public interest in CPSES oNer the past several years because of design and construction deficiencies id tified during NRC's Atomic Safety and Licensing Board hearings. As a result, 'exas Utilities Electric Company has developed substantial investigation and co rective action programs to complete construction of Unit 1.

Their co ective action efforts are nearly complete, and the NRC has been monitoring car fully these activities.

Texas Utilities Electric Company presently projects t at Unit I will be ready to load fuel in October 1989. Construction activities t Unit 2 have been suspended since March 1988 pending completion of Unit 1.

The NRC has expended and will continue to e' pend considerable resources on theCPSESlicensingactivitiestoensuretha(bothUnits1and2areadequately designed and constructed, and to ensure that & 1 applicable regulations will have been met when construction is complete.

. Hawey may also be interested to know that once a facility obtains an operatin license, NRC's oversight of the facility's startup activities, power ascensio testing programs, and initial power operations are extensive and rigorous.

In retiponse to Mr. Hawey's concern, I firmly believe that NRC technical roviews\\and inspection activities provide substantial assurance that Comanche Peak, as kell as any other nuclear facility, has been or is being constructed in accordan'cp with NRC requirements so that once an operating license is granted it can be 6perated safely.

We trust that this information on the NRC activities regar'ing Comanche Peak will be helpful to you in replying to your constituent.

Le us know should you need further information.

For your future reference, please note that the current Director of Congressional Affairs is Mr. John C. Bradburne, who reports to Mr. Harold R. Denton, Director, Office of Governmental and Public Affairs.

Sincerely, Original Signed Byn thrk

, Jr.

Executive Director l

for Operations l

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DUE: 03/29/89 EDO CONTROL: 0004329 DOC DT 03/07/89 FINAL REPLY:

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,FOR SIGNATURE OF:

• • GRN CRC NO: 89-0221 Esccutive Director DESC:

ROUTING:

ENCLOSES LETTER FROM DAN HAWEY CONCERNING Martin, RIV COMANCHE PEAK DATE: 03/15/89 ASSIGNED TO:

CONTACT:

NRR Murley

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I SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR REMARKS:

REPLY TD AUSTIN, TEXAS OFFICE.

MARK ENVELOPE ATTN ANNE MOSHER NRR RECEIVED: MARCH 15, 1989 ACTION:

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MURLEY/SNIEZEK MIRAGLIA VARGA GILLESPIE MOSSBURG ACTION DUE TO NRR DIRECTOR'S 0? i 1

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CORRESPONDENCE CONTROL TICKET PAPER NUMBER:

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EDO AUTHORi L. Bentsen--Const Ref AFFILIATION:

UNITED STATES SENATE LETTER DATE:

Mar 7 89 FILE CODE: ID&R-5 Comanche Peak

SUBJECT:

Ref article on Comanche Peak ACTION:

Direct Reply DISTRIBUTION:

OCA to Ack SPECIAL HANDLING: None NOTES:

Dan Hawey DATE DUE:

Mar 29 89 SIGNATURE:

DATE SIGNED:

AFFILIATION:

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' March :7,-1989 Mr. Carlton C. Kammerer Director

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Dese Mr. Kammerer:

.I recently received the enclosed constituent inquiry, and-I would very'much appreciate your providing me with any perti-nent information you might have regarding the matter.

Your kind assistance is greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

.h Lloyd entsen En osure PLEASE REPLY TO:

961 Federal. Building Austin, Texas 78701 ATTN:

Anne Mosher aaCw_n - n niz a RlsAs

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