ML20003H373
| ML20003H373 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Vallecitos File:GEH Hitachi icon.png |
| Issue date: | 05/01/1981 |
| From: | Rolonda Jackson, Justus P Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20003H372 | List: |
| References | |
| ISSUANCES-SC, NUDOCS 8105050672 | |
| Download: ML20003H373 (14) | |
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Ov UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION BEFORE THE ATOMIC SAFETY AND LICENSING BOARD In the Matter of
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GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY Docket NO. 50-70 (ShowCause) 1 (Vallecitos Nuclear Center -
General Electric Test Reactor
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Operating License No. TR-1)
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TESTIMONY OF PHILIP S. JUSTUS. PH.D. AND ROBERT E. JACKSON, PH.D.
REGARDING THE NRC STAFF GEOSCIENCES INPUT Ql. Dr. Justus, please state your name and present occupation.
Al. My nameis Philip 5. Justus; NRC Staff Geologist in the Geosciences Branch, Division of Engineering, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
Q2. Please sunraari7 2 your educational background and relevant work experience.
A2. I earned a a.S. in geology from the City College of the City University of New York and an M.S. and Ph.D. in geology from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill with emphasis on petrology and Appalachian tectonics. As a graduate student I taught labs in structural geology, mineralogy, optical mineralogy, igneous petrology and physical geology and operated and maintained the seismograph station.
I've been trained as a military engineer at Ft. Belvoir, Virginia and served as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Earth, Space and Graphic Sciences at the i
U. S. Military Academy (USMA) for three years teaching physical geology, astronomy and physical geography. At USMA I wrote lab manuals and co-edited the Atlas of Landforms. After a post-doctoral fellowship at Rice University compiling information on ancient volcanism in the Rocky Mountains, I 8185050672
i r became Assistant, later Associate, Professor of Geology at Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU), in Madison, New Jersey for ten years prior to joining NRC. At FCU I taught principally physical geology, structural geology, mineralogy and igneous petrology and taught field geology and geological oceanography at a field station on St. Croix, U. S. Virgin Islands. At FDd I wrote guidebooks, lab manuals, presented papers at professional society meetings, was editor-in-chief of the New Jersey Academy of Science Bulletin, participated in Caribbean and North Atlantic oceanographic research cruises, and consulted for local citizens groups, realtors and developers on surface and groundwater problems and site characterization. While an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of London I developed a fracture-controlled quenching theory tor the origin of curvi-columnar jointing in basalt lava flow units. My resume and bibliography were submitted with interrogatory responses submitted in these proceedings on March 16 and April 3, 1981, respectively.
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Presently, I am assigned as lead reviewer on ten operating reactors and sites under review as well as actively reviewing an application for an Operating License for a nuclear pcwer plant located in the Columbia River Basalt Plateau.
Q3. PleasedescribethescopeofyourparticipationifheStaff'sreview of the GETR site in this proceeding.
A3. Since January, 1980 I have been the lead geological reviewer for GETR.
l As such I have worked closely with Dr. Jackson to coordinate the activities of the Geosciences Braach consultants and advisors on GETR and to assemble l
. their contributions to the review. I also prepared, in conjunction with Dr. Jackson, the Geosciences Branch input to the May 23, 1980 SER and presented its conclusions to the Adhisory Comittee on Reactor Safeguards in June and November, 1980. MyrehiewoftheGETRsite has consisted of a review of all aspects of the geology and tectonics available in reports submitted to the NRC by the licensee and our consultants and advisors and by independent review of other pertinent literature, including studies of the San Fernando fault zone.
I have attemptedtounderstandtherangeofviewsandhaheworkedtointegrate the views into a Staff position.
Q4. Dr. Jackson, please state your name and present occupation.
A4. My name is Robert E. Jackson.
I am Chief of the Geosciences Branch, Division of Engineering, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation for the NRC.
Q5. Please summarize your educational background and relevant experience.
A5.
IreceivedaB.S.degreeinGeologyfromtheUnihersityofRhodeIsland, and a Ph.D. degree in Geology from the Unihersity of North Carolina with a specialty in structural geology - rock mechanics.
I have been employed by NRC since August 1974 in the areas of Structural Geology and Fault Geology as applied to the evaluation of the suitability of nuclear power piant sites. My area of expertise includes structural geology of igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks, rock mechanics, tectonophysics, petrology,andfaultidentificationandbehahior.
I am experienced in field analysis.
. From 1973 to 1974 I was employed by Martin Marietta Laboratories in Baltimore, Maryland as a research scientist. My work for this corporate research and development laboratory consisted of a variety of problem-solving programs in rock mechanics relating to quarrying and blasting.
I also contributed te programs in rapid tunneling and excavation technology. Ialsowasinvolvedinevaluatinganddehelop-ing new technologies for the crushed stone quarrying industry.
I directed a program of investigation of sliding friction as it relates to earthquake source mechanisms and frictional behavior of fault zones. While at Martin Marietta Laboratories, I was an author or co-author of 12 professional papers in these various fields.
From 1969 to 1973, I was a research assistant and teaching assistant at the University of North Carolina. My activity as a research assistant was in the development of a triaxial rock mechanics laboratory.
One iroject I conducted in this lab was a study of experimental rock dilatancy as an earthquake mechanism. My dissertation was a study of sliding friction in foliated rocks and fault mylonites, including the behavior of fault gouge. Teaching experience consisted of teaching undergraduate and advanced structural geology laboratories as well as teaching field mapping.
I have presented papers at national meetings of professional societies.
I currently belong to the Geological Society of America, and the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute.
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. FromSeptember1978toMay1979,IserhedasLeader,Geologyand Seismology Section, Geosciences Branch. SinceMay1979Ihaiebeen Chief, Geosciences Branch.
In this capacity I am responsible for the rehiew and ehaluation of the geological and seismological aspects of power plant sites and I supervise the Geology and Seismology Sections within the Branch.
InthiscapacityIamunderthesuperhisionoftheAssistantDirector for Structures and Components. The Geoscier.ces Branch provides technical evaluationrelatingtogeologyandseismologyissuestotheDihision of Licensing.
4 Q6. Dr. Jackson, please describe the scope of your participation in the Staff's review of the GETR site in this proceeding.
A6.
I was the second geology reviewer on the NRC Staff assigned to work on the GE Test Reactor. I was inholved in the initial issuance of the Show-Cause Order. Following that I became Section Leader of the Geology and Seismology Section and maintained both thc Section Leader role and the geology reviewer ole. And as of May, 1979 I becametheBranchChief,andinthiscapacityInowha0easuperhisory role over the reviewing geologist who is now Dr. Justus. I also maintain a geologic review effort for G.E. Test Reactor as time permits. The NRC Geosciences staff review role is one of essentially accomplishing an audit review of information provided by the applicant or licensee, whatever the case may be. When in our view, and in our consultants' view that information is inappropriate or not sufficient or when we disagree with the interpretation of the licensee we do our own independent analyses as time and resources allow.
. Q7. Drs. Justus and Jackson, please sumarize the utilization of j
consultants in the Staff review.
l A7. Because of the complex technical questions that exist at G.E.
Test Reactor in the area of geology and seismology, we solicited f
theassistanceoftheU.S.GeologicalSurheyingeologyand l
seismology, and Dr. David B. Slemons, one of the world's leading I
I experts in earthquake fault evaluations.
In addition, as a result of a submittal of a probability study by the licensee and requests by the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards, the Division ofLicensingrequestedtherehiewassistanceofseheralexpertsinthe l
area of probability unalysis. These included Dr. Veseley of the NRC l
staff, Dr. Bernreuter of Lawrence Livermore Laboratory (LLNL) a i
contractor to NRC,a;nd Dr. Wight of TERA Corporation, a subcontractor to LLNL.
To further clarify our use of Consultants for this project the followinginformationisprohided. TheNRCStaffrequestsrehiewassistance of the specified USGS Coordinator who, in turn, specifies USGS scientists who will provide assistance to the NRC through the USGS Coordinator.
l The assistance requested is based on several factor s, including an assess-mentofthespecialgeologicandseismicproblems,personnelahailability, and contract resources or financial resources. Specific work requests are handled on a contractual basis under an interagency agreement. For the GE Test Reactor this is Interagency Agreement NRC0380-121. Based on this request the USGS was aksed to provide both geologic and seismic assister:e.
. InitiallyintherehiewoftheGETestReactortherequestwas only for geologic assistance since the Staff, under its interagency agreement, had available seismologists who could do the seismology
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work themselves.
WhenseheralNRCseismologistslefttheStaff,theUSGSwas requested to assist in the seismology review. The Staff does not limit the technical review of the USGS in those areas for which assistance is requested, with the exception of obvious manpower and fiscal restraints.
If such assistance is not requested, it is due to the fact that the NRC has resources and expertise necessary on the Staff or from other consultants to complete its review.
In order to obtain another view on the problem independent of both G.E.andtheU.S.GeologicalSurheyweobtainedtheserhiceofan expertconsultant,Dr.DahidSlemmons. We requested that he reach hisconclusionsasindependentlyaspossibleand'alsoprohidethosehiews to us. His testimony speaks to his conclusions and the bases for them.
As a result of the submittal of a probability analysis by GE, and advicefromACRS,theStaffundertookarehiewofthisinformation.
Inordertoaccomplishthisrehiew,otherexpertconsultantswereretained j
Their reviews and recommendations are included as discussed previously.
in their testimony and as attachments to the SER.
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. Q8. Drs. Justus and Jackson, would you please summarize the results of the Staff review.
A8. A summary of our. geosciences review, including our conclusions, is contained in the May 23, 1980 SER.
In addition, in our role as regulators we have attempted to weigh and integrate all information and arguments presented by General Electric Company (GE) and their consultants and our consultants and advisors, to formulate a final judgement to be utilized in the decision-making process for this site. This judgement is contained in the SER.
In the May 23, 1980 SER, page 19, we noted our unawareness of net slip measurements for the San Fernando fault zone that we might have been able to use in the San Fernando Valley fault zone analogy.
In the last few months about 20 net slip determinations have come to our attention that we are presently reviewing and will be able to discuss at the hearing, if appropriate. We understand that GE is reviewing thesamedataandplanstopresenttheresultsoftheirrehiewsatthe hearing. Basedonourreviewtodatetheseadditionaldatahahenot caused us to alter our conclusion regarding one meter as an appropriate description of surface displacement which could occur on the Verona Faultbeneaththereactorduringasingleehent.
l The conclusions have been rendered from a wide range of viewpoints which are included in their entirety in the SER. A summary of these viewpoints not including those of GE is as follows:
(1) the present deficient information base does not preclude that the net slip that could occur on the Verona fault could greatly exceed one meter (USGS, Appendix B);
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. (2) rupturesonthesitearemostlikelytohahesurfaceoffsetsfrom two to three feet, but any future displacements could have maximum offsets of 2 - 2.5 meters (Slemons, Appendix E);
(3) maximum fault motion on the order of about one meter may occur in any arbitrary direction (Newmark and Hall, Appendix A);
(4) approximately three feet of surface displacement at the reactor site represents a conservative judgement as to the ground rupture which might be associated with either the landslide interpretation or tectonic model (CDMG, Sept. 27, 1979 SER, Appendix D);
(5) if all the activity on the Verona is assumed to occur on a shear beneath GETR, the probability of occurrence of a one meter dis-placement would be on the order of 5 x 10-5 per year (LLNL/ TERA, Appendix F);
(6) since this rupture is a low likelihood event it seems reasonable to select the offset and "g" value near the mean of the data for a magnitude 6 - 6.5. earthquake (ibid.); it is difficult to dismiss the need to consider some surface rupture coupled with a high ground acceleration (ibid.).
We drew our conclusions after considering these viewpoints and our own expert knowledge in the regulatory framework and applying our licensing experience.
It is important to recognize that within the geosciences discipline the study of both strong ground motion seismology and estimation of surface fault movement effects is at a relatively early stage and as a result, we certainly do not expect a consensus among researchers when
dealing in such tcpic areas. As can be seen by the previous discussion, the is the case with respect to conclusions that have been reached with respect to the consideration of the potential for surface offset at G.E.T.R.
Weagreewiththeobserhationsthatthepossibilityexists that offsets larger than one meter could occur at some time in the future.
As stated extensihely in our SER, however, it is our best professional judgement based on the considerations. discussed in the SER that the occurrence of greater than one meter of surface fault offset directly underthereactorisheryunlikely. This is essentially a qualitatihe judgement which can be made based on geologic obserhations which w e in turn strongly supported by the various probability analyses which were also applied to the problem. When taken in the total consideration, the input parameters specified for this site assumes a set of conservative steps. First, we make the assumption that the Verona fault is a tectonic (earthquake)faultandwebelieheitis. Thereis,howeher, some probability that the features are landslide related.
Indeed both GE consultants and the California Division of Mines and Geology conclude that such is the case. Second, we make the assumption that a magnitude 6.5 earthquake will occur on this fault during the operating life of the facility. There is also some probability that either no earthquake or possibly only smaller events will occur. Next we assume that this fault will rupture greater than its entire mapped length (about 8 km) to 12-15kilometersoftotallengthehenthoughanalysisofworldwidedata l
indicates that actual rupture can be substantially less than the total length of the fault. We further assume that the surface offset that will take
. place as a result of this earthquake will be something like the mean of the observed offsets which resulted from the 1971 San Fernando earthquake. We assume this even though the analogy between theVeronafaultandthemoreactiYeSanFernandofaultzoneappears to be conservative.
In addition, we conclude that the offset will occur directly beneath the reactor. We conclude this even though we recognize that movement is more likely to occur on those existing larger faults which have Holocene offset rather than between them.
Although we recognize the possible existence of fault features in thereactorexcavationphotos,wedonotseefaultsequihalentto those in trenches elsewhere on the site where significant displace-ment has been observed. We further assume that all of the observed displacement took place coseismically (during the time of the earth-quake shaking) even though afterslip may have contributed to the final offset.
In addition, combined loads caused by fault offset at the surface and vibratory ground motion are considered to act simultaneously. We also require that surface offset be considered even though the actual probability calculations indicate that the likelihood is extremely low. Fini.lly, we require consideration of surface offset even though geotechnical engineering considerations indicate that any fault may deflect around the reactor.
In consideration of the above factors, we beliehe that our judgement with respect to surface offset and ground motion parameters is reasonablyconserhativewhenplacedinthetotalcontextofourunder-standing of all information on this site as enumerated in the May 23, l
1980 SER and including the geotechnical engineering findings.
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4 PHTLIP STANLEY JUSTUS Geosciences Branch, P-314 U. 5. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C.
20555 301-492-8158 Employment: Staff Geologist since '1980, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, Division of Engineering, Geosciences Branch, Geology Section, U.S. N.R.C., Washington, D.C.
Responsibilities: principally to review and evaluate the acceptability of the geological and seismological e;pects of applications to site a nuclear facility; also to direct coasultants' efforts and to assess their input in the preparation.of site safety evaluations; to identify l
R and D needs and assist in developing programs to fill the needs, and to appear before committees and boards to present and justify the evaluations.
i PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS Education: City College of City University of New York, B.S., geology,1962; University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, M.S. 1966, Ph.D. 1971, emphasizing petrology and Appalachian tectonics. Military engineering for U. S. Army Engineer Officers, Ft. Belvoir, VA. 1967-1976.
Fellowships:
Post-doctoral Research Fellow at Rice University, fall 1970, to synthesize Paleozoic-Mesozoic volcanic history of western U. S.; Honorary Research Fellow at University College London, fall.1977, to develop theory of curvi-columnar jointing in basaltic lavas.
Previous employment:
U. S. Military Academy, 1967-1970, assistant professor teaching physical geology, physical geography, astronomy; Fairleigh Dickinson University, 1971-1981, associate professor, teaching mainly structural geology igneous / metamorphic petrology, mineralogy / crystallography and physical geology.
Coosultantships: 1974-1979; consultant to citizens groups, city planner, 1
I developers in NJ and PA on geology, soils, and hydrology of proposed construction l
sites; subcontractor to ERDA and NJ Dept. Higher Education.
l Field / Lab Experience: since 1960, investigated folded and faulted metamorphic, i
sedimentary, plutonic and volcanic igneous rocks mainly in Appalachian Mtns, also in Caribbean and North Atlantic islands; operated and maintained UNC seismograph stations, 1964-1967; presently evaluating Pacific Northwest tectonics and volcanism.
Publications: 26 publications emphasize structural geology and tectonics include abstracts of presentations to professional societies and co-editorship of Atlas of Landforms, John Wiley, 1974.
Memberships: American Association for Advancement of Science, American Geophysical Union, Carolina Geological Society, Geological Society'of America, Geological i
l Society of Washington (DC). International Association of Engineering Geology, Sigma Xi.
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ROBERT E. JACKS 0!;, JR., PH.D.
GEOSCIEfiCES BRANCH Division of Engineerino U. S. TiUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISS101:
My name is Robert E. Jackson.
I presently reside at 6609 Carleton Court Laurel, Maryland 20810 and am employed as Branch Chief, Geosciences Branch, Division of Engineering, Office of fluclear Reactor Regulation, Washington, D. C. 20555.
PROFESS 10f1AL QUALIFICATI0f;S I received a B. S. degree in Geology from +.he University.of Rhode Island, and a Ph.D. degree in Geology f rom the University of fiorth Carolina with a specialty in t.tructural geology - rock mechanics.
I have been employed by f?RC since August 1974.in the areas of Structural Geology and Fault Geology as applied to the evaluation of the suitability of nuclear power plant sites. My area of expertise includes structural geology of igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks, rock. mechanics, teconophysics, petrology, and fault identification and behavior.
I am experienced in field analysis.
From 1973 to 1974 I was employed by Martin Marietta Laboratories in Baltimore, Maryland as a research scientist. My work for this corporate l
research and development labor 6 tory consisted of a variety of problem-solving programs in rock mechanics relating to quarrying and blasting.
l I also contributed to programs in rapid tunneling and. excavation i
technology.
I also was involved in evaluating and developing new technologies for the crushed stone quarrying industry.
I directed a program of investigation of sliding triction as it relates to earth-quake source mechanicsms and frictional behavior of fault zones. While at Martin Marit-!,ta Laboratories, I was an author or co-author of 12 professional papers in these various fields.
From 1969 to 1973, I was a research assistant and teaching assistant at l
the University of fiorth Carolina. My activity as a research assistant was l
in the development of a triaxial rock mechanics laboratory. One project l
I conducted in this lab was a study of experimental rock dilatancy as an l
earthquake mechanism. My dissertation was a study of sliding friction in foliated rocks and fault mylonites, including the behavior of fault gouge..
Teaching experience consisted of teaching undergraduate and advanced structural geology laboratories as well as teaching field mapping.
T have presented i
papers at national meetings of professional societies to t'1ich I belong, i
including the American Geophysical Union, Geological Sociev of America, and l
the International Society for Rock Mechanics.
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From September 1978 to May 19h9, I served as Leader, Geology and Seismology Section, Geosciences Branch. Since May, 1979 I have been Chief, Geosciences Branch.
In this capacity I am responsible for managing staff review of the geological, seismologic, and geotechnical engineering. aspects of nuclear facilities for which applications for licenses have been made.
Since joining the Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff, I have participated in the licensing activity for approximately j
thirty sites, i
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