ML18079A670

Urges Expediency in Issuance of Ol,On Behalf of Nj Doe of Board of Public Utils.Stresses Impact on Consumers & Alternative Power Generation

ML18079A670
Person / Time
Site:	Salem
Issue date:	06/13/1979
From:	Barbour G NEW JERSEY, STATE OF
To:	Hendrie J NRC COMMISSION (OCM)
Shared Package
ML18079A669	List: ML18079A670
References
NUDOCS 7908020386
Download: ML18079A670 (2)

Text

'.

STATE OF NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY BOARD OF PUBLIC UTILITIES*:

GEORGE*H.BARBOUR PRCSIOCNT BOARO OF PUBLIC UTILITIES NEWARK, N *.J. 07102 June 13, 1979 Hon. Joseph M. Hendrie, Chairman Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, o.c. 20555

Dear Commissioner Hendrie:

On.behalf of myself and my fellow commissioners I would like to thank you for the opportunity to present the views 0£ the Ne~ Jersey Board of Public Utilities on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's consideration of the Public Service Electric and Gas Company's application for the Salem II Nuclear Facility Operating License~

• We are unable to attend this hearing personally because the Board is presiding over oral argument in the application of Jersey Central Power and Light Company to recover replacement energy costs. As.you are aware, Jersey Central Power and Light is a 25% owner of Three Mile Island II and the rate petition is an .1

• immediate consequence of the nuclear incident of March of this year.

• The Board of Public Utilities urges the Nuclear Regulatory .

Commission to act expediently in issuing an operating license for the Salem II nuclear facility if the Commission is satisfied that the reactor and its operation poses no undue risk to.the public safety and well being.

For each day the Salem II facility is not* on lin~ alternate generation costs $600,000. The impact upon New Jersey ratepayers of Public Service Electric and Gas Company and Atlantic City Eiectric

• Company*is approximately $300,000. In terms of oil imports, 45,000 barrels of oil per day* are being used to generate power which could be supplied by the Salem II plant. The nation, as a whole, is experiencing a shortfall of approximately 500,000 barrels of oil per day. Salem II could displace approximately 10% of the national daily shortfall.

I' ***'.(

.,.-4* 'I Hon. Joseph M. Hendrie, Chairman Nuclear Regulatory Commission June 13, 1979 In the aftermath of the Three Mile Island accident the public sector, regulatory bodies and the electric industry have all stopped to reevaluate the role of nuclear generation in future energy production. The elimination of nuclear power wou1d drastically affect the economy and day-to-day lifestyles of every New Jersey resident.

In the absence of any showing to the contrary, we urge the Commission to grant the operating license for Salem II in the interest of the New Jersey electric consumers.

Thank you *.

Very truly :yDurs,

• ~~.fi:J]~

President GHB/jaf cc: Victor Galinsky, Commissioner Richard T. Kennedy, Commissioner Peter A. Radford, Commissioner John F. Ahearne, Commissioner