ML18017A891

Submits Comment on Encl 2 to 990617 Memo Titled Summary of Meeting with Nuclear Energy Inst. Encl 2 Was Titled Draft Technical Study of Spent Fuel Pool Accidents for Decommissioning Plants. Rept Which Provides Info Encl Also

ML18017A891
Person / Time
Site:	Harris
Issue date:	09/30/1999
From:	Thompson G External (Affiliation Not Assigned)
To:	Dudley R NRC (Affiliation Not Assigned)
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ML18017A892	List: ML18017A891 ML18017A893
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NUDOCS 9910060328
Download: ML18017A891 (6)

Text

CATEGORY 1 REGULAT Y INFORMATION DISTRIBUTIOh SYSTEM (RIDS)

ACCESSION NBR:9910060328 DOC.DATE: 99/09/30 NOTARIZED: NO DOCKET FACIL:50-400 Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant, Unit 1, Carolina 05000400 AUTH.NAME AUTHOR AFFILIATION THOMPSON,G. Affiliation Not Assigned RECIP.NAME RECIPIENT AFFILIATION r DUDLEY,R.F.

SUBJECT:

Submits comment on encl 2 to 990617 memorandum, including encl 2 titled, "Draft Technical Study of, Spent Fuel Pool Accidents for Decommissioning Plants." Rept providing info on implications & significance of partial drainage, encl.

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INSTITUTE FOR RESOURCE AND SECURITY STUDIES 27 Ellsworth Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA Phone: (617) 491-5177 Fax: (617) 491-6904 Electronic mail: irssigc.org 30 September 1999 Richard F Dudley Senior Project Manager, Decommissioning Section Project Directorate IV and Decommissioning Division of Licensing Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation US Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555-0001

Dear Mr Dudley:

Re: S ent Fuel Pool Accidents I write to comment upon Enclosure ¹2 to your 17 June 1999 memorandum titled "Summary of Meeting with the Nuclear Energy Institute". Enclosure

¹2 was titled "Draft Technical Study of Spent Fuel Pool Accidents for Decommissioning Plants".

This Draft Technical Study is deficient in at least two respects. First, it does not address the implications of partial drainage of a spent fuel pool. Second, it does not address the potential for an exothermic reaction between steam and zirconium. Both deficiencies are significant, and must be corrected if this Study is to provide useful guidance for regulatory action.

Please find enclosed a report which provides information on the implications and significance of partial drainage and the steam-zirconium reaction in connection with spent fuel pool accidents (see especially Appendices C, D and E). This report addresses an operating nuclear power plant (the Harris plant),

but many of its findings are relevant to spent fuel pools at nuclear power plants which have been shut down.

If you and your colleagues wish to discuss the implications and significance of partial drainage and the steam-zirconium reaction, I would be pleased to do So.

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0 IRSS letter to Richard Dudley 30 September 1999 Page 2 of 2 f

I would like to be informed about future meetings that relate to the safety of spent fuel pools.

Thank you for your attention.

Sincerely, Gordon Thompson Executive Director

Enclosure:

"Risks and alternative options associated with spent fuel storage at the Shearon Harris nuclear power plant", a report prepared by Gordon Thompson for Orange County, NC, February 1999

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