ML082120055

2008/07/18- Request for Explanation Re. Absence of Kenneth Chang to Testify

ML082120055
Person / Time
Site:	Vermont Yankee File:NorthStar Vermont Yankee icon.png
Issue date:	07/18/2008
From:	Tyler K Shems, Dunkiel, Kassel, & Saunders, PLLC
To:	Karlin A, Wendy Reed, Richard Wardwell Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel
SECY RAS
References
50-271-LR, ASLBP 06-849-03-LR, RAS M-154
Download: ML082120055 (4)

Text

SHEMS DUNKIEL- KASSEL & SAUNDERS P L L C RONALD A. SHEMS*BRIAN S. DUNKIEL**JOHN B. KASSEL MARK A. SAUNDERS ANDREW N. RAUBVOGEL DOCKETED USNRC July 18, 2008 (5:00pm)OFFICE OF SECRETARY RULEMAKINGS AND ADJUDICATIONS STAFF GEOFFREY H. HAND KAREN L. TYLER REBECCA E. BOUCHER ASSOCIATE ATTORNEYS EILEEN I. ELLIOTT OF COUNSEL July 18, 2008 Alex S. Karlin Administrative Judge Atomic Safety and Licensing Board U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555-0001 Richard E. Wardwell Administrative Judge Atomic Safety and Licensing Board U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555-0001 William H. Reed Administrative Judge Atomic Safety and Licensing Board 1819 Edgewood Lane Charlottesville, Virginia 22902 Re: In the Matter of Energy Nuclear VermontYankee, LLC and Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc. (Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station), Docket No. 50-271-LR, ASLBP No. 06-849-03-LR Dear Administrative Judges: On July 11, Counsel for the NRC Staff informed the Board and parties that one of its two witnesses on NEC's Contentions 2A and 2B, Dr. Kenneth Chang, is unavailable to testify at the upcoming Board hearing due to a medical condition, and could not be available "any time soon." Dr. Chang directed the Staff review of Entergy's CUFen analyses, participated in the Staff s on-site audit and "personally reviewed the sections associated with metal fatigue and the fatigue monitoring program," and wrote Section 4.3.3 of the SER. See, Affidavit of Kenneth C. Chang Concerning NEC Contentions 2A& 2B (Metal Fatigue) at A2. The testimony of the Staff s other Contention 2A and 2B witness, John Fair, indicates that he played a much lesser role. Mr. Fair was not assigned to review the Vermont Yankee LRA, but "advised colleagues in reviewing Entergy's metal fatigue submissions." See, Affidavit of John R. Fair Concerning NEC Contentions 2A & 2B (Metal Fatigue) at A2.This situation is certainly irregular in that the NRC Staff is seeking to submit prefiled testimony without making the witness available to testify at the hearing. This will deprive the Board of the ability to fully explore the NRC Staff s position on Contentions 2A and 2B, and no witness will be available to answer NEC's proposed direct examination questions concerning Dr. Chang's testimony.

9 I COLLEGE STREET -BURLINGTON, VERMONT 0540 1 TEL 802 / 860 1 003 -FAX 802 / 860 1208 -www.sdkslaw .com*A/so admitted in the State of Maine*Also admitted in the District of Columbia NEC requests that the Board require NRC Staff Counsel to further explain the'circumstances of Dr. Chang's unavailability, including when Staff Counsel was first aware that Dr. Chang might not be available to testify. NEC also requests that the Board consider holding the record on NEC's Contentions 2A and 2B open following the July 21-25 hearing to allow Dr. Chang to appear at a later date.Sincerely, Karen Tyler SHEMS DUNKIEL KASSEL & SAUNDERS PLLC Cc: attached service list UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Before the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board In the Matter of Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee, LLC and Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc.(Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station)))))))Docket No. 50-271-LR ASLBP No. 06-849-03-LR CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I, Christina Nielsen, hereby certify that copies of NEW ENGLAND COALITION, INC.'S LETTER TO THE BOARD RE: TESTIMONY OF DR. CHANG in the above-captioned proceeding were served on the persons listed below, by electronic mail on the 1 8 th of July, 2008, and by U.S. Mail, first class, postage prepaid on the 21st of July, 2008.Administrative Judge Alex S. Karlin, Esq., Chair Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Mail Stop T-3 F23 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555-0001 E-mail: ask2@nrc.gov Administrative Judge William H. Reed 1819 Edgewood Lane Charl6ttesville, VA 22902 E-mail: whrcville@embarqmail.com Office of Commission Appellate Adjudication Mail Stop: O-16C1 U. S.' Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555-0001 E-mail: OCAAmail@nrc.gov Administrative Judge Dr. Richard E. Wardwell Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel Mail Stop T-3 F23 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555-0001 E-mail: rew@nrc.gov Office of the Secretary Attn: Rulemaking and Adjudications Staff Mail Stop: O-16C1 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555-0001 E-mail: hearingdocket@nrc.gov Sarah Hofmann, Esq.Director, of Public Advocacy Department of Public Service 112 State Street, Drawer 20 Montpelier, VT 05620-2601 E-mail: sarah.hofmann@state.vt.us Lloyd B. Subin, Esq.Mary C. Baty, Esq.Susan L. Uttal, Esq.Jessica A. Bielecki, Esq.Office of the General Counsel Mail Stop 0-15 D21 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555-0001 E 7 mail: lbs3@nrc.gov; mcb1(@nrc.gov; susan.uttal@nrc.gov; jessica.bielecki@nrc.gov Anthony Z. Roisman, Esq.National Legal Scholars Law Firm 84 East Thetford Road Lyme, NH 03768 E-mail: aroisman(dnationallegalscholars.com Marcia Carpentier, Esq.Lauren Bregman Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel Mail Stop T-3 F23 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555-0001 E-mail: mxc7@nrc.gov Lauren.Bregman@nrc.gov David R. Lewis, Esq.Matias F. Travieso-Diaz Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP 2300 N Street NW Washington, DC 20037-1128 E-mail: david.lewis@pillsburylaw.com matias.travieso-diaz@pillsburylaw.com Diane Curran Harmon, Curran, Spielberg, & Eisenberg, L.L.P.1726 M Street N.W., Suite 600 Washington, D.C. 20036 E-mail: dcurrangharmoncurran.com Peter C. L. Roth, Esq.Office of the Attorney General 33 Capitol Street Concord, NH 03301 E-mail: Peter.roth@doi.nh.gov Matthew Brock Assistant Attorney General Environmental Protection Division Office of the Attorney General One Ashburton Place, 1 8 th Floor Boston, MA 02108 E-mail: Matthew.Brock@state.ma.us by: C .CIi'stina Nielsen, Administrative Assistant SHEMS DUNKIEL KASSEL & SAUNDERS PLLC