ML16341C935

Responds to Re Safety Considerations Involved in OL Issuance

ML16341C935
Person / Time
Site:	Diablo Canyon
Issue date:	05/10/1979
From:	Vassallo D Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:	Tschaeche A PEOPLE FOR ENERGY PROGRESS
References
NUDOCS 7906180172
Download: ML16341C935 (16)

Text

,r Docket Nos:

50-275 and 50-323 Mr. A.

W. Tschaeche, Managing Director People for Energy Progress P. 0.

Box 777 Los Gatos, California 95030

Dear Mr. Tschaeche:

'stribution:

Docket Files NRC ggy I p 197g 'ocal PDR NRR Reading H. Denton E.

Case D. Crutchfield R.

Boyd D. Vassallo J. Stolz B. Buckley E. Hylton (5)

M. Groff (NRR-79-1068)

E.

Hughes B. Moore I am pleased to respond to your letter dated April 13, 1979, to the Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Comnission.

Since it would not be appropriate under current Conmission rules for the Chairman to cogent on your concern, your letter was referred to me for reply.

You expressed concern over anti-nuclear group' views that the Diablo Canyon plants should not be permitted to operate.

Yareover, you stated that the issuance of a license to operate should be made solely on the basis of safety.

The issuance of an operating license to a utility can only be granted after its design, including environmental considerations, has been evaluated and findings made that the nucleat power plant can be operated safely and that it does not pose a threat to the health and safety of the public.

As you know, there.has been heavy public interest in the Diablo Canyon licensing proceedings.

Comprehensive public hearings were held by the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board on both safety and environmental contentions related to the Diablo Canyon plant raised by certain members of the public.

The major safety concern was the ability of the plant to safely withstand the effects of-a postulated earthquake from the nearby Hosgri Fault.

The public hearings were completed on February 15, 1979.

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Mr. A. N. Tschaeche NY > 0 ~979 The Licensing Board is in the process of preparing its decision regarding the licensing of Diablo Canyon based on the record of these proceedings.

If the Licensing Hoard decision is favorab'le, we will still assure that all rdgulations and safety criteria are met before issuing an operating license.

Thank you for your interest.

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g.ae yassalta D. B. Vassallo, Assistant Director for Light Mater Reactors Division of Project Management

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Docket Nos'(1-275 an 50-323 Mr. A. N.

haeche, Managing Director People for Energ rogress P. 0.

Box 777 Los Gatos, California 5030

Dear Ya. Tschaeche:

Distribution:

Docket Files NRC PDR Local PDR NRR Reading H. Denton E.

Case D. Crutchfiel R.

Boyd D. Yassall J. Stolz B. Buclgey E.

Hy ion (S)

M.

G off (NRR-79-1068)

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Moore I am pleased to respond to yo

'1etter dated April 13, 1979, to the Chairman of the 5'uclear Regu ory Coranission.

Since it would not be appropriate under curren Co mission rules for the Chairman to comment on your concern, y r le ter was referred to me for reply.

You expressed concern ov anti-,n clear group' views that the Diablo Canyon plants sh ld.not b permitted to operate.

Moreover, you stated that the is ance of a 'license to operate should be made solely on the basis of safety.

The issuance of an g crating licen e to a utility can only be granted after its ksign, including nvironmental considerations, has been evaluate and findings made hat the nuclear power plant can be operated s fely and that it do not pose a threat to the health and safet of the public.

As you may kno, the major safety concern ring our review of the Diablo Canyon Plants was the ability of the ants to safely ~rith-stand the ef ects of a postulated earthquake m the nearby Hosgri Fault.

Com ehensive public hearings on this ma er were held by the Atomic fety and Licensing Board over about a

wo'rronth period.

These hear ngs were completed on February 15, 1979.

e Licensing Board is 'n the process of preparing its decision rega ing the licensin of Diablo Canyon based on the record of these oceedings.

7 Than o

for your interest.

DPM:

R ¹1 OELD

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50-275 nd 50-323-Mr. A. N. Ts

eche, Managing Director People for Energy ress P.

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Dear Mr. Tschaeche:

Distribution:

NRC PDR Local,PDR NRR Reading LllR ¹1 File H. Denton E.

Case D. Crutchfield R.

Boyd D. Vassallo J. Stolz B. Buckley E. Hylton 5)

M. Grof (NRR 79-1068)

E.

Hug es B.

6ore I am pleased to respond to yo tter dated April 13, 1979, to the Chairman of the Nuclear Regu tor Commission.

Since it would not be appropriate under curre Commis ion rules for the Chairman to comment on your concern, our letter vas referred to me for reply.

Issuance of an* operati g '1icense for D bio Canyon, or any licensing action for that matt

, should be grant on the basis of our evalua-tion of the resulti environmental itttpac as required by the National Environmental Poli y Act of 1969 (NEPA), i addition to the", safety considerations me tioned in your letter.

,I addition to these criteria, the Comission's policy is to provide a mean gful and practical involve-ment of the pu ic in nuclear regulatory affa s, both informally and formally.

As you may ow, the major safety concern during ur review of Diablo Canyon was he ability of the plant to safely with and the effects of a postula d ear'thquake from the nearby Hosgri Faul Comprehensive public h rings were conducted over a period of sever 1 months by an Atomic fety and Licensing Board.

These hearings wer completed on Februar 15, 1979 and the record was closed in ttarch 19 The Atomi Safety and Licensing Board is in the process of pr aring its decis on regarding the licensing of Diablo Canyon based on the record

,of t ese proceedings.

Th k you for your interest.

. Sincerely, D. B. Vassallo, ssistant Director for Light Mater Reactors

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Docket Nos: 60-276 and 60-323 Mr. A. N.

haeche, Managing Director Peo'p'le for Energy rogress-P. 0. Box 777 Los Gatos, California 9

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Dear Nr. Tschaeche:

Distribution: Docket Files NRC PDR Local PDR LWR ¹1 File NRR Reading H. Denton E. Case D; Crutchfield R. Boyd '. Vassallo J. Stolz B. Buckley E. Hylton M. Groff RR 79-1068) E. Hu s B. ore I am,pleased to respond to your dated April 13, 19?9, to the Chairman of the Nuclear Regula ry Co sion. Since it would not be appropriate under current omission r s for the Chairman to coment on your concern, y r letter was ref ed to me for reply. Issuance of an operat' license for Diablo Canyo or any licensing action for that mat r, should be granted on the bas Z of of our evaluation of the esulting environmental impact as required by the National Enviroy ental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), in addiUon to the safety considydations mentioned in your letter. In addition to these criteria, t 5 Commission's policy is to provide a meaningful and practical involveme of the public in'nest:lear regulatory affairs, both informally and form 1y, As yo may knou>. the major safety concern during our review of Diablo Can n was the ability of the plant to safely withstand the effects of a ostulated earthquake from the nearby Hosgri Fault, Comprehensive pu lic hearings were conducted over a period of several months by an Atomic Safety and Licensing Board. These hearings were completed on February 16, 1979 and the record was closed early last month. The Atomic Safety and Licensing Board is in the process of preparing its decision regarding the licensing of Diablo Canyon based on the record of these proceedings. Thank: you for your interest. . Sincerely, D. B. Vassallo, Qssistant Director for Light Water Reactors

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D Docket No 50-275 and -323 Hr. A. N. Tscha che, Managing Director People for Energy gress P. 0. Box 777 Los Gatos, California 5030

Dear Hr. Tschaeche:

Distribution Docket Files 4= NRC PDR Local PDR NRR Reading LWR 1. File Hs Denton E. Case D. Crutchfield R. Boyd D. Vassallo J. Stolz B. Buckle E. Hyl n (5) M. G ff (NRR 79-1068) E. ughes . Moore I am pleased to respond to r letter dated April 13. 1979,, to the Chairman of the Nuclear gula ry Comission. Since it would not be appropriate under curr t Commis ion rules for the Chairman to correent on your concern, yo letter was ferred to me for reply. We agree w, th r po nt o iew an nw rating license for Diablo on, any censing a ion for hat matte~ should be granted s y n t e a s sa ety. As you y know, the major safety concern u} ing our review of Diablo Canyo was the ability of'he plant to safe withstand the effects of a po ulated ear thquake from the nearby Hosg i Fau'lt. Compreh'ensive publ c hearings were conducted over a period f several months by an Ato ic Safety and Licensing Board. These hear ngs were completed on February 15, 1979 and the record lIas closed ear last month. ,The Atomic Safety and Licensing Board is in the proc ss of preparing its decision regarding the licensing of Diablo Canyon based on the record of these proceedings. Thank you for your interest. Sincerely, ~p C> QQ e~ ) "~ P)11~. ajsa k+'~r ~ 4P,en~ ~) 7"0 rj'~+ s ~Sf ~+' rn D. B. Vassallo, Assistant Director for Light Water Reactors Division of Project Management LWR 1 OELD LMR SURNAME& OAT@~ 4/ /79 BB ckley 4/ 79 Jst 1 4/g 4/ /79 4@//79 ++71<+~ DBVassal1o NRC 1sORM 318 49.76) NRCM 0240 '0 u. R. anvssrsasarwr rrsar>Ma nrrsar. sara Acr.rrA

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/ t I .gag g'agDate~ NRC SECR ETAR IAT Q, Commissioner XQ Exec.,Oir./Oper. 0.Cong. Liaison C3 Public Affairs Oate 0 Gen. Counsel 0 Solicitor Q Secretary Incoming: ~ ~ N. TS h From: Chairman HEnd ie Subject. U es RC i s 'I -Prepare reply for signature of: 0 Chairman . 0 Commissione< 0 EOO, GC, CL, SOL, PA, SECY 0.Signature block omitted 0 Return original of incoming with response D Fordirectreply-QQ For appropriate action 0 For information 0 For recommendation Lo ed Ex Parte Ori inal to Docket For the Commission: 'Send three (3) copies of reply to Secy Mail Fac'ility NAC42 ACTION SLIP

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~qERGY pj's g%~~Z.:~<y P. O. 8 OX 777, L OS GA TOS, CA L I F 0 R N I'A 95030 April 13, 1979 Joseph H. Hendrie, Chairman U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D. C. 20555'

Dear Chairman Hendrie:

People for Energy Progress (PEP), a grass-roots energy advocacy organization, notes with alarm that many anti-'nuclear individuals and organizations have written the NRC requesting (sometimes demanding) that; the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant(s) not be permitted to begin operation (not .be granted an operating license), It is PEP's point of view that the 'operating license at this point in time should be granted (ov not) solely on the basis of safety. The exaggerated fears expressed by anti-nuclear persons do not, to us, appear to be a proper basis for deciding whether or"not to grant that license. We trust the Commission shares this view and would appreciate your comments if it does not.

Essentially, all of PEP's members are served by PGSE, the operator (hopefully) of Diablo Canyon. We trust the NRC's ability to license. Nuclear Power Plants that are reasonably safe. We do not want the PG&E investment in Diablo Canyon to be lost if it does not start up. We rate payers are the ones who will loose economically if Diablo Canyon does not start up. We will loose twice! Once'because electricity vates will go up to pay for the unused plant. Once because rates will go up to pay for oil and/or coal generated electricity which cost more than nuclear. We reiterate our trust in the Commission's judgement and pray that it wil.l continue to grant operating licenses for Nuclear Power Plants. on the basis of.safety once the need for the plant is demonstrated, as we . believe it clearly has for Diablo Canyon. Sincerely, F A. N. Tschaeche Nanaging'Director ANT:hcl/1226

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