ML19294B445
| ML19294B445 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Maine Yankee |
| Issue date: | 02/11/1980 |
| From: | Harold Denton Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Cowan H AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19294B446 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8002280395 | |
| Download: ML19294B445 (2) | |
Text
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
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Docket No. 50-309 Mr. Howard Cowan, Publisher The Boothbay Register 95 Townsend Avenue Boothbay Harbor, Maine 04538
Dear Mr. Cowan:
I am pleased to respond to your letter dated January 17, 1980, to NRC Chair-man John Ahearne.
Since this licensing action has the potential for coming before the Commission for review and to avoid the appearance of any ex carte communication, Chairman Ahearne asked that I respond for him.
In yoTr' letter you protested the manner in which NRC Staff members conducted a meeting on January 9,1980 with an organization, Sensible Maine Power, (SMP).
Specifically you are concerned because the meeting was held with members of the public and The Boothbay Register was not given notice of this meeting.
As orginally conceived, the meeting was to be a small informal gathering of representatives of the NRC Staff and SMP in Mr. Tupper's office.
SMP is an organization which has petitioned to request a hearing and participate in any hearing held relating to Maine Yankee's proposed license amendment to increase the capacity of the Maine Yankee Nuclear Plant spent fuel pool.
The purpose of the meeting was to assist the representatives of SMP in understanding the Cormission's " Rules of Practice", to explain the nature of the Commission's adjudicatory proceedings and to clarify the nature of the pending application and the scope of the NRC Staff's environmental and safety reviews. No member of the NRC Staff inforned any members of the press, or other media of this meeting.
The NRC attendees were surprised at the turn-out and at the press coverage.
In the future, we will attempt to more explicitly establish the groundrules for such meetings in advance of the meetings.
If the meeting is to be with an individual or small group of citizens who wish to provide comments to or obtain information from the staff in a non-public forum, we believe it is appropriate to hold such meetings without notification of the remainder of the public and the press.
However, if the meeting is to be open to the public or if any members of the press are to be present, we will notify the public and the press.
Any meetings with a licensee are of course open to 8002080 396 7
i
Mr. Howard Cowan the public. We regret the misunderstanding that arose concerning the meeting of January 9,1980, and we trust our future approach as stated above is responsive to your concerns.
Sincerely, Harold R. Denton, Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
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