ML15316A058

Region I Reply to G. Ballotti, Email Request to Have Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station Closed Due to Safety Concerns (LTR-15-0486)

ML15316A058
Person / Time
Site:	Pilgrim
Issue date:	11/10/2015
From:	Cline L M NRC/RGN-I/DRP/PB5
To:	Ballotti G Verizon
Cline L M
References
2015 SST - 177, LTR-15-0486
Download: ML15316A058 (1)

Text

From: Cline, Leonard Sent: Tuesday, November 10, 2015 12:18 PM To: gballotti@verizon.net Cc: OPA1 RESOURCE

Subject:

Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station Operating Performance This email responds to your email dated September 28, 2015, that requested the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station be shutdown based on its recent poor operating performance. The NRC shares your concern regarding the safety impact of the degrading performance at Pilgrim. On September 1, 2015, the NRC issued a White finding and Notice of Violation to Pilgrim because Entergy had not adequately addressed a significant equipment problem that caused a failure of one of the plant's safety/relief valves in February 2013 and then caused in a similar failure in January 2015. This issue combined with a failure to adequately address the causes of multiple reactor shutdowns at Pilgrim in 2013 were indications of degrading performance that moved them into Column 4 (the "Repetitive Degraded Cornerstone" Column) of the NRC Action Matrix. Based on our rigorous oversight and assessment program, Pilgrim continues to operate safely. The issues that moved them into Column 4 were of low to moderate safety significance; and the increased oversight, inspection, and assessment directed by the assessment process for a plant in Column 4 now allows us to closely monitor for indications of unacceptable performance. If at any time it is determined that performance at Pilgrim has declined to an unacceptable level with respect to public safety, the NRC will not hesitate to take additional regulatory action up to and including the issuance of a shutdown order. We hope that this addresses your concerns regarding the NRC's actions in response to the recent degrading performance at Pilgrim. However, if you have any additional questions or concerns regarding these issues please feel free to contact us at OPA1.RESOURCE@nrc.gov.

From: Cline, Leonard Sent: Tuesday, November 10, 2015 12:18 PM To: gballotti@verizon.net Cc: OPA1 RESOURCE

Subject:

Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station Operating Performance This email responds to your email dated September 28, 2015, that requested the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station be shutdown based on its recent poor operating performance. The NRC shares your concern regarding the safety impact of the degrading performance at Pilgrim. On September 1, 2015, the NRC issued a White finding and Notice of Violation to Pilgrim because Entergy had not adequately addressed a significant equipment problem that caused a failure of one of the plant's safety/relief valves in February 2013 and then caused in a similar failure in January 2015. This issue combined with a failure to adequately address the causes of multiple reactor shutdowns at Pilgrim in 2013 were indications of degrading performance that moved them into Column 4 (the "Repetitive Degraded Cornerstone" Column) of the NRC Action Matrix. Based on our rigorous oversight and assessment program, Pilgrim continues to operate safely. The issues that moved them into Column 4 were of low to moderate safety significance; and the increased oversight, inspection, and assessment directed by the assessment process for a plant in Column 4 now allows us to closely monitor for indications of unacceptable performance. If at any time it is determined that performance at Pilgrim has declined to an unacceptable level with respect to public safety, the NRC will not hesitate to take additional regulatory action up to and including the issuance of a shutdown order. We hope that this addresses your concerns regarding the NRC's actions in response to the recent degrading performance at Pilgrim. However, if you have any additional questions or concerns regarding these issues please feel free to contact us at OPA1.RESOURCE@nrc.gov.