ML20062K312

Requests Investigation & Public Hearings Re Environ Impact Involved in Restart of Facility.Ltr to State of VT Public Officials Encl

ML20062K312
Person / Time
Site:	Vermont Yankee
Issue date:	11/27/1980
From:	Callan V, Richardson C VERMONT YANKEE DECOMMISSIONING ALLIANCE
To:	Ahearne J NRC COMMISSION (OCM)
References
NUDOCS 8012100461
Download: ML20062K312 (3)

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THIS DOCUMENT CONTAIMS VermontYankee

. POOR QUAUTY PAGES Decomniissioning Alliance 127 MainStmet Brattleboro Wrmont05301 John Ahoarne, Chair:m n 802-254-9983 Nuclear Regulatory Commission Boxn17 5StateStwet Washington, DC 20555 Montpelier Wrrnont05602 802-223-7222

Dear Chairman Ahearne:

• 7e are writin5 to you about a natter of grave concern and urEene7 The Vermont Yankee Nuclear Sower "lant in Vernon has been shutdown since Septembel- 97 for refuelin6 and scheduled re, airs;. During tb past two months, a number of serious and unexpected noblems have surfaced at the facility. The plant was scheduled to resu=e oper-ations on November 99 but these additional discoveries have forced further delays. 7.*e believe that there will bels real and .1=minent threat to human life if Vermont Yankee reopens.

Enclosed is a co 7 of a letter that we = ailed this week to Verment oublic officials calling for "a full -and -ublic investi6ation into i;he operation and safety of Vermont Yanke' ."e '.Ve have also centacted our con 6ressional delegation for the purpose of involvin6 them in

, working in our behalf in this serious matter.

l We ask that you launch.'such en investigati6h' 1:::..,ediately in co-operation with the state of Vermont and c tizens grcups and that

. you organise public hearings. Naturally, we fully expect tis t ths

. plant will remain closed for the duration of the investigation.

i l A delegetion of our membersP17 intends to visit you azd your staff next week in Veshing*on. '.Ve will contact your office to arrange a meetinE tiEe +

We mush all work to gather in a romot and onen :ranner to fore-stall the irr* vocable Ehreet that Vermont Yankee comes to our beautiful region.

Sincerely,

"6 bd C ,

\O Virginia Callan Cort Richardson 'U ~

Vermont Yankse Vermont Yankee \

Decom=issioning Alliance Decom.issioning 4.111ance Monteelier, Vt. 05602 Brattleboro, Vt. 05301 (sop) 293-2695 (E02) 757-0072 cc. William Dirks, Director Safety and. safe 6srds Division 8012100 M M Nuclear, ReguMtpqJc:mt.ission

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November 25, 1980 --

Honorable Richa d A. Snelling  ; ^ -5 8 tate of Vermont, State House ..

., iou tpelier , . VT 05602 - ---

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Honorable Richard Saudek, Chairman Vermont Public Service Board Vermont State Nuclear Advisory panel Decommissioning Montpelier, VT 05602 ,

ll@IICO 127 MninStreet Honorable Brendan J. Whitaker, Secretary Hratlichoro Wrnwmt05'iO!

Agency of Environmental Conservation 802 254-99 &

Montpelier, VT 05802 Box 1117 5StateStreet i Montpclier.Wnnont05G(E

Dear Sirs:

Mr2 2Zl7222 Vermont lies in one of the most beautiful regions of our country.

The State government has enjoyed n long standing reputation of concern for the health of its citizens and for protection of its invaluable natural resources. We know that you share these concerns and that l you will act in this tradition on the following matter. -

This is a request for a full and public . investigation into the operation of the Vermont Yankee Nuclear power plant. Recent disclosures about new problems at the facility give us great" reason for concern.

Aa. independent, sufficiently funded investigation into the safety and

,Jannagement of Vermont Yankee is in the public interest.

No petition you nnd your respective agencies to exerciso your authority to organize such an investigation on the behalf or thousands of our supporters in this state, and throughout the area adjacont to the plant. We request, also, that public hearings be held on this important matter. We ask that you seek the full cooperation and l participation of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission as well as independent experts in this effort. Most importantly, you should use the emergency

. powers available to you to ensure that the plant will remain closed i during this process.

On Septeriber 27, Vermont Yankee shutdown for maintenanco, repairs.

and refueling.The plant was scheduled to re-open on November 20. ~ Instead, l '

2 number of new problems have surfaced which require rcnnits or re-i placement. These discoveries have delayed the re-opening of the plant for an undetermined period of time.

Cracks and corrosion have been discovered in components of the plant's water cleanup system including a siqy foot section of the very important. reactor water discharge pipe. It is not clear what caused this unexpected fatigue in such a critical nren o r the plant.

This is very serious.. Potentially,such insufficient nrotection ir.

an important section of the primary cooling system cou.ld cause n loss of coolant in the reactor resulting in immediate dangnr to the public.

, This situation should be a central part of the investination int.o pl ant.. manngement . nn d sa roty .

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. e The facility's turbine generator also show'd . signs of .'xteniti-cant wear and will require repairs. A turbine at the Yankee. Atomic Plant in Rowe, Massachusotts in similar conditjon enused thit plant to be closed for most 6f this past year when it literally fell apart during an attempted start-up. Apparently the corrosion and stress sustained by theso systems combined with possibly poor design and workmanship have contributed to accelerated decay and unreliability.

The Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corporation is currently seeking to recover their expensea from the costly replacement of defectiv.e bolts in the piping support system resulting from their original and possibly fraudulent installation.. Can we reasonably assume '

that Vermont Yankee can be reopened when the bolt issue represents the latest in a history of improper operation, unexpected repairs, and unscheduled and extended shutdowns?

.i The history of the Dry Well Torus emergency containment system currently under repair at Yankee, is one of repeated and costly failures in repair attempts, resulting in years of operation without the full benefit of this critical safety system. The fact that there have been repeated leaks in the plant's cooling systems has added to the danger of a life-threatening accident because the torus was designed to back-up those systems in the event of a major Ioss of coolant .accide:

Vermont Yankee is tho only plant in the country that refuses to install an inerting system, even though the N.R.C. has advised them to install one. This-safety unit would forestall a hydrogen explosion that would breach the reactor containment in the event of an accident.

The plant has been allowed to operate since last June without

' any further action from Vermont's Water Resources Board on the company's application to renew its water discharge permit. At a public hearing that was held in Brattleboro that month, many questions

'and ' objections were raised and the permit was held bnck for additional study. Unfortunately, the plant has operated since that time undwr the old permit even though it did not comply with the terms of its contract with the state.

These events cannot be ignored. There is a serious and immediate danger to the people of our region if Vermont Yankee reopens without a thorough ~ investigation. It is our belieg that these nforementioned l .

problems constitute the most extreme and immediate threat to public safety that Vermont Yankee has over posed.

Sine ely, j]

John Warshow ff h) L.

Chris Wood

. Central Vermont Vermont Yankee Decom-Safe Energy Coalition missioning Alliance

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