ML19289F402
| ML19289F402 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Diablo Canyon  |
| Issue date: | 04/12/1979 |
| From: | Fleischaker D, Kristovich S, Phillips J CENTER FOR LAW IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST, FLEISCHAKER, D.S. |
| To: | |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7906070327 | |
| Download: ML19289F402 (5) | |
Text
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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA g{ '
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSI'QN'
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Before The Commission n,
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9 In the Matter of:
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PACIFIC GAS & ELECTRIC COMPANY
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Docket Nos. 50-275 OL (Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power
)
50-323 OL Plant, Units 1 & 2)
)
JOINT INTERVENORS' REQUEST THAT THE COMMISSION WITHHOLD ISSUANCE OF AN OPERATING LICEL E FOR THE DCNPP I.
The Joint Intervenors, SCENIC SHORELINE PRESERVATION CONFERENCE, INC., SAN LUIS OBISPO MOTHERS FOR PEACE, SANDRA SILVER, ECOLOGY ACTION CLUB, and JOHN J.
FORSTER, request that the Commission, in exercise of its general supervisory powers over all Commission activities, withhold issuance of a license to operate the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant (DCNPP), pending a determination as to whether the facility should be modified in view of the information obtained from the analysis of the accident at Three Mile Island (TMI).
Because we believe the Commission is best qualified to address the policy considerations raised in this motion, we raise it directly with the Commission rather than with the Licensing Board or the Appeal Board. -1/
-1/
Should the Commission grant this request, we expect that first, the Applicant would document proposed modifica-tions in an amendment to thc FSAR; second, the Staff would review the proposed modifications in a supplement to the SER,- and third, parties might initiate hearings on the modifications by submitting legally sufficient contentions to the Licensing Board.
79060703a7 2231 224
2.
II.
The Commission is currently investigating the recent accident at the TMI Nuclear Power Plant.
That reactor, like the one at Diablo Canyon, is a pressurized water reactor.
The results frem these ongoing investigations have not been made public.
However, reports in the press indicate that the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS) has written the Commission regarding problems encountered at TMI that m'y apply to all pressurized water reactors.
Apparently, two identified problems are (1) the failure of pressure gauges to advise reactor operators of the water level in the reactor vessel, and (2) the absence of any mechanism for automatically venting gasses that may collect at the top of the reactor vessel.
In addition, statements by URC officials indicate that in-containment instruments have failed in the post-accident environment.
Further analysis may uncover other safety problems generic to pressurized water reactors and, therefore, relevant to the DCNPP.
Permitting DCNPP to go critical may preclude modifications to that facility, indicated from TMI analysis and, in any event, would likely make such modifications more expensive and dangerous to workers engaged in modifying the facility.
Public
.sfety is the first, last, and permanent question in any decision on the issuance of a construction permit or a license to operate a nuclear facility.
Power Reactor Co.
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3.
- v. Electricians, 367 U.S.
346, 402 (1961).
That considera-tion, we submit, requires the Commission to withhold issuance of a license to operate the DCNPP until it is determined whether, and, if so, to what extent the DCNPP should be modified. -2/
Respectfully submitted, N d,6(4 MN David S.
Fleischaker, Esq.
1025 Fifteenth Street, N.W.
Suite 602 Washington, D.C.
20005 (202) 638-6070 John R.
Phillips, Esq.
Steven Kristovich, Esq.
CENTER FOR LAW IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST 10203 Santa Monica Boulevard Los Angeles, California 90067 (213) 879-5588 Attorneys For Joint Intervencrs SCENIC SHORLINE PRESERVATION CONFERENCE, INC.
SAN LUIS OBISPO MOTHERS FOR PEACE ECOLOGY ACTION CLUB SANDRA A.
SILVER JOHN J.
FORSTER April 12, 1979
-2/
We would like to stress that we are not suggesting that the ASLB stay issuance of a partial initial decision on the seismic issues.
To the contrary, we believe that such a decision should be issued as expeditiously as possible.
The record is complete in that complex matter, and it m2.kes no sense to stall the Licensing Board's decision and appellate review of that decision.
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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION In the Matter of:
)
)
PACIFIC GAS & ELECTRIC COMPANY
)
Docket Nos. 50-275 OL (Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power
)
50-323 OL Plant, Units 1 & 2)
)
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I hereby certify that I have this 12th day of April, 1979, served copies of the foregoing JOINT INTERVENORS' REQUEST THAT THE COMMISSION WITHHOLD ISSUANCE OF AN OPERATING LICENSE FOR THE DCNPP upon all of the parties listed below either by depositing copies thereof in the U.S. Mails, first class, postage prepaid, I*)
or by hand delivery Dr. Joseph Hendrie, Chairman Peter A. Bradford, Commissioner (*}
(*)
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission U.S.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission 1717 H Street, N.W.
1717 H Street, N.W.
llth Floor llth Floor Washington, D.C.
20555 Washington, D.C.
20555 Victor Gilinsky, Commissioner (*}
John F. Ahearne, Commissioner (*
U.S.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission U.S. L'uclear Regulatory Commission 1717 H Street, N.W.
1717 F Street, N.W.
lith Floor lith Floor Washington, D.C.
20555 Washington, D.C.
20555 I*)
Richard T.
Kennedy, Commissioner Alan Rosenthal, Chairman I*}
U.S.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission Atomic Safety & Licensing 1717 H Street, N.W.
Appeal Board lith Floor U.S.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission dashington, D.C.
20S55 Washington, D.C.
20555 W. Reed Johnson, Menber (*)
Atomic Safety & Licensing Appeal Board U.S.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C.
20555 2231 227 1
' Richard S.
Salzman, Member b* I John Phillips, Esq.
Atomic Safety & Licensing Center For Law In Appeal Board The Public Interest U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 10203 Santa Monica Boulevard Washington, D.C.
20555 Los Angeles, CA 90067 Elizabeth S. Bowerr. Esq.,(*)
Paul C. Valentine, Esq.
Chairman 321 Lytton Avenue Atomic Safety &
Palo Alto, CA 94302 Licensing Board U.S.
Nuclear Regulatory Janice E.
Kerr, Esq.
Ccmmission Lawrence Q. Garcia, Esq.
Mail Drop East West 450 J. Calvin Simpson, Esq.
Washington, D.C.
20555 California Public Utilities Commission
(*)
Mr. Glenn O.
Bright 5246 State Building Atomic Safety &
350 McAllister Street Licensing Board San Francisco, CA 94102 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission John C. Morrissey, Esq.
Mail Drop East West 450 Philip A.
Crane, Esq.
Washington, D.C.
20555 Pacific Gas & Electric Company 77 Beale Street, Room 3127 Docket & Service Section San Francisco, CA 94106 Office of the Secretary U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Arthur C.
Gehr, Esq.
Commission Snell & Wilmer Washington, D.C.
20555 3100 Valley Center Phoenix, Arizona 85073 Dr. William E. Martin Battelle Memorial Institute Bruce Norton, Esq.
Columbus, Ohio 43201 3216 N. Third Street Suite 202
(*)
James R. Tourtellotte, Esq.
Phoenix, Arizona 85012 L.
Dow Davis, Esq.
Lawrence Brenner, Esq.
Mr. Yale I Jones, Esq.
Office of Executiva Legal 100 Van Ness Avenue Director - BETH 042 19th Floor U.S.
Nuclear Regulatory San Francisco, CA 94102 Commission Washington, D.C.
20555 Mrs. Raye Fleming 1920 Mattie Road Mrs. Elizabeth Apfelberg Shell Beach, CA 93449 1415 Cozadero San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 MHB Technical Associates 1723 Hamilton Avenue Sandra A.
& Gordon Silver Suite K 1760 Alisal Street San Jose, CA 95125 San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 Carl Neiburger Telegram Tribune P.O.
Box 112 M
M"lW San Luis Obispo, CA 93402 DAVID S.
FLEISCHAKER, ESQ.
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