ML021260429

G20020271/LTR-02-0324 - Sen. Arlen Specter Ltr Re New Gas-Fired Power Plant Proposed by Florida Power and Light Directly Adjacent to Existing Exelon Nuclear Facility

ML021260429
Person / Time
Site:	Limerick
Issue date:	05/02/2002
From:	Specter A US SEN (Senate)
To:	Meserve R NRC/Chairman
Gratton C, NRR/DLPM 415-1055
References
G20020271, LTR-02-0324, TAC MB4990, TAC MB4991
Download: ML021260429 (6)

Text

EDO Principal Correspondence Control FROM: DUE: 05/23/02 EDO CONTROL: G20020271 DOC DT: 05/02/02 FINAL REPLY:

Senator Arlen Specter Chairman Meserve FOR SIGNATURE OF : ** GRN ** CRC NO: 02-0324 Chairman Meserve DESC: ROUTING:

New Gas-Fired Power Plant Proposed by Florida Travers Power and Light Directly Adjacent to Existing Paperiello Exelon Nuclear Facility (Thomas DiBello)

Kane Norry Craig Burns/Cyr DATE: 05/03/02 Miller, RI Zimmerman, NSIR ASSIGNED TO: CONTACT:

NRR Collins SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR REMARKS:

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OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY CORRESPONDENCE CONTROL TICKET Date Printed: May 03, 2002 11:05 PAPER NUMBER: LTR-02-0324 LOGGING DATE: 05/02/2002 ACTION OFFICE: EDO AUTHOR: Arlen Specter AFFILIATION: SEN ADDRESSEE: Richard Meserve

SUBJECT:

Florida Power and Light's proposal to build a gas-fired power plant adjacent to the existing Limerick Nuclear Generating Station operated by Exelon ACTION: Signature of EDO DISTRIBUTION: Chairman, Comrs, OCA to Ack LETTER DATE: 05/02/2002 ACKNOWLEDGED No SPECIAL HANDLING:

NOTES:

FILE LOCATION: Adams DATE DUE: 05/23/2002 DATE SIGNED:

EDO -- G20020271

05/02/02 14:37 FAX Z 002 COMIMITTEES:

ARLEN SPECTER JUDICIARY APPROPRIATIONS PENNSYLVANIA VETERANS' AFFAIRS fnatt ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS SInittd 5tatts WASHINGTON, DC 20510-3802 Via Facsimile May 2, 2002 The Honorable Richard A. Meserve Chairman Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555

Dear Chairman Meserve:

On behalf of the Board of Supervisors of Limerick Township, Pennsylvania, I request that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) review Florida Power and Light's (FP&L) proposal to build a gas-fired power plant adjacent to the existing Limerick nuclear Generating Station operated by Exelon Corporation.

The Limerick Township officials have a number of concerns which are addressed in the attached letter. I request that you review the issues raised by the Township and respond directly to Mr. Thomas DiBello, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, Limerick Township. I further ask that a copy of your response be provided to my Washington office to the attention of Tom Dower on my staff.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this request.

Sincerely, Arl Specte AS/trd Attachment.

cc: Mr. Thomas DiBello

05/02/02 14:37 FAX 003003 SPECTER PHILA. -* SPECTER D.C. 002/004 04/30/2002 18:41 FAX 215 597 0406 I P.02/04 RPR-30-2002 17:07 PANI LIMERICK TOWNSHIP 646 W9ST URDG1 PXXM iUr,, WO"Kl O3r-h" r Igs 10M5" LIMERICK* PENNSYLVANIA 19468 April 30, 2002 By Fax (215-597-0406) and 1i Class Mail The Honorable Arlen Specter United States Seator C/O Philadelphia Office 600 Arch-Street PhiladelphiWa, PA 19106 RE: Limerick Township

Dear Senator Specter:

I write to thank you for your vatued and respected input, assistance and cooperation personally, and thri your offices, with specific reerence to the concerns of both the Board of Supervisors and our, and your, coustituents both locally and throughout the Southeastem Pennsylvania area regarding the new gas-fired Power Plant proposed by Florida Power and Light (FP&L) directly adjacmtt to our existing Txelon Nuclear facility.

In this regard, in my capacity as Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, Limerick 4

Township, please accept this as a specific request that you urgently request The N.Ucl ear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to immediately commence a comprehensive review of the proposed site with specific refrence and emphasis on site selection as related to the clear and obvious concerns of the citizens of Limerick Township, and surrounding communities with respect to Homeland Security and their Health, Safety and Welfare largely ignored by the FP&L proposal and authorizing entities to date.

To highlight these concerns we refer to our meeting and communication with your staff regarding issues including, but not limited to; The FP&L proposi clearly violating the existing Exelon exclusion zone of 2,500 feet from their nuclear reactor.

FP&L's proposal is in direct violation of Township Zoning ordinances.

The proposed FP&.t facility would be within 75 feet of the communities' primary water source (Perkiomen Pipeline) already additionally utilized to cool the Exelon nuclear reactor,

05/02/02 14:37 FAX 14004 SPECTER PHILA. - SPECTER D.C. 003/004 04/30/2002 18:41 FAX 215 597 0406 1 P.03/04 APR-30-2002 17:07 PANi ADM¶I1LNL#mue LIMERICK TOWNSHIP Coal(a#"4"In 646 WIEST RIDGH PIK19 FULIJnWdh *"5 T LIMEUICK, PENNSYLVANIA 19468 VouCarVEmr"taw Any mishap at the FP&L facility could thns easily sever the pipeline with devastating impact.

The Montgomery County Planning Commission has vigorously recommended against this project, raising multiple concerns and Issues remaining unresolved.

The FP&L facility, as proposed would be directly adjacent to two major natural gas pipelines. Accordingly it's positioning and proaimity to the two natural gas lines, the Perkiomen pipeline and the Exclon Nuclear Facility collectively contribute to making the site a potentially devastating terrorist target of a ChemDbyl-like level of magnitude in Southeast Pennsylvania.

Specifically required components of DEP's air quality permit process have not been conducted raising clear queries as to their recent approval.

Exelon'a Limerick Nuclear Facility, of five representative plants studied, has already been identified as I of 2 facities at risk from potential external causes eg. vehicular sabotage. The NRC, based on its' existing licensing standards, should mandate a directive to relocate this project to an alternate site ameliorating the clear threats to the health, safety and welfare of residents of Southeast Pennsylvania and in consideration of the obvious potential threats to Homeland Security.

The proposed FP&L site further is in direct conflict against innumerable quaBifyng criteria, ignored to date. FP&L is unable to adequately buffer noise levels penetrating surrounding townships; it violates the long standing Limerick Township growth management and comprehensive plan in multiple ways; it is proposed in an area with two geological faults and additionally endangers multiple Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Federal Endangered Species; misinformation to the DEP has it positioned in a "Groonfield" instead of a "Brownfield" location.

The FP&L facility proposed is a nou-seoure facility in, or at, the exclusion zone, The possible, if not predictable ramifications

05/02/02 14:38 FAX *005 SPECTER PHTILA. - SPECTER D.C. 19004/004 04/30/2002 18:42 FAX 215 597 0406 P.04/04 APR-30-2002 17:28 PAN1 1 tIoo 4I5-"n N"

LIMERICK TOWNSHIP US"I f7 646 WEST RIDGE FMK PU3IM WoC U.*MUMNT LIMERICK, PENMNYLVAMIA 19468 FOUCKDUOPA'TMpr and related potential for devastation and chaos are clear in contrast to the fact that, by any criteria, there is no justification for the associated risks and no record iA North America of a major non secure gas-fired Power Plant positioned in such close proximity to a nuclear fkcility and thus no data to predict either the level of threat to Homeland Security or the Hadth related impact on residents as the plumes from the Exelon Nuclear Facility mix in the atmosphere with the emissions of the FP&L facility. Thus the impact of acid rain, ammonia slip, formaldehyde, etc. and potentiialy related carcinomas, among other concerns, respiratory and other, arc both real and alarming concerns to our constituents.

The above is a mere samplin 8 of the types of concerns related to the site proposed for the FP&L facility. We stand in direct opposition to the current site selection and accordingly appreciate your assistance and cooperation in requesting the NRC initiate a fUll review, without delay, but in concert with the United States office of Homeland Security.

Thank you again for your shared conecrn and cooperation in this regard and the much appreciated professionalism and input foxom your staffwith special reference to Executive Director, Anthony Cunningham Sincerely yours, Thomas DiBello Chairman, Board of Supervisors Limerick Township Montgomery County, PA Cc: I. Duncan Campbell II (Washington, D.C.)

Anthony B. Cunningham (Phila,)

Earl Freilino (Harrisburg)

Thomas P. Hnmtpenny, Esq; Gregory I. Dean, Esq. (Solicitors)

Supervisors - Limerick Township TOTAL P.04