ML18211A679

Comment (2511) E-mail Regarding Clinch River ESP Draft EIS

ML18211A679
Person / Time
Site:	Clinch River
Issue date:	07/11/2018
From:	Public Commenter Public Commenter
To:	NRC/NRO/DLSE
NRC/NRO/DLSE
References
83FR18554, +reviewed
Download: ML18211A679 (2)

Text

ClinchRiverESPEISCEm Resource From: Aimee Mendes <amendes789@verizon.net>

Sent: Wednesday, July 11, 2018 10:58 AM To: ClinchRiverESPEIS

Subject:

[External_Sender] Public Comment - Clinch River DEIS (Docket 52-047)

Dear current NRC staff,

I am writing to submit a comment about the proposed siting of experimental Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) at the Clinch River site in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) is seeking an early site permit (ESP) to construct two or more reactors with up to 800 megawatts (MW) of electricity generation capacity.

The current NRC issued a "Draft Environmental Impact Statement" for TVAs permit application on April 26, 2018. This analysis is misleading and deliberately biased toward approving a redundant, expensive, and counterproductive project.

The current NRC must reject TVAs proposal to dramatically reduce the Emergency Planning Zone from 10 miles to just 2 miles or less. The EPZ requirement defines the scope of evacuation plans and other emergency response measures must be in place in the case of a major release of radioactive material. There is no possible justification for reducing emergency planning requirements on the basis of reactor designs that have not even been approved.

TVAs proposed SMR project is a barely disguised subsidy to the nuclear power industry. TVA has no need to build more nuclear reactors, with a surplus of electricity and declining demand from its customers. The proposed project would be costly and senseless, with estimated costs 3-5 times more than the current cost of wind and solar power. Energy efficiency is yet more cost-effective.

The current NRC must consider recent experience with other proposed new reactor projects using untested new designs. South Carolina utilities abandoned building new reactors last year, *but only after spending nearly a decade and

$9 billion* on them. South Carolina ratepayers are paying 18% of their electricity costs for partially built reactors that will never generate a watt of electricity. Had the utilities invested in solar, wind, and/or efficiency ten years ago, South Carolina would be saving money and reducing carbon emissions with zero radioactive waste.

These and other biases in the DEIS amount to promoting redundant nuclear power over superior energy sources. This is contrary to NRCs statutory mission to be a neutral regulator with the purpose of ensuring nuclear safety, not promoting nuclear power. The current NRC must withdraw the DEIS and perform an accurate and objective analysis of TVAs site permit application, as well as the real alternatives of energy efficiency, wind, solar, and other renewable energy sources.

Ms. Aimee Mendes 432 Foundry St North Easton, MA 02356 7819154355 1

Federal Register Notice: 83FR18554 Comment Number: 2511 Mail Envelope Properties (763459848.442.1531321058267.JavaMail.tomcat)

Subject:

[External_Sender] Public Comment - Clinch River DEIS (Docket 52-047)

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