ML20217E881

Ack Receipt of 980313 Petition Which Requests That NRC Immediately Suspend Operating License for Haddam Neck Plant. Petition Requests Denied.Fr Notice & Pamphlet on Petition Process Encl

ML20217E881
Person / Time
Site:	Haddam Neck File:Connecticut Yankee Atomic Power Co icon.png
Issue date:	04/22/1998
From:	Collins S NRC (Affiliation Not Assigned)
To:	Block J CITIZENS AWARENESS NETWORK
Shared Package
ML20217E884	List: ML20217E881 ML20217E898 ML20217E905 ML20217G895
References
2.206, NUDOCS 9804270450
Download: ML20217E881 (3)

Text

$ April 22, 1998 [O-c2/f Jonathan M. Block, Esq.

Attorney for Citizens Awareness Network, Inc.

P.O. Box 566 Putney, VT 05346-0566

Dear Mr. Block:

I have received your petition dated March 13,1998, addressed to the Chairman, the Commissioners, and the Executive Director for Operations of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). The petition requests that NRC immediately suspend the operating license for the Haddam Neck plant in Haddam, Connecticut. As the basis for your request, the petition states that the licensee has failed to exercise adequate radiological controls.

The petition further states that the licensee's proposal to cool the spent fuel pool by ventilating the building with ambient air through doors and roof hatches, in the event that the new spent fuel pool cooling system is unavailable, would constitute an unmonitored and unplanned release of radiation into the environment.

On December 5,1996, the licensee submitted certifications of permanent cessation of operations and permanent removal of fuel from the reactor vesselin accordance with 10 CFR 50.82(a)(1). The provisions of 10 CFR 50.82(a)(2) removed the licensee's authority to operate the reactor or allow fuelin the reactor vessel upon docketing of these certifications. The operating license for the Haddam Neck plant contains requirements necessary to assure adequate protection of the public health and safety. In addition, the licensee's radiological protection program has received a series of NRC inspections to assess the licensee's response to issues raised in a Confirmatory Action Letter sent on March 5,1997. Furthermore, the NRC staff will continue to provide regulatory oversight during decommissioning, including in the area of spent fuel pool cooling requirements, to assure public health and safety. Based on the removal of the licensee's authority to operate

. the reactor, and the results of continuing NRC regulatory oversight, your request to immediately suspend the operating license at the Haddam Neck plant is, therefore, denied.

Your petition has been referred to me pursuant to 10 CFR 2.206 of the Commission's regulations. As provided by Section 2.206, action will be taken on your request within a l reasonable time. I have enclosed for your information a copy of the notice that is being filed with the Office of the federa/ Register for publication. I have also enclosed for your information a pamphlet on the petition process.

Sincerely, ORIGINAL SIGNED BY Samuel J. Collins, Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Enclosures:

Federal Register Notice Pamphlet re: Petition Process cc: RosemagyBassilakis \\

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%, April 22, 1998 Jonathan M. Block, Esq.

Attorney for Citizens Awareness Network, Inc.

P.O. Box 566 Putney, VT 05346-0566

Dear Mr. Block:

I have received your petition dated March 13,1998, addressed to the Chairman, the Commissioners, and the Executive Director for Operations of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). The petition requests that NRC immediately suspend the operating license for the Haddam Neck plant in Haddam, Connecticut. As the basis for your request, the petition states that the licensee has f ailed to exercise adequate radiological controls. ;

The petition further states that the licensee's proposal to cool the spent fuel pool by ventilating the building with ambient air through doors and roof hatches, in the event that l l

the new spent fuel pool cooling system is unavailable, would constitute an unmonitored and unplanned release of radiation into the environment.

On December 5,1996, the licensee submitted certifications of permanent cessation of l

operations and permanent removal of fuel from the reactor vesselin accordance with j 10 CFR 50.82(a)(1). The provisions of 10 CFR 50.82(a)(2) removed the licensee's authority l to operate the reactor or allow fuelin the reactor vessel upon docketing of these certifications. The operating license for the Haddam Neck plant contains requirements ,

necessary to assure adequate protection of the public health and safety. In addition, the I licensee's radiological protection program has received a series of NRC inspections to assess the licensee's response to issues raised in a Confirmatory Action Letter sent on March 5,1997. Furtherrnore, the NRC staff will continue to provide regulatory oversight during decommissioning, including in the area of spent fuel pool cooling requirements, to assure public health and safety, Based on the remaval of the licensee's authority to operate the reactor, and the results of continuing NRC regulatory oversight, your request to immediately suspend the operating license at the Haddam Neck plant is, therefore, denied.

Your petition has been referred to me pursuant to 10 CFR 2.206 of the Commission's regulations. As provided by Section 2.206, action will be taken on your request within a reasonable time. I have enclosed for your information a copy of the notice that is being filed with the Office of the FederalRegister for publication. I have also enclosed for your information a pamphlet on the petition process.

Sincerely, ector Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Enclosures:

Federal Register Notice Pamphlet re: Petition Process cc: Rosemary Bassilakis Deborah Katz

4 April 22, 1998 DISTRIBUTION: w/o Pamphlet DOCUMENT NAME: G:\SECY\ACTN_ITM\GT168.TF Docket File 50-213 (w/ original incoming)

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