ML19254D133

Notifies That De Facto Continuation of CP Has Served to Exempt Facility from Complying W/Most up-to-date Safety Sys. Requests Public Hearings Re Safety Issues & Financial Qualifications

ML19254D133
Person / Time
Site:	05000363
Issue date:	09/27/1979
From:	Van Ness S NEW JERSEY, STATE OF
To:	Hendrie J NRC COMMISSION (OCM)
References
NUDOCS 7910220424
Download: ML19254D133 (2)

Text

'

p CD On 9

C'-

g STATE OF NEW JERSEY

- STANLEY C. VAN NESS

" PUBLIC .iDVO CATE

! O C.T 3 N 4 cQfdINw p September 27, 1979 4

., m ' ,. _., . -,

y, * ., ' ; . ' fii.. f Mr. Joseph Hendrie Chaiman U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555 Re: Forked River Nuclear Generating Station, Lacey Township, New Jersey

Dear Mr. Hendrie:

The continued suspension of construction at the Forked River nuclear generating station has raised significant questions which greatly concern me as the New Jersey Public Advocate representing vital public interests and specifically energy consumers in our state.

The U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission's role in permitting de facto continuation of the construction permit for Forked River has, I believe, served to exempt the owners of the plant from complying with the most up-to-date safety systems which have been developed since the plant was initially approved in 1973. -

The NRC's 14 months of inaction on an extended construction permit also has had the effect of permitting the Jersey Central Power and Light Company to include charges for construction work in progress in its base rate. This a'iounts to approximately $500,000 per month so that the 670,000 Jersey Central ratepayers are being compelled to dole out millions of dollars annually for a plant whose future is highly questionable.

I recognize and fully support the decision of General Public Utilities to suspend construction at Forked River in the wake of the accident at Three Mile Island II and its various safety and financial ramifications. But I feel very strongly that any renewal of a construction permit should not include a

" grandfathered" six-year-old design that may not meet the highest safety stan-dards.

Consequently, I would like to formally urge the NRC to act forthwith in scheduling hearings that will allow for public par ticipation on the crucial issues of safety and financial qualifications as they relate to Forked River.

It is also my hope that the NRC, the TMI Special Inquiry Group and the President's Commission on the Accident at Three Mile Island will thoroughly review the larger policy issue concerning the regulation of nuclear plant construction 791029"

\ \4b !Y

s Mr. Hendrie Sptember 26, 1979 and changes that are needed to assure the inclusion of the most current safety features and protect ratepayers from being burdened with the costs of a utility's mistakes. Toward this end, we will be corresponding with appropriate public bodies.

Sincerely, Aw k Stanley C. Van Ness PUBLIC ADVOCATE SCVN:lld cc: J. Kemeny M. Rogovin 1i93 269 s