ML19262B575
| ML19262B575 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Humboldt Bay |
| Issue date: | 12/22/1979 |
| From: | Wheeler R AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED |
| To: | Rooney V Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7912280574 | |
| Download: ML19262B575 (2) | |
Text
-
Robert.tl n heeler Box 679, Blue Lake,CA 95525 12/22/79 (707) 668-5189 Mr. Vern Rooney, Froject Manuger Humboldt Bay llant Nuclear Unit Nuclear Regulatory Commission ASLB attn Joexet #50-133
Dear folks,
As a citizen of Humboldt Ceunty I write to ask for your immediate recommend <. tion for cloaure of the dualsoldt Say Nuclear Fov.er Unit.
I nould lite a geraonal reply, as you Anow te are in e:.minent canger from active earthquake faults in close proxic.ity to tue plant.
Earth-quakes on the Bay Entrance fault could rupture the facility causing expcaure to tne puolic of high level radioactive waste whien is stored in the on-site cooling ponda. Un delving into our local County Cffice of Emergency Services' Contingency Plan it is found to be obviously inadequate, the primary protection being the gathering of 2,500 peojle at each of the two local fairgrounds.
Supposing these facilities could provide adequate protection from radiation which passes'tthrough nearly all substances and contaminates the air we breathe, there is no provi-sion for the safety of the remaining folk of Eureka and the surrounding areas. Though we are of ten given reassurances from public officials and industry spokespeople, the very real tnreat of cancer which can surface now or years from now, depencing on tne dosage of radiation re-ceived is indeed frightening.
i The NRC stated in an August, 1977 public release that they will re-commend that PG&E's application for permission fo resume operatien of it's Humboldt Say Nuclear Power Plant be denied.
If a public nearing is held the staff would oppose the application.
Extensive tecm.ical discussions were held with FG&E staff and the company's consultants wi4 alongVa year long review of relevant information.
Jim lianche tt, NRC, states that this situation remains the same today and that they take )(603 s
1649 326
'I9122 80 D
page e take the same position in regarda to tne application.
URC Geologist Tom Cardone stateu that PG E's sixty day interic reports have no con-tent; that they detail what cur.uul tants.. ave been aul..g U t c ij notcing about what they have found.
as vi+.n the..enaucino.l..nt
, rnich ans stopped af ter ; e trs of public pressure on earthquake ha :surd, EGiB conti-nues to play caces with no tnought to t.:e life and s.fe t;.< of the citi-zens of the area.
They have asKec for ud been granted extension af ter extension without providing any infornation on the need for tnem.
Plant Juperintendent (sanager) 3d deeka says th..t he knows nothing about the geologic ef the situation but that their consultants tell him it looks promising. This is, for nim, a politically wise situation to maintain, but certainly not responsible.
During oporation there were thirty five shutdowns due to safety problems.
During shutdown an earth-quaxe occured that was greater than the Safe Shutdown and the Operating Base Earthquakes.
If the nuclear unit had been operating there is a good chance that it would have ruptured and many deaths wuuld have oc~
cured. PGAE's original consultants ignored geological evidence that pointed to the existence of the faults which now cause the plant to be shutdown.
It is obvious that FC&E has never acted responsibly concern-ing this Nuclear Plant; it is doubtful tn.t they ever will.
I ask that the NRC move to immediately act on rG&E's reinest for permission to operate; that public hearings be held us soon as possible; that the NRC request permanent closure of the nuclear unit; and tnat our community be protected from the threat of Nuclear Cate.strupne se;.s es tarough the removal of High Level.iaate activacible from the entire fault zone region.
Thank you for your conaiuer.tiono.
Sincerely, d
Robert alan.iheeler
-4 1649
- o.2/
O I
... n