ML19211C572
| ML19211C572 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 11/26/1979 |
| From: | Gossick L NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | Fithian F HOUSE OF REP. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19211C573 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8001130229 | |
| Download: ML19211C572 (2) | |
Text
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UNITED STATES E"
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION n
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m, The Honorable Floyd J. Fithian Un.ited St.ates House of Representatives Washington, D. C.
20515
Dear Congressman Fithian:
This is in response to your letter of October 31, 1979, transmitting to Mr. Carlton C. Kamerer a request for information from Maureen Northacker, a constituent of yours.
Ms. Northacker expressed concern over the potential for impairment of the fishing industry by the nuclear industry. We would like to assure her that protection of the environment, and specifically of aquatic life, is given thorough consideration in the course of NRC's review and approval of any application to construct or operate a nuclear facility. NRC's procedures for implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) include the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for each such approval action.
The EIS examines facility siting, design, construction, and operation to determine that reasonable steps have been taken to minimize environmental degradation and to determine whether the magnitude of residual environmental impacts is such as to preclude NRC licensing of the project.
Agencies with expertise in and responsibility for protection of fisheries are involved in the preparation of an EIS.
The staff doing the environmental analysis consults directly with such agencies as necessary.
Then e Draft Environmental Impact Statement is circulated for comment by Federal and State agencies and by interested members of the public. Comments received on the draft are considered in the preparation of the Final Environmental Statement.
The Final Environmental Statement is submitted to the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board which considers it in making e decision on licensing of the proposed project.
During the ten years since the passage of NEPA there has been a substantial evolution in planning and design practices in the electric utility industry 1739 198 eco,1an))f
The Honoreble Floyd J. F1thian and a comparable evolution of environmental review procedures among Federal agencies.
Current practices result in a high degree.of assurance that the potential for impairment of the fishing industry by the nuclear industry is indeed minimal.
Sincerely.
Original signed by It G. Smith Lee V. Gossick Executive Director for Operations t
1739 199
.