ML20215M079

Responds to Forwarding a Jones Expressing Concern Re Operation of facility.B&W-designed Facilities Meet NRC Regulation Applicable to Power Reactors or NRC Will Take Action.Related Info Encl

ML20215M079
Person / Time
Site:	Davis Besse
Issue date:	05/06/1987
From:	Stello V NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO)
To:	Glenn J SENATE
Shared Package
ML20215M082	List: ML20215M079 ML20215M099
References
NUDOCS 8705130083
Download: ML20215M079 (8)

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[gur $%, UNITED STATES g g NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Q j WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555

%g.....,/ MY 6 W The Honorable John Glenn United States Senator 200 North High Street, Suite 600 .

Columbus, Ohio 43215

Dear Senator Glenn:

I am responding to your letter dated April 6,1987, addressed to Mr. Carlton Kammerer which enclosed a copy of a letter from Aletha Jones.

Ms. Jones expressed a concern regarding the operation of the Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station, Unit No.1, in Oak Harbor, Ohio, designed by the Babcock and Wilcox Company (B&W). Specifically, Ms. Jones requested you to urge the NRC to suspend the operating license of Davis-Besse,a,nd, the other operating B&W-designed facilities.

These facilities currently operate under licenses issued by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and meet NRC regulations applicable to operating power reactors. .Should these plants not meet NRC regulations for any reason, the NRC will take appropriate action.

Since the accident at Three Mile Island (TMI) in 1979, the NRC has recognized that the Babcock and Wilcox plants are more sensitive in their response to operational events than other pressurized water reactors. After TMI, efforts were intensified significantly to improve B&W plants, but the number and complexity of problems were still of concern. Following problems that occurred at the Davis-Besse and Rancho Seco nuclear plants in June and December of 1985 respectively, the NRC Executive Director for Operations y directed in January 1986, that the long-term safety of nuclear reactors designed by B&W be reassessed.

At that time, the NRC staff concluded that continued operation of the B&W plants during the reassessment would not pose an undue risk to public health and safety. Since the reassessment began, over 150 recommendations have been referred to the B&W licensees and many of them have been or are now being implemented. These changes have already had a positive effect on safety by bringing about improvements; for example, in the integrated control system and in the performance of the main feedwater system that have reduced challenges to safety systems caused by feedwater transients. Because of these and other changes, the staff has concluded that the plants are safer now than they were a year ago. Further implementation of the pertinent recommendations being proposed should result in additional improvements in plant performance and reductions in the frequency and severity of plant trips and transients.

The Babcock and Wilcox Owners Group (BWOG), made up of representatives from each utility that operates B&W plants, has taken a leadership role in the reassessment effort. Their Safety and Performance Improvement Program has been modified at the request of the staff and its implementation is being closely reviewed and monitored by the NRC. The NRC staff has met with the 8705130083 870506 PDR ADOCK 05000346 H PDR

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ISinster Glenn.

A " Owners Group numerous times and is performing necessary independent reviews

,f -to ensure that NRC concerns are met.

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/The. object of the overall evaluation is to reassess.the basic requirements and . .

operational, characteristics'of:B&W plants and to compare the overallLsafety of these: plants with other pressurized water reactors. .The approach used by the.

B&W Owners Group and the'NRC staff includes,?among other things,-(1) the review of operating experience at B&W plants,' including the outcome of the Davit-Besse ~ and Rancho .Seco Incident' Investigation Team -reports; (2) a review =

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of human factors aspects,. including procedure reviews and interviews,0f F operation and maintenance ~ personnel;-(3).an examination of systems, cuch as the integrated control _. system'and feedwater' systems,.that contribute to the ,

< complexity of pre-trip ~and post-trip reactor behavior, and (4) performance ~

sensitivity and risk. analyses. ,

-Considerable. work has been completed by both the BWOG'and the NRC staff. The NRC-staff. expects to complete'its reassessment ofJB&W nu'cle'ar_ reactors by June 30, 1987. The results of the staff's review will be documented in a Jsafety evaluation report.2

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> -I trust. that this information will assist you in responding to your .

constituents =. ,

. Sincerely, '

, ed) T. A.nda ,

Victor Ste110,3 Jr.

, Executive Director for Operations-

-Distribution:

Central File ~ G. Holahan . SECY.-

'NRC PDR . D. Crutchfield OCA '

p EDO #002751/D. - Mossburg F. Miraglia EDO Reading File J. Sniezek

~A. DeAgazio T. Murley PD III-1 GT File' V. Stello M.;Virgilio.

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See Previous Concurrence

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Owners Gr up' numerous times and is performing necessary independent reviews

= to' ensure- at NRC_ concerns are-met.

7The_ object of. he overall evaluation is to reassess thb basic requirements and operational:cha cteristics of B&W plants and to-compare.the overall safety of-

. 4these plants wit other-pressurized water reactors. The approach used.by the B&W Owners Group a :the NRC staff includes, among other things, (1) the-review of operating xperience at B&W plants, including the. outcome of the

. Davis-Besse and-Ranch Seco-Incident ~ Investigation Team reports; (2) a review

~o f human; factors-aspec ,wincluding procedure reviews and interviews of operation and maintenan " personnel; (3) an examination of systems, such as S iw the integrated control sy tem and feedwater' systems, that contribute to the..

complexity of pre-trip and ost-trip reactor behavior a'nd (4) performance sensitivity and risk analys

' Considerable work has been co leted by both the BWOG and the NRC staff. The

'NRC staff expects to complete i s reassessment of B&W nuclear reactors by

' June 30, 1987. The.results of t staff's review will be documented in a

!~ safety evaluation report.

~

I trust-that this information will'a ist you in responding to your

. constituents.

Si cerely, ,

Victor S llo, Jr.

. Executive irector

, e < for Opera ons L. Distribution: -

. Central File G. Holahan NRC'PDR. . D. Crutchfield F. Miraglia-

• - EDO #002751/D. Mossburg EDO' Reading File J. Sniezek - v 4; .. A. ' DeAgazio .T. Murley PD III.-1 GT File V. Stello

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• der the Commission's Rules of Practice, cf. Part 2 of Title 10, Code of Fe eral Regulations, S2.206 provides for requests such as Ms. Jones' to sus end operating licenses. Any person may make a request for such Commission acti  ; however, the rule requires that the facts that constitute the basis for t request be set forth. Ms. Jones did not present any basis other than her genera concern for safety, which we all share. No new fact or information was pres nted to provide a basis for Commission action.

However, i a related matter, the Union of Concerned Scientists has submitted a petition p rsuant to S2.206. That petition requested that the Commission hold public h arings to determine corrective actions necessary for B&W designed plant to achieve assurance of adequate protection for public health and safety. Su ension of operating licenses was also requested until the corrective actio are fully implemented. The Commission has completed a preliminary review of this matter and determined that an immediate shutdown of B&W-designed facili ies is not required (see Enclosure). The Commission is continuing to review he petition and will issue a formal decision in the reasonably near future When it is copies will be placed in the Local Public DocumentRoomsneartheoperatingBdWdesignedfacilities. The LPDR in Ms. Jones' locality is a :

The University of Toledo Library Documents Department 801 Bancroft Avenue ledo, Ohio 43606 Ms. Jones may examine the Commiss'on's decision on the petition, and any other public U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Com ission document related to the Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station at that locat n.

Sincerely, Vict Stello, Jr.

Execut've Director for 0 erations Distribution:

Central File G. Holahan NRC PDR D. Crutchfield ED0 #002751/D. Mossburg F. Miraglia E00 Reading File J. Sniezek A. DeAgazio T. Murley PD III-1 GT File V. Stello M. Virgilio R. Starostecki J. Blaha J. Funches P. Shea See Previous Concurrence

• PD31/PM* PD31/D* AD/DRSP* DP ADeAgazio:lt MVirgilio GHolahan p tchfield F iraglia 4/21/87 4/21/87 4/23/87 y /2787 / /87 DD/NRR D/NRR E00 JSniezek TMurley VStello 04/ /87 04/ /87 04/ /87 l

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owever, in a related matter, the Union of Concerned Scientists has submitted petition pursuant to S2.206. That petition requested that the Commission ho d public hearings to determine corrective actions necessary for B&W des' ned plants to achieve assurance of adequate protection for public health and (fety. Suspension of operating licenses was also requested until the The Commission is still reviewing correcg(iveactionsarefullyimplemented.

this.pe ition and, therefore, no formal decision has yet been issued. When it is, copiAs will be placed in the Local Public Document Rooms near the operating &W. designed facilities. The LPDR in Ms. Jones' locality is at:

The University of Toledo Library Documents Department 2801 Bancroft Avenue Toledo, Ohio 43606 Ms. Jones may examipe the Commission's decision on the petition, and any other public U.S. Nuclear legulatory Commission document related to the Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station' at that location.

Sincerely, N -

Victor Stello, Jr.

Executive Director for Operations ,

Distribution:

Central File NRC PDR EDO #002751/D. Mossburg EDO Reading File A. DeAgazio DP III-1 GT File M. Virgilio G. Holohan D. Crutchfield F. Miraglia J. Sniezek T. Murley V. Stello PD31/PM/.',l[b PD31/DNV D/DRS ADP ADeAgazio:lt UVirgilio GHol an DCrutch ield FMiraglia y/jj/87. t/2f/87 g/t,j/87 / /87 / /87 DD/NRR, D/NRR EDO JSniezek TMurley VStello

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der the Commission's-Rules of Practice,'cf. Part 2 of Title.10, Codeiof Fe ral Regulations, S2.~206 provides for requests such as Ms.~ Jones' to '

sus nd operating licenses. Any person may make a request for such Commission actio ; however, the rule requires that the facts that' constitute the basis' for th request be set forth. Ms. Jones _did not present any basis other-than'her-general oncern for safety, which we all share. No new fact or information

- was prese ted =to provide- a basis for Commission action.

- However, tin related matter, the Union of Concerned Scientists has submitted a petition p suant to S2.206. That petition requested that the Commission hold public he ings to determine corrective actions necessary for B&W-designed '

plants to achie assurance of adequate protection for public health and safety.

Suspension of ope ating licenses was also requested until the corrective' actions are fully implemen d. The Commission has com)1eted a preliminary review of this matter and det mined that an immediate slutdown of B&W-designed facilities is not required (see nclosure). The~ Commission is continuing to review the

_ petition and will issu a formal decision in the. reasonably near future. When it is, copies will be p ced in the Local Public Document Rooms near the operating B&W-designed fa ilities. The LPDR in Ms. Jones' locality is at:

The University of Toledo Library Documents. Department 801 Bancroft Avenue T ledo, Ohio 43606 Ms. Jones may examine the Commissi n's decision on the petition,'and any other public U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Comm sion document related to the Davis-Besse

Nuclear Power Station at that locati .

incerely, Vic r Stello, Jr.

Execu ive Director for erations

Enclosure:

Letter to E. Weiss from F. Miraglia dated March 13, 1987 DISTRIBUTION i Central File G. Holahan NRC PDR D. Crutchfield EDO #002751/D. Mossburg F. Miraglia ED0 Reading File J. Sniezek A. DeAgazio T. Murley PD III-1 GT File V. Stello M. Virgilio ~ R. Starostecki J. Blaha J. Funches P. Shea See Previous Concurrence

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FROM: iUE: >4/28/87 EDO CONTROL: 002751' DOC DT: 04/06/87

SEN.-JOHN GLENN-- FINAL REPLY:

LTO OCA

^FOR SIGNATURE OF: ** GREEN ** SECY NO: 87-0386:

EXECUTIVF DIRECTOR-DESC: ROUTING:

. ENCL LTR'FROM ALETHA-JONES CONCERNING SAFETY OF DAVIS, RIII:

B&W PLANTS, PARTICULARLY DAVIS-BESSE-DATE:=04/14/87-ASSIGNED TO: NRR CONTACT: MitRI.EY SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR REMARKS:

REPLY TO COLilMBUS,.OH OFFICE NRR RECEIVED: APRIL 15, 1987 ACTION: Th:TDRSPem w

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OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY CORRESPONDENCE CONTROL TICKET

-PAPER NUMBER: CRC-87-0386 LOGGING DATE: Apr 13 87

~ ACTION OFFICE: EDO

' AUTHOR: J. GLENN AFFILIATION: U.S. SENATE LETTER-DATE: Apr ~6 87 FILE CODE:

SUBJECT:

Constituent's concerns re safety of Davis-Besse

' ACTION: Direct Reply '

DISTRIBUTION:

SPECIAL HANDLING: OCA'to Ack.

. NOTES:- Aletha Jones DATE DUE: 'Apr 27 87 SIGNATURE: . DATE SIGNED:

-AFFILIATION:

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