ML19207C459
| ML19207C459 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 07/18/1979 |
| From: | Hendrie J NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Schmitt H SENATE, COMMERCE, SCIENCE & TRANSPORTATION |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19207C460 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7909110649 | |
| Download: ML19207C459 (1) | |
Text
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION I
WASM NGTON. D. C. 20555
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July 18, 1979
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CHAIRMAN The Honorable Harrison Schmitt Co mittee on CoTmerce, Science, and Transportation United States Senate Washington, DC 2051 0
Dear Senator Schmitt:
This is in response to your letter of April 4,1979, requesting our comments on S. 535, the Nucl ear Waste Transportation Act of 1979.
I regret that i t. has taken so long for us to respond.
ThE major provisions of the bill as they affe - NRC are Section 2 and proposed Se: tion ll5(a) of the Hazardous !'.aterials Tre.sportation Act.
Together, they would confer ' primary responsibility" for regulating the transportation of
-adioactive waste on D0T, "except that the primary responsibility for re;ulating and certifying the safety for shipping casks and packages shall e ain with" faC.
The Co=ission believes that its current arrangement with DOT under the Memoran-dum of Understanding has clearly laid out each agency's area of activities, has worked well in practice, and provides important flexibility to deal wi.th problems as they arise.
Recently, NRC has adopted interim rui : fo-safeguarding spent
- uel during carriage, and the Comission's staff has begun efforts which would lead to NRC enforcement of DOT's regulations concerning the packaging
- f love-level v.astes against NRC licensees..These develo:'ments illustrate
- r.e nesc for continuing flexibility.
Under S. 535, the Corission's au:nority to undertake these activities would have been ir, some doubt.
L'e do no think the Connission's responsibilities should be restricted in the manner preposed under S. 535.
- have enclosed the testimony the Commission will offer tnis Thursday c,cerning the bill.
The testimony fully explains the Comission's posi-tion on the bill.
r Sincerely,
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