ML19191A060
| ML19191A060 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Clinch River |
| Issue date: | 07/09/2019 |
| From: | Sheehan P State of TN, Emergency Management Agency |
| To: | NRC/SECY |
| SECY/RAS | |
| References | |
| 52-047-ESP, NRC-2016-0119 | |
| Download: ML19191A060 (1) | |
Text
Major General Patrick C. Sheehan Jeffrey H. Holmes Director The Adjutant General Office of the Director
- 3041 Sidco Drive
- Nashville, Tennessee 37204 Tel: 615-741-0001
- tn.gov/tema July 9, 2019 Office of the Secretary U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555-0001
SUBJECT:
TEMA Comments on the Clinch River Nuclear Site (CRNS) Early Site Permit Application (ESPA) Pursuant to Federal Register Notice of the ESPA Hearing, Docket Nos.52-047; NRC-2016-0119
Dear Office of the Secretary:
The purpose of this letter is to provide the Tennessee Emergency Management Agencys (TEMA) comments in accordance with the instructions given in the Federal Register Notice of the Hearing for the Clinch River Nuclear Site (CRNS) Early Site Permit (ESPA). Should the Commission approve the ESPA and permit the continuation of this important project, TEMA reaffirms its commitment to support the development of Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technology implementation at the Clinch River Site. The agency will continue to be an active participant in all emergency planning and Radiological Emergency Preparedness exercises and evaluations to assure that this project meets or exceeds all standards as they are refined or developed.
Nuclear power is an important part of our nations energy portfolio, and our nation must continue to lead in the development of nuclear technology and nuclear safety, and Tennessee both has a legacy of supporting our nations technological innovation and is poised to continue this tradition of development. The nations nuclear fleet is in need of safer, more scalable and more cost effective solutions and SMR holds promise as an answer to those needs.
As the Commission considers the final balance among competing factors and weighs costs and benefits, there is an opportunity to review the hard earned lessons learned from the period of time when preparedness was not standardized. Over the last four decades, the benefits of partnership across and among departments and jurisdictions in radiological emergency preparedness has created certainty, stability, competence, and bolstered confidence. The efforts to prepare, plan for and reduce complexity have not been easy and are not without cost, but the efforts are informed by the lessons learned when standardization did not exist.
TEMAs Technical Hazards staff and my office are available to answer questions or provide further input.
Sincerely, Patrick C. Sheehan Director