ML19211A661
| ML19211A661 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | North Anna  |
| Issue date: | 11/13/1979 |
| From: | Flowers W AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED |
| To: | Hendrie J NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19211A629 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7912200393 | |
| Download: ML19211A661 (2) | |
Text
..
W m_ _ _:}
s
.=.
V. -J W#
Town Of Plymouth
-oum. ~- c ew~ 2m2 4' g e. " ember 13, 1979 WILLIAM R. FLOWERS.
g\\
/\\
~~~
b c.,
c.. A s
6-[$7hl -
C
~
9 CS 5
e p j,[ g Mr. Joseph M. Hendrie, Chairman 7s Nuclear Regulatory Commission
/p 1717 H Street, N. W.
N Washingtcn, D. C.
20555
@ I
Dear Mr. Hendrie:
The Nuclear F.egulatory Commission last week issued an indefinite moratorium on the licensing of nuclear units, including those that were nearing completion and had been built to U.R.C. specifications, including modi-fications made as a result of directives issued since the Thret.-Mile Island incident.
This moratorium applies to Vepco's North Anna II Nuclear Power Unit in Louisa County, Virginia.
The delay in licensing North Anna II will impose an unacceptable economic hardship on energy consumers in eastern North Carolina who rely on Vepco for electric energy.
North Anna II has been ready for licensing since late June, and it is expected that all modifications required by the NRC, including those that resulted from the Three Mile Island analysis, will be completed in January, 1980.
North Anna II is a nearly identical copy of North Anna I, which is under-going its first refueling after compiling an operating record that has made it one of the most successful nuclear power units in the histor'/
of the industry.
There have been no significant events in the operation of North Anna I that would reflect adversely en the potential for safe and productive operations at North Anna II.
Given the fact that North Anna II will be operated by the same utility on the same site of North Anna I, it is inconceivable to me that the NRC would delay its licensing in the absence of specific findings of design or operating deficiencies.
In my view, it is as unreasonable to delay licensing of North Anna II as it would be to revoke the license of North Anna I or any other similar reactor now operating successfully anywhere else in the Nation.
Each month of delay in the utilization of a nuclear power unit adds from
$11 million to $12 million to the bills of Vepco customers by forcing the uti).ity to buy more expensive replacement fuels, including importec oil.
Approximately $1 million of'these extra costs must be borne by the citizens of 22 northeastern North Carolina counties who have comparatively low wage 2
~
1633 331 2
0 7912200 3 7 3 4
s
e=a Mr. Joseph M. Hendrie November 13, 1979 scales and can ill afford this additional economic burden.
This is an intolerable added burden to place unnecessarily on our citizens at a time when our state and federal governments are being forced to implement expensive and unprecedentad heating cost assistance progra=s to offset fuel price inflation that already has occurred.
Your mission of nuclear safety assurance is a vital one but, speaking for the citizens of northeastern North Carolina, I must say to you that we cannot accept the economic consequences of any restrictions on the full uttJization of our nuclear energy facilities that are not fully supported by specific findings of deficiencies.
For this reason, I urgently request the Commission's reconsideration of its licensing moratorium as it applies to North Anna II.
Town of Plymouth Board of Councilmen
/0/
Willien R. Flowers Mayor URF/nhd cc:
The Honorable Jimmy Carter 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Washi,ngton, D. C.
20555 The Honorable Jesse Helms 411 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, D. C.
20510 The Honorable Robert B. Morgan 2107 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, D. C.
20510 1633
- ,32 The Honorable Walter B. Jones 201 Cannon House Office building Washington, D. C.
20515 The Honorable L. H. Fountain 2188 Russell House Office Building Washington, D. C.
20515
- =
s e