ML19207A155
| ML19207A155 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 04/12/1979 |
| From: | Kammerer C NRC OFFICE OF CONGRESSIONAL AFFAIRS (OCA) |
| To: | Gilinsky V, Hendrie J, Kennedy R NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| References | |
| FOIA-79-98 NUDOCS 7906060199 | |
| Download: ML19207A155 (5) | |
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMisslON
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,J MEf10RAHDUM FOR:
Chairman Hendrie
,.A Comissioner Gilinsky 3/ ;f Com11ssioner Kennedy Comissioner Bradford Comissioner Ahearne br/
FROM:
Carlton Kammerer, Director Office of Congressionai Affairs
SUBJECT:
UCS PRESS CONFERENCE ON CAPITOL HILL On April 3,1979 the Union of Concerned Scientist and Jenator George McGovern (D-5. Dakota) held a press conference during which Senator McGovern announced that he would soon introduce new legislation establishing a moratorium on the licensing of new nucinc reactors.
During the press conference UCA representatives Daniel Ford and Robert Pollard called for the resignation of Chairman Hendrie again citing the Hanauer/Hendrie exchange of memoranda in 1972 ragarding pressure suppression containments.
Enclosure:
Sen. licGovern's statement cc:
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FOR DNEDIATE RELEASE Robin Carpenter Tuesday, April 3, 1979 202/224-8409 MCGOVERN INTRODUCES COMPREHENSIVE NUCLEAR SAFETY REVIEW LEGISLATION - FA 1TCHN1LAL PREPAREDNESS.0F NUCLEAR ESTABLISHMENT Senator George McGovern, (D - South Dakota) announced today before a gathering of the Unich of Concerned Scientists that he will soon introdu legislation designed to halt expansion of new nuclear reactors until a mechanism is in place to review and prevent potentially catastrophic sit such as the one at the Three Mile Island facility.
McCo ern stressed three basic points:
1.
In spite of a ten-billion dollar per year budget, andthoukandsof employees, the Deaprtment of Energy has, failed to establish an inde; safety review for nuclear reactors, although the President has publ.i committed himself to improved nuclear safety; 2.
Nuclear safety is such an important public issue that delay in promu safety measures is inexcusable and unnecessary; and, 3.
Secretary Schlesinger, appears, incredibly, to be moving in the oppe direction, forcing Congress to stipulate an independent review of al possible unresolved safety defects, which this legislation would do.
His complete remarks are attached.
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I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE UNION OF CON AND THEIR DIRECTOR, BOB POLLARD, IN PARTICULAR, FOR IHEV WILL BE DISCUSSING WITH YOU THE TH1 S BRIEFING TODAY.
RECENT ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE NUCLEAR REG IN OTHER BABCOCK AND WILCO REGARDING POSSIBLE SAFETY DEFECTS PLANTS AS WELL AS COMMENTING ON THE AD ANNOUNCED PLANS TO PUBSUE ADDITIONAL NUCLEA LEGISLAT10N, l'VE IN REVIEWING THE THREE MILE ISLAND SITUATION, REALLY WITH SOME ASTONISHMENT, THAT THERE IS N DISCOVERED, FEDERAL PROCEDURE FOR ADEOUATE INDEPEND
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S CH70TENTI ALLY CATASTROPHIC SITUATIONS, AND NO S THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY.
LATION PLANNED Bv HAS AN AGENCY WITH A $10 BILLION ANNUAL WHAT,. ASK, IT IS NO WONDER THE BUDGET BEEN DOING FOR OVER FOUR YE/RS?
AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE FED UP WITH GIANT, UNRESPONSIVE BUREAUCRACIES.
THE ISSUE, I BELIEVE, IS COMTETENCY..DESPITE INVESTED IN THES2 AGENCIES THE BILLIONS OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO DEAL WITH DEFICIENCIES LIKE THOSE AT THREE IllLE ISLA IT 1 S NOW UP TO CONGRESS TO DEVELOP A COM REVIEW.
I WILL INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION, ALLING FOR A COMPREHENSIVE INDEPENDENT R MANY OF WHICH ARE OF ALL POSSIBLE UNRESOLVED SAFETY DEFECTS; CCNTAINED IN THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMI THIS LEGISLATION WILL PROVIDE FOR A TEM IN ADDITION, 60D333
IN THE GRANTING.,0F ADDITIONAL NUCLEAR REACTORS UNTIL THE FINDit OF THIS REVIEW HAVE tiEN EXAMINED 3Y THE CONGRESS.
I BEllEVE IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO CONDUCT 5N OBJECTIVE REASSES MENT WHILE PROCEEDING W1TH PROGRAMS TO EASE THE CONSTRUCTION AN OPERATION OF ADDIT!0NAL NUCLEAR FACJLITIES, UE HAVE A PRESI. DENT PUBLICLY COMMITTED TO IMPROVED NUCL SAFETY, BUT A SECRETARY UF ENERGY COMMITTED TO SOMETHING ELSE, ONCE AGAIN WE ARE FACED WITH AN ENE9GY CREDIBILITY GAP IN THE ADMINISTRATION.
THE THREE MILE ISLAND ACCIDENT, THE RECENT CLOSING OF 5 NUCLEAR REACTORS IN THE EAST, AND THE NUMEROUS SAFETY PROBLEMS WHICH HAVE OCCURRED IN PLANTS ACROSS THE NATION IS t. DIRECT MANDATE FOR THE REASSESSMENT OF NUCLEAR REACTOR SAFETY IN THIS COUNTRY.
WHO COULD FOSSIBLY VIEW THESE PROBLEMS AS A SIGNAL FOR INCREASED NUCLEAR REACTOR CONSTRUCTION?
IHAT !S WHY IT 'S DIFFICULT NOT TO BE DEEPLY DISTURBED BY SECRETARY SCHLESINGER'S PL'4NS TO MOVE IMMEDI ATELY AHEAD REACTOR LICENSING LEGISLATION.
IN THE ABSENCE OF A COMPREHEN-SIVE AND INDEPENDENT REVIEW AND RESOLUT10N OF EXISTING SAFETY FROGRAMS, THIS IS A TERR 1Bl.E MISTAKE.
MANY OF THESE SAFETY PROBl. EMS ARE WELL DOCUMENTED IN NUCLEAR REGULATORY CO.;USS10N REPORTS.
WHY DO WE FIND OURSELVES FACED W1TH A NEARLY TOTAL LAC OF PREPAREDNESS ON THE PART OF THE i1RC AND THE DE?ARTMENT OF EaERGY?
THe CONGRESS HAS APPROPRIATED BILLIONS OF DOLLARS F 609.333
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THE OPERATION OF THESE OF,FICES.
AND YET, t:EITHER TH NRC NOR THE DEPARTMENT HAS ADEQUATELY ADDRESSED K AT THREE MILE }SLAND AND OTHER PLANTS ACRO FULLY, MY LEGISLATION WILL MOVE US A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECT e
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