UHI: Relatively Recent UHI Correspondence,

Robert H. Leyse

P. O. box 2850

Sun Valley, ID 83353

July 2, 2013

Director, Human Resources

EPRI

3420 Hillview Avenue

Palo Alto, CA 94304

This augments my letter to you that is dated June 18, 2013.  This letter has improved documentation of the traceability of the shutdown of Duke Power’s McGuire Unit 1 on October 30, 1984, to my NSAC Memorandum, UHI – Ultra Hgh Risk, that is dated October 3, 1984.  For your convenience I am including Enclosures 4, 5, 6 as well as a “new” enclosure 6A. 

Sugnet documented his contact with Duke regarding UHI weaknesses on October 25, 1984, Enclosure 4.  The following two paragraphs are copied from page 2 of my June 18, 2103 letter:

Alerted by Sugnet, Duke checked the status of its UHI systems at McGuire Unit 1 and Unit 2.  McGuire Unit 1 was then shut down on October 31, 1984, and McGuire Unit 2 was operated at 45 percent power. (Enclosure 5)

The periodic test for dissolved gases was only every 18 months; thus it is very likely that Duke’s activities on October 31, 1984, are traceable, via the Sugnet contact, to the Leyse memorandum of October 3, 1984. (Enclosure 6, see yellow highlighting)

This letter has a significant “new” attachment, Enclosure 6A.  The yellow highlighting reveals that Duke concerns with dissolved gases in its UHI system at McGuire began on October 25, 1984, the same date as the Sugnet memorandum.  The normal procedure of sampling for dissolved gases only every 18 months is also highlighted.  McGuire Unit 1 was shut down on October 30, 1984, not October 31, 1984.

Robert H. Leyse

Robert H. Leyse

P. O. box 2850

Sun Valley, ID 83353

June 18, 2013

Director, Human Resources

EPRI

3420 Hillview Avenue

Palo Alto, CA 94304

I have found the report that I asked you to send on December 31, 2012.  Amy Anderson, EPRI Dallas, wrote me on February 21, 2013, that per company policy that report is no longer available for distribution.

In a nutshell, the following explains my interest.  Enclosed is a copy of an NSAC memorandum from Lang to Layman, December 13, 1984, in which Lang writes in the final paragraph on page 2, “I told Lanning that NSAC valued the technical relationship with AEOD that has existed and that while we feel free to be critical, it is not our practice to write critical memoranda behind his back or to leak memoranda rather than to send them directly.  I expressed regret for the situation that Lanning had outlined.” (Enclosure 1)

Now, Director, Human Resources, the enclosed Lang to Layman memorandum does not include a lot of facts.  Leyse was certainly never aware of any technical relationship with AEOD.  On November 8, 1984, EPRI notified Leyse of his Elimination of Position and Leyse promptly looked for work elsewhere.  Leyse telephoned Keppler of NRC and Keppler paid for Leyse’s trip for his employment interview that took place on November 16, 1984.  Leyse presented Keppler with documentation of his current expertise among which was the copy of the memorandum that Lang asserts was leaked to Keppler.  Keppler asked Leyse if it would be OK if he sent Leyse’s memorandum to others in NRC and Leyse said it would be OK provided Leyse’s identity was not disclosed. (Enclosure 2)

Quickly, there are loads of facts.  Leyse submitted his memorandum, UHI – Ultra High Risk on October 3, 1984.  Leyse discussed his UHI studies at an NSAC Generic Issues Meeting on October 17, 1984, attended  by Rossin, Breen, Layman, Wyckoff, Reuland, Power and Vine (Rossin, Breen and Layman usually did not attend). There were no comments from anyone although Breen appeared disturbed and said he would check the McGuire PRA. (Enclosure 3) 

Breen assigned Sugnet to discuss these matters with his PRA colleagues at Duke.  Sugnet reported on October 25, 1984, that Duke eliminated UHI in its PRA analyses based on Duke’s “…analysis demonstrating that it was not necessary for any LOCA.” (Enclosure 4)

Alerted by Sugnet, Duke checked the status of its UHI systems at McGuire Unit 1 and Unit 2.  McGuire Unit 1 was then shut down on October 31, 1984, and McGuire Unit 2 was operated at 45 percent power. (Enclosure 5)

The periodic test for dissolved gases was only every 18 months; thus it is very likely that Duke’s activities on October 31, 1984, are traceable, via the Sugnet contact, to the Leyse memorandum of October 3, 1984. (Enclosure 6, see yellow highlighting)

The reference to the McGuire Unit 1 UHI system in the proposed ABNORMAL OCCURRENCE REPORT TO CONGRESS FOR FOURTH QUARTER CY 1984 dated January 28, 1985 is significant. (Enclosure 7)

The Sandia work that is referenced in Enclosure 7 turned out to be deficient.  The NRC did not specify the case of improperly functioning level instruments, in which case there was no assurance that the water-filed accumulators had 1800 cubic feet of water, or any water. (Enclosure 8, see yellow highlighting)

Robert H. Leyse