ML18283B864

Forwarding Correspondence from Senator Jackson Dated 2/25/1976, Re Inquiry from Constituent Relates to Activities of NRC, Letter Requesting Proper Action

ML18283B864
Person / Time
Site:	Browns Ferry
Issue date:	03/04/1976
From:	Cantus H Energy Research and Development Administration
To:	Kammerer C Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
Download: ML18283B864 (9)

Text

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• COYCNNMCN'r 1 NINCINC OCCICCr 1973. 493 393 FROM CONTROL NUMBER FILE LOCATION Sen. Henry M.. Jackson 38-DATE OF DOCUMENT ACTION COMPLETION DEADLINE 2/25/76 3/23/76 To ACTION PROCESSING Dg ES PREPARE FOR SIGNATURE OF:

ERDA Acknowledged 3/d9/76 Choirman lntorim Reply Director of Rogulotion (referred to NRC by ERDA 3/1/76) Fino l X Omitted DESCRIPTION Ltr QOriginol Q Copy Q Other REMARKS t

Encl ltr fm Victor Lygdman re the near disaster at Browns Return enclosure w/reply Perry & inquires re disposition of waste material & whether there is such a thing as a "fail safe" system against theft t of radioactive material*. t LPDR?

REFERRED To DATE IS NOTIFICATION To THE JCAE RECOMhlENDED?

Rusche f/action 3/9/76 t' t - ~

cy*: Case -g Spat.r;I Docket Files) 50-259 t PDR -- 50-260 50-296 Chapm n Do NOT DETACH THIS COPY DIRECTOR OF REGULATION Form HQ-32 (I-73)

COMMUNICATIONS CONTROL USAEC

UN)TED STATES ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPi'AEi'IT ADMINISTRATION Y/ASHlNGTOiV, D.C. 20545 Mr. Carlton Karrnerer, Director Office of Congressional &+fairs Nuclear Regulatory Cession 1717 H Street, Kl.

Washington, D.C. 20555

Dear Mr. Karrmerer:

Enclosed is correspondence frow Senator Henry M. Jackson dated February 25, 1976, regarding an inctuiry fram his constituent, Yir. Victor Lygchtan.

Since the nature of this inquiry relates to the activities of the Nuclear Regulatory Ccvanission rather than the Energy Research and Development Acministration, action be taken by your office.

it is rectuested that proper Tib are advising Senator Jackson of this referral by copy of this letter.

Sincere1y,

~ Hollister Cantus, Director

~

Office of Congressional Relations

Enclosure:

A" stated.

cc: Senator Henry M. Jackson

1% ~ I14'I ENERGY RESEARCH AND D EVE LOPMENT ADi~'IINISTRATION Division of Production and i"aterials Management kfarch 1, l976 Note to Harold Kneeland, OCR Confirming conversation between Stradinger and myself (X 3-5044), attached letter from Victor Lygdman should go to NRC for .answer.

We would be pleased to provide info on waste management, but I'm sure XRC can supply 'ords on this portion.

Generally, NFCP should not be discussing power reactor safety except as it applies to fuel cycle or in very general manner.

Bill Devine, NFCP

HCNRY M JACKSON, WA5H.~ CHAIRMAN FRANKJVIIOROH, IDAHO I AVL J, FANNIN. ARI LCC,MRTCALF, MOIIT, OUFFORD ~ ', HAH5CN, ~

J, DCNNCTT JOHN5TON, LA, MARK O. HATFICLD, ORCCL QAMCS'AIIOVRCCK, 5, DAK, JAMCS A MC CLVRC, IDAHO SLOYD K. HASKCLI COLO. DCWCY F BARTLCTT, OKIJL JOHN OLCNN, OHIO RICHARD STONC, FLA

,DALC SVMFCRS, ARK

'3hnfeb Wfufee Wencrfe COMMITTEE ON CRCNVILLC OAR5IDC, SFCCIAL COVNSCL AND STAFF DIRCCTOR WILLIAMJ, VAH NC55 CHICF COVNSCL INTERIOR AND INSULAR APPAIRS WASHINGTON, D.C 205 I 0 February 25, 1976 Legislative Liaison ERDA Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir:

The enclosed is respectfully submitted to you for every proper consideration. Please provide me with a report in duplicate and return the enclosure to me with your response.

Sincerely yours, Henry M. Jackson, U. S. S.

gg: gtr Enclosure

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. Gent3.emen:

f I was appalled by *the account'nthe M'PIO!yAI. >t1~UXBRB of j."eb ~ lf of the near-disaste'r, at .Ferrwy, ~klabarpa when, '

nucleax" power plarlt cau'ght f$.re and 'nearly exploded~

on ffiarch22 I

last year.

Sad the plant exploded, 'the 'Committee fotr Huclear Pespop-sibility est ima.tes, over 160,000 square it wou.ld have scattered fall.-out;".;.

miles and killed to half a mi:3.ii.on R

up

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',;.,A 'minor: fire,s stwawited:a't 'l2 16 PK by a safety inspeotox's

'ntil (', candle,( ttestip g'or air--leaks), yeas not extinguishwed,'

9:60PM,--wbut'would, have been extinguished by 1:80 'HS if'plant. !'e~yerts" had listened to the looal fire ohief and. put water, on the fixe immediately...~everal hou'rs latex, ivhen'hey finally;put water on it, the fire was out in 20 minutes ~

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Thiswincident is a convincinp argument a~ainst nuolear powex'lants' kcecently I heard a poyernment "expext" on TV saying the "chances of mishap at noudlear popover.,plants are --

foreotten,-- something like 10,000 to ono or a m$ :llion ~to, I'e ~

,, one....you.'e'eard .;the"same stuf f, II I ltat osn anyone naloalate .the ohanoes or homes errors; (3'lhen the Yitanio went down, near'ty ships ipnored distress anal rockets. They 'knew the Titanic was unsinkable,

'i after all'. Thoy assumed the Titanic was lust . hootinp up fixeworks Is fox funL)

If IWII;Iwt ~ YQYII Iltt" I I' w*' I' 'WIII I,"', 'W R I I - I" The disaster at. T'erxy, Alabama,',was, a, compoiindt of

-- human panic ~,For-one --,nobody oalled .the plant's human',,-',erx'ors

-, emergency crewuntili the'.'fire lad'een going for '16 minutes.

Two: Nobody called the 'nearbi,'ocal fixe department for, Ihree: YJhen.the looalire-1'iyhters arrived, they hears ~

,;aron't allovlsd to do anything. yonr: go ono sailed the local Civil Oefense Uoordinator'ho' supposed to take cha'rye of ."uch,things ~ xmx ~ivew: The public was n..ver in-

,, foxmed. Gn erne rgency,."exis't,ed ~

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'the same issue of" the,r(cdIXO'r(AL arl~<FL'.n, (which I subscxibe to, ) is, the story'- of thy ~'Nnsinkable" "l

hopi'ou.

W, I '" " tl 'I IW Nor-'I minu.tes -- after an explosion that "couldn'4 ha~pen.r' I

'~~ll disastcxs are vents t'~at are not supposed to happen..

ixhey axc all events th'at <,~cur aaainst fantastic odds ~,

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jl Put all safety odds" 'presume 'thai'.t" every%hi~ >>1 ll

.'vork right -- that "fail,sage" equinm'ont

'>>ill always:operat e correctly;;that personnel'wi3.3. be

'properlyt b'rief, and act;accord.inp to their briefing, ~,

on machinery and will not enoountex'ituattions 'fox which they have no 1nstructiono .. ~

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,iit L'erry, ~labom, .the safety i'nspoctor's fob assumed that air leak~~in tb~ cable "lchamfbor,wouM 13o>> a oandlek flame

'in ard.~ Nohody,nnsssed that; a',draft" vfould".hlotk it out-vvard,'.'throush a oraok and;set i'ire ',to inn@latin'n",inside the chamb..z' wall', --. and "Inobody, guessed this izsulatf,on,

.t4 4 44~4~11,~ett4I.NAOS wou3d Mf et+

Gentlemen,

, eveN face v ~

fire danpez'~<'So,'tt'asn' v4+v v oannot out-pu'ess s I '

chance fixebraof I

or pu",dict we human erxox, I I

Xt is one thing to live wint& chance>>hen She consequences are limited (as, say,. vihen 3:,get..killed by a car" while

..crossing a street -- and;we, akro supposed t,o be'consoled .

.,'hat my chances are'-greatex;,okf dying that, vay than > a nuclear accid'ent;..'BUT if Z'should die,in a nuolear acci-111 happenina, I

~l<<'10",000 dent, hundreds of t)nu ;ands.yi111,die'fith me, 'perhaps.

1 wonder if l.loyd'ts would accept, the risk'.

I I ne canno0 think u'tout "odds" vfithout oon."idering tho mon-nitude Of O n Oeene rune e,S,n OV11'm Sure yOu'd all play O

, harmless game viith me .if'the odds vere '6 to 1 against you.

.';ukut the, odds axe 64 to 3."Tn,'9at 'Oo've...~go"'v,'4th,.hvar;te materialy "';,(2) Xs .,".f'"

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'.' S '.t?j erQ'ny puch thipp's a,"Qg53'. /~a/e "t ".;inter 'alai'nst tp~ft of plutonium ox other radio-active material'? And,( un<<.x-k

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'tandk that,':, or any outlaw, radio~1, oz maniac oan get lan.v for,a nuclear hah bomb..at '-the nublic library' I"

• I II 45l5 burke Ave. . go fjl

. '.Seat tie, 98108 "

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