ML17228B416

Forwards Ltr from Senator Graham to Secretary Oleary Requesting Review of Info Contained in Ltr from B Napier Re Safety Issues at Plant

ML17228B416
Person / Time
Site:	Saint Lucie
Issue date:	02/05/1996
From:	Lash T ENERGY, DEPT. OF
To:	Taylor J NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO)
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ML17228B415	List: ML17228B414 ML17228B416
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NUDOCS 9603120389
Download: ML17228B416 (10)

Text

Department of Energy Washington, DC 20585 February 5,

1996 Mr. John Taylor Office ofthe Executive Director for Operations U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555

Dear Mr. Taylor:

Enclosed is a letter from Senator Graham to Secretary O'eary requesting a review ofinformation contained in a letter from Ms. Betty Napier ofPort St. Lucie, Florida, concerning the safety ofthe St. Lucie nuclear power plant. My staff has discussed Senator Graham's request with your staff and has concluded that the best course ofaction is to transfer this action to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).

My response to Senator Graham indicating that the request for information has been transferred to the NRC is also enclosed.

Ifyou have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me or Sterling Franks.

Mr. Franks'elephone number is 301-903-3456.

Sincerely, Terry

. Lash, Director Office ofNuclear Energy, Science and Technology 2 Enclosures 9603i20389 960205 PDR ADQCK 05000335 8

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Department of Energy Washington, DC 20585 February 5,

1996 I

. The Honorable Bob Graham United States Senator P.O. Box 3050..

Tallahassee, Florida 32315

Dear Senator Graham:

Thank you for your letter ofDecember 27, 1995, requesting a review of information contained in a letter from Ms. Betty Napier ofPort St.'Lucie, Florida, on the safety ofthe St. Lucie nuclear powe'r plant. Since the St. Lucie nuclear power plant owned by Florida Power and Light is a commercial operating reactor licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), I have requested 'that NRC respond directly to your office on this matter. NRC has day-to-.day contact with Florida Power and Light and,-hence, would have more up to date information.

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The letter from Ms. Napier and your letter have. been forwarded to the NRC, and a response should be forthcoming soon.

Sincerely, Terry R. Lash, Director Office ofNuclear Energy,

'cience and Technology ii cc: The Honorable Bob Graham United States Senate:,

Washington, D.C. 20510 A

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. '<<'.Bob Graham

FQnda, T.

gO Sp United States Senate

. Washington, D.C.

Date~/~42 Mrs. Hazel O'eary, Secretary

, United, States Department of Energy 1000 Independence Avenue, Southwest-Washington, D.C., 20585 1

II, Enclosed is a letter from one of. my constituerits who has-concerns which come under the jurisdiction of your agency.

II would appreciate your reviewing the information that 'has been presented and providing me with a written response.

Please serid your reply,to the attention of:

1',

Ms. Pat Grise Office of Senator Bob Graham P.O. Box,3050 Tallahassee, FL 32315 904-422-61 00

'our cooperation and assistance are appreciated.

ATi th kind regards, Si neer ely,

'United States Senator Constituent's Name:

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December 15, 1995 Ken Pruitt, Eighty-First District State House ofRepresentatives 212'The Capitol Tallahassee, Fl 32399-l 300 Re: St. Lucie Nuclear Power Plant Malfunctions r

Dear Representative Pruitt:

I am writing to express my concern about the continuing problems at the St. Lucie nuclear power plant. Unless someone intervenes, we willhave our own "Three MileIsland". I am concerned about the impact on land value and tourism to the state should an "accident" occur, but most of all I am concerned about public health and safety.

Florida Power,A Light continued to cut back on p'ersonnei including experienced personnel during these problems.

Each time Florida Power A Light referred to leaking radio activity into water as "slightlyradioactive". That is like being "sli/fitlypregnant".

Incompetent employees installed safety valves backwards on several occasions, At one point the reactor was within 3-7

,pounds of a meltdown according to the Press.

At this point we can not believe any ofthe

'redictable "PR" information coming &omFlorida Power 5, Light.

r I am requesting an immediate evaluation from an outside agency.

Your assistance is ~tly appreciated.

/

Sincerely, Betty Napier,'R, B.S.N.

156 SW VoltairTerrace Port St, Lucie, Fl 34984 (407),871.-9774

)

CC: Connie Mack (R), U.S. Senate

'ob Graham (D), U;S.,Senate MarkFoley, U,S. House ofRep Doc. Myers, State Senate

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I Q )caky seals foMlld on nvclearreactor l'

1 HUTCHl!stSON ISLANO--

Florida Power 0 Light Co. said Thursday that it wi11 be about hvo svsxks bet'ore tk>> Unit 2 nuclear reactor at its St.

Lu<::e Power Plant is back on linc.

The reactor, witich was down for rct'ueling, vvas beirg brought "p to full power when the crev; noticed two seals were lcnking-the 0 ring on thc reactor head and a pump seal on the reactor coolant pump. 'said FPL spoVessvotnan Staccy Shaw.

"Those leaks %re internal and not external. They leak into thern- ',

sclves, and the sister is collected internally. There's no danger to thc public " Shaw said The reactor is being "cooled down" so the crew can replace the toe faulty seals.

Shaw said.,l(

should take about tsvo weeks t'or the reactor, to be cooled dosvtt, re-airs made and thc reactor rought back on line. she said.

Vnit 1 is on line and should bc able to handle (he demand, for power.

which has been low be-cause of the recent mild weather, Shaw said.

Unit 2 has teen dosvn abou(

lwn mon(bs for routine rnainte-nance and refueling.

FPL had hoped to.bring the reactor back..

up last sscekend before the fmky sc'ds were found.

The conIpany l>ad a string of problems with Gnit 1 during the

summer, That reactor was shut down for 73 days because ot I'auhy vtlves and the anidcntal release of 10,000 gallons, of slightly radio-active water in(o its containment d

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