ML13304A962
| ML13304A962 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | San Onofre |
| Issue date: | 08/13/1980 |
| From: | Schwencer A Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Rossnyev Alvarado - No Known Affiliation |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8008270605 | |
| Download: ML13304A962 (7) | |
Text
-0L 0
-FHI COP AUG 13 1980 Mr. Roberto Alvarado, Jr.
526 Jefferson Street Pomona, California 91766
Dear Mr. Alvarado:
Your letter to President Carter concerning the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station has been referred to me for reply.
As you may know, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) was created by the Congress of the United States to regulate nuclear power plants in the public interest (See Enclosure 1, "NRC Responsibility in Regulation of Nuclear Power Plants"). Before the NRC issues a Construction Permit or an Operating License for a nuclear plant, the regulations require that extensive studies be per formed to show that the proposed plant will not endanger public health and safety or the environment. Such studies are performed by the Power company applying for a license, and are extensively reviewed by the NRC staff. In addition, an independent review is conducted by the Advisory Committee on Re actor Safeguards (ACRS). Following that,,a public hearing may be held before the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board. The licensing process is described in more detail in Enclosure 2.
My purpose in outlining the steps that are taken prior to.issuance of Construction Permits or Operating Licenses is to illustrate the extent and depth of the review process that is carried out prior to issuance of any nuclear plant license, and the opportunity for public participation in the process.
Let me assure you that if the NRC staff, the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards, or the Atomic Safety and.Licensing Board are not convinced of the safety of a proposed nuclear plant, then licenses for the construction and operation of the plant are not issued until the areas of concern are corrected.
Since you expressed an interest in environmental matters, I am enclosing a copy of our Draft Environmental Statement for San Onofre, Units 2 and 3, issued in November, 1978.
This report may address some of your environmental concerns relating to San Onofre.
With regard to the siting of nuclear plants in remote locations, I am enclosing a paper on "Locating Nuclear Power Plant Sites", which outlines our siting criteria. Prior to Issuing construction permits for the nuclear plants at San Onofre, we detenqined that the San Onofre site meets our siting criteria.
You also mentioned federal funding for solar energy research. Such efforts are the responsibility of the Department of Energy, and are not within our 80082
_0 O F F IC E 0..................
.................... I................
S U R N A M E D A T E NRC FORM 318 (9-76) NRCM 0240
-*U.S.
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE:'1979-289-369
Mr. Roberto Alvarado, Jr. AUG 13 9gg Jurisdiction. However, it is our understanding that the DOE budget for solar energy research has increased dramatically in recent years.
I hope that this letter has been responsive to your concerns.
Sincerely, A Schwencer, Acting Chief Licensing Branch No. 3 Division of Licensing
Enclosures:
- 1. NRC Responsibility in Regulation of Nuclear Power Plants
- 2. The Reactor Licensing Process
- 3. NUREG-0490, San Onofte 2 and 3 Draft Environmentd 'Statement.
- 4. Locating Nuclear Power Plant Sites O F F IC E SURNAME
. Rood:mec..... ASchwencer................
DATE 8/...... /8 0 - - 8 /...... / 80.
NRC FORM 318 (9-76) NRCM 0240 ZU.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1979-289-369
DISTRIBUTION:W/O ENCLOSURES AU1 1980 Docket Files - 50/361/362 NRC PDR Local PDR NRR Reading DL:LB #3 Files H, Denton E. Case H. Berkow DEisenhut R. Tedesco A. Schwencer H. Rood J. Lee S. Cavenaugh (NRR 4163)
E. Hughes M. Fudge P. Pas B. Snyder B. Grimes R. Vollmer D. Ross R. Capra S. Hanauer F. Schroeder
AUG 13 180 Mr. Roberto Alvarado, Jr.
526 Jefferson Street Pomona, California 91766
Dear Mr. Alvarado:
Your letter to President Carter concerning the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station has been referred to me for reply.
As you may know, the Nuclear Regulatory Comission (NRC) was created by the Congress of the United States to regulate nuclear power plants in the public interest (See Enclosure 1, "NRC Responsibility in Regulation of Nuclear Power Plants"). Before the NRC issues a Construction Permit or an Operating License for a nuclear plant, the regulations require that extensive studies be per formed to show that the proposed plant will not endanger public health and safety or the environment. Such studies are performed by the Power company applying for a license, and are extensively reviewed by the NRC staff. In addition, an independent review is conducted by the Advisory Cornittee on Re actor Safeguards (ACRS).
Following that, a public hearing may be held before the Atomic Safety and Licensing Soard. The licensing process is described in more detail in Enclosure 2.
y purpose in outlining the steps that are taken prior to issuance of Construction Permits or Operating Licenses is to illustrate the extent and depth of the review process that is carried out prior to issuance of any nuclear plant license, and the opportunity for public participation in the process.
Let me assure you that if the NRC staff, the Advisory Commnittee on Reactor Safeguards, or the Atomic Safety andLicensing Board are not convinced of the safety of a proposed nuclear plant, then licenses for the construction and operation of the plant are not issued until the.areas of concern are corrected.
Since ycu expressed an interest in environmental matters, I am enclosing a Cnpy Cf our (raft Environmental Statement for San Onofre, Units 2 and 3, issued in Nocvember, 1978.
This report may address some of your environmental concerns relating to San Gnofre.
With regard to the siting of nuclear plants in remote locations, I am enclosing a paper on "Locating Nuclear Power Plant Sites", which outlines our siting criteria.
Prior to issuing construction permits for the nuclear plants at San Cnofre, we determined that the San Onofre site meets our sitinn criteria.
You also mentioned federal fundinc for solar energy research. Such efforts are the resocnsibility of the Uepartment of Energy, and are not within our OFFICE.
SURNAME DATE
Mr. Roberto Alvarado, Jr.
- 2 AUG 3 980 jurisdiction. However, it is our understanding that the,
OE budget for solar energy research has increased dramatically in recent years.
I hope that this letter has been responsive to your concerns.
Sincerely, A. Schwencer, Acting Chief Licensing Branch No. 3 Division of Licensing
Enclosures:
1RC Responsibil ty in Regulation of Nuclear Power Plants The Reactor Lidensing Process
- 3. NUREG-0490, San Onofre 2 and 3
)raft Environmental Statement
- 4. Locating Nuclear Power Plant Sites OL:LB #3
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OFFICE............................
SURNAME
.. ASchwencer DATE oodimec A
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DATE 3
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UNITED STATES NUCLEAR. REGULATORY COIMMIISSION VAASHINGTON, D. C. 20555 AUG 13 1980 Mr. Roberto Alvarado, Jr.
526 Jefferson Street Pomona, California 91766
Dear Mr. Alvarado:
Your 'etter to President Carter concerning the San CncF re Nuclear Cenerating Station has been referred to me for reply.
.s you may know, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) was created by the Congress of the United States to regulate nuclear power plants in the public interest (See Enclosure 1, "NRC Responsibility in Regulation of Nuclear Power Plants").
Before the NRC issues a Construction Permit or an Operating License for a.nuclear plant, t.he regulations require that extensive studies be 'per formed to show that the proposed plant will not endanger public health and safety Or the environment. Such studies are performed by the Power company applying for a license, and are extensively reviewed by the NRC staff. In addition,.an independent review is conducted by the Advisory Conmittee on Re actor Safeguards (ACRS).,
Following that, a public hearing may be held before the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board. The licensing process is described in m ore detail in Enclosure 2.
My purpose in outlining the steps that are taken prior to issuance of Construction Perits or Operating Licenses -is to illustrate the exteht and depth of the review process that is carried out prior to issuance of any nuclear plant license, and the opportunity for public participation in the process.
Let me assure you that if the NRC staff, the Advisory Conlittee on L
1 itic S
-'octor Safeurs, or he Atmic ety and Licensing Board are not convinced of the safety of a proposed nuclear plant, then licenses for the construction and operation of the plant are not issued until the areas of concern are corrected.
Since you. xpressed an 'interest in environmental matters, I am enclosing a copy of our Draft Envfiionmei0tal Statement for San Onofre, Units 2 and 3, issued in :ove!mber, 197S.
- This report may address. some of your environchtal concerns relating to San Onofre.
With recard to the siting of nuclear plants in remote locations, I am enclosing a paper o,'
con "Locating Nuclear Power Plant Sites", wh'ich outlines our siting c riteria.
Prior to issuing construction permits for the nuclear plants at San. Onofre we determnined that the San Onofre site meets our siting criteria.
You also wnntioned federal funding for solar energy research.
Such efforts are the responsibility of the Department. bf Energy, and are not within our
Mr. Roberto Alvarado, Jr.
2 -
1 jurisdiction. However, it is our understanding that the DOE budget for solar energy research has increased dramatically in recent years.
I lope that this letter has been responsive to your concerns.
Sincerely, A. Schwencer, Acting Chief Licensing Br nch No. 3 Division of Licensing Encl osures:
- 1.
NRC Responsibility in Regulation of Nucl ear Power Plants
- 2.
The Reactor Licensing Process
- 3.
NUREG-0490, San Onofre 2 and 3 Draft Environmental Statement
- 4.
Locating Nuclear Power Plant Sites