ML062480041
| ML062480041 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Oyster Creek |
| Issue date: | 08/09/2006 |
| From: | Saxton J US HR, Committee on Armed Services |
| To: | Diaz N NRC/ADM/DAS/RDB, NRC/Chairman |
| References | |
| %dam200612, 71FR34969 00002 | |
| Download: ML062480041 (1) | |
Text
TH1"I4RD DISTRICT. NEW JERSEY
-7.
WWW.HOUSE-GOVISAXTON JOINT ECONOMIC COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN.
RESOURCES COMMITTEE SUBCOMMITTEES:
FISHERIES AND OCEANS NATIONAL PARKS ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE SUBCOMMITTEES:
TERRORISM, UNCONVENTIONAL THREATS AND CAPABILITIES CHAIRMAN PROJECTION FORCES MILITARY PERSONNEL VA. 'Notn~e of 134RVcrr~ntatibe5 Rk:!a bington, W 20515 August 9,2006 Dr. Nils J. Diaz, Chairman 1!-
Nuclear Regulatory Commission 11555 Rockville Pike 7
(-D Rockville, MD 20852
'/
U-
Dear ID. Diaz:
I send this letter as my official comment regarding the Draft Environmental Impact StatementIDEIS) issued as part of the operating license'renewal process for the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Facility in Forked River; New Jersey.
Mr 1:-
The recent DEIS, issued by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, states there are no environmental impacts that would preclude renewing the operating license extension of Oyster Creek. According to the report, the Commission has determined that the adverse environmental impacts of license renewal would not prevent energy planfiing decision makers from granting the operating extension.
As I understand it, the NRC conducted a thorough analysis to reach this determination. However, I am concerned the environmental impacts of a potential atmospheric release of radiation have not been adequately addressed in this report. 'In 2005, the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) released a report evaluating the potential risks of boiling water reactor (BWR) plants with above ground spent fuel pools. The report; entitled Safety and Security of Commercial Spent Fuel Storage, found the potential vulnerabilities of BWR pools are plant-design specific, and recommended that, "The Nuclear Regulatory Commission should undertake additional best-estimate analyses to more fully understand the vulnerabilities and consequences of loss-of-pool coolant events that could lead to a zir'conium cladding fire."
Although the DEIS contains a specific section regarding Severe Accident Mitigation, I inqiiire.is to whether or not the NAS suggested analysis was incorporated into the statement? We must not underestimate the catastrophic impacts to our environment in the event a cooling pool is compromised.
I have long supported the involvement of an:independent and unbiased third party, such as the NAS, in the license renewal process of Oyster Creek. Additionally, I support the inclusion of their suggested analysis in the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEI1), and urge the NRC to make every effort to do so.
Thank you for your continued commitment to this important matter.
3 im Saxton Member of C I' E RAYBURN HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING 0HGHSRT UT 3" VOW HINGTDN. DC20S1S-3oo3 100l NIGH STREET, SUITE 301 WANG OUSE OFFCE20 ULDIG0 0 MOUNT HOLLY.
NJ 0800-1458 120212225-4765 (806)281-5800
~ongress 17-P -e3 247 MAIN STREET 0
TOMS RIVER. NJ 0871.3-7469 (7321 914-202,7