ML17308A234
| ML17308A234 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Saint Lucie  |
| Issue date: | 04/29/1987 |
| From: | Congel F Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Wells B AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED |
| Shared Package | |
| ML17308A235 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8705060317 | |
| Download: ML17308A234 (6) | |
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UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, O. C. 20555 APR 3 9 1887 Ns. Betty Lou Wells 1124 Jasmine Avenue Ft. Pierce, Florida 33482
Dear Hs. Wells:
This is in response to your Narch 19, 1987 letter to Chairman Zech of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in which you expressed concerns regarding the evacuation of the general public from Hutchinson Island in the event of an accident at the St.
Lucie nuclear power plant and the safety of nuclear power plants in general.
Federal regulations for the design, construction and operation of nuclear power reactors have been established with the objective of assuring that the probability is very small that a
serious accident will occur at a
nuclear power plant resulting in the release of radioactive materials in amounts that would present a threat, to public health and safety.
The NRC relies on a
"defense-in-depth" concept to achieve its safety goals.
Briefly stated, this concept:
( 1) requires high quality in the design, construction and operation of
- nuclear, plants to reduce the likelihood of malfunctions in the first instance; (2) recognizes that equipment can fail and operators can make
- mistakes, therefore requiring safety systems to reduce the chances that malfunctions will lead to accidents that release fission products from the fuel; and (3) recognizes
- that, in spite of these precautions, serious fuel damage accidents can
- happen, therefore requiring containment structures and other safety features to prevent the release of fission products offsite.
Emergency planning requirements have been adopted as an added conservatism to the NRC's defense-in-depth safety philosophy.
The added feature of emergency planning provides that,.
even in the unlikely event of an offsite fission product release, there is reasonable assurance that protective actions can be taken to protect the population around nuclear power plants.
While there is no absolute guarantee of safety, our objective is to assure that the risk to the public health and safety from the consequences of nuclear power plant operation is low.
Our goal is that the risk of nuclear power plant operation should be comparable to or less than the risk of generating electricity by other compet-ing technologies and should not be a significant addition to other societal risks.
Each utility is required to prepare and implement an emergency plan.
This
- plan, together with emergency plans formulated by state and local jurisdic-
- tions, comprise the emergency planning framework around a plant site.
Emer-"
gency preparedness encompasses a great deal more than planning for evacuation.
That is only one of a
range of protective measures to be considered in an emergency.
Sheltering, partial evacuation of the emergency planning
- zone, or 8705060317 870429 PDR ADOCK 05000335 H
Ms. Betty Lou Wells sheltering followed by relocation after a plume has passed may be the better course of action in some accident scenarios.
As you may know, the NRC and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are the two Federal agencies tasked to evaluate emergency preparedness at and around nuclear power plants.
The NRC is responsible for assessing the adequacy of onsite emergency plans developed by the utility while FEMA has been assigned the responsibility of assessing the adequacy of offsite emergency planning and assisting state and local governments in the preparation of emergency response plans.
Accordingly, we are forwarding a copy of your letter to FEMA officials for their information and consideration in activities regarding the continual development and exercising of the offsite emergency plans for St. Lucie.
Some of your specific comments regarding the offsite plans may be better answered by FEMA.
We appreciate your concern and thoughtful comme'nts regarding emergency planning for the Hutchinson Island area.
I hope the above information is useful in putting the risk of evacuation from a nuclear power plant accident in proper perspective.
Please advise me if I can be of further assistance.
Sincerely, Digging signed ~3:
p.J. congel Dr. Frank J.
Congel, Director Division of Radiation Protection and Emergency Preparedness Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation DISTRI BUT ION:
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UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555 EDO PRINCIPAL CORRESPONDENCE CONTROL FROM:
BETTY LGU WELLS FT.
- PIERCE, FLORIDA TO:
DUE:
EDO CONTROL: 002697 DGC DT: 03/19/87 FINAL REPLY:
CHAIRMAN ZECH FOR SIGNATURE OF:
GREEN SECY NO: 87-319 DESC:
DATE: 04/02/87 ASSIGNED TO: IE CONTACT:
TAYLOR CONCERNS RE EVACUATION PLAN FOR ST.
LUCIE ROUTING:
DENTGN GRACE NUSSBAUMER SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR REMARKS:
FOR APPROPRIATE ACTION
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n OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY CORRESPONDENCE CONTROL TICKET PAPER NUMBER'RC-87-0319 LOGGING DATE: Apr 1 87 ACTION OFFICE:
AUTHOR AFFILIATION:
LETTER DATE:
SUBJECT:
EDO B.L. Wells Mar 19 87 FILE CODE:
IDLER-5 St Lucie Evacuation plan for residents in the area of the St Lucie I 6 II ACTION:
Appropriate DISTRIBUTION SPECIAL HANDLING: None NOTES:
DATE DUE'IGNATURE:
AFFILIATION:
DATE SIGNED:
Rec'd Ptf. EDP Date Time P.+<.
ZBO '02697
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