ML021060054
| ML021060054 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Seabrook  |
| Issue date: | 03/27/2002 |
| From: | Hollingworth B State of NH |
| To: | Cowgill C NRC/RGN-I/DRP/PB6 |
| References | |
| Download: ML021060054 (3) | |
Text
The Senate of the State of New Hampshire 107 N. Main Street, Room 302, Concord, N.H. 03301-4951 BEVERLY A. HOLLINGWORTH Office 271-3207 Democratic Leader District 23 TTY/TDD 1-800-735-2964 March 27, 2002 Curtis J. Cowgill, Chief Projects Branch 6 Division of Reactor Projects United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission Region 1 475 Allendale Road King of Prussia, PA 19406-1415
Dear Mr. Cowgill:
Thank you for the opportunity to join you at the meeting between the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and North Atlantic Energy Service Corporation on the 2 9th. I commend you for holding this meeting and will be pleased to do what I can to support any initiatives that may arise from it. Over the years many of my constituents have expressed concerns about the security and safety of the power plant to me. I am sure your assessment will help to ease some of their anxieties.
I first became concerned about public safety at Seabrook Station before ground was broken thirty years ago. I followed the design and construction of the power plant closely in an effort to minimize its impact on the natural environment and threat to public health and safety. Likewise, as a legislator, I contributed to designing, adopting and implementing the New Hampshire statute for the Decommissioning of Nuclear Generating Facilities, which is intended to ensure that the plant can be taken out of service and the site put to another use without unnecessary risks to public health. And I have served on the Nuclear Decommissioning Finance Committee that manages the decommissioning fund.
I believe my efforts have contributed to mitigating the impact of Seabrook Station on the coastal environment and ensuring that the plant has operated safely. At the same time, the management and staff of North Atlantic Energy Service Corporation have earned our gratitude for always being sensitive to the concerns of their neighbors and operating the plant efficiently-and responsibly.
With the events of September 11th the question of public safety around nuclear power plants has assumed an importance and urgency that none of us could have imagined.
Ultimately our safety, including the security of nuclear power plants, will depend on the ability of national intelligence agencies and security services to prevent acts of terrorism of all kinds and against all targets. In the meantime, I would like to offer five proposals for strengthening security and enhancing safety in and around Seabrook Station.
First, I would urge the New Hampshire and Massachusetts congressional delegations to request the Federal Aviation Administration to declare a permanent "no-fly zone" within a ten-mile radius of the power plant, making appropriate arrangements for commercial air traffic in and out of Pease International Tradeport. I realize a "no-fly zone" of this size represents a significant share of the New Hampshire coastline and will inconvenience local aviators. Nevertheless, because of the configuration and location of the plant, anyone seeking to destroy it would be likely to attack from the air.
Second, I would ask the NRC, along with the Governor and Legislature, to encourage parents of children residing within ten miles of the power plant to have their family physician determine if they can be safely treated with potassium iodide for radiation exposure. The results of the screening should be added to the children's medical records.
As you may know, potassium iodide treatment may be harmful to small numbers of children with thyroid conditions. It is only prudent to identify those at risk in advance of an incident that would require children to be kept in place rather than evacuated and therefore, could require treatment for exposure to radiation. At the same time, steps should be taken to obtain the consent of parents to treat their children in the event of an emergency. Schools and day-care centers within a ten-mile radius of the power plant should be provided with sufficient stocks of potassium iodide for those who may require treatment.
Third, the Visitors Center, which was closed in the wake of the terrorist attacks on September 1 lh, should remain permanently closed.
Fourth, a National Guard unit of appropriate strength should be posted at Seabrook Station. The National Guard has been deployed at Manchester Airport. I think that a similar uniformed and armed presence is necessary to reassure the public that Seabrook Station is properly protected.
Finally, New Hampshire, like Massachusetts, should install an independent, off-site, real time monitoring system within the New Hampshire emergency planning zone to measure radiation levels surrounding Seabrook Station. In the event of an emergency, a monitoring system would assist authorities responsible for evacuation and treatment in setting priorities and acting efficiently when time would be at a premium.
Thank you again for the opportunity to share my suggestions with you. I hope the Nuclear Regulatory Commission will consider my proposals carefully. Needless to say, I will be pleased to do whatever I can to help ensure the success of any specific recommendations or proposals that arise from the forum.
Sincerely,