97-14014. In the Matter of GPU Nuclear Corporation; Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station; Receipt of Petition for Director's Decision Under 10 CFR 2.206

[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 103 (Thursday, May 29, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29163-29164]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-14014]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. 50-219]


In the Matter of GPU Nuclear Corporation; Oyster Creek Nuclear 
Generating Station; Receipt of Petition for Director's Decision Under 
10 CFR 2.206

    Notice is hereby given that by Petition dated April 1, 1997, 
Berkeley Township Environmental Commission (Petitioner) has passed a 
resolution opposing transfer of spent nuclear fuel from wet to dry 
storage during operation of Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station 
(OCNGS). Petitioner requests that the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory 
Commission (NRC) direct GPU Nuclear (GPU) to shut down the nuclear 
reactor at OCNGS during the aforementioned fuel transfer.
    As the bases for its request, Petitioner asserts that (1) the load 
transfer path for the 100-ton fuel transfer cask passes over the 
reactor's containment mechanism and other safety-related equipment; (2) 
NRC Bulletin 96-02, dated April 11, 1996, states that a dropped cask 
could damage the isolation condensers and the torus, creating the 
possibility of an unisolable leak, which in industry jargon describes a 
situation perilously close to a nuclear meltdown; (3) the operating 
record of GPU demonstrates it is capable of human error, including 
dropping heavy loads; (4) Berkeley Township could not be successfully 
evacuated in the event of a serious nuclear accident at OCNGS; and (5) 
the safer simpler alternative of turning off the reactor while lifting 
100-ton loads over the containment can be easily implemented.
    This request is being treated pursuant to 10 CFR 2.206 of the 
Commission's regulations. The request has been referred to the Director 
of the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation. A copy of the Petition is 
available for public inspection at the Commission's Public Document 
Room at 2120 L Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland this 20th day of May 1997.


[[Page 29164]]


    For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Samuel J. Collins,
Director, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
[FR Doc. 97-14014 Filed 5-28-97; 8:45 am]
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