ML18023B110
| ML18023B110 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Susquehanna  |
| Issue date: | 04/04/1975 |
| From: | Schneebeli H US HR (House of Representatives) |
| To: | Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, Office of Congressional Affairs |
| References | |
| Download: ML18023B110 (11) | |
Text
I-
-+U OVcltNMcitTt ttlNTlttcortlcc " 1073 495 30S FROM Rep.
Herman T. Schneebeli (Pa.)
To CAt NRC CONTROL NUMBER
=8505 DATE OF DOCUMENT 4/4/75 ACTION PROCESSING DATES
'Acknowledged Interim Reply Final FILE LOCATION ACTION COMPLETION DEADLINE 4/16/75 PRFPARE FOR SIGNATURE OF:
Ch Director of Regulation X
Gos sick DESCRIPTIOH Le't Qoriginal Q Copy Q Other Encl ltr fm John T. Kauffman, Pennsylvania Power & Light, to Anders concerning the start-up of the NPS plant and the effect on supply of reload fuel for the Susquehanna plant DR-8083, 8-84,
- 8466, 8468 8471 REFERRED To Shapar f/action DATE 4/9/75 IS NOTIFICATIOHTO THE JCAE RECOMMENDED?
Cyst OSS3.C Rehm-Giambus so
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USA EC
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATlVES, U.S.
WASHINGTON, D.C,
~pr~4 =*~*...,19 75 Respectfully rejerked to
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h Nuclear Regulatory Comission Office of Congressional Affairs Room 1047 1717 H Street, N.M.
Washington, D. C.
20555 I would very much appreciate your assistance in providing an analysis of the issues raised in the enclosed letter from Nr. John T. Kauffman of the Pennsylvania Power and Light Company.
Herman T. Schneebeli
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N TWO NORTH NINTH STREET,'ALL ~ N TOWN, PA. 15101 PHON012151 521-5151 JOHiV T. KAIJFF>AAN Vice President, System Pnwer 4 Engineering 82l-5043 March 26, 1975 Mr. William A. Anders, Chairman U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555
Dear Mr. Chairman:
It has been brought to my attention by Mr. Ralph Deuster, President of Nuclear Fuel Services, Inc.
(NFS) that two major events have taken place r'ecently which may seriously delay start-up of the NFS reprocessing plant and, in turn, have a serious detrimental effect on the supply of reload fuel for our Susquehanna Plant.
These events are the letter of
<~h.
Edson Case of the iiRC relating to the possibility that the NFS final environmental statement may not be issued until the GESMO action is completed and the letter by Mr. R.
W. Peterson stating that the Council
-on Enviro~ental Quality believes that the GESMO Draft Impact Statement does not meet the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act.
We are not in a position to discuss the merits of these two actions, but we feel the o ssues should be attacked on an urgent oasis and with considera-tion of the total impact on the U.S. Energy Supply.
We have already seen NFS'rojected operating date delayed by a year since we began negotiations with them last September (culminating in a contract signed in January).
That delay, plus those which the above two letters might p ovoke, could prevent us fro obtaining hoped for plutonium purchases in l982 or recycle of our own plutonium in 1984.
We would then need additional U308 and enrichment with both the prices and sources uncertain.
A negative ruling on plutonium recycle w'ould als'o considerably increase our needs for U308 even though the need for additional'enrichment would then be satisfied by the contingency plan in our enrichment contracts.
These problems are recognized as common in the industry just as it is recognized that reasonable caution in the utilization of plutonium is necessary.
We admit'nat readily acceptable solutions are nard to find and we assume you are already using all due effort to schedule the hearings and amke the judg ents necessary to get plutonium recycle approved and reprocessing plants licensed under prope" condit3.o..s
~
As one additional suggestion, we of er the concept of providing for plutonium safeguards by an adequa armed'orce both for transportation 85":
PENNSYLVANIA POWER 4 LIGHT COMPANY
, Mr. Will.iam A. Anders March 26, 1975 Page 0
and for guarding the reprocessing plants and fabrication facilities.
Right now, a large enough force could be dedicated so that it would be immediately clear to all that it would be adequate.
As time went on, more detailed studies and hearings could perhaps justify a major reduction in the force.
Meanwhile, the plants could be in operation and the resultant electrical energy available.
As another suggestion, we believe that reprocessing plants could be licensed without waiting for the GESMO decision.
Although this would result in production of plutonium which could partially frustrate a
negative decision on plutonium recycle, the plutonium would then be located only in a few, very easy to guard, plants.
Also, a negative GESMO decision should be regarded as only a temporary situation because better safeguards technology or future acute need for plutonium could provide the impetus to reverse such a negative decision.
It is, of would not paved for amount of ahead.
- course, possible that without plutonium recycle some reprocessors want to go ahead with their plans.
However, the way should be reprocessing licenses on their own merits so that a significant time could be saved if the reprocessor does decide to go Thank you for your consideration in these matters.
Very truly yours, John T. Kauffman Vice President System Power
& Engineering
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s APR 3 5 1975 Honor'ablo Richard SchwciL.er United States Senate
Dear Senator S chwei1ccr:
This is in response to your referral to us on April7, 1975 of a letter to you from Mr.,Tohn T. Kauffman, Vice President, System Power and Engineering, Pennsylvania Power E Light Company, dated Parch 26, 1975.
V~r. Kauffman in his letter cncloscd a letter to Chairman Anders, dated March 26, 1975.
Mr. Kauffman's letter to Chairman Andcrs rcfcrrcd to a letter from Mr. Case of '.he NRC. taff relating to
.". delay in issuance of a Anal environmental impact statement for the blPS plant pending a decision on "GHSMO" (generic environ-mental statement, mixed olde fuel). This letter from Mr. Case represents only a staff position.
The staff position ref1ccts a'oncern regarding foreclosure of safepuards alternatives and unnecessary'"grandfatheziug" with respect to licensing actions related to "GES?i'" pending a Commission decision on the matter.
This same concern was e:impressed by the Council on Environmental Qua]ity in its letter oi comment on the draft "GHSMO". 1'.owever NFS is free to argue before thc presiding Atomic Safety and Licensing Board that thc staff position is erroneous.
The matter of adoption of the Council on Environmental Quality's recommendaCon regarding treatment of safeguards matters in "GBS?i'"
is under active Commission consideration.
V~e agree that the issues involved in the proposed wide-scale use of mixed oxide (recycle plutonium) Tuel in light water nuclear power reactors and the related "GESMO" need to be addressed on an urgent basis.
Mr. KauBman also refcrrc cl to thc possible usc nf an armed force for safe-guarding plutonium.
As you may know, a detailed study is presently underway OFSICC+
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pursuant to soction 204 of the Energy Reorganiaation Act of 1974 to assess the need for and feasibility of establishing a security agency for the porformance of safeguards functions.
Sincerely, (Signed)
Lee V Gesslcg Lci V Gos~iclc Exccutivc Director for Operations
Enclosure:
Inroming lettor from Mr. Yiauffman Distribution:
~Nial sch HShapar LVGossi ck AGiambusso TRehm EDO Files CA (3)
GErtter 88523 Docket Files50-20l 50-387 50-388 PDP.
LPDR (2)
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APR 351975 JShafer JCutchin Honorable Herman T. Schneebeli House of Representatives
Dear Mr. Schnecbeli:
Distribution:
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SECY (3)
Docket Files 5g;,.2.91 i"..,50-387 50-380 PDR GErtter f<8505 Formal Files (4)
This is in response ta your reft.rral to us on April 4, 1975 of a lettc) from Mr. John T. Kauffman, Vice President, System Power and Engineering, Pennsylv nia Power h Light Company, ta Chairman Anders, dated March 26, 1975.
Mr. Kauffman's letter to Chairman Angers referred to a letter fram Mr. Case of the NRC!'taff relating to a delay in issuance of a Gnal environmental impact statement for thc NFS plant pending a decision on "GESMO" (generic envi) on-mental statement, mixed oxide fuel). This lcttcr from Mr. Case represents only a staff position.
The staff position reQects a concern regarding foreclosure of safcguards alternatives and unnecessary~
"grandfathering" with respect ta licensing actions related to "GESMO" pending a Commission decision on the matter.
This san:e concern was e::pressed by the Council on'nvironmental Quality in its letter of comment on thc draft "GESMO". However NFS is free to argue before the presiding Atomic Safety and Licensing Board that thc taff position is erroneous.
Thc matter of adoption of the Council on Environmental Quality's recommendation rega) ding t> eatment of safcguards matters in "GHSMO" is under active Commission cansideratian.
Ne agree that the issues involved in the proposed wid!i-scale use of mixed oxide (recycle plutcnium) fuel in lightwater nuclear power reactors and the related "GHShfO" need to be addressed an "n urgent b,.sis.
F'x. Kauffman alsa referred to the possible usc af an armed fvrcc for sa"c-guarding plutonium.
As you may know, a detailed study is presently underway pursuant to section 204 of the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974 ta assess the need for and feasibility of establishing a security agency for the performance nf safeguards functions.
Sincerely, (Slgee4)
Lee V. 04><@
Lee V. Gassick Executi vc Director for. Opera tion".
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LBrenner,HKShapar 50-201 TEngelhardt HLarson 50-387 JGal 1 o LVGossick 50-388 TRehm PDR AGiambusso LPDR
Dear Mr,
Rooncy:
EDO Files JShafer CA (3)
SECY (3)
This i" in response to your referral to us on March 31, 1975 of a letter from Mr. Zohn T. E<auffman, Vice President, System Powex and Engineering, Pennsylvania Power h Light Company to Chairman Andcrs, dated March 26> 1975.
Mr. Kauffman's letter to Chairman Anders referxcd to a letter from Mr. Case of the NRC staff relating to a delay in issuance of a final environmental impact statement for the NFS plant pending a decision on "GESMO" (generic envixon-mental statement, mixed.olde fuel). This letter from Mr. Case rcprcsents only a staff position.
The staff position rcQects a concern regarding forcclosuxe of safeguards alternatives and unnecessa'ry "grandCathering" with respect to licensing actions x elated to "GEShfO" pending a Commission decision on the matter'.
This same concern was expressed by the Council on Environmental Quality in its letter of comment on thc draEt "GHSMO". However NFS is free "to argue before the pxesi'ding Atomic Safety an'd Licensing Board'that the staff position is erroneous.
Thc mattex of adoption of the Council on Environmental Quality's recommendation regarding treatment of safeguards matters in "GESMO" is under active Commission consideration.
Wc agxce that the issues involved in the proposed wide-scale use of mixed oxide (recycle plutonium) fuel in light water nuclear power rcactox.s and the x elated "CsHSMO" need to be addressed on an urgent basis.
Mr, Kauffman also refexrcd to thc possible use of an armed force for safe-guaxding plutonium, As you may I:now, a detailed study is presently underway pursuant tn section 204 of. the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974 to assess the n cd fox. and Ecasibility of. establishing a security agency for the performance of safcguax ds functions.
. Sinccrcly,
,r y Go~le (Signed) to>
L..c U; Gossick Executive Directnr
,for Operations orrscc~
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