ML13170A275

Comment (97) of Martin Wallace, on Behalf of Saner Living Neighborhood Association, Opposing Entergy'S Request for Exemption from Fire-safe Federal Regulation Standards for Indian Point Unit 3

ML13170A275
Person / Time
Site:	Indian Point
Issue date:	05/30/2013
From:	Wallace M Saner Living Neighborhood Association
To:	Rules, Announcements, and Directives Branch
References
NRC-2013-0063, 78FR26662 00097
Download: ML13170A275 (2)

Text

Page 1 of 2 ,RULES AND DIRECTIVES' BRANCH USN.RC PUBLIC SUBMISSION' 3 JuN I I PH 4:08 Docket: NRC-2013-0063 RECEIVED Draft Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact Comment On: NRC-2013-0063-0002 Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc., Indian Point Nuclear Generating Unit No.Period Document:

NRC-2013-0063-DRAFT-0086 Comment on FR Doc # 2013-10792 As of.: June 11, 2013 Received:

May 30, 2013 Status: PendingPost Tracking No. ljx-85mf-vbaz Comments Due: June 03, 2013 Submission Type: Web 3; Extension of Public Comment Submitter Information Name: Martin Wallace Address: 629 W 115th St #6D NY, NY, 10025 Submitter's Representative:

Martin Wallace Organization:

Saner Living Neighborhood Association General Comment Since 2007, Entergy has been using a fireproofing insulation called HEMYC to protect critical electrical cables that power the emergency shutdown system at Indian Point. HEMYC is supposed to protect the cables for one hour during a fire, but in lab tests, HEMYC only lasted 24 minutes.Rather than upgrading the insulation to comply with the federal requirements, Entergy asked the NRC for an exemption from the standards, and the NRC granted it in 2007. When asked at a public meeting how many exemptions it had given to Indian Point over the years, a NRC official literally said "I don't know, we don't keep a list." Instead of enforcing its own safety regulations, the NRC regularly grants exemptions from them, in order to avoid "burdening" the nuclear industry with excessive regulation.

This is unacceptable.

Public safety needs to be the number one priority of the NRC.The NRC should deny the exemption and require Entergy to comply with the regulations, which were written to protect the plant and the public from the very real risk of a fire that could lead to a meltdown at Indian Point.The NRC failed to do an Environmental Impact Study (EIS) of the risks and impacts of granting the exemption, https ://www.fdms.gov/fdms-web-agency/component/contentstreamer?objectld=09000064813015 6c&for...

06/11/2013 S .Page 2 of 2 including looking at alternatives, such as replacing the insulation.

At a minimum the NRC must conduct a full EIS, look at all alternatives and allow time for public comment.The NRC should hold a public hearing in the vicinity of Indian Point to fully explain its exemption process, and take public input on Entergy's failure to comply with fire safety regulations that were established over 20 years ago.I am one of the 20 million residents who lives in the vicinity of Indian Point and who would be affected should a meltdown occur at that facility.

While I recognize that many of our energy needs are met by Indian Point, I believe it is more important for us to address the safety needs of this community first. There are better ways to supply those energy needs!https://www.fdms.gov/fdms-web-agency/component/contentstreamer?objectld=090000648130156c&for...

06/11/2013