ML19261E152

Expresses Concern Re Nuclear Safety of Proposed Plants. Suggests Halting Const,Reassessment of NRC Composition,More Money for Alternative Energy Research & Greater Citizen Participation in Nuclear Decisionmaking

ML19261E152
Person / Time
Site:	Marble Hill
Issue date:	04/20/1979
From:	Watson S JEFFERSON COUNTY, KY
To:	Hendrie J NRC COMMISSION (OCM)
Shared Package
ML19261E149	List: ML19261E152
References
NUDOCS 7907050193
Download: ML19261E152 (2)

Text

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(% :Y CMCM OF COUNTY COMMISSh)iG.-

hf fmon Conniy COUN IT COURT liOU5E LcuMiUe, Ken:utty e. )

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CHMl LS 1. HGMON ,

smaA mrsoN April 20, 1979 0

Dr. Joseph M. Hendrie Chai m :n Nuclc ar Fegulatory Ccr.utission Washingtcn, D. C. 20555 Do tr Dr. H ndrie:

As a local elecMd of ficial in an area which is famd with the prchability of co-existance with the prmo:n3 plant at Nrble _ Hill, I -

fc el a rcagonsibility to 1:e an e ivccate for the welfare of Je' ferson County's residents depite the e' om of any dir ect jurirdict icn.

Certainly we rmt all share cunmrn alxat tha a5 quacy of teclnological m fe9uards and tie thoroughns :s .;ith wnich existing plants and those under constructica are b2ing : cci.tond by tie Daclear Fagulatory Ccr:ainsion.

Furthar co.utnetion on tha Iarble Hill plant should he halt cd, until the opgejal inva >tigatory emaiwien er,t oblisIxd by Presid:nt .

Carter last v;eek suh: nits its repart and recc;.:ct ad aticas.

The caposition of t he e> >cutive staf f of th, Nuclear Rhmlat ory Cccmission should b, reasseml with the goal of incre rcd ebjectivit.y.

A nir2nr of NRC cuecutives mcd in a nuclear pmotional ccpacity with the now defunct Atonic Energy Ccanission when it was establishal. It had inherently conflicting resronsibilities. It was established Eo regulate the result of its cwn research and davelopTent. This situation continued until 1974 wh:in the two functions woro aparattd into tiu Fnergy Fesearch and D2Velopnt Idninistration carl the Nuckar r mulatory Cannission.

Ha.s ever, smo observers fear that staf f mriers w'ao sp >nt so Irany years l>rcimting alcclic energy will have difficulty ebjectively regulating it.

In the April 16 issue of " Time" ragazine, it is reported that a 1975 Comen Cause study found that 652 of s' caff nerbars with the Nuclear R:3gulatory Ccmnission h id h2en fornerly mpicycd by crrpanies which held 1icmces or cent.racts with the Ccanissicn. The NRC's abi1ity to rcgulate "afety rust not b2 ccnpronired by an enthusiamn for rapid nuclear plant davelogrant.

Tin fcGaral greerecent should spw rore noney rerearching enc rgy alternativas, viFh an expanded nuclear e::phasis Iring one of a nirb3r of opti ns. Per? j3 wu sirauld 1r nore aggressive in developing enerh?)[ n , 7 altern# i v% cuch aa coal, solar and gmthetral I cr.eer. Surely a nation " '

wiu ch can put nen on the noan can d2velop all our energy alternativos.

In the thenty years since the National Aeronautics and Spam Ad:ninistration 7907050l9 3 An Equal Oppor: unity Err ti opr

9 Dr. J: ,h 11. H n.irie I.pr il 2], 19/9 li r.se T..o lo p n, tln fi thral gmerm nt: h m .., prepciat td ru rjhly 57.5 billion dollars for < pice c o:ploral: tun renearch. By ojatran,t, le a t h in ona-l if t h th e UMA a;propriat ion or 10.3 bi ll ion d >llarn, b.r: 1, " n , . n t on civilian nuclear < nor gy t, murch fi un 1940 tin otrjh 1979. In conjunct ion wi t h < . , > in:1 d t e. u r ch i n om a re. i of r ac L a r t , n:olojy erd itz, alt m n itis n, t he u.. ttli;rj di b . .i of nuch ' ir . it < t: n. ' u t a t i on . cr.1 d i r ,- al ic'it '

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in:a1 ccr. un i t ie , ' ! c 'id e :t . ibl i: .h in? n ? >n t I on it or i r r; nj. t i s f or nuclear i e i : tors )o uti d ' a:by. O rr': tn i t i < E!ii ch h m

• I > n ( :clu.3 d f n m plant el"crica p: a ," - . c n re;n t h 1- , i' i ci: 2 < ra i i d 'le coa t t al over t h i r .n f e t.y . 'ri ci n i cal un i t er mg o f a i r n! ' . ite r conta nt c.in l e o  ;.ri 1 oy i ng ic ; . il r i s w : t at ive I t ii'- S or liv h da de:>i@at td for i h it in y.e. In < w r ! > i n i t- i c p 'ith air .cl

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I byl leve loc al < ~ or' n i i ve , huu ld < .i ract n . : 3:, n ot fie n il utility at Lin point ot' lic ,im prior to oulucil pl< nt og: tai i< n all< sing s

p 'r inlic un-nit.> - .uinaiitn of plant o;uipi ;it . ad p1 . o Ca ri >. U2 * -r e in J:i5- :n Cuanty .;ill b Je t hat c.: ortunitv if ?'cublo Hill m ',iIactica i: co:ph :le d.

S. t h: ' n ' fr p e >1s autlnrir d t o < ,'lict h or ing , !c . trat o y i o Nuch' ;r F:aplatory r r# ; ion 1- :enw7 ot ;o er plant s ' huuh! I e o . ir.:t -! t o i n<;hcIn at 1 c ;t c:: e cit i: n r.  : .r. D( . it a 191 of iha J.t wie F1. :r gy Act aut a .r i . > th p 1: > , ' n .cr ;t i t u i - , th m t o a: .>/

of on; at.tornay t ra m d in . laini:J r t i v: > b c.v od 1. 'o t e 3.n i cal n u '

so"h ac raclear < . .j in v

, or IAyaici n<;. t .:n i n f avi u: of e - slinJ ticit l aw t o : ndate ' hu i: :1r ion of a ei ti: n r ~, r t o th > 2 h _ rh; I t r d ' .

In the w ',< j n d l ,io o :n 1: -(. >nt., at inrs 2 : iln r ;;,n,3 wi l l le t he sub,a c t of n:uuh r , cu l a t i on a.1d a nt sr or it tiy/ it <i .

Ile j yulle ,< > of any e_ .pb mtor.y rh et or ic or e s i <j. . n t of l >L m '.J.! ic h iwf -

renult, one t hing i:, clear: I he t rdaalojy fai b d. e > mus t al 1 a'. . ,' m t he re. . pan:;i bi l ity for n & i ng m re i t a . , not f a i l og s i n .

Sini *rily, p me#

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