ML19257B109
| ML19257B109 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | North Anna  |
| Issue date: | 12/07/1979 |
| From: | Hendrie J NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Helms J SENATE |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19257B096 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8001150267 | |
| Download: ML19257B109 (1) | |
Text
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UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION o
g qr WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555 Ci<p$
December 7, 1979 CHAIRMAN The Honorable Jesse Helms United States Senator Washington, D.C.
20510
Dear Senator Helms:
The November 8,1979 letter to me written on behalf of yourself, Senator Morgan, Congressman Fountain and Congressman Jones expressed concern about delays in licensing of the second nuclear unit at the North Anna facility in Louisa County, Virginia.
The Commission currently has before it for consideration a policy statement setting forth the course it intends to follow in adapting its licensing pro-cess to include implementation of recommendations of investigations of the Three Mile Island accident.
I expect that, as finally issued, this policy statement will address the question of resumption of licensing of completed or nearly completed plants such as North Anna II, including requests to allow pre-operational testing in advance of implementing TMI-related recommendations.
As the Commission is giving this matter the highest priority, this statement should be promulgated shortly. You will be provided a copy promptly.
'\\' Sincerely, o
Jos ph M. Hendrie 1749 093 aoon so M7
JhH MS 9)Cn&b Sfafes Senafe WASHINGTON. D.C.
20510 November 8, 1979 e
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- p Mr. John M. Hendrie, Chairman United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission 1717 H Street, NW Washington, D. C. 20555
Dear Mr. Chairman:
We are disturbed to learn of the NRC's recent announcement that no new nuclear generating units will
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be licensed until at least next Spring even though the
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President's Commission on the Three Mile Incident made no such recommendation.
While we agree that safety is essential in the g
production of electricity regardless of the type of fuel used, there are extenuating circumstances which we believe should be taken into account so far as Virginia Electric and Power Company's North Anna Unit #2 is concerned.
It is of the latest design and is certainly as safe as any q:u of the 70 plants operating today.
k It is our understanding that North Anna #2 will be ready for operation by January, 1980 when it completes all the modifications required by the NRC including those resulting from the Three Mile Island analysis.
As you may not be aware, Virginia Electric and Power Company serves 22 counties in the northeast section of North Carolina and the Company and its customers are already burdened with their dependence on expensive fuel oil for the production of electricity because of the p
outages of certain nuclear facilities.
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Concerning the economic impact of delaying this unit, you should be aware that each day that North Anna
- 2 does not operate requires the use of an equivalent of 25 to 30 thousand barrels of crude oil and costs the m.
consumers of Virginia Electric and Power Company some
$12 to $14 million dollars per month.
094 wwwan r
5 Mr. John M. Hendrie November 8, 1979 Page Two
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).....
The recent actions in Iran should certainly make you aware of the crucial situation in which this nation finds itself so far as energy is concerned.
We should
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be taking every action possible to reduce our dependency T-on foreign oil.
It appears ycur recent action does just the opposite.
We urge you to reconsider your action not to move forward with the licensing of nuclear units immediately.
Please advise us as to the reason this cannot be done, ely yours, u
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4 Jesse Helms
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Robert Morgan k
M L. H. Fountain G'
Walter Jones Mj' p
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..ns 1749 095
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