ML19260C943
| ML19260C943 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 05000574 |
| Issue date: | 01/23/1980 |
| From: | Mattison G CENTER FOR DEVELOPMENT POLICY |
| To: | Ahearne J NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19260C944 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8002070163 | |
| Download: ML19260C943 (5) | |
Text
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Center for 3EA met LicY
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Stephen Biddle Connuras Pnninoegnia
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ary 23, 1980 M
Eugense Bradford Ecur.ac.e. A ewar.no va g'
Mary Anna Colwet!
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[@fi Musee Edey John A. Ahearne, Chairman N
- $No"E Nuclear Regulatory Commissio 7 Theod = Jacob.
1717 H Street, N.W.
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Dear Mr. Ahea ene:
a Pwarenes
,_ c"', M In considering the question of NRt's judiciary respon-C sibility for the health and safety of exported reactors, I nc4 Foreign Rmaa,. c===
had g g thought the enclosed letter by Senator Pell raises the wea,= o c serious issue of the perception of U.S. nuclear projects S}jM=g sold abroad.
In the case of reactor exports to the Third World, the U.S. is not only selling a power generating Pue u-.
Ed facility, but is participating in the transfer of a tech-wma,m o e nologically advanced program for siting, design and opera-A,1.coile sia==nida tion of a nuclear facility.
The buyer is purchasing in
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fact years of expertise, experience and guidance from the w. wan,m o c U.S. AEC and the NRC as well as from private industry.
We agree with Senator Pell that the Philippine reactor, Advisory Board sold and sited by U.S. firms, lict.nsed by a U.S. government agency, and financed by the Ex-Im Bank is indeed perceived Robert Alvva t o,,,,,Sfp%7,.
as an American project, for which the U.S. must accept re-Gordon Adame sponsibility.
After TMI nuclear operators both here and
,,,g A "' O abroad looked to the NRC for upgraded standards for the safe siting and operation of reactors and for renewed assurances
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Joseph T. Udridge o= = * =a,= cx*
In the particular case of the proposed reactor export Rich. j to the Philippines, one of the primary ques: ions is whether the geologic hazards associated with the Bataan site have w - ma m : w w cnn=
^1*a McGo=*a been adequately assessed.
As we discussed with you and
'C UTelr"n~.d Vicki Harding, in October, we are perticularly concerned Martta M McLa.shita that the volcanic risks associated with Mt. Natib are un-serem FeLaw, o-o,*,,-e coona resolved.
Nett McMullen s
fC"'"l'.m"""on As you know, the NRC has no volcanic siting guidelines.
The importance of this has been emphasized by several volcan-
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ologists of USGS, in particular Christopher Newhall.
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Le,.on John Nicolopouloe Sa." h on es Greece ro irw Lnned Senans 1QT7 h
Richard Pollock I /./ 1 ecem ccmcalMans Jack Senseter sammai Duecur.
Fm m %. Prenes 6002o70 I63 Alice Tepper Marita
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Washington, D C. 20002 (202)547 6406
John A. Ahearne, Chairman 2
January 23, 1980 ti i
The Center contacted Christopher Newhall, a volcanologist at i
Dartmouth who spent five years studying the volcanic terrain of the
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Philippines.
At our request he read and evaluated the volcanic por-g tions of the PSIR, PSAR and other related documents released at the i
Puno Commission.
But he felt that, as a part-time employee of USGS, E
it would be inappropriate to bypass the formal USGS-NRC working ar-5 rangement by issuing his finding through us.
I:
Nathall addressed letters to Commissioner Hendries and G. L.
Mattison expressing his concern that NRC establish overall volcanic siting guidelines prior to attempting to evaluate specific hazards of the Mt. Natib site.
We fcrwarced these letters to James Shea asking him to request Chris Newhall to write up his findings.
We I
have been notified that a report has been written by Newhall, re-
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iterating his concern that volcanic guidelines be established.
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We urge you to initiate this process with USGS as it is essential i
to establish a standard by which a study assessing the risks associ-3 ated with Mt. Natib can be compared.
Without these standards any vol-E canic risks study exists in a vacuum.
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In closing I would like to congratulate you on your promotion h
to Chairman of the NRC and to thank you for the time you and Vicki Harding have given us.
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Sincerely i
V--
G. L. Mattison
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Director j
i GLM/hms Enclosures e
1937 017 l
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'AlCnkb Sfafes Senafe COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS WAsNINGTON. D.C. 20510 p
A, November 13, 1979 0 s'. #.
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Ms. Virginia Foote E
S Center for Development Policy g
9 225 4th Street, N.E.
Washington, D. C.
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Dear Ms. Foote:
Thank you f't your letter regarding the proposed export or a nuclear reactor to the Philippines.
I am very sympathetic to your concern over this sale, and I do hope that it will not take place.
In this connection, I have written to the Nuclear Regu-latory Commission to express my view that the Commis-sion has the necessary legislative authority to consider the health, safety and environmental aspects of this sale.
A copy of my letter is enclosed.
As you may be aware, the Congress could act directly to stop this sale only in the event that the NRC cannot make a decision.
In that event, the President would have to make a decision; and that decision could be subject to a Congressional veto.
With every good wish.
Ever sincerely, nK Claiborne Pell Enclosure 1937 018