ML19275J394

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Discusses Dam Failure on 760222 in Northwestern Nc. Hydrologic Design Criteria Guide Issuance Held Up Due to Jurisdictional Disputes within Nrc.Undated Memo from Lg Hulman to H Denton Re Nc Dam Failure Encl
ML19275J394
Person / Time
Issue date: 03/01/1976
From: Milliken D
NRC OFFICE OF STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT
To: Roberts I
NRC OFFICE OF STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT
Shared Package
ML19275J389 List:
References
NUDOCS 8104130567
Download: ML19275J394 (2)


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UNITED STATES 9h NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION M

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W "AR 011976011976Note to-I. C. Ibberts, Icsistant Director for Site and Health Standards Office of StehJs Develognent GUIDE ON IWDIOUDCIC DESICai CPTITRIrT Four people were killed and about 0200,000 property damge occurred at 2 a.m. ?chruary 22, 1976, when a dam in northwestern North C

' lina failed.

It was a very small dam, only about 30 feet high and impounding less than 50 acro-feet. This dam was not part of a nuclear installation; mcr.' dams for nuclear plants would he larger. The failure demonstrates, hcuever, that even miniature des can be very dangerous if not properly designed.

It has ncw been almost a full year-sirco March 13,1975-that the hydrologic design criteria guide has been held up by a jurisdictional dispute within IEC. The problcm is not the content of the guide, which wouli prevent underdesign such as for the North Carolina dam. The ca.1es-tion is whether the authority would be NEPA or the Atamic Energy Act.

An answer is not yet in sight. Meanwhile, tac continues to license plants which could include cbms that are equally as dangerous as the one in North Carolina.

IIcw long are we going to continue to accept endangering of the general public while we generate red tape?

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bl Donald L. Milliken Site Safety Standards Branch Site and IIcalth Standards Office of Standards Developnent cc:

R. Minogue R. Mattson G. !!ulman

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