ML080780246

G20080173/LTR-08-0141/EDATS: SECY-2008-0147 - Ltr. Gov. James H. Douglas Proposed Extension of the Operating License of the Vermont Yankee Plant

ML080780246
Person / Time
Site:	Vermont Yankee File:NorthStar Vermont Yankee icon.png
Issue date:	03/12/2008
From:	Douglas J State of VT, Office of the Governor
To:	Klein D NRC/Chairman
Doerflein L T
Shared Package
ML080800378	List: ML080780246
References
G20080173, LTR-08-0141, SECY-2008-0147
Download: ML080780246 (5)

Text

EDO Principal Correspondence Control FROM:

DUE: 03/26/08 EDO CONTROL: G20080173 DOC DT: 03/12/08 FINAL REPLY:

Governor James H. Douglas State of Vermont TO:

Chairman Klein FOR SIGNATURE OF :

PRI CRC NO: 08-0141 Chairman Klein DESC:

ROUTING:

Proposed Extension of the Operating License of the Vermont Yankee Plant (EDATS: SECY-2008-0147)

DATE: 03/17/08 Reyes Virgilio Mallett Ash Ordaz Burns

Wiggins, NRR

Cyr, OGC

West, OEDO ASSIGNED TO:

RI CONTACT:

Collins SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR REMARKS:

Coordinate with NRR.

s~o-j ~c ~7 L~,

EDATS Number: SECY-2008-0147 Source: SECY I.'Geea Inorato Assigned To: Region I OEDO Due Date: 3/26/2008 5:00 PM Other Assignees:

SECY Due Date: 3/28/2008 5:00 PM

Subject:

Proposed Extension of the Operating License of the Vermont Yankee Plant

==

Description:==

CC Routing: NRR ADAMS Accession Numbers -

Incoming: NONE Response/Package: NONE I.

Ote Inorato I

Cross Reference Number: G20080173, LTR-08-0141 Related Task:

File Routing: EDATS Staff Initiated: NO Recurring Item: NO Agency Lesson Learned: NO Roadmap Item: NO Proes Infomaio Action Type: Letter Priority: Medium Sensitivity: None Signature Level: Chairman Klein Urgency: NO OEDO Concurrence: YES OCM Concurrence: NO OCA Concurrence: NO Special Instructions: Coordinate with NRR.

Originator Name: Governor James H. Douglas Date of Incoming: 3/12/2008 Originating Organization: State of Vermont Document Received by SECY Date: 3/17/2008 Addressee: Chairman Klein Date Response Requested by Originator: NONE Incoming Task Received: 'Letter Page 1 of I

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY CORRESPON DENCE CONTROL TICKET Date PrintedI: Mfar 17, 2008 08:29 PAPER NUMBER:

ACTION OFFICE:

LTR-08-0 141 EDO LOGGING DATE:

03/13/2008 AUTHOR:

AFFILIATION:

ADDRESSEE:

SUBJECT:

GOV James Douglas VT Dale Klein Proposed extension of the operating license or the Vermont Yankee plant ACTION:

DISTRIBUTION:

LETTER DATE:

ACKNOWLEDGED SPECIAL HANDLING:

NOTES:

FILE LOCATION:

Signature of Chairman RF 03/12/2008 No Commission Correspondence ADAMS DATE DUE:

03/28/2008 DATE SIGNED:

EDO ---G20080173

State of'Vekiront Ol'l 'ICl' 1O' TllE GOVERNOR March 12, 2008 The Honorable Dale E. Klein Chairman United States Nuclear Regulatory Comrnission One White Flint North 1 555 Rockville Pike Rockville,. Maryland 20852-2738

Dear Mr. Chairman:

I am writing to you regarding the proposed extension of the operating license of the Vermont Yankee nuclear station in Vernon, Vermont. In addition to the approval of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), Vermont law requires any such extension be approved by both the Vermont General Assembly and the Vermont Public Service Board.

The operation of Vermont Yankee is now at a critical juncture. Entergy.Nuclear, its owner and operator, is seeking regulator. approval to extend its operating license for an additional 20 years. Events during the surnmer of last year, however, have raised doubts and questions about the safety andreliability of this nuclear station and its operations. Specifically, Vermont Yankee has had several avoidable events that include the partial collapse of a cooling tower and a reactor scram that have each been traced to shortcomings in the maintenance of equipment.

These events have shaken the confidence of Vermonters and our neighbors in New Hampshire and Massachusetts about the safety and reliability of the plant. They have brought into question whether Vermont Yankee should operate beyond its present operating license expiration date of2012. In addition, I need to be assured that the conditions and/or practices that contributed to the events of last summer do not extend to other areas of the Vermont Yankee operation which may have an impact on plant safety as well as reliability.

Because of the above. I believe-itis critical before the State of Vermont is in a position to finally consider a license extension that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission conducts a comprehensive reliability and safety assessment of Vermont Yankee. I am, therefore, formally requesting that the NRC conduct such an assessment, and do so in consultation with the Vermont Department of Public Service in formulating the inspection program. I also request that the assessment include the participation of the Vernont State Nuclear Engineer and consultants, and

'those NRC inspectors and contractors have independence from the Vermont Yankee operation.

109 S-hTE S-IT R-I.

lE PA?%ILON Mo*ONIELIpR, VT O5609-010I

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The Honorable Dale E. Klein March 12, 2008 Page Two The bottom line is that any such assessment must provide the information needed for our regulators and the Vermont General Assembly to deter-ine if the Vermont Yankee nuclear stations can od)erate safely and reliably for the additional 20 years requested bey nd its current licensed life.

This is an issue of critical imnportance to the State of Vermont. The members of Vermont's Congressional delegation, of course, have their own concerns with the information needed for-a license extension, and my administration has had many conversations with them, and the Vermont General Assembly is considering legislation of its own to address this issue.

Therefore as we discuss the scope-of a review there are likely to be additional considerations from our Congressional delegation and our General Assembly that will need to be considered.

But we are now at a time, that if the NRC is to conduct the assessment*which Ibeiieve is essential. it must be initiated in the next sever al months to be completed in a timnely fashion such that its findings can be available to both our Public. Service B*ard, and,the General Assembly when it convenes next January.

The State of Vermont looks forward to working cooperatively with:the NRC to identify the full scope and breadth of this assessment, and I look forward to your positive response to my request.

Sincerely, Dn o'uglas JHD/pbb c:

Hon. Patrick Leahy, U.S. Senator Hon. Bernie:Sanders, U.S. Senator Hon. Peter Welch, U.S. Represeiitative Hon. :Gaye Symington, Speaker of the House Hon. Peter Shurnlin,. President Pro Tempore Vermont Senate.

Hon. Anne Cummings. Chair Senate Finance Committee Hon. Robel.Dostis,, Chair House Natural Resources: and Energy Committee Mr. David O'Brien, Commissioner Vermont Department of Public Service Mr. James Volz, Chairman Vermont Public Service Board