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{{Adams | |||
| number = ML20148C193 | |||
| issue date = 09/12/1978 | |||
| title = Insp Repts 50-443/78-12 & 50-444/78-12 on 780726-0811.No Noncompliance Noted.Major Areas Inspected:Alleged Blasting & Other Work Being Done After CPs Suspended | |||
| author name = Devlin J, Folsom S, Smith R | |||
| author affiliation = NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I) | |||
| addressee name = | |||
| addressee affiliation = | |||
| docket = 05000443, 05000444 | |||
| license number = | |||
| contact person = | |||
| document report number = 50-443-78-12, 50-444-78-12, NUDOCS 7811010135 | |||
| package number = ML20148C144 | |||
| document type = INSPECTION REPORT, NRC-GENERATED, INSPECTION REPORT, UTILITY, TEXT-INSPECTION & AUDIT & I&E CIRCULARS | |||
| page count = 12 | |||
}} | |||
See also: [[see also::IR 05000444/1978012]] | |||
=Text= | |||
{{#Wiki_filter:) | |||
' | |||
U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION l | |||
.Q ' 0FFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT l | |||
50-443/78-12 | |||
Report No. 50-444/78-12 | |||
50-443 l | |||
Docket No. 50-444 l | |||
l | |||
CPPR-135 l | |||
License No. cppR-136 Group 4 Category A-2 l | |||
Licensee: Public Service Company of New Hampshire | |||
1 | |||
1000 Elm Streeti ' | |||
l | |||
Manchester. New Hampshire 03105 I | |||
Facility Name: Seabrook Station. Units 1 and 2 l | |||
Investigation at: Seabrook, New Hampshire | |||
Investigation conducte July 26 - August 11, 1978 | |||
Investigators: , t hM | |||
'R./H. Smithanvestigation dpecialist ' | |||
9 7 i | |||
da signed | |||
9 ) | |||
e i2 xw- 9 /2.72 | |||
S. A. 761som, Reactor Inspector / date ' signed | |||
date signed | |||
s | |||
date signed | |||
Approved by: O/J' m ,/, , /yf | |||
[J.W. Devlin, Chief,Securityand / /'dat# signed | |||
Investigation Section | |||
Investigation Summary: | |||
Investigation from July 26 to August 11, 1978 (Report Nos. 50-443/78-12 and | |||
50-444/78-12) | |||
Areas Investigated: Unannounced investigation by one regional based investigator | |||
and one regional based inspector, of complaints concerning blasting and other | |||
unauthorized work being performed after the construction permits were suspended | |||
, | |||
on July 21, 1978. The investigation involved 114 investigative-hours by an NRC | |||
l regional based investigator and a regional based inspector. | |||
Resul ts: The noise and earth tremor which formed the basis of a complaint about | |||
blasting were observed. No information or evidence was found to indicate that | |||
any of the complaints were related to violations of regulatory requirements or | |||
l violations of the Commission Order. No apparent items of noncompliance were | |||
identified. | |||
Region I Form 143 | |||
(Rev. October 1977) E1010/ W | |||
- .. -- .. .. .. -. . . - . . . _ _ - , | |||
. . | |||
. | |||
I | |||
k | |||
TABLE OF CONTENTS- | |||
I. BACKGROUND | |||
A. Reason for Investigation | |||
B. Order of the Nuclear: Regulatory Comission | |||
C. Identification of Involved Organizations , | |||
II. SUMMARY OF FINDINGS , | |||
A. Complaints and Investigation Findings | |||
B.. Conclusions | |||
III'. DETAILS _ | |||
A. Introduction | |||
B. Scope of Investigation | |||
C. Persons Directly Interviewed and/or Contacted during the NRC | |||
Investigation- | |||
- D. NRC Coments and Findings Regarding the Complaints | |||
E. Management Meetings | |||
: | |||
. | |||
L | |||
. | |||
. . | |||
. | |||
I | |||
I BACXGROUND | |||
A. Reason for Investigation | |||
During the period from July 26 to July 31, 1978, the Nuclear Re- | |||
gulatory Commission (NRC, Region I) received several telephone | |||
calls from members of the public who reside in the vicinity of the | |||
Seabrook Station site. In each case, the individuals stated that | |||
blasting was continuing on the site even though the construction | |||
permits for the Seabrook Units i and 2 were suspended effective , | |||
6:00 p.m.-(EDT) on July 21, 1978. | |||
! | |||
, | |||
An investigation regarding these complaints was initiated by the | |||
NRC, Region ILon July 26, 1978. | |||
B. Order of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission , | |||
By Order of the NRC on June 30, 1978, the construction permits for | |||
the Seabrook Station, Units 1 and 2, were suspended effective 6:00 | |||
p.m. (EDT) on July 21, 1978. | |||
The Order permitted, "only such actions as are necessary to protect | |||
the environmental integrity of the site or to protect buildings, | |||
material or personnel at the site." | |||
C. Identification of Involved Organizations | |||
Public Service Company of New Hampshire | |||
1000 Elm Street | |||
Manchester, New Hampshire 03105 | |||
A utility company, the licensee, which has been issued a Construc- | |||
tion Permit for the construction of two nuclear fueled power stations, | |||
Seabrook Units 1 and 2. | |||
. | |||
. . | |||
- | |||
. | |||
II SUMMARY OF FINDINGS | |||
A. Complaints and Investigation Findings | |||
The following complaints were obtained by telephone calls to the | |||
Region I office and also during interviews of individuals in and | |||
around Seabrook, New Hampshire. All complainants were aware that | |||
the construction permits for Seabrook Units 1 and 2 were suspended | |||
effective 6:00 p.m. (EDT) on July 21, 1978. | |||
1. Complaint No. 1 | |||
That blasting was continuing on the site after July 21, 1978. | |||
The NRC investigation found no information or evidence that | |||
any explosives were used on the site during the period from | |||
6:00 p.m. on July 21, 1978 through August 5,1978, which was | |||
the end of the onsite portion of this investigation. | |||
2. Complaint No. 2 | |||
That construction activities at the site had not ceased, for | |||
the following reasons: | |||
-- Large numbers of people entering and leaving the site on | |||
all shifts. | |||
-- Tower cranes in different orientations from one day to | |||
the next. | |||
-- | |||
Motors roaring throughout the night. | |||
-- | |||
Sounds of trucks dumping large rocks. | |||
-- | |||
Dump truck tailgates slamming. | |||
-- Trees being cut down. | |||
-- A truck loaded with crushed rock entering plant. | |||
The NRC investigation found that the Order of the Nuclear | |||
Regulatory Commission which suspended the construction permits | |||
was being complied with and that only those actions permitted | |||
by the Order were being performed. | |||
. | |||
. | |||
3 l | |||
1 | |||
8. Conclusions 1 | |||
I | |||
1. No items of noncompliance were identified during the in- I | |||
vestigation. l | |||
l | |||
2. There were no violations of the NRC Order identified. | |||
l | |||
. | |||
i | |||
l | |||
! | |||
l | |||
. | |||
. | |||
. | |||
1 | |||
l | |||
. _ _ _ _ _ _ | |||
. | |||
- | |||
. | |||
III DETAILS | |||
A. Introduction- | |||
Pursuant to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission Order on June 30, | |||
1978, the Seabrook Station Units 1 and 2 construction permits were | |||
suspended effective 6:00 p.m. (EDT) on July 21, 1978. | |||
An inspection lwas conducted by a NRC Region I representative on | |||
July 21-27, 1978. The purpose of this inspection was to insure, by | |||
observation, interviews, and examination of applicable records, | |||
that the NRC Order to halt construction had been fully and correctly | |||
implemented. | |||
This investigation was initiated as a result of the NRC receiving | |||
telephone complaints that blasting and construction activities had | |||
not ceased as of July 21, 1978. | |||
B. Scope of Investigation | |||
This investigation included an examination of pertinent documents | |||
and records, interviews and contacts with individuals having signi- | |||
ficant information, and observations by the investigators while at | |||
the Seabrook Station Unit 1 and 2 sites. It also included interviews | |||
and contacts with the complainants, individual members of the | |||
public, Pease Air Force Base and the Federal Aviation Administration. | |||
The scope of this investigation was limited to those complaints | |||
relating to the suspension of the construction permits. | |||
C. ' Persons Directly Interviewed and/or Contacted during the NRC | |||
Investigation | |||
Yankee Atomic Electric Company | |||
R. S. Faulkner, Jr., Section Leader, Field Monitoring | |||
i J. H. Herrin, Site Manager | |||
F. R. Kotowski, Manager, Educational Center | |||
P. A. Nason, Staff Engineer | |||
R. P. Pizzuti, Construction Manager | |||
J. W. Singleton, Field Quality Assurance Manager | |||
R. B. Staples, Civil Supervisor | |||
A. J. Stewart, Site Geologist | |||
I 0ffice of Inspection and Enforcement Inspection Report Numbers | |||
50-443/78-11 and 50-444/78-11. | |||
. - - _ _ _ _ . _ _ . | |||
. | |||
. | |||
5 | |||
l | |||
United Engineers and Constructors | |||
R. N. Moyer, Field Superintendent Quality Assurance / Quality l | |||
Control | |||
Pittsburgh Testing Laboratory | |||
H. Ruffner, Site Manager / Test Laboratory Supervisor | |||
Morrison - Knudsen Company, Inc. - | |||
J. N. Allan, Project Manager | |||
D. Downs, Engineer | |||
J. Hendrix, Engineer | |||
J. P. Nossereau, Assistant Project Manager | |||
R. Obradovic, Project Engineer | |||
Pease Air Force Base | |||
E. L. Byrd, Disaster Preparedness Officer | |||
Federal Aviation Administration | |||
C. Hudnall, Planning and Appraisal Staff | |||
Others | |||
The complainants and other individual members of the public. | |||
D. NRC Comments and Findings Regarding the Complaints | |||
1. Complaint No. 1 | |||
(a) Complaint | |||
That blasting was continuing on the site after July 21, | |||
1978. | |||
(b) NRC Comments | |||
The investigators interviewed several individuals re- | |||
garding the blasting noise and/or ground tremors which | |||
they believed to be related to blasting at the Seabrook | |||
site subsequent to 6:00 p.m. on July 21, 1978. The ' | |||
following information was compiled from records maintained | |||
by the individuals and shows the approximate time of day | |||
for the reported sounds and/or ground tremors. | |||
l | |||
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ____ | |||
. | |||
- | |||
. | |||
6 | |||
6:30 AM - 1 reported sound on 8-1-78 | |||
7:10 AM - 1 reported sound on 7-29-78 | |||
8:00 AM - 2 reported sounds on 7-22-78 | |||
- 1 reported sound on 7-23-78 | |||
8:10 AM - | |||
1 reported sound on 7-24-78 | |||
8:20 AM - | |||
3 reported sounds on 7-20-78 | |||
- | |||
3 reported sounds on 7-21- /8 | |||
- | |||
3 reported sounds on 7-22-78 | |||
- | |||
2 reported sounds on 7-23-78 | |||
- | |||
3 reported sounds on 7-24-78 | |||
- | |||
2 reported sounds on 7-25-78 | |||
- | |||
3 reported sounds on 7-26-78 | |||
- | |||
5 reported sounds on 7-27-78 | |||
- 5 reported sounds on 7-28-78 | |||
- | |||
3 reported sounds on 7-29-78 | |||
- 3 reported sounds on 7-30-78 | |||
- | |||
6 reported sounds on 7-31-78 | |||
- | |||
1 reported sound each day during | |||
l | |||
the period of 8-1 thru 8-10-78 | |||
, | |||
8:30 AM - | |||
2 reported sounds on 7-22-78 | |||
- | |||
3 reported sounds on 7-25-78 | |||
l - 3 reported sounds on 7-26-78 | |||
l 9:30 AM - 1 reported sound on 7-22-78 | |||
9:50 AM - | |||
2 reported sounds on 7-23-78 | |||
, | |||
- | |||
1 reported sound on 7-24-78 | |||
l | |||
- | |||
2 reported sounds on 7-26-78 | |||
l - 2 reported sounds on 7-27-78 | |||
- | |||
3 reported sounds on 7-29-78 | |||
- | |||
1 reported sound on 7-30-78 | |||
- 1 reported sound on 7- 31-78 | |||
- | |||
4 reported sounds on 8-4-78 | |||
- | |||
1 reported sound on 8-5-78 | |||
10:45 AM - | |||
1 reported sound on 7- 31-78 | |||
11:20 AM - | |||
1 reported sound on 8-1-78 | |||
12:40 AM - | |||
1 reported sound on 7-29-78 | |||
2:15 PM - | |||
1 reported sound on 7-29-78 | |||
2:45 PM - | |||
1 reported sound on 7-22-78 | |||
3:00 PM - | |||
2 reported sounds on 7-22-78 | |||
- 1 reported sound on 7-23-78 | |||
- 1 reported sound on 7-25-78 | |||
3:30 PM - 3 reported sounds on 7-29-78 | |||
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ - _ _ _ _ _ | |||
_ _ _ _ _ - _ _ - | |||
. | |||
. | |||
7 | |||
3:55 PM - | |||
1 reported sound on 7-27-78 | |||
- | |||
1 reported sound on 7-28-78 | |||
4:30 PM - | |||
1 reported sound on 7-22-78 | |||
5:50 PM - 1 reported sound on 8-2-78 | |||
- | |||
1 reported sound on 8-4-78 | |||
There was general agreement that the reports from 8:20 to 8:30 AM; at | |||
9:50 AM; and, from 3:00 to 3:30 PM were louder than others and created | |||
more vibration. | |||
During a discussion at one residence, at about 9:55 a.m. | |||
on August 3,1978, the investigators and all present | |||
heard a sound and felt a tremor similar to others that | |||
those present had previously reported. An immediate | |||
telephone call to neighbors confirmed that they had heard | |||
and felt it also. No other similar sounds were heard by | |||
the investigators while in the Seabrook, New Hampshire | |||
area during the period from August 2 through August 5, | |||
1978. | |||
During an inspection conducted at the Seabrook, construc- | |||
tion site, the investigators examined blasting areas, | |||
explosives magazines (all found to,be empty), photographed | |||
dump area for blasted rock from ground level and also | |||
aerial to provide a method of comparing change, inter- | |||
viewed blasting personnel, and examined blasting records | |||
and explosive material accounting records. The documenta- | |||
tion provided to the investigators indicated that the | |||
final explosive charge which was detonated prior to the | |||
suspension orders occurred on July 21,1978 at 11:48 a.m. | |||
in the Unit 1 foundation. Documentation also confirmed | |||
that all explosive materials were removed from the site | |||
on July 25, 1978. This information was also confirmed by | |||
discussions with the involved individuals. | |||
The investigators contacted the Pease Air Force Base, | |||
Portsmouth, New Hamphsire, and were informed that no | |||
similar complaints of sounds had been received at that | |||
location. | |||
The investigators contacted the Federal Aviation Admin- | |||
istration (FAA), Burlington, Massachusetts and were in- | |||
formed that they had received reports from citizens in | |||
the Boston North Shore Area and southern New Hampshire of | |||
sounds similar to those reported to the NRC. | |||
. : | |||
* | |||
l | |||
< | |||
8 ! | |||
\ | |||
The FAA has installed a sound monitoring device in l | |||
Cambridge and is continuing an evaluation to determine l | |||
the cause of the sound. i | |||
l | |||
(c) NRC Findings | |||
The NRC investigation found no information or evidence ; | |||
that any explosives were used on the site during the j | |||
period from 6:00 p.m. on July 21, 1973, through August 5, ! | |||
1978, which was the end of the onsite portion of this j | |||
investigation. | |||
2. Complaint No. 2 | |||
(a) Complaint | |||
i | |||
; | |||
That construction activities at the site had not ceased, | |||
for-the following reasons: | |||
-- | |||
Large numbers of people entering and leaving the | |||
site on all shifts. | |||
-- Tower cranes in different orientations from one day | |||
to the next. | |||
-- Motors roaring throughout the night. | |||
-- Sounds of trucks dumping large rocks. | |||
i | |||
-- Dump truck tailgates slamming. | |||
-- Trees being cut down. | |||
-- A truck loaded with crushed rock entering plant. | |||
(b) NRC Comments l | |||
An inspection l was conducted prior to initiation of this l | |||
investigation to insure that, the NRC Order to halt con- | |||
struction had been fully and correctly implemented. | |||
i | |||
10ffice-of Inspection and Enforcement Inspection Report Numbers | |||
50-443/78-11.and 50-444/78-11.. | |||
l | |||
--- | |||
. | |||
. | |||
9 | |||
During this investigation, all plant areas were examined | |||
for evidence of unauthorized work being performed. Areas | |||
examined included the offshore jackup barge, onshore | |||
tunnel shaft area, reactor building excavations, cooling | |||
water pumphouse excavation, concrete and ironwork, con- | |||
crete batch plant, settling basins, storage buildings, | |||
rock dumps, maintenance and testing shops, laydown areas, | |||
office areas, and the Educational Center area. | |||
The investigators observed authorized activities of an | |||
environmental nature in progress, which included ditching | |||
and seeding work on the borders of the new plant access | |||
road, planting and seeding adjacent to the Educational | |||
Center, watering-down of dusty roads and parking areas, | |||
and removal of water from some low elevations by pumping. | |||
Equipment was also observed being loaded onto trucks for | |||
removal from the site. | |||
The investigators determined that the total work force at | |||
the site on July 21, 1978 had been reduced by 62 percent | |||
as of August 2,1978. There were individuals assigned on | |||
all shifts with the majority being on day shift. On | |||
August 2, 1978, supervision and office workers accounted | |||
i for 75 percent of the total work force. | |||
l The investigators found that tower cranes did change in | |||
orientation which was a normal condition since they are | |||
free to turn in the wind when not in use. The other | |||
reported complaints were correlated with activities on | |||
site and none were found related to site activities which | |||
were not permissible. | |||
In addition to direct observation of the site, the in- | |||
vestigators took ground and aerial photographs to provide | |||
a method of comparing change. | |||
(c) NRC Findings | |||
The NRC investigation found that the Order of the Nuclear | |||
Regulatory Comission which suspended the construction | |||
permits was being complied with and that only those | |||
actions permitted by the Order were being performed. | |||
L _ _ _ _ _______ - - - - - - - - - - - _ | |||
_ - . _ | |||
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ | |||
. | |||
- | |||
. . | |||
10 | |||
l | |||
E. Management Meetings | |||
j | |||
On July 26, 1978, the investigator discussed the reason for the | |||
t investigation with Mr. J. H. Herrin, Site Manager. | |||
On August 8, 1978, during a telephone discussion with Mr. Herrin, | |||
the investigator discussed the investigation findings and informed | |||
the licensee that no items of noncompliance had been identified. | |||
. | |||
t | |||
/ | |||
s | |||
l \ | |||
. | |||
t | |||
, | |||
L. | |||
}} |
Revision as of 18:14, 21 July 2020
ML20148C193 | |
Person / Time | |
---|---|
Site: | Seabrook ![]() |
Issue date: | 09/12/1978 |
From: | Devlin J, Folsom S, Rich Smith NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I) |
To: | |
Shared Package | |
ML20148C144 | List: |
References | |
50-443-78-12, 50-444-78-12, NUDOCS 7811010135 | |
Download: ML20148C193 (12) | |
See also: IR 05000444/1978012
Text
)
'
U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION l
.Q ' 0FFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT l
50-443/78-12
Report No. 50-444/78-12
50-443 l
Docket No. 50-444 l
l
CPPR-135 l
License No. cppR-136 Group 4 Category A-2 l
Licensee: Public Service Company of New Hampshire
1
1000 Elm Streeti '
l
Manchester. New Hampshire 03105 I
Facility Name: Seabrook Station. Units 1 and 2 l
Investigation at: Seabrook, New Hampshire
Investigation conducte July 26 - August 11, 1978
Investigators: , t hM
'R./H. Smithanvestigation dpecialist '
9 7 i
da signed
9 )
e i2 xw- 9 /2.72
S. A. 761som, Reactor Inspector / date ' signed
date signed
s
date signed
Approved by: O/J' m ,/, , /yf
[J.W. Devlin, Chief,Securityand / /'dat# signed
Investigation Section
Investigation Summary:
Investigation from July 26 to August 11, 1978 (Report Nos. 50-443/78-12 and
50-444/78-12)
Areas Investigated: Unannounced investigation by one regional based investigator
and one regional based inspector, of complaints concerning blasting and other
unauthorized work being performed after the construction permits were suspended
,
on July 21, 1978. The investigation involved 114 investigative-hours by an NRC
l regional based investigator and a regional based inspector.
Resul ts: The noise and earth tremor which formed the basis of a complaint about
blasting were observed. No information or evidence was found to indicate that
any of the complaints were related to violations of regulatory requirements or
l violations of the Commission Order. No apparent items of noncompliance were
identified.
Region I Form 143
(Rev. October 1977) E1010/ W
- .. -- .. .. .. -. . . - . . . _ _ - ,
. .
.
I
k
TABLE OF CONTENTS-
I. BACKGROUND
A. Reason for Investigation
B. Order of the Nuclear: Regulatory Comission
C. Identification of Involved Organizations ,
II. SUMMARY OF FINDINGS ,
A. Complaints and Investigation Findings
B.. Conclusions
III'. DETAILS _
A. Introduction
B. Scope of Investigation
C. Persons Directly Interviewed and/or Contacted during the NRC
Investigation-
- D. NRC Coments and Findings Regarding the Complaints
E. Management Meetings
.
L
.
. .
.
I
I BACXGROUND
A. Reason for Investigation
During the period from July 26 to July 31, 1978, the Nuclear Re-
gulatory Commission (NRC, Region I) received several telephone
calls from members of the public who reside in the vicinity of the
Seabrook Station site. In each case, the individuals stated that
blasting was continuing on the site even though the construction
permits for the Seabrook Units i and 2 were suspended effective ,
6:00 p.m.-(EDT) on July 21, 1978.
!
,
An investigation regarding these complaints was initiated by the
NRC, Region ILon July 26, 1978.
B. Order of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission ,
By Order of the NRC on June 30, 1978, the construction permits for
the Seabrook Station, Units 1 and 2, were suspended effective 6:00
p.m. (EDT) on July 21, 1978.
The Order permitted, "only such actions as are necessary to protect
the environmental integrity of the site or to protect buildings,
material or personnel at the site."
C. Identification of Involved Organizations
Public Service Company of New Hampshire
1000 Elm Street
Manchester, New Hampshire 03105
A utility company, the licensee, which has been issued a Construc-
tion Permit for the construction of two nuclear fueled power stations,
Seabrook Units 1 and 2.
.
. .
-
.
II SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
A. Complaints and Investigation Findings
The following complaints were obtained by telephone calls to the
Region I office and also during interviews of individuals in and
around Seabrook, New Hampshire. All complainants were aware that
the construction permits for Seabrook Units 1 and 2 were suspended
effective 6:00 p.m. (EDT) on July 21, 1978.
1. Complaint No. 1
That blasting was continuing on the site after July 21, 1978.
The NRC investigation found no information or evidence that
any explosives were used on the site during the period from
6:00 p.m. on July 21, 1978 through August 5,1978, which was
the end of the onsite portion of this investigation.
2. Complaint No. 2
That construction activities at the site had not ceased, for
the following reasons:
-- Large numbers of people entering and leaving the site on
all shifts.
-- Tower cranes in different orientations from one day to
the next.
--
Motors roaring throughout the night.
--
Sounds of trucks dumping large rocks.
--
Dump truck tailgates slamming.
-- Trees being cut down.
-- A truck loaded with crushed rock entering plant.
The NRC investigation found that the Order of the Nuclear
Regulatory Commission which suspended the construction permits
was being complied with and that only those actions permitted
by the Order were being performed.
.
.
3 l
1
8. Conclusions 1
I
1. No items of noncompliance were identified during the in- I
vestigation. l
l
2. There were no violations of the NRC Order identified.
l
.
i
l
!
l
.
.
.
1
l
. _ _ _ _ _ _
.
-
.
III DETAILS
A. Introduction-
Pursuant to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission Order on June 30,
1978, the Seabrook Station Units 1 and 2 construction permits were
suspended effective 6:00 p.m. (EDT) on July 21, 1978.
An inspection lwas conducted by a NRC Region I representative on
July 21-27, 1978. The purpose of this inspection was to insure, by
observation, interviews, and examination of applicable records,
that the NRC Order to halt construction had been fully and correctly
implemented.
This investigation was initiated as a result of the NRC receiving
telephone complaints that blasting and construction activities had
not ceased as of July 21, 1978.
B. Scope of Investigation
This investigation included an examination of pertinent documents
and records, interviews and contacts with individuals having signi-
ficant information, and observations by the investigators while at
the Seabrook Station Unit 1 and 2 sites. It also included interviews
and contacts with the complainants, individual members of the
public, Pease Air Force Base and the Federal Aviation Administration.
The scope of this investigation was limited to those complaints
relating to the suspension of the construction permits.
C. ' Persons Directly Interviewed and/or Contacted during the NRC
Investigation
Yankee Atomic Electric Company
R. S. Faulkner, Jr., Section Leader, Field Monitoring
i J. H. Herrin, Site Manager
F. R. Kotowski, Manager, Educational Center
P. A. Nason, Staff Engineer
R. P. Pizzuti, Construction Manager
J. W. Singleton, Field Quality Assurance Manager
R. B. Staples, Civil Supervisor
A. J. Stewart, Site Geologist
I 0ffice of Inspection and Enforcement Inspection Report Numbers
50-443/78-11 and 50-444/78-11.
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United Engineers and Constructors
R. N. Moyer, Field Superintendent Quality Assurance / Quality l
Control
Pittsburgh Testing Laboratory
H. Ruffner, Site Manager / Test Laboratory Supervisor
Morrison - Knudsen Company, Inc. -
J. N. Allan, Project Manager
D. Downs, Engineer
J. Hendrix, Engineer
J. P. Nossereau, Assistant Project Manager
R. Obradovic, Project Engineer
Pease Air Force Base
E. L. Byrd, Disaster Preparedness Officer
Federal Aviation Administration
C. Hudnall, Planning and Appraisal Staff
Others
The complainants and other individual members of the public.
D. NRC Comments and Findings Regarding the Complaints
1. Complaint No. 1
(a) Complaint
That blasting was continuing on the site after July 21,
1978.
(b) NRC Comments
The investigators interviewed several individuals re-
garding the blasting noise and/or ground tremors which
they believed to be related to blasting at the Seabrook
site subsequent to 6:00 p.m. on July 21, 1978. The '
following information was compiled from records maintained
by the individuals and shows the approximate time of day
for the reported sounds and/or ground tremors.
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6:30 AM - 1 reported sound on 8-1-78
7:10 AM - 1 reported sound on 7-29-78
8:00 AM - 2 reported sounds on 7-22-78
- 1 reported sound on 7-23-78
8:10 AM -
1 reported sound on 7-24-78
8:20 AM -
3 reported sounds on 7-20-78
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3 reported sounds on 7-21- /8
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3 reported sounds on 7-22-78
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2 reported sounds on 7-23-78
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3 reported sounds on 7-24-78
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2 reported sounds on 7-25-78
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3 reported sounds on 7-26-78
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5 reported sounds on 7-27-78
- 5 reported sounds on 7-28-78
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3 reported sounds on 7-29-78
- 3 reported sounds on 7-30-78
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6 reported sounds on 7-31-78
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1 reported sound each day during
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the period of 8-1 thru 8-10-78
,
8:30 AM -
2 reported sounds on 7-22-78
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3 reported sounds on 7-25-78
l - 3 reported sounds on 7-26-78
l 9:30 AM - 1 reported sound on 7-22-78
9:50 AM -
2 reported sounds on 7-23-78
,
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1 reported sound on 7-24-78
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2 reported sounds on 7-26-78
l - 2 reported sounds on 7-27-78
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3 reported sounds on 7-29-78
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1 reported sound on 7-30-78
- 1 reported sound on 7- 31-78
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4 reported sounds on 8-4-78
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1 reported sound on 8-5-78
10:45 AM -
1 reported sound on 7- 31-78
11:20 AM -
1 reported sound on 8-1-78
12:40 AM -
1 reported sound on 7-29-78
2:15 PM -
1 reported sound on 7-29-78
2:45 PM -
1 reported sound on 7-22-78
3:00 PM -
2 reported sounds on 7-22-78
- 1 reported sound on 7-23-78
- 1 reported sound on 7-25-78
3:30 PM - 3 reported sounds on 7-29-78
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ - _ _ _ _ _
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3:55 PM -
1 reported sound on 7-27-78
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1 reported sound on 7-28-78
4:30 PM -
1 reported sound on 7-22-78
5:50 PM - 1 reported sound on 8-2-78
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1 reported sound on 8-4-78
There was general agreement that the reports from 8:20 to 8:30 AM; at
9:50 AM; and, from 3:00 to 3:30 PM were louder than others and created
more vibration.
During a discussion at one residence, at about 9:55 a.m.
on August 3,1978, the investigators and all present
heard a sound and felt a tremor similar to others that
those present had previously reported. An immediate
telephone call to neighbors confirmed that they had heard
and felt it also. No other similar sounds were heard by
the investigators while in the Seabrook, New Hampshire
area during the period from August 2 through August 5,
1978.
During an inspection conducted at the Seabrook, construc-
tion site, the investigators examined blasting areas,
explosives magazines (all found to,be empty), photographed
dump area for blasted rock from ground level and also
aerial to provide a method of comparing change, inter-
viewed blasting personnel, and examined blasting records
and explosive material accounting records. The documenta-
tion provided to the investigators indicated that the
final explosive charge which was detonated prior to the
suspension orders occurred on July 21,1978 at 11:48 a.m.
in the Unit 1 foundation. Documentation also confirmed
that all explosive materials were removed from the site
on July 25, 1978. This information was also confirmed by
discussions with the involved individuals.
The investigators contacted the Pease Air Force Base,
Portsmouth, New Hamphsire, and were informed that no
similar complaints of sounds had been received at that
location.
The investigators contacted the Federal Aviation Admin-
istration (FAA), Burlington, Massachusetts and were in-
formed that they had received reports from citizens in
the Boston North Shore Area and southern New Hampshire of
sounds similar to those reported to the NRC.
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The FAA has installed a sound monitoring device in l
Cambridge and is continuing an evaluation to determine l
the cause of the sound. i
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(c) NRC Findings
The NRC investigation found no information or evidence ;
that any explosives were used on the site during the j
period from 6:00 p.m. on July 21, 1973, through August 5, !
1978, which was the end of the onsite portion of this j
investigation.
2. Complaint No. 2
(a) Complaint
i
That construction activities at the site had not ceased,
for-the following reasons:
--
Large numbers of people entering and leaving the
site on all shifts.
-- Tower cranes in different orientations from one day
to the next.
-- Motors roaring throughout the night.
-- Sounds of trucks dumping large rocks.
i
-- Dump truck tailgates slamming.
-- Trees being cut down.
-- A truck loaded with crushed rock entering plant.
(b) NRC Comments l
An inspection l was conducted prior to initiation of this l
investigation to insure that, the NRC Order to halt con-
struction had been fully and correctly implemented.
i
10ffice-of Inspection and Enforcement Inspection Report Numbers
50-443/78-11.and 50-444/78-11..
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During this investigation, all plant areas were examined
for evidence of unauthorized work being performed. Areas
examined included the offshore jackup barge, onshore
tunnel shaft area, reactor building excavations, cooling
water pumphouse excavation, concrete and ironwork, con-
crete batch plant, settling basins, storage buildings,
rock dumps, maintenance and testing shops, laydown areas,
office areas, and the Educational Center area.
The investigators observed authorized activities of an
environmental nature in progress, which included ditching
and seeding work on the borders of the new plant access
road, planting and seeding adjacent to the Educational
Center, watering-down of dusty roads and parking areas,
and removal of water from some low elevations by pumping.
Equipment was also observed being loaded onto trucks for
removal from the site.
The investigators determined that the total work force at
the site on July 21, 1978 had been reduced by 62 percent
as of August 2,1978. There were individuals assigned on
all shifts with the majority being on day shift. On
August 2, 1978, supervision and office workers accounted
i for 75 percent of the total work force.
l The investigators found that tower cranes did change in
orientation which was a normal condition since they are
free to turn in the wind when not in use. The other
reported complaints were correlated with activities on
site and none were found related to site activities which
were not permissible.
In addition to direct observation of the site, the in-
vestigators took ground and aerial photographs to provide
a method of comparing change.
(c) NRC Findings
The NRC investigation found that the Order of the Nuclear
Regulatory Comission which suspended the construction
permits was being complied with and that only those
actions permitted by the Order were being performed.
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E. Management Meetings
j
On July 26, 1978, the investigator discussed the reason for the
t investigation with Mr. J. H. Herrin, Site Manager.
On August 8, 1978, during a telephone discussion with Mr. Herrin,
the investigator discussed the investigation findings and informed
the licensee that no items of noncompliance had been identified.
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