ML13311B013
| ML13311B013 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | San Onofre  |
| Issue date: | 11/14/1979 |
| From: | James Smith AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED |
| To: | NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML13311B010 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7912310006 | |
| Download: ML13311B013 (1) | |
Text
by the un.-t' s continued coerating, I r
t so i.-=ctor of Nuclear Reactor Reculation to initiate a roceeding pursuant tc,C CFR 2.202
- R 55.40 -or the Purpose Of suspanding cc thcoKng the cparat-g licanse zor t-ne San Oncire Nuclear Generating Station Unit One.
Nz; and relevant information is new. available on potential ground Trotizns at thn.
Size in the event of an earthquake, and this inforation would have warrantd the Ccruission to have refused to grant a license on the original application.
Furthernore, the plant is loeated midway between Los Angeles and San Diego, one of the nost densely populated and fastest growing areas in the country.
Unit I is not designed to withstand possible ground notions free. ear hTuakes on the Ne:ort-Inglewocid and Christianitos faults an
-.heir branches which pass close to the reactor.
These ground notions could break co:oling water pipes, cause a loss of coolant accident, and lead to a meltdown of the fue2l.
rods.
The additLon of a concrete shell to the reactor dae and other ntdifications are inadeqate to insure against darages fran possible ground notions during a ra._t7=n possible earthquake.
The new and relevant information regarding ground motion potential was unavailable when the AD approved the design criteria of Unit I or later when the NRC approved structural changes to the unit.
Seismic design criteria for Unit I was based on inadequate data on -reasure:aents of :rOnd notions close to the scurce of the earthcuakes.
cent California earthquakes near Santa Barbara in August, 1978, near San Jose in August, 197(,
and in Imperial Valley in October, 1979, have revealed new and relevant infickation aboul cound not.ions C.at was i.ot available to tlh-10C fc: dete:-t..ing seisic dasign critzria fcr Unit I.
Because population grcwth near the San Onofre plant has been nore-rapid and ex te-nsive than could have been anticipated durinc the.licensina of Unit I, there are no aC..ecuate evacuation plans for the area's residents in the event of a loss of coolant a--cident.
Accroximately nine million people live
-the area that cculd be affected
- e accidental release of radioactive gases fra. Unit I.
The State and local Covern
.en-s are not crcoared to evacuate the opulation..:ian te short time t-...en the accident and the soread of radioactive gases.
e
-he AC.ssued -the construction orit in.arch of 1964, it was Lnocssible to k-c.
-he commaion of the region whould increase so rapidly.
For the above reasons, and the associated risks to the health and safety of the peple of Southern California, it is imperative that you take-action to susoend or revoke the operating license for San Onofre Nuclear Generatig Station Un t I.
f Signed on this date, 11-II e
S 7 (hi1gna tre)
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