ML041730382

G20040407/LTR-04-0377 - Sen. Judd Gregg Ltr Re Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant

ML041730382
Person / Time
Site:	Vermont Yankee
Issue date:	06/09/2004
From:	Gregg J US SEN (Senate)
To:	Rathbun D Office of Congressional Affairs
Skay D, NRR/DLPM, 415-1322
Shared Package
ml041950018	List: ML041730382
References
CORR-04-0149, G20040407, LTR-04-0377, TAC MC3590
Download: ML041730382 (4)

Text

EDO Principal Correspondence Control FROM: DUE: 07/13/04 EDO CONTROL: G20040407 DOC DT: 06/09/04 FINAL REPLY:

Senator Judd Gregg TO:

Denis Rathbun FOR SIGNATURE OF : ** GRN ** CRC NO: 04-0377 Reyes DESC: ROUTING:

Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant Reyes Virgilio Kane Norry Collins Dean DATE: 06/18/04 Burns/Cyr Miller, RI ASSIGNED TO: CONTACT:

NRR Dyer SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR REMARKS:

I eDalan EC? £:-SE,)V.,

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY CORRESPONDENCE CONTROL TICKET Date Printed:Jun 17,2004 16:11 PAPER NUMBER: LTR-04-0377 LOGGING DATE: 06/17/2004 ACTION OFFICE: EDO AUTHOR: SEN Judd Gregg AFFILIATION: SEN ADDRESSEE: Dennis Rathbun

SUBJECT:

Vermont Yankee nuclear powr plant ACTION: Signature of EDO DISTRIBUTION: OCA to Ack LETTER DATE: 06/09/2004 ACKNOWLEDGED No SPECIAL HANDLING:

NOTES:

FILE LOCATION: ADAMS DATE DUE: 07/13/2004 DATE SIGNED:

EDO -- G20040407

UU/15/ZUU4 lb:41 fAA. UUJZZ4U19d GREGG C'UINCKD WloOx OFFICES:

JUDD GREGG NEW HAMPSHIRE 125 NORTH MAIN STREET CONCORD, NH 0c301 COMMrlTEES

(503) 225-71 S HEALTH. EDUCATiON, LABOR AND PENSIONS, Chairman Anittd bi5tats Senate 41 HOOKSETT ROAD, UNIT 2 MANCHESTER. NH 03104 WASHINGTON, DC 2051-O2904 APPROPRIATIONS (0031 e22-7979 (202) 224-3324 BUDGET 60 PLEASANT STREET BERLIN, NH 03670 16031 752-2604 Reply to:

16 PEASE BOULEVARD Concord Office PORTSM.OUTH, NH 03501 (6031 431-2171 June 9, 2004 Mr. Dennis Rathbun, Director Office of Congressional Affairs Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555-0001

Dear Mr. Rathbun:

Enclosed is. a letter I received from Charles Butterfield of Hinsdale, New Hampshire. As you will read, Mr. Butterfield raises several issues regarding the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant in Vernon, Vermont. I would appreciate your reviews of these issues.

Thank you and I look forward to your response.

Sincerely, JG/mnl Enclosure PPJNTEC PArPL ONRECYCLEO

UD1o /zUUq +/-a: o rAA ouo0'hu ao "AZ""b IVunuurw UV/VUO, UU4 UO:u4 rA e. AiNUAVlU VUUZ Charles H. BSthterlield

• 433 Oxbow Road - Hinsdale, New Hampshire ' 03451

-  : (603) 256-6571

• cnbutter@ sovor.net May22, 2004 JUN Jt_ pS Senator Judd Gregg 393 Russell Senate Building Washingtor D.C. 20510 Dear Senator Gregg I seek yoAussistance in three matters concerning the uprate application filed by Vermont Yankee (Entergy) with the Nuclear Regulatoiy Commission.

1. NRC recently ordered an engineering assessment of the Vernon (Vermont) plant,

.situated notsix.niiles, asthezcrs flies,4rn-my-house-here in Hinsdalze-avin-recently attended a lengthy public forum at which the uprate application was discussed by men'bers and staff of NRC I came away with the distinct impression that NRC's first priority is advancement of the nuclear power industry and not public safety. The-efore,, I want to see apublic component to the NRC Inspecuon team, one vAth an; obvious public safety bias. This public representation should include at least one techixdcal persan and one or more public obseivers in addition to any official state representation. I uwould like to see these publicteam participants report directly to your office and ultimately to towns l1ce Hinsdale that are in the vicinity of the plant

2. NRC, through recent changes in the rules governing public access to fonmal on-the-record licensing hearings, has accrued to itself expansive discretion in determintng whose testimony wil be heard. Under the new rules NRC may curtail or eliminate discoveiy, ross examination and all other adjudlcatoy tests of truth.

These changes to 10 CFR 2 are being challenged in federal court, but in the

-meantime I ask that you use the power of your office to vrge the NRC to exercise its discretion in favor of formal heaings.

3. Vermont Yankee was built before the first set of nuclear power plant design

- iteriaere formazed. Designwcriteria, safety standards and regulationsiave - - - --

evolved since Vetmont Yankee began .operating some thirty plus years ago. Where the plant is exempted from or otherwise does not comply with all current nuclear safety standards, NRC must analyze and certify what effects, if any, these deviations from cutrent standards have on risk to the public. I hope you wil do all that you can to persuade the NRC to include this analysis in the uprate engineering assessment Thank you for your attention to these matters.

Sincerely, Charlds I Butterfield