ML19270H588

Responds to 691205 Inquiry Re Comments on PA Water Resources Coordinating Committee to PA Dept of Mines & Mineral Industries Urging Consideration of Three Proposals. Proposals Encourage AEC Action Re Const of Reactors

ML19270H588
Person / Time
Site:	Crane
Issue date:	01/14/1970
From:	Price H US ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION (AEC)
To:	Schweiker R SENATE
Shared Package
ML19270H589	List: ML19270H588 ML19270H590
References
NUDOCS 7911130418
Download: ML19270H588 (6)

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Honorable Richard 5. Schwelker Unltad 5tates Senate

Dear Senator Schwelker:

Thank you for (your inquiry of December 5,1963, addressed to the Commission's Congressional Liaison Office, for our views on a letter dated November 15, 1963, addressed to the Secretary of the espartment of Mlars and Mineral ladustries of the Commonwealth of pennsylvania from the Chairman of the Pennsylvania Water Resources Caerdinating Committee, regarding the two c.uclear power reactors new under construction at the Three Mile island Maclear St.ation near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, I:s accordance with construction peralts issued by the AEC.

la its letter, the Caerdinating Committee has urged consideration of three proposals encouraging the A C to take certain action with respect to the construction of nuclear power reactors. Our answer is directed to these three proposals.

The Coordinating Commilttee has proposed that the AEC be encouraged to subalt applications for construction permits to the Semitary Water Board for a discharge permit prior to construction. The Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, gave to the AEC the responsibility of licensing and regulating the possession and use of atoalc energy materials and nuclear facilities in order to protect the health and safety of the public from radiation hazards.

With respect to such facilities as nuclear power reactors such as those now under construction at the Three Mlle island Nuclear Station, the Atomic Ener5y Act makes it unlawful for any person to begin construction of a nuclear power reactor except under and in accordance with a construction permit issued by the AEC, or to operate a nuclear power reactor except under and in accordance with an operating license issued by the AEC.

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o The applicant for a construction permit for a proposed nuclear power plant selects the site for that plant. The AEC does not participate in that selection and is responsible only for deter-mining whether the site is suitable for the proposed nuclear power plant from a radiological standpoint.

I.lconsing by the MC does not relieve the applicant from being subject to the appropriate jurisdictions in other areas which would also be lavolved If the nuclear power plant were fueled by seal, oil er other nonnuclear means. The MC keeps Interested State and local officials informed of licensing actions on pro-posed nuclear projects. Thus, for the Three Mlle Island Nuclear Station er for any other nuclear power plant to be constructed la Pennsylvania, it is the responsibility of the applicant for the AEC construction peralt to obtain any discharge permit from the Sanitary Water Soard. The timing of submissions of applica-tions for discharge permits is e mattor for determination by the Sanitary Water Board in accordance with appilcable laws and regulatlens.

The Coordinating Camelttee has also proposed that the AEC should be encouraged to work more closely wlth the Federal Water Pollu-tlos Centrol Agency (fWPCA). The MC has long recognized the desirability of working closely with egencies such as the FWPCA in connection with Its licensing activities. As part of our safety review, the MC routinely receives from the Department of the laterier acasamendations and comments on all applications for construction permits. The report'of the Department of the laterior's Fish and Wildlife Service (which includes comments and recommendations of the FWPCA) makes recommendations on radlo-logical matters es well as nonradiological matters, including thermal effects of the discharge of coolant water in the marine environment. A copy of this report is sent to the epplicant, calling attentlen to the service's recommendation concerning potential nonradiological effects and urging cooperation with the appropriate Federal and State agencies. This report is also made public and is forwarded to the State and local agencies that may have as laterest la this information. The above procedures were followed in connection with our review of the Three Mlle Island Nuclear Station.

} } O 'l 9Iq Finally, the Coordinating Committee proposed that the MC work more closely with the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) In regard to plant location In close prealmity to airports. As noted above, C#TICE >

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Wenerable Alchard S. Schwelker the applicant for a construction permit is required to obtain all necessary Federal, State and local authorizations for the construction of a proposed nuclear power plant in addirloc to an MC construction permit. This factudes following appropriate regulatory procedures of the FAA when nuclear power plants are to be cons tructed near commercial airports.

In the case of the Three Mlle island Nuclear Station, the applicant did consult with appropriate officials of both the FAA and the Pennsylvania Aeronautics Commission regarding the Station and compiled with all pertinent requirements of these agencies applicable to the facilities under construction at the Stattoo.

In addition, of course, la its review of the applications for MC construction permits, the MC also assured itself that the location of the Station near the airport would not poca undue radiological health and safety hazards for the public.

In its letter, the Coordinating Coeuilttee Indicated its endorse-ment of a bill, S. 7, introduced in the Senate. MC Cosenissioner James T. Ramey appeared before the Subcosusittee on Air and Vater Pollution of the Senate Committee on Public Works on March 3, 1969, and before the House Committee on Public Works on March 6, 1969,.where he testlffed that the Consission was pleased to support this proposed legislatloa, subject to certain technical modificattens. This legislation would prohibit the Commission from issuing a cocstruction permit for a nuclear power plant until a State water quality certification had firsc been received by the Commission.

Your InteNst la the matters raised by the Coordinating Committee is appreciated.

if I can be of say further assistance, please contact me.

Sincerely yours, T signed ) Haroid L Price

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T Harold L. Price afL LLA Director of Regulation i

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M eMMUA The applicant for a constructica permit for a proposed nuclear r plant selects the site for that plant. The AM does not par cipata la that selection and is responsibic only for deter-mini whether the sita is suitable for the proposed nuclear power plant a radiological standpoint.

Licensing y the AEC does not rolleve the applicant from being subject to appropriate jurisdictions In other areas which would also involved If the nuclear pcwer plant were fueled by seal, all or e er nonsuelear means. The AEC keeps laterested State and local fficials Infonned of licensing actions on pro-posed nuclear pre acts. Thus, for the Three Mlle Island Nuclear Station er for any ther nuclear power plant to be constructed la Pennsylvenia, it s the responsibility of the applicant for the AEC constructien rult to obtain any discharge permit from the sanitary Water See The timing of submissions of applica-tions for discharge pers ts is a metter for determination by the Sanitary Water Soard la ordance with applicable laws and regulations.

The Coordinating Caseelttaa has also proposed that the AEC should Ire encouraged to work more clos y with the Federal Water Pollu-tion.Centrol Agency (FWPC4. The C has long recognized the desirability of working closely wi agencies such as the FWPCA la connection with its IIconsing act vities. As part of our safety review, the AEC routinely race s from the Department of the Interior re-ndations and commen on all applications for construction 6roceduresJ The report of Department of the interior's Fish and wildlife Service (whl includes comments and recommendations of the FwCM mekas recomme ations on radiological setters as well as nonradiological matters, I luding thermal effects of the discharge of coolant water la th marine environ-ment. A copy of this report is sont to the appl ant, calling attention to the Service's recommendation concerni potential nonradiological effects and urging cooperation with appro-priate Federal and State opencies. This report is al made public and is forwarded to the State and local agencies hat may have an interest la this Information. The above precedu s we re followed in connection with our review of the Three Mlle I and Nuclear Station.

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Finally, the Coordinating Camelttee proposed that the AEC work more slosely with the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) In regard to plant location la close proximity to airports. As noted above, 9701 9F9 CmCE >

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