ML033000101

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G20030623/LTR-03-0681 - Rep. Louise Slaughter Ltr Re Ginna Nuclear Power Plant - Back-up Power Sources
ML033000101
Person / Time
Site: Ginna Constellation icon.png
Issue date: 11/14/2003
From: Travers W
NRC/EDO
To: Slaughter L
US HR (House of Representatives)
Clark R, NRR/DLPM, 415-2297
Shared Package
ML033000267 List:
References
G20030623, LTR-03-0681, TAC MC1053
Download: ML033000101 (3)


Text

November 14, 2003 The Honorable Louise Slaughter Member, United States House of Representatives 3120 Federal Building 100 State Street Rochester, NY 14614

Dear Congresswoman Slaughter:

On behalf of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), I am writing to respond to your letter dated October 3, 2003, regarding sources of electrical power for the Ginna Nuclear Power Plant (Ginna) located in Ontario, New York. Your letter requested assistance in responding to your constituent, Ms. Henrietta Levine, regarding the adequacy of backup power sources in the event of a power outage or blackout, such as the one recently experienced in the Northeast.

NRC regulations set high standards for safety at nuclear power plants. These regulations employ a defense-in-depth philosophy which ensures high quality in design, construction, and operation of nuclear power plants and requires redundant safety systems that reduce the chances that malfunctions will lead to accidents. Nuclear power plants are required to have both onsite and offsite electric power sources to provide power to essential safety equipment during normal plant operations and in the event of an emergency. In the event of a loss of offsite power, the onsite emergency power sources provide backup power to equipment required to safely shut down the plant.

At Ginna, offsite power is supplied by two physically independent circuits from the transmission network. These circuits are the normal power sources to onsite safety equipment. In the event of a failure of both offsite power sources, Ginna has two independent and redundant emergency diesel generator (EDG) systems, as well as two completely separate and independent station battery systems. The redundant EDGs and station batteries are located in two separate rooms within buildings that are designed to protect against the effects of natural phenomena such as earthquakes, tornados and hurricanes. Each of these systems is designed to provide sufficient capacity and capability to ensure that the reactor core is cooled and containment integrity is maintained in the event of postulated accidents, including a loss of all offsite power sources. Therefore, Ginna meets all applicable NRC requirements with respect to backup and emergency power sources. These design features enabled Ginna to successfully respond to the grid disturbances that occurred on August 14, 2003. The reactor shut down, as designed, due to the grid disturbance and the EDGs provided the power necessary to operate the safety systems.

L. Slaughter We appreciate Ms. Levines interest in NRC requirements for backup and emergency power sources and in the safety of the Ginna facility. I hope you find the information in this letter useful in responding to her concern. If you have any further questions, please contact Dennis K. Rathbun, Director, Office of Congressional Affairs, at 301-415-1776.

Sincerely,

/RA/

William D. Travers Executive Director for Operations

L. Slaughter We appreciate Ms. Levines interest in NRC requirements for backup and emergency power sources and in the safety of the Ginna facility. I hope you find the information in this letter useful in responding to her concern. If you have any further questions, please contact Dennis K. Rathbun, Director, Office of Congressional Affairs, at 301-415-1776.

Sincerely,

/RA/

William D. Travers Executive Director for Operations DISTRIBUTION:

PUBLIC S. Collins R. Clark DLPM Div. Secy PDI-1 R/F J. Dyer R. Jenkins SECY W. Travers D. Rathbun, OCA J. Goldberg, OGC (LTR-03-0681)

W. Kane H. Miller, R-I T. Walker, R-I K. Johnson C. Paperiello B. Sheron S. Little NRR Mailroom P. Norry L. Marsh OGC (GT20030623)

W. Dean C. Holden OPA S. Burns/K. Cyr R. Laufer OCA Package: ML033000267 Incoming No.: ML032940102 Accession No.: ML033000101

  • See previous concurrence **concurred via e-mail OFFICE PDI-1/PM PDI-1/LA RI/DRP** EEIB/SC* TechEditor* PDI-1/SC NAME RClark SLittle TWalker e-mail RJenkins PKleene RLaufer (w/comment)

DATE 11/03/03 11/03/03 10/22/03 10/23/03 10/24/03 11/03/03 OFFICE PDI-1* DLPM/D* ADPT NRR/D EDO OCA NAME CHolden TMarsh BSheron JDyer WTravers DRathbun (w/comment)

DATE 10/27/03 10/30/03 11/03/03 11/03/03 11/14/03 11/14/03 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY