ML19211A657

From kanterella
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Discusses Disappointment Re Moratorium on Issuance of New Licenses & Resulting Economic Impact
ML19211A657
Person / Time
Site: North Anna Dominion icon.png
Issue date: 11/08/1979
From: Ragone S
VIRGINIA POWER (VIRGINIA ELECTRIC & POWER CO.)
To: Gilinsky V, Hendrie J, Kennedy R
NRC COMMISSION (OCM)
Shared Package
ML19211A629 List:
References
NUDOCS 7912200382
Download: ML19211A657 (2)


Text

, -

(:

,a VInoINIA EI.zcTnIc Axn Powzn COMPANY Rzcuxoxn,VznorstA 20261 stun vn oon. November 8, 1979 Pasosommt TI A .

~p sF " '4g Mr. Joseph M. Hendrie, Chairman

./

Mr. Victor Gilinsky < '%y 9 Mr. Richard T. Kennedy l ,D' e 2.

Mr. Peter A. Bradford .I -

'Mhf

>g g

Mr. John F. Ahearne I

(,f,pt U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission i

'I 1717 H. Street, N.W. ' ?<g,yl,i i i.-

Washington, D. C. 20555 -

Gentlemen:

I am sure you can appreciate the disappointment with which the management of our company received vour statement before Congress-man Dingell's Subcommittee on Energy an'd Power on November 5 that the NRC was to continue its pause in issuing operating licenses. As you are aware, this policy directly impacts the licensing of our North Anna Unit 2.

While we understand the need to learn from the experience of Three Mile Island, it is difficult for us to see how your decision serves to further the cause of nuclear safety during the pause in licensing.

As you well know, North Anna 2 reflects the most recent NRC licensing requirements. Its sister unit has performed in an outstand-ing manner through its first refueling period, and there is no reason to believe similar performance should not be expected from Unit 2.

The headlines in the past few days about the Mid-East situation are a grim reminder of the fragile nature of this country's energy balance. At a time when we should be moving with all possible haste to lessen the stranglehold of the OPEC nations, we seem to be moving in the opposite direction.

Based on present-day oil prices, the cost of replacement generation associated with North Anna 2 is approximately $12 - $13 million per month. In addition, any delay in the cocmercial operation date adds about $4 million per month to the completed cost of the proj ect which will have to be borne by our ratepayers over the life of the unit. In addition to these unwarranted financial burdens on our custcmers, the failure to have this unit in service this winter as 1633 327 7 oi22 oo 33 g <gu,

=...

, vimoix2A Ez.rermic Awn Powra CoMPANT To U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Page 2 11/8/79 planned will reduce the reliability of our power supply and could possibly i= pair our ability to serve our customers ' needs .

We believe the present design of North Anna 2 and the recently NRC-approved State Emergency Plan reflect many of the .

concerns identified by the Kemeny Commission , and we have committed to incorporate other require =ents identified by the Lessons Learned Task Force. We have undertaken the preparation of an in-depth explanation of our reasons for believing that North Anna 2 can be licensed without cocpromising the concern for safety which we all share.

In the near future, we will request an opportunity to present to the Staff, ACRS and the Commissioners , if desired, our progress and efforts to provide for the concerns identified by the Kemeny Commission and other steps we have taken to assure ourselves ,

the public and the NRC that public safety will not be comprocised with the licensing of North Anna Unit 2.

We believe you should gensider North Anna 2 a unit that has a great impact on our nation's fuel oil use and economy as well as the serious impact on the residents of Virginia. North Anna 2 should definitely be reviewed at an early date under your case-by-case approach to licensing. If you would like to meet with us to discuss this matter in greater detail, please let me know.

Sincerely,

/

'( i vf ,"

Stanley Ra one

\

cc: The Honorable Ji=my Carter Virginia Senators and Congressmen Governor John N. Dalton Mr. Charles W. Duncan, Jr. lb33 J28 SCC Commissioners

.