MS-181

MS-181

 

PIQUA NUCLEAR POWER FACILITY –

KARL V. SEYFRIT COLLECTION

 

INTRODUCTION

 

The Piqua Nuclear Power Facility – Karl V. Seyfrit Collection was accessioned into the Flesh Public Library Archives and Special Collections in August 2007 as a gift from Mrs. Jean Seyfrit Biddick [daughter of Karl Seyfrit].  The collection covers the years 1956 to 1978. 

 

Karl V. Seyfrit was employed by the City of Piqua in 1961 as Superintendent of the Piqua Nuclear Power Facility.  He remained in Piqua until 1969.  In that year Mr. Seyfrit entered the employment of the Atomic Energy Commission which subsequently became the Nuclear Regulatory Commission as a Nuclear Reactor Inspector.  By 1975 Mr. Seyfrit was the Director of Region IV.  By 1978 Mr. Seyfrit has been promoted to assistant to the director of the NRC’s Office of Inspection and Enforcement in Washington, D.C. 

 

The collection includes the documents he saved from his tenure as Superintendent of the Piqua Nuclear Power Facility and his time with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.  Many of the documents Mr. Seyfrit dealt with and wrote would have been classified for national security reasons.  The documents in this collection are available to the public and there is no restriction on their use.  The collection is housed in one Gaylord 1215 box and two Hollinger boxes containing thirty-nine files.

 

Related information to this collection can be found in MS-14, The DeWeese Collection, Series VIII: Atomic Plant, Box 17, Files 1-9.  Information is also located in MS-132, City of Piqua Records Collection. [This very large collection is not processed in its final form as of 2008.]

 

SCOPE AND CONTENT

 

The Piqua Nuclear Power Facility – Karl V. Seyfrit Collection is divided into the following four series.

 

SERIES I:  Documents, Photographs and Film related to the Piqua Nuclear Power Facility [Box 1, Files 1-17]

 

SERIES II:  United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission Documents.  [Box 1, File 18 – Box 2, File 9]

 

SERIES III:  Miscellaneous Related Documents [Box 3, Files 1-4]

 

SERIES IV:  Documents not part of the collection [Box 3, Files 5-7]

 

HISTORY

 

The Piqua Nuclear Power Facility was first considered in 1956, as a part of the Atomic Energy Commission’s civilian power reactor development program.  This program was established to provide funds to study the feasibility of an organic moderated and cooled nuclear reactor.  Atomics International [division of North American Aviation, later North American Rockwell] was chosen as the prime contractor since the company had done experimental work with this type of reactor. 

 

The second part of the program was to build a working reactor which could be linked into an existing steam turbine electric generating system.  Piqua was selected as the site for the first organic moderated and cooled reactor to be used for the production of electricity.  Under contract with the city, the AEC would own the facility and the city would operate it.  Construction began in July 1959.  The plant first became critical in June 1963 and achieved 100% power in late January 1964.  The plant had its first scheduled shutdown in May 1964 for inspection.  During a routine shutdown in January 1966 it was noticed that some of the control rods did not move freely and an unloading and inspection of the core was ordered.  An extensive three phase repair of the facility was initiated.  At approximately the beginning of the third phase in mid to late 1966 it was determined that the Piqua facility was not economically feasible and the demonstration project was terminated.  The Piqua Nuclear Power Facility was decommissioned and retired between 1966 and 1969.  The radioactive fuel and coolant was removed and the core was filled with silicone sand and sealed in concrete.  Monitoring of the radioactivity of the site is an ongoing process. 

 

Karl V. Seyfrit was the Superintendent of the Piqua Nuclear Power Facility for most of its existence.  The Seyfrit family [including wife, Lois; son, Michael and daughters Jean and Carol] moved to Piqua in 1961 when Mr. Seyfrit was employed by the city.  They remained until 1969 when Mr. Seyfrit accepted a position with the Atomic Energy Commission [later the Nuclear Regulatory Commission].  Mr. Seyfrit’s children all graduated from Piqua Central High School [Michael – 1966, Jean – 1967, Carol – 1969].

 

CONTAINER LIST

 

BOX 1

 

SERIES I:  Documents, Photographs, Film related to the Piqua Nuclear Power Facility

 

File

          1        Piqua Nuclear Power Facility History.  This document was produced during the startup phase of the facility and covers the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission’s selection of Piqua, the construction of the facility and the training of the workers.  There is also a description of the facility and its projected capability.

 

          2        Preliminary Safeguards Report for the Piqua Organic Moderated Reactor (Revised) NAA-SR-3575.  Issued 13 April 1959 – prepared by Atomics International, a Division of North American Aviation, Inc.

 

          3        Final Safeguards Summary Report for the Piqua Nuclear Power Facility NAA-SR-05608.  Issued 1 August 1961 – prepared by Atomics International.

 

          4        Supplement 1, Final Safeguards Summary Report for the Piqua Nuclear Power Facility NAA-SR-5608 (Suppl).  Issued 8 May 1961

 

          5        Piqua Nuclear Power Facility Summary Report of Testing and Operation to 50% Rated Power.  Issued 17 January 1964

 

          6        Piqua Nuclear Power Facility Supplementary Summary Report of Testing and Operation to 100% Rated Power.  Issued 7 February 1964.

 

          7        Piqua Nuclear Power Facility Report of Power Operation.  Issued 6 March 1964.

 

          8        Piqua Nuclear Power Facility Progress Report From Criticality to First Scheduled Shutdown (June 1963-May 1964)

 

          9        Piqua Nuclear Power Facility Core Unloading and Inspection Report, authored by K. V. Seyfrit, City of Piqua and J. A. McEdwards, Atomics International.  This report describes problems with sticking control rods which were encountered in January 1966 and resulted in a shutdown and extensive repairs beginning 13 January 1966.  This report was written after phase two of a three phase repair was nearing completion.  The report includes eighteen drawings of the reactor core and repair parts and tools.  Two extra copies of the drawings are included in this file.

 

          10      A box of nineteen 3 ¼” x 4” transparency slides of the drawings used in the Core Unloading and Inspection Report and anadditional drawing of the Fuel Element Assembly.  Also included in the file are 8 ½” x 11” prints of the transparencies.

 

          11      Piqua Nuclear Power Facility Availability Evaluation Report NAA-SR-12420, Vol. I.  Issued 6 November 1967.  This report was prepared to determine the viability and reliability of the PNPF as a commercially feasible power production source.  The decision to retire the PNPF was based in large measure on concerns raised in this report and in the following volume two.

 

          12      Piqua Nuclear Power Facility Availability Evaluation Report, Vol. II: Reliability Block Diagrams – Major Component Failure Data – Failure Mode and Effect Analysis NAA-SR-MEMO-12420, Vol. II.  Issued 6 November 1967.

 

          13      Photographs of the interior and exterior of the Piqua Nuclear Power Facility.  These photographs were taken after the final shutdown and before the retirement of the facility.  Each photo is labeled as to its exact location.  47 color photos.

 

          14      Retirement of the Piqua Nuclear Power Facility, by C. W. Wheelock, Atomics International Division of North American Rockwell AI-AEC-12832.  Issued 1 April 1970.  The Piqua Nuclear Power Facility was retired during the period December 1967 through February 1969.  The report outlines the considerations and activities involved in the dismantling and retirement.  Two copies.

 

          15      This file intentionally left blank.

 

          16      Slides of the Piqua Nuclear Power Facility probably taken and prepared by Karl V. Seyfrit.  23 slides.  Also in the file are 3” x 5” print copies of the slides.

 

          17      Atomic Energy Commission Presents The Piqua Nuclear Power Facility – print #2.  A 16 mm film.

 

SERIES II:  United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission Documents.

 

File

          18      Reactor Safety Study:  An Assessment of Accident Risks in U.S. Commercial Nuclear Power Plants, Executive Summary WASH-1400 (NUREG-75/014).  Issued October 1975.  Found in this booklet was a copy of a letter from Saul Levine, Project Staff Director, Reactor Safety Study, to Mr. Karl V. Seyfrit, OFC of IE, USNRC, East-West Towers-359, Washington, D.C. 20555.  This is a general letter distributed to the recipients of the report.  Also a general letter to the recipients of WASH-1400 from Samuel J. Chilk, Secretary of the Commission) DATED 1 Feb. 1979.

 

          19      Reactor Safety Study:  An Assessment of Accident Risks in U.S. Commercial Nuclear Power Plants, Main Report WASH-1400 (NUREG-75/014).  Issued October 1975.

 

          20      Reactor Safety Study:  An Assessment of Accident Risks in U.S. Commercial Nuclear Power Plants, Appendix I WASH-1400 (NUREG-75/014).  Issued October 1975.

 

          21      Reactor Safety Study:  An Assessment of Accident Risks in U.S. Commercial Nuclear Power Plants, Appendix II WASH-1400 (NUREG-75/014).  Issued October 1975.

 

          22      Reactor Safety Study:  An Assessment of Accident Risks in U.S. Commercial Nuclear Power Plants, Appendices III and IV WASH-1400 (NUREG-75/014).  Issued October 1975.

 

          23      Reactor Safety Study:  An Assessment of Accident Risks in U.S. Commercial Nuclear Power Plants, Appendix VWASH-1400 (NUREG-75/014).  Issued October 1975.

 

BOX 2

 

File

          1        Reactor Safety Study:  An Assessment of Accident Risks in U.S. Commercial Nuclear Power Plants, Appendix VI WASH-1400 (NUREG-75/014).  Issued October 1975.

 

          2        Reactor Safety Study:  An Assessment of Accident Risks in U.S. Commercial Nuclear Power Plants, Appendices VII, VIII, IX and X – WASH-1400 (NUREG-75/014).  Issued October 1975.

 

          3        Reactor Safety Study:  An Assessment of Accident Risks in U.S. Commercial Nuclear Power Plants, Appendix XI WASH-1400 (NUREG-75/014).  Issued October 1975.

 

          4        United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission, RegNews, vol. 5, no. 12, December 1979.  Page five has an article with pictures describing the work of NRC Region IV.  Karl Seyfrit is pictured and is the Director of Region IV.  Region IV includes Arkansas, Louisiana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, Colorado, and New Mexico. The article states that Seyfrit joined the AEC in 1969 as a reactor inspector.

 

          5        Recommendations Related to Browns Ferry Fire:  Report by Special Review Group – NUREG-0050.  Karl Seyfrit was a member of the Special Review Group and an author of the report.  February 1976.

 

          6        Report to the Executive Director for Operations:  Independent Review of the Browns Ferry Fire.  Office of Inspector & Auditor, U.S.N.R.C.  August 1976.

 

          7        Media Monitor, 7 April 1980, Library Branch, Division of Technical Information and Document Control, Nuclear Regulatory Commission.  “The Monitor contains current ideas, opinions and statements on the use of nuclear energy for the production of electricity or related fields.  Coverage is from the news media and various other printed materials made available to the staff.” (Statement printed on the cover.)  This contains exact transcripts of TV and radio news programs that relate to the NRC and is an example of a federal agency monitoring the news and how they are portrayed in the news.

 

          8        Licensee Event Report System:  Description of System and Guidelines for Reporting.  NUREG-1022.

 

          9        Licensee Event Report System:  Evaluation of First Year Results and Recommendations for Improvements.  NUREG-1022 Supplement No. 2.

 

BOX 3

 

SERIES III:  Miscellaneous Related Documents

 

File

          1        Report of the Governor’s Commission on Three Mile Island, William W. Scranton III, Lt. Governor, Chairman.  This is the final report of a commission established by Gov. Dick Thornburgh of Pennsylvania to study the nuclear accident and radiation leak at the Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Facility on the Susquehanna River.

 

          2        NASA Facts – National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Lyndon B. JohnsonSpaceCenter JSC 04264 Rev. B – 1978.  This eight page pamphlet reviews the work of the Johnson Space Center with the Apollo Moon missions and the development work on the space shuttle.

 

          3        Infinite Energy:  What the peaceful use of Nuclear Power means to you and your family.  This is a 48 pagemagazine produced by Westinghouse Electric Corporation to illustrate the benefits of nuclear power.  The magazine was printed in 1967.

 

          4        Seyfrit family slides.  Most of the eleven slides are of Michael Seyfrit at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan and at what appears to be a science fair with an electronics project.  Positive prints of the slides are also included in this file.

 

SERIES IV:  Documents not part of the collection.

 

File

          5        Memorandum by Karl V. Seyfrit for Harold D. Thornburg, Director, Division of Reactor Operations Inspection, Office of Inspection and Enforcement, U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.  May 15, 1978.  The memorandum is to all five NRC Regional Directors and concerns an installation error that could prevent closing of fire doors in nuclear power plants.  This memorandum is posted on the USNRC website on 13 June 2008.

 

          6        History of the Piqua Nuclear Power Facility.  This document was posted on nukeworker.com, a website of The Bartlett Corporation.  Bartlett Corp. specializes in nuclear radiation protection supplies, equipment and knowhow for nuclear power plants.

 

          7        Long-Term Surveillance Plan for the Piqua Nuclear Power Facility, Piqua, Ohio.  April 1998.  Prepared for the U.S. Department of Energy, Albuquerque Operations office, Grand Junction Office.  Prepared by MACTEC Environmental Restoration Services, LLC, Grand Junction, Colorado.  This document includes an analysis, surveillance plan and drawings to illustrate the components of the plan.  This thirty-nine page document includes appendices, and memos concerning the plan.  This plan is currently in effect with respect to the remaining portions of the Piqua Nuclear Power Facility.