ML18347B280
| ML18347B280 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Palisades  |
| Issue date: | 03/11/1977 |
| From: | Demlow D State of MI, Governor |
| To: | Rowden M Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| References | |
| Download: ML18347B280 (4) | |
Text
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LANSING, MICHIGAN 48909 William R. Ralls WILLIAM G. MILLIKEN, Governor THE GREAT LAKE STATE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Mr. Marcus Rowden, Chairman U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C.
Dear Chairman Rowden:
RICHARD K. HELMBRECHT, Director March 11, 1977 The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission is considering a request from the Consumers Power Company to permit expansion of spent nuclear fuel storage pool at the Palisades nuclear power plant near South Haven, Michigan.
Letters sent to you by the Michigan Department of Public Health and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources have emphasized their concern over safety aspects of the proposed fuel storage expansion.
The issues raised are areas which I am sure your agency must resolve before taking action on the company's application.
However, there is another important issue in this matter.which behooves me to write you.
The Palisades nuclear power plant represents an important base-load component of the system which supplies Michigan citizens with electrical energy at low fuel costs. This system is important not only to the safety and welfare of citizens, but also to the economic well-being of this state. Therefore, it is important to recognize that your Commission's safety decision should be made, if possible, so that continued plant operation is not unnecessarily jeopardized.
If options are available that do not compromise the paramount need for adequate protection of the public safety, then I encourage you to consider those w_hich will best assure the continuance of a reliable electric supply without undue impacts-on ratepayers from outages and purchase power replacements.
Available options not compromis*ing safety may also be available which minimize fuel stdrage and shipping costs.
The Commission which I head is constantly faced with the increasing cost of electrical energy generation and the burden thus placed on electric ratepayers.
An important aspect of utility regulation, which I am sure you share, is the burden placed on prompt decision-making.
Decisions, whether they be for safety or rates, can compromise legitimate principles or become counter-productive if indeed they are not.made in a timely fashion.
The present issues surrounding Palisades is but one aspect of the difficulties brought on by the lack of a federal decision over what is to be the licensing practice for spent fuel
I Mr. Marcus Rowden Page 2 March 11, 1977 element disposition.
Palisades fuel storage expansion is not the first of recent issues to come before us as a result of federal indecision in the licensing or disallowance of nuclear fuel reprocessing.
Recently, we have been faced with a decision on proper costs for the storage and disposal of radioactive materials from spent fuel elements without know~ng even where the elements may be stored, let alone their ultimate fate. Although your Commission cannot*seek resolution of this question totally on its own, it is nevertheless highly important, both to maximizing the public safety and credibility of your agency, and to minimizing financial impacts on ratepayers that a prompt decision be expeditiously obtained.
These comments have been offered in a constructive manner, and I hope they will be helpful to you in considering resolution of these important issues.
If there is any assistance I or my staff can render you in your important work, we should be happy to oblige.
I look forward to receiving word from you on the manner of safety resolution, timely decision, and consideration by staff of cost-effectiveness of your decision.
Very truly yours,
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Daniel J. Demlow, Chairman Michigan Public Service Commission
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- e U1il'fED STc\\TIS OF,\\}'.!-:RIC/I.
lHJCLEAR REGULATORY co:*~lISS ION ln the Hatter of CONSUMERS POWER C0~1PANY
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Docket No.(s)
(Paiisa<les Plant)
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE p..
50-255 I.
I hereby certify that I have this day served the f~rcgoing document(s) upon each person designated on the official service list compiled by the Office of the Secretary of the Cot::::"lission in this proceeding in accord<ince with the requirc::::ents of Section 2. 712 of 10 CFR Part 2 -
Rules of Practice, of the Kuclear.Regulatory Corr.:u.issi6n 1 s Rules aDd Rcgl1Jations.
Dated at Washington,;1 c_
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. tL{JJJ Office of the Sccret0ry of the&~ommission
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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION In the Matter of CONSUMERS POWER COMPANY (Palisades Plant)
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SERVICE LIST Samuel W. Jensch, Esq., Chairman Atomic Safety and Licensing Board U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Connnission Washington, D.C.
20555 Dr. David B. Hall Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory P.O. Box 1663
.Los Alamos, New Mexico 87544 Docket No.s(s) 50-255 Mr. Jerry Sarno Township Supervisor Route 1, Box 10 Covert, Michigan 49043 Eric V. Brown, Sr., Esq.
Brown, Colman & DeMent 125 West Walnut Street Kalamazoo, Michigan 49007 Office of the Executive Legal Director Mr. Ron McCandlis Counsel for NRC Staff 5619 Clato U.S.Nuclear Regulatory Commission-Kalamazoo, Michigan 49004 Washington, D.C.
20555 George F. Trowbridge, Esq.
Shaw, Pittman, Potts & Trowbrid_ge 1800 "M" Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C.
20036 Judd L. Bacon, Esq.
Legal Department Consumers Power Company 212 West Michigan Avenue Jackson, Michigan 43921 Marvin F. Metge, Esq.
Gorham, Adams, White & DeYoung One North LaSalle Street Chicago, Illinois 60602 Honorable Jerome Maslowski Assistant Attorney General State of Michigan Lansing, Michigan 48902 Honorable Curtis. G. Beck Assistant Attorney General State of Michigan Lansing, Michigan 48913 Joseph T. Sobota, M.D.
2312 Glenwood Drive Kalamazoo, Michigan 49001 Lewis D. Drain, Esq.
Miles, Mike, Meyers, Beckett and Jones Waters Building, Suite 311 Grand Rapids, Michigan 49052 Myron M. Cherry, Esq.
One IBM Plaza Suite 4501 Chicago, Illinois 60602 Harold P. Graves, Esq.
Vice President and General Counsel Consumers Power Company 212 West Michigan Avenue Jackson, Michigan 49201 O.K. Petersen, Esq.
Senior Attorney Consumers Power Company 212 West Michigan Avenue Jackson, Michigan 49201