ML19263E711
| ML19263E711 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 04/03/1979 |
| From: | James Shea NRC OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS (OIP) |
| To: | Gilinsky V, Hendrie J, Kennedy R NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7906250077 | |
| Download: ML19263E711 (4) | |
Text
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APR 3 973 For_:
The Comissioners From:
James R. Shea, Director Office of International Programs M Executive Director for Operat onDI* I"!n cofae11 Thru:
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Subject:
DRAFTERESPONSE TO MR. PICKERING ON'THE PHILIPPINES REACTOR EXPORT
Purpose:
To obtain Coni:11ssion concurrence in a proposed response to Mr. Pickering.
Discussion:
On February 15 (Appendix A), Assistant Secretary of State Pickering wrote to Chaiman Hendrie regarding the Philippine nuclear power plant and the related NRC export license applications.
The staff has delayed preparing a proposed response to Mr. Pickering in anticipation of Comission action on the Philirpine component export license appli-cation (XCOM-0013, SECY-79-100). However, since it is uncertain when the Comission will complete its review of XCOM0013, tha staf f now believes that a response to Mr.
Pickering's letter should be sent out without further delay._ _
Recommendation:
That the comission approve the proposed response to Mr.
Pickering at Appendix B.
James R. Shea, Director Office of International Programs
Enclosures:
1.
Appendix A - Ltr to Chairman Hendrie from Thomas Pickering dtd 2/15/79 2.
Appendix B - Proposed response to Thomas Pickering DISTRIBUTION g'
Comissioners Comission Staff Offices
Contact:
Exec. Dir. for Operations M. R. Peterson, IP (492-8155 Secretariat G. G. Oplinger, IP (492-7866 Im/
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APPENDIX A 2214 328
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- g. p ASSISTANT SECRET ARY OF ST ATE t
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g wa sHINGTON. o.c. 20s2o February 15, 1979
Dear Mr. Hendrie:
As the Commission is aware, a ntnber of questions were raised last year concerning the safety, particularly with respect to seismic factors, of the Philippine Nuclear Power Plant Unit Number 1, being constructed by Westinghouse on the island of Luzon.
As a consequence, an IAEA group of reactor safety experts visited the site and held extensive discussions with Philippine officials and their consultants.
These experts reported their findings to the Philippine Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) last fall.
We have been advised that the PAEC plans to release this report, together with the Philippine's plan of action on the recommendations of the report, some time in the near future.
A final Executive Branch recommendation on the reactor export license application for this reactor has been deferred pending our review and assessment of the IAEA safety report and the Philippine's action plan.
However, on November 3, 1978, the Executive Branch re-commended to the NRC that an export license be issued for SS.2 million of parts and components (XCOM0013).
Availability of such components would permit construc-tion of the reactor to continue on an orderly basis without prejudice to the ultimate issuance of the re-actor export license.
Westinghouse has just advised that unless this com-ponent export license is issued immediately it will be forced to halt further construction of the reactor.
In an earlier letter, Westinghouse had indicated that schedu-ling delays could extend the reactor completion date by three to six months, with an additional financial ex-posure of the F5ilippines National Power Corporation in the order of S3 to S7.5 million.
Joseph M.
Hendrie, Chairman Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C.
2214 329 MOS 300 (c D
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Chairman Hendrie, URC Since delays of this nature adversely reflect on the reliability of the United States as a nuclear supplier, I would strongly urge that the NRC act to issue XCOM0013.
As indicated previously, this would permit the orderly continuation of the project without diminishing our ability to take whatever action the United States may later deem appropriate with respect
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to safety of the reactor.
Since ely, s-s_-
Thomas R.
Pickering 22\\4
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APPENDIX B b
2214 331
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Mr. Thomas R. Pickering Assistant Secretary of State Oceans & International Environmental
& Scientific Affairs Washington, D.C.
20520
Dear Mr. Pickering:
Thank you for your letter of February 15 concerning Westinghouse's proposed export to the Philippines of a power reactor and components for this reactor.
The Commission looks forward to the early receipt of the report of the IAEA group of experts on the safety aspects of this facility and the Philippine's plan of action on the recommendations of the report.
We will also be very interested, of course, in the final Executive Branch recommendation on this export after there has been an opportunity for review and assessment of these reports.
Please be assured that the Commission appreciates the concerns of the Executive Branch with regard to the proposed interim export of reactor components to the Philippines (XCOM0013) ts mentioned in your letter.
The Commission is actively reviewing this case but has not yet been able to reach a licensing decision.
Sincerely, Joseph M. Hendrie Chai rman 2214 332 neern es 9
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