ML19224A736

Notifies State of Me That NRC Has Not Received Acceptable Emergency Plan.Offers Assistance in Resolving Problem

ML19224A736
Person / Time
Site:	Crane
Issue date:	05/09/1979
From:	Hendrie J NRC COMMISSION (OCM)
To:	Brennan J MAINE, STATE OF
References
NUDOCS 7905300139
Download: ML19224A736 (2)

Text

, M ' '," g UNITED STATES 4]

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,' NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 7

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I WASHINGTCN. O. C. 20555

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.\\..,.^. 't May 9, 1979 CH Al R WN The Honorable Joseph Brennan Governor of Maine i

Augusta, Maine 04330

Dear Governor Brennan:

P 5ecause of the inree Mile Island ace' :ent, there is an increased interest in radiological emergency res:ense p ning for fixed nuclear facilities.

As you know, tne offsite comocnent of this planning is the responsibility of State and local governments.

To date, eleven States have received NRC concurrence in their emergency plans in suoport of these facilities.

However, so far the tiRC has not concurred in the State of itaine's plan.

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Cur Office of State Programs has been in touch with Mr. Wallace Hinckley of your Division of Health Engineering to talk about the t'.aine plan. kle understand that the plan has ceen under revisicn by the State since r;;

November 1978. A recent request was made for Federal assistance to lead

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toward fiRC concurrence in this plan.

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h'e are very concerned about this matter and are sure that you share our h.

concern.

The recent event at Three Mile Island has nighlighted the need

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to move forward in an expeditious manner toward the attai=ent of NRC r.1----

concurrence in the Maine plan.

In this regard, I assure you that tiRC

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will give your Division of Health Engineering whatever assistance we

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possibly can to bring the Maine Radiological Response Plan to a point of T

readiness and to achieve an NRC concurrence at the earliest possible - ----- fl.

time.

We should note that the General Accounting Office has urged us to " allow nuclear pcwerplar.ts to begin operations only where state and local emergency response plans contain all the Cemission's essential planning

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elements." Since this rec:= ended acticn would alter the traditional Z

NRC role in this area, we would appreciate receiving any cer=ents that you might have with regard to it.

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7905300.139 I

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.~.e J,eseph Brennan 2-C '. _ : : : :all :ae (telephone 202/634-1459) or Mr. Robert G. Ryan, Director of

.f#i:e of State Programs (telephone 301/492-8170) with any thouents or :;c : ions you may have on this matter.

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Sincerely, f

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Joseph M. Hendrie v

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,f The Honorable Joseph Brennan bU Governor of Maine Augusta, Maine 04330

Dear Covernor Brennan:

Because of the Three Mile Island accident, there has been natural and, in my judgment, a properly increased interest in the whole field of radiological emergency response planning in support of fixed nuclear facilities. As you know, the offsite component of this planning is the responsibility of State and local governments. To date, eleven States have achieved a concurrence in their emergency plans in support of these facilities from NRC. But NRC, I regret to say, has so far not been able to concur in the Maine plan.

I am sure that you want to have Maine achieve an improved radiological emergency preparedness posture down to the involved county and municipal levels of government at the earliest possible date.

I want to pledge to you today that NRC will provide whatever assistance we can to help you achieve that goal.

Within the past few days, our Office of State Programs has been in touch with Mr. Wallace Hinckley of your Division of Health Engineering to talk about the Maine plan. We understand that the plan has been under revision by the State since November 1978. A recent request was made for Federal assistance to lead toward NRC concurrence in this plan.

We are very concerned about this matter as you are and I assure you that NRC will give your Division of Health Engineering whatever assistance we possibly can to bring the Maine Radiological Response Plan to a point of readiness and to achieve an NRC concurrence at the earliest possible time.

Please feel free to call on me personally (telephone 202/634-1459) or on Mr. Robert G. Ryan, Director of our Office of State Programs (telephone 301/492-8170) with any thoughts or questions you may have on this matter.

Again, I pledge our utmost cooperation in this important matter.

Sincerely, Joseph M. Hencrie Chairman

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