ML19263E160
| ML19263E160 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Diablo Canyon  |
| Issue date: | 05/04/1979 |
| From: | Boyd R Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Sildice R AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7906020118 | |
| Download: ML19263E160 (2) | |
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Cocket fos: 50-275 and 50-323 P.r. Richard Sildice 4316 Encino Lane Ventura, California 93001 Ocar Pr. Sildice:
I am pleased to respond to your letter to the.% clear Regulatory Comission in which you expressed your opposition to the operation of the Diablo Canyon Euclear plants because of its proximity to an active earthquake fault and the matter of disposal of high level radioactive wastes.
I assume that the fault to which you refer is the Phsgri Fault. The f.cs5ri Fault, which is located 31/2 c:iles frem the 'Uiablo plants, was discovered in 1971 and has been the subject of inte'nsive ' investigation by the Pacific Gas & Electric Company, the U. S. Geological Survey and the huclear Regulatory Consission. As a principal geologic advisor for the Ccmission, the USGS in 1975 suggested that a magnitude of 7.5 be assigned as a potential seismic value for the Hosgri Fault. It is impor-tant to note that the USGS did not say that the Hosgri would experience a 7.01 carthquake but frera a conservative standpoint that magnitude could not be ruled out. C:mprehensive public hearings on this matter were held by the 'temic Safety ano Licensing Board over about a two-rronth period.
Some of this nation's and the world's leading authorities in seismology and structural design testified and were suoject to cross-examination.
The consensus among those experts was that a magnitude of 6.5 would
- e a more reasonable assessment of the capability of the Hosgri Fault.
f.evertheless, the experts went on to say that the plant has been designed to withstand the greater seismic event of 7.5.
These hearings were coe.pleted on February 15, 1979.
The Licensing Board is in the process of preparing its decision regarding the licensing of Diablo Canyon based on the record of these proceedings.
nith regard to nuclear waste disposal, the Comission has been quite concerned with this matter. While the Department of Energy has primary responsibility for developing and constructing waste disposal f acilities, the 14RC has the responsibility to license such facilities and to insure that nuclear waste storage and disposal will not endanger the health and safety of the public. The NRC has been working to develop a regulatcry framework for the licensing of high-level waste repcsitories and has published for coment in the Feoeral Register proposed procedures for 79060201 38 2300 271
g, kr. Richard Sildice such licensing.
(43 FR 53869, November 17,1978). The NRC has estab-lishec an office with civisional status, the Division of Waste Management, '
which deals exclusively with nuclear waste issues.
In addition, the NRC participated in the activities of the Interagency Review Group on ibclear haste Panagement which was established by President Carter in Parch of 1978 and charged with developing a government-wide strategy for dealing with the waste management problem.
The draft report of this group, incorporating a bread range of inputs and views frem many scientific groups and members of the public, was issued for public ceccent in October 1978.
It was issued in final form, incorpcrating many of the three-theusand comment's received, in Parch of 1979. The report is to be forwarded to the President for further action. It is expected that the recocrendations in this report will shape the future handlirs of the nuclear waste disposal issue.
These activities are indicative of the attention being given to the nuclear waste discosal problem at the NRC and at other government agencies.
Considering the delays that will be incurred in the offsite disposal of nuclear wastes, the Pacific Cas & Electric Company is expected to submit plans fcr increasing the spent fuel pool storage capacity at the Diablo Canyon plants in the near future. The generic problem of interim spent fuel storage has been addressed in a draft " Generic Environmental Impact Statccent on Handling and Storage of spent LWR Fuel", NUREG-0404 issued by the tbclear P.egulatory Comission staff in March 1978. The staff found that cen=ercial spent nuclear fuel generated through the year 2000 can be' acccmedated in a safe and environmentally sound manner either by modification of storage pools at the reactor sites or by providing independent spent fuel storage facilities located on the site of a parent facility such as a. nuclear power staticn.
I trust that the abcyc information has been responsive to your concerns.
Sincerely, Orginal sped br Reger S. Boyd Roger S. Boyf, Director Division cf Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
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