ML19241A627
| ML19241A627 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | West Valley Demonstration Project |
| Issue date: | 03/28/1979 |
| From: | Volker D NEW YORK, STATE OF |
| To: | Hendrie J NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19241A624 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7907090007 | |
| Download: ML19241A627 (2) | |
Text
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... - n... T March 28, 1979 Mr. Joseph M.
Hendries, Chairman Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washing ton,
D.C.
20055
Dear Chairman Hendries:
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i I have been advised that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission
( NRC ) staff recently informed Nuclear Engineerinc Comeanv, Inc.
( NECO ) that enly the NRC can terminate the company's.
i license to operate a 1cw level radioactive waste disposal Site at Sheffield Illinois.
I i
As you know, Nuclear Juel Services, Inc. ( NFS ) and the NYS Enere..v Research and Development Authorit"1 ( NYSERDA )
received a provisional license f rom a predecesscr agency of the NRC to operate a nuclear reprocessing plant at West Valley, New York.
Further, NFS has notified NYSERDA that it intends to withdraw from West Valley and turn over its responsibility t
for the facility to NYSERDA at the end of 1980.
I completely agree with the NRC staff's position that only the NRC has the ability to terminate an outstanding i
creratinc. license.
Has the Ccamission itself adopted the staff position ?
If so, Em I right in concluding that notwithstand:
the intention of Nuclear Fuel Services to withdraw frc= the facilitv at West Vallev, only the NRC can relieve NFS from its existing respons'...,4 y as a co-licensee c:. assuranc that
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the public health and safety are protected ?
Further, is NFS's respcnsibility independent of, and addition tc, any res.ocnsibilitv NYSERDA may have to protect public health ar.d safety as a co-licensee ?
With 600,000 gallons of high level radioactive waste, 170 tons cf spent fuel and significant quantities of Icw level radioactive waste s:cred at West Valley, the answers c these cuesticns are cf extreme imper:ance to Western New Ycrk residents.
The U.S.
Department cf Ener gy estimates that the cos: of cleaning up West Valley could run into the hundreds of rilliens of dellars.
If true, the ecs:s would easily everwheir the limited rescurces cf NYSEEDA anc pcssibly be beycnc even
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_s ev renerarv. liabilitv., does i: make a n v.
sense, lecallv.
cr c:herwise, to let anv West Vallev licensee walk awav frc-
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Chairman Joseph M.
Hendries Page Two.
an existing responsibility to protect the public health and safety ?
I think nc-and would hope that the Corcission shares my view.
I would very much appreciate hearing from you relating to the above questions at v0er earliest convenience.
Yours truly, Q')x -(G
((WWG IG (x
. o Dale M.
Volker Chairman, NYS Senate Energy Ccrr.it DMV:DE3:sts O
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