ML18352A427

Letter Energy Supply and Rising Costs for Electrical Service

ML18352A427
Person / Time
Site:	Browns Ferry
Issue date:	05/20/1976
From:	Beard R, Bevill T, Bowen D, Duncan J, Flowers W, Hubbard C, Evan Jones, Rosalyn Jones, Landrum P, Lloyd M, Quillen J, Wampler B, Whitten J US HR (House of Representatives)
To:	Reilly T Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel
References
Download: ML18352A427 (3)

Text

ROBERT E. JONES SIH DIaTAICT,AuuuWA HCOIC AOORKOOc SCOTTSMRO, ALASAMA

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20515, May 20, 1976 CCWMllTtCI BIRR IC WORKS AND TRANSPORTATION, CHAIRMAN CO<IIIIID U5NRC I

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fIOCIOIIoO A SolOIIO SOI Mr.'homas W. Reilly, Esq.,

Ctiairman Atomic Safety and Licensing Board U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C.

20555 Docket Nos.

50-259 50-260

Dear Chairman Reilly:

As representatives of citizens of the Tennessee Valley region, we are vitally concerned with both the energy supply situation in this vast region and the rising costs for electrical service that our constituents must bear.

We understand that if the generating capacity from the Tennessee Valley Authority's Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant is not avaiJable to meet system requirements this summer, severe economic penalties amounting up to 970 million will have to be borne by the people of the TVA service area.

Moreover, TVA's system reliability, and therefore reliability throughout much of the southeastern United States, will be seriously eroded.

These consequences can only be justified on the most serious grounds.

We are aware that you are members of a Nuclear Regulatory Commission Atomic Safety and Licensing Board which has been appointed to review certain modifications to the Browns Ferry plant.

We further understand that you have decided to hold a hearing because one individual has -alleged that TVA and NRC are not competent and that the fire-related plant modifications are not adequate.

These contentions from an individual are contrary to the favorable safety evaluation by the NRC staff, a favorable review by the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards, statements by former Chairman Anders regarding the safety of the units, and similar statements by other high NRC officials.

Since this hearing process could cause the Browns Ferry plant to be unavailable this summer, unnecessarily if the allegations are found to be baseless, we urge you most strongly to devote your full efforts to the earliest possible resolution of this proceeding.

Chairman Thomas W. Reilly Page 2

May 20, 1976 You have a broad grant of authority under the Atomic Energy Act to regulate nuclear power activities f'r 'the benefit of the public interest.

Your responsibilities are commensurate with that authority.

The public interest demands that resources vital to the national interest not be rendered useless in time of great need solely because of unsubstantiated allegations.

We urge you to act immediately to determine whether there is substance to these charges.

If there is, you can order the necessary corrections.

However, the charges alone should not be allowed to delay by one day the operation of this critically needed facility.

We respectfully request this letter be received as a statement of our position under the Commission rule 10 C.F.R. Section 2.715.

Jamie I,. Whj.tten, 1st Dist.

Miss.

Robert E. Jones, 5th Dist., Ala.

John J

Duncan, 2nd Dist., Tenn.

Tom Bevill, 4th Dist., Ala.

David R. Bowen, 2nd Dist., Miss.

Mayi n Llo, 3rd Dist Tenn.

Carroll Hubbard, 1st Dist.,=Kent.'ames H. guillen, 1st D t., Tenn.

Phil M. Landrum, 9th Dist., Georgj.a Ed Jones, 7th ist., Tenn.

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Chairman Thomas W. Reilly May 20, 1976

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Wampler, 9th Dist., Virginia

,=robin"'L. Beard';-6th Dist=;-, Tenn.

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Walter Flowers, 7th Dist., Ala.

cc: Dr. Frederick P.

Cowan Dr. Hugh C. Paxton Mr. William E. Garner, Esq.

Mr. David G. Powell, Esq.

Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Atomic Safety and Licensing Appeal Board Docketing and Service Section U.S. Nuclear Regulatoiy

'Commission