ML19256G398
| ML19256G398 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 12/03/1979 |
| From: | Harold Denton Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Ferguson J AMERICAN NUCLEAR CORP. |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7912310222 | |
| Download: ML19256G398 (1) | |
Text
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o UNITED STATES
[ y, c. q,' %h NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
,.g"1 j. K WASHING TON, D. C. 20535 December 3, 1979
%..uf f g7.. f Mr. John C. Ferguson, President American Nuclear Corporation P. O. Box 2713 Casper, WY 82602
Dear Mr. Ferguson:
This is in reply to your letter of November 20, 1979, expressing concern about delays in nuclear power.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is committed to protect the public health and safety. The Three Mile Island accident resulted in a need for changes in the approach to safety. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission estimates that it will take several months to develop new or improved safety objectives, detailed criteria for their implementation, and various implementation deadlines and has decided that new plants will not be licensed until the required criteria have been developed.
It is recognized that there will be a significant effect on the availability of power generating capacity if those plants now in the final stages of construction do not receive operating licenses by the dates previously anticipated, and every effort will be made to avoid unnecessary delays.
If you have not seen it already, you may be interested in the following statement from the "Second National Energy Plan" transmitted on May 7, 1979, by a message from President Carter to the Congress:
"The Nation's mid-term energy situation depends on successfully maintaining and expanding the use of coal and nuclear power. These two sources are commercially available today and can be enlarged if the markets grow and their critical environmental and social problems are overcome."
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is making every effort to ensure the public health and safety for all nuclear power plants so that existing plants can continue to be operated and new plants can be licensed.
Sincerely, f
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Harold R. Denton, Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation 1657 313 7912310 12 2
AMERICAN NUCLEAR CORPORATION PO. Box 27 3 Jo>ere C FTaousOps. PREssDENT si..cn -c=en avs.
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>.is November 20, 1979 ca.nn.co Mr. Harold Denton Director of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C.
Dear Mr. Denton:
I would like to express American Nuclear's. concern with respect to_the_NRC's decision _to defer the issuance of_ operating licenses and construction permits for certain nuclear reactors a Fwell as the general delay ~in this country's development of its civilian nuclear potential.
Time is becoming more critical every day, given our energy needs.
For example, how many more Iranian situations can we successfully withstand without causing major disruptions?
Nuclear generated electric power is not the only form of energy this country needs, but it is one the NRC can promote the safe use of in bringing plants on stream.
I would urge you to consider what your actions are doing to the future of this country and seriously consider what future generations may be faced with if we do not develop an effecient, cheap, clean method of supplying nuclear power for this country.
/
Sincsrely,
,_ h lOl
/ John C.
Ferguson President JCF/mk cc:
Senator Simpson Senator Wallop Congressman Cheney
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