ML17222A422
| ML17222A422 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Saint Lucie  |
| Issue date: | 07/18/1988 |
| From: | Graham B SENATE |
| To: | Kammerer C NRC OFFICE OF GOVERNMENTAL & PUBLIC AFFAIRS (GPA) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML17222A421 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8808240184 | |
| Download: ML17222A422 (9) | |
Text
. 'OB GRAAAM
.FLORIDA 0
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SOit>Ii gitattS StIIatt July 18, 1988 Mv. Carlton Kammever, Divector U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Office of Congressional Affaivs Washington, D.CD 20555 Deav Mv. Kammerev:
Enclosed is a letter from Joseph Filonowicz, who has concevns r egavding spent fuel vods at St. Lucie Nucleav Power Plant.
I would appreciate youv veviewing this situation and pvoviding me with your comments.
Please send your response to my state office:
Post Office Box 3050, Tallahassee, Florida 32315, Attention:
Becky Linev.
I am grateful for your coopevation and assistance.
I look forward to heaving fvom you soon.
With kind regards, Sincevely, United States Senator BG/bsl Enclosure 8808240i84 880815 DR ADOCN, 05000335<>
PNU
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POST OFFICE BOX 3050
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TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA 32315
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(904) 681-7726
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TREASURE COAST ENVIRONMENTCOALITION A Four County League of Conservationists SENATGR a~Q G~~
PRESIDENT Joseph C. Filonowicz 286-4180 VICE PRESIDENT Lloyd Brumfield SECRETARY Betty Lou Wells TREASURER Erik Martin DtAECTOAS "Bud" Kleckner Stella Rosal Hubert Van Dyke Blaine Williams COUNTYCOORDINATORS INDIANRIVER COUNTY Nancy Irvin 567-8234 MARTINCOUNTY Carol Howell 692-1617 PALM BEACH COUNTY Rosa Durando 965-2420 ST. LUCIE COUNTY Tom Murphy 229-3732 1,", $enator Bob Graham 44 W. Flagler Miami, Fla.
33130 JUs gy ~
AhfAAAf Df$7Rl~ OFpgg June 18, 1988
Dear Sir,
I am enclosing a latter letter to Sen.
Chiles which further explains.
my concerns I would be willing to meet with you on this matter in Washington or elsewhere after the 4th of July.
Sincerely<
C Pr side I am rewriting you regarding spent fuel rods at the St. l.ucie Nuclear Power Plant.
I believe this deserves an answer.
ENVIRONMENTAL ATTORNEYS MARTINCOUNTY W.E. "Ted" Guy PALM BEACH COUNTY Terrell Arline 55 East Ocean Boulevard, Stuart, Florida 34995
. TREASURE COAST ENVIRONMENTCOALITION A Four County League of Conservationisis PRESIDENT Joseph C. Fitonowicz 286-4180 VICE PRESIDENT Lloyd Brumfield SECRETARY Betty Lou Wells TREASURER Erik Martin DIRECTORS
-Bud" Kleckner Stella Rosal Hubert Van Dyke Blaine Williams Senator Lawton Chiles
'ederal Building Lakeland, Florida 33801 June 18, 1988
Subject:
Nuclear Waste Storage at FP6L St. Lucie Nuclear Power Plant
Dear Sir:
We have received no response from you as promised in your letter of May 9, 1988 regarding the subject matter.
Mr. Rich won a partial victory in his first hearing
.before the Atomic Safetyand. Licensing Board that accepted
--7 of has -16ctmtentioaa that storage of spent nuclear rods were unsafe as related in the enclosed news article.
COUNTY COORDINATORS INDIANRIVER COUNTY Nancy Irvin 567-8234 MARTINCOUNTY Carol Howell 692-1617 PALM BEACH COUNTY Rosa Durando 965-2420 ST. LUCIE COUNTY Tom Murphy 229-3732 NVIR NM NTAL ATTORNEYS MARTINCOUNTY W.E. -Ted" Guy PALM BEACH COUNTY Terrell Arline But matters have grown worse for Mr. Rich.
Batteries of Washington Lawyers, paid for by FPSL customers. are inundating him with thousands of pages of legalese laden documents in an obvious attempt to wear Mr. Rich down.
Here is a very responsible American citizen trying to protect millions of Florida residents from possible radiation injury who is without support,
- funds, knowledge of law being over-run by powerful private and public agencies following tons of incomprehensible bureauocratic regulatory procedures.
The Constitution and the people's elected representatives are designed to protect the little guy against this sort of abuse.
Please see what you can do to protect and aid this courageous citizen.
Now!
The Atomic Age of present technology is coming to a close.
Both the Hanford, Washington and Savannah River, S.C.
compfaxesthat prodtlce A-Bomb and reactor rods are obsolete, overworked and absolutely environmentally damaged beyond repair.
For over 40 years Congress has promised to find a technology to take care of spent fuel rods.
It hasn'.
Also enclosed is a letter to Mr. Hill of the President's Council of Environmental Quality who hasn't bothered to answer my very important letter to him on this issue.
Where is the government'ssensibilities toward the public?
And finally, I am sending a copy of this letter to Senator Graham who also did not bother to respond.
I thankyou for your response and look forward to another.
Sincerely, C
1 55 ast cean ulevard, Stuart, Florida 34995 KSEPH C. RLONNNCZ 3475 SW Forest HillsO.
Paitrl Gty, Rorlda 34990 Tel. 28&4160
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TREASURE COAST ENVIRONMENTALCOALITION A Four County League of Conservattontsts April 1, 1988 PRENDENT 4oeoph C Rlonowfcz VICEPRESIDENT Uoyd Scucnlleld SECRETARY Betty Lou Wene TREASURER Eclo Morta DOCTORS "Bud Kleolcnec 84Cs Roeel Nubect Ven Dyke Blelne Wnllocne DIRECTORS AHD COUNTYCOORDINATORS INDIANRIVER COUNTY Nancy levin MARTIHCOUHTY Cecol Hcnoell PALMBEACH COUNTY Roee Ducando ST. LucrE coUHTY MARTINcotDrrY WW"Ted" Ouy PALMBEACHCOUNTY Toccelf Acltne Mr. B. Paul Cotter, Chairman
" Atomic Safety and Licensing Board U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C.
20555
Dear Mr. Cotter,
This Coalition requests that this letter be made a part of the hearing proceedings conducted March 29, 1988 pertaining to the St. Lucie Nuclear Power Plant on Hutchinson Island in Florida.
We fullysupport Mr. Campbell Rich's contentions and concerns over the "routine" approval of the expansion of radio-active fuel storage facilities at the Plant by the Nuclear Regulatory Comm-ission.
Long term storage of large quantities of this extremely hazardous material at this site on a barrier beach island is an unacceptable threat to public health and safety and to our local environment.
- Further, ve strongly contend that the NRC legal opinion that a full-fledged environlnental impact statement is not required is not consistent with the National Environment Policy Act and the President's Council on Environmental Quality's guidelines.
We vish to cite one of many factors which support our contention.
The original E.I;S-and design criteria for the St. Lucie Nuclear Pover Plant assumed an 18 foot storln surge vould occur as a result of a 1000 year frequency hurricane.
This engin-eering assumtion is no longer valid.
World-vide ocean levels are rising at 'an increasing rate according to measurements by such scientific organizations as N.O.A.A. and the Woods Hole Oceanagraphic Institution.
The last major hurricane hit this area in 1949 and caused an estilnated storm surge near the plant site of 13 +/- feet m.s.l.
Since 1949 the ocean level has risen 8 to 12 inches.
Many U.S. scientists nov predict that the world-vide ocean levels will continue to rise as a result of the melting of the Anartic ice shelves due to the overall warming of the Earth's climate.
Within 50 to 100 years the ocean levels vill rise according to conservative predictions somevhere between 2-4 feet.
Less conservative estimates predict 6-8 feet.
Obviously, such an increase in ocean levels would proportionately increase the storm surge elevation at the St. Lucie Nuclear Pover Plant site.
The plant site, which vas at an elevat,ion of 23 feet above mean sea level at const-ruction vill in the future become a small island and be subject to vave damage and flooding vhen a
1000 year frequency hurr-icane occurs.
These facts alone vere sufficient reason to mandate the preparation of an EIS before any decision vas made
'"'5 East Ocean Boutevard, Stuart, Rorfda 349
(B. Paul Cotter 2) by the Nuclear Regul,atory Commission and staff.
In addition '
long the he approved safety and.design criteria must be revised to r fl t e new flooding and wave damage potential during a major hurricane.
ThisiCoalition wishes to malce one additional request:
The issue of long term storage of spent fuel rods on site is not unique to the St. l.ucie Nuclear Power Plant.
It is endemic to nuclear plants in the U.S.A-The original design and safet standardss, on which the approval of const, ruction of every power aey plant was based, was predicated on the assumption that on site emergency fuel rod and spent rod storage would be short term and justified for two reasons:
l.
A plant shutdown for repair or in an emergency requiring removal of the fuel rods from the core; and 2.
Temporary storage of spent fuel rods during a cooling down period prior to shipment to a reprocessing plant or central hazardous waste storage facility.
As you well know, the Congress, The Nuclear Regula ory Commission and the nuclear power industry through their national lobby organ-ization
(".he Atomic Industrial Forum and the National Association of Electri " Companies) have failed in their promise and responsibilit American People; to build the reprocessing and nuclear wastei i y storage facilities.
This crucial decision has been allowed to become a political football.
The t1me is long overdue for the President and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to set a firm date for terminating long term storage of hazardous wastes on nuclear power plant sites.
This would of course pose the threat of closing down all the nuclear plants in the nation provide the necessary political and economic incentives to get the long overdue legislation and appropriations through the Congress.
Clearly, Florida Power and 1.ight is not the culprit here.
Ne contend that no further study is justified or warranted-ubl'ealth and sa e
r pu 1C an safety dictate that a nat'ionwide cutoff deadline be estab-lished immediately.
Sincerely,
~ Joseph C. Filonowicz, President c c Gov.
Bob Martinez Senator l.awton Chiles Senator Bob Graham Cong.
Tom }.ewis St.
I.ucie County Commission Ma rt i n Coun ty Comtni ss ion Council on Environmental Quality JOSEPH C. FILONOWICZ 3475 SW Forest HHIs Ct.
Palm City, Rorida 34990 TeL 28641N}
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REASURE COAST ENVlRONMENTALCOALITlON A Four County League of Conservatfonists April 26, 1988 PRECEDENT
@oomph C Rtonoelcz YlCE PREStDENT Uayd BrunNatd SECRETARY Batty Lou Wetla TREASURER Ertc lkartln OIRECtQRS "Bud IOaotcnar Stana Roaat Huttrart Van Dyko Btatne Wttt lama ERECTORS AND COUNTY COORDtNATORS ttnDtAN RlVER COUNTY Nancy trvtn KARTlHCOUNTY Carol Hewatt PALMBEACH COUNTY Roaa Durando ST. LUCE COUHTY Tom Murphy
~..Mr, A. Alan Hill, Chaivnan Council on Environmental Quality 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W.
Washington, D.
C. 20500
Dear Chairman Hill,
We request that the C% over rule the use of an Environmental Assessment (EA) in place of of a full blown Environmental Impact Statement in the constxuction of the 1ncreased spent fuel rod storage faehiity at the St. Lucie Nuclear Power Plant.
'Ihe enclosed. letter spells out one very importan environmental factor which was not considered in the EA.
'Ihere are a number of other deficiencies including inadequate public notice.
Increasing the on site storage capacity of'he extremely hazardous radio-active wastes from the original 390,000 lbs. to over 2.2 million pounds constitutes a major increase in the threat to the public health and. safety.
'Ihe change in storage time from short term to long term (at least till 1998) also greatly increases the threat to the environment.
Because the St. Lucie Nuclear Po~er Fiant is located on a barrier beach island. the threat of dire consequences 1s further increased.
Ve request that the C overrule NRC and the ASLB and. order the preparation of' full EIS.
S1ncexely, uNRTtH COUNTY W.E "Ted" Ouy aAUn BEACH COUNTY Tarratt ArlIna JOSEPH C. FILONOWICZ 3475 SW Forest Hills Ct.
Palm City, Florida 34990 Tttl. 2864180 55 East Ocean Boulevard, Stuart, Florlde 34995
llDAY, APRIL 22, 1988 The Palm Beach Po Prove atomic waste storage is safe,
[By JIM REEDER Palm Beach Post Staff Writer HUTCHINSON ISLAND Florida Power dc Light Co. willhave to back up its claim that doubling the spent-fuel storage capacity at the St. Lucie I nuclear power unit presents no hazard to the general public, the federal Atomic Safety 8r Li-censing Board ruled Thursday.
The decision is a partial victory for Port Salerno resident Campbell Rich, but it al-lows FPL to continue installing the new storage racks Rich fears will result in Hutchinson Island becoming a permanent disposal site for high-level radioactive wastes.
The racks willallow FPL to place 1,706 spent-fuel assemblies in a space originally planned to hold 728. Used fuel removed from the plant every 18 months must be stored on site because the federal govern-ment has not provided a permanent stor-age facility for high-level radioactive wastes.
Rich could not be reached for comment Thursday but said at a March 29 hearing he was prepared to present witnesses to back his claims that FPL hasn't adequate-ly considered all of the problems associat-ed with storing more spent-fuel rods at the plant.
An FPL spokesman said company offi-cials had expected the board to request more information and remained confident the challenge will be dismissed.
"The board wants to see the data that supports our position things willbe safe at the plant," FPL spokeswoman Kathy Scott said. "We willprovide the additional data and willask that the claim be dismissed.
"Similar contentions were made about our Turkey Point plant in a hearing last September and we'e just been notified they'e been dismissed after we supplied additional data," she said. "We feel it's a egeral board tells FPL similar situation here."
, Rich listed 16 issues he believes should be considered further by federal officials and the licensing board said Thursday it wants more information from both sides on seven of those issues.
Among them is Rich's primary concern that boroflex, the plastic material used to build the new storage racks, could shrink and crack. Gaps in the racks could permit a chain reaction to start occurring in the radioactive material, critics of boroflex say.
The other issues for further consider-
'tion deal with what would happen ifa fuel assembly or other heavy object were dropped into the spent-fuel pit, whether the pit's liner will be able to stand up to higher temperatures and heavier loads created by increased storage and whether cooling systems could fail, Scott said FPL expects Rich's claim to be dismissed without further public hear-ings after the company presents additional data.
Three )udgcs trom the Atomic Safety 8r Licensing Board met at the Sheraton Beach Hc'r 1 on Hutchinson Island March 29 tri h< ar arguments by FPI. and Rirh.
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