ML19263F871
| ML19263F871 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Humboldt Bay |
| Issue date: | 02/19/1980 |
| From: | Dircks W NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | Cranston A SENATE |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8003170130 | |
| Download: ML19263F871 (2) | |
Text
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. &b pm asc fl oq[o, UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION g
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20S55
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FEB 191G88 The Honorable Alan Cranston United States Senate Washington, D. C.
20510
Dear Senator Cranston:
This is in response to the letter you received from Mr. Daniel J. Brown, Arcata, California, which you transmitted to the NRC on January 21, 1980.
Mr. Brown's letter expressed concern over the cancellation of what he understood was to be an inspection of the structural integrity of the Humboldt Bay Unit #3 nuclear power plant. The meeting to rhich Mr. Brown must be referring was scheduled for December 12-13, 1979.
The purpose of the meeting was to review the status of on-going geologic and seismic investigations being conducted by the licensee, Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E). As you know, the Humboldt Bay plant has been shut down since July 2,1976, pursuant to NRC Order of May 21, 1976, because of NRC con-cerns over the seismic hazard presented by geologic faults in the inmediate vicinity of the Humboldt site.
On May 21, 1977, PG&E filed an application for an amendment to the Humboldt Bay license to remove the prohibition against power operation. An evidentiary proceeding has been initiated before an NRC Atomic Safety and Licensing Board in connection with this application.
On September 27, 1979, PG&E requested that the above mentioned proceeding be held in abeyance up to and including October 1,1980 in order to gather additional seismic and geologic information about the site. A previous such request had been granted by the Board on May 7,1979.
As explained in the enclosed NRC Staff response to the PG&E motion, and supporting affidavit, dated December 26, 1979, it became necessary to cancel the meeting plans because of the press of other agency activities of appreciably greater safety importance and urgency. Consequently, the Staff did not oppose the requested continuance. The Staff expressed the 8003170\\ D O
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The Honorable Alan Cranston opinion, however, that it expected the licensee to either proceed with its 7
application by October 1,1980, and the hearing process resuned, or to 5*
withdraw its application. During the pendency of this proceeding, whatever k[.
its duration, the plant will remain in its present safe shutdown condition.
Conmission authorization is required before power operation may be resumed.
I trust that the above explanation will be satisfactory to Mr. Brown.
Sincerely, mmms EIGrD 'I hk, c
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g jWilliamJ.Dirckst Acting Executive Director for Operations
Enclosures:
1.
NRC Staff Response to Applicant's Motion to Hold Proceeding in Abeyance 7-2.
Affidavit of William P. Gamill f-3.
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