ML19210D555
| ML19210D555 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 03/16/1979 |
| From: | Gilinsky V NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Glenn J SENATE, GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19210D552 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7911270298 | |
| Download: ML19210D555 (2) | |
Text
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- .+nross a March 16, 1979 The Honorable John Glenn, Chairman Subcommittee on Energy, Nuclear Proliferation and Federal Services Committee.on Governmental Affairs W3 D >gy
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Dear Senator Glenn:
I am writing in order to provide my separate answer to one b
of the questions you posed in your letter of Februar" 6, 1979, in which you recuested the Commission's views hn i
certain aspects of nuclear waste management.
Ouestion 1.
Accordingly, I would like to be advised as I
to the Cornission's state of confidence at the present time that nuclear waste materials
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will be safely cared for, the basis for this f
confidence, and any steps the C.o--ission intends I
to take in its licensing pr'ocess to reflect its 5
present thinking on this matter.
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I would hold to the view expressed by the Com-ission in i
June, 1977, that it had " reasonable confidence that the 5
wastes can and w 'n due course be disposed cf safelv,"
and that that was an essential component of the Cc r ission's
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reactor licensing decisions.
Since the Commissica =ade that s t a te me.7.t the _ government's ef' orts in vaste manager >ent have d.
expancec censicera,ly, involving a great many more oersons o
in a number o.f scientific disciplines than w'as the expert s
case before and have attracted the direct attention of the i
President.
i It has to be added that one of the effects of if-the expansion of the government's technical effort in this I
area has been to raise cuestions about the validitv of the il technical bases of the earlier Cornission judgement, but I
!L take this to be a necessary concomitant of addressing the
-underlying scientific and techni' cal questions with the 5
seriousness they requirce.
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2 More recently the Corr.lssion committed itself "to reassess-ing its basis for confidence as new data are developed and prog"ess is made in the Federal program" and promised to keep Congress and the president informed of any changes that significantly affect its confidence that waste can be disposed of cafely.
If What this means to me is that the Commission is going to play an active role in urging the government to develop and carry out needed waste disposal programs.
And if it senses lack of progress it is going to carry that message to the highest levels of government.
Sincerely,
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Victor Gilinsky Corr.issioner D *
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Lerter to Secretary.Schlesinger, Department of Enerev, from Chairman Hendr-ie, Nuclear Regulatory Commission,
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dated December 27, 1978.
1396 277
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