ML19305D369
| ML19305D369 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 03/01/1980 |
| From: | Kammerer C NRC OFFICE OF CONGRESSIONAL AFFAIRS (OCA) |
| To: | Boren D SENATE |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19305D370 | List: |
| References | |
| 800321, NUDOCS 8004140483 | |
| Download: ML19305D369 (2) | |
Text
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PDR DMu11er' UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION EDO Rdg /
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March 21,1980 i
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The Honorable David L. Boren DEisenhut United States Senate d
Washington, D.C. 20510
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Dear Senator Boren:
-).
Your letter dated February 14, 1980, forwarded a copy of a letter to you from Ms. Emily Griffin.
In her letter, Ms. Griffin asks several i
questions related to the safety of various aspects of the nuclear fuel cycle.
l In response to the question about emergency planning, I have enclosed a copy of the proposed change to 10 CFR Part 50 which defines the l
HRC responsibility with respect to emergency planning.
The section titled " Rationale for Change" (p. 75169) describes the current NRC judgment concerning emergency planning which is based in part on the lessons learned from the Three Mile Island accident.
i With respect to Ms. Griffin's question about the storage of nuclear waste, the goal of the national nuclear waste management program ---
is to isolate from the biosphere the existing and future nuclear wastes i
frem military and civilian activities, including spent fuel from the i
once-through nuclear power cycle, so as to pose no.significant threat to public health and safety and the environment. The overall performance objective for disposal of radioactive wastes (i.e., the maximum allowable release of radionuclides to the biosphere) will be established
~l by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in their Environmental Radiation Protection Standards which are scheduled to be published for public review and coment during the spring of 1980.
The NRC is responsible for providing and implementing the framework of regulations l
and criteria that will ensure that the disposal methods developed for all types of radioactive waste are consistent with the achievement j
of this goal of safe, long-term waste disposal.
l With respect to the safeguards provided for nuclear power plants in earthquake zones, I have enclosed a copy of 10 CFR Part 100 which l
includes in Appendix A, the seismic criteria applied to nuclear power plants.
In addition I have also enclosed a copy of the Standard Review Plan used to guide the NRC staff review of earthquake-related matters associated with specific license applications.
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._ The Honorable David Boren -
In response to Ms. Griffin's question about the effect of a " melt down". I am enclosing a Fact Sheet on Radiation Releases in the Event of a Core Meltdown which was prepared by NRC staff following the accident at Three Mile Island. The discussion is hypothetical based on data generated during preparation of the Reactor Safety Study (WASH-1400).
I am also enclosing Fact Sheets discussing the effect of low-level radiation exposure and the Price-Anderson Act indemnity program..
Finally, I have enclosed a copy of a pamphlet which describes the NRC licensing process as it applied to nuclear power plants.
i As I am sure you realize, the questions contained in Ms. Griffin's letter are quite general in nature and are the subject of extensive analysis and documentation by the NRC staff.
I hope that the enclosed reference material is responsive to Ms. Griffin's questions.
Sincerely,
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~C ltondammerer, Director Office of Congressional Affairs
Enclosures:
As stated i
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ED0 Rdg GErtter (08433 NRR Rdg f1Groff f
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SECY (80-0341) t fit 1SS OCA i
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HBerkow/llRussel ki1[ttson The Honorable David L. Boren i
United States Senate DEisenhut l
. Washington, D. C.
205:0 FHebdon guson
Dear Senator Boren:
Your letter to fir. Carlton Karnerer dated February 14, 1980, forwarded a copy,
of a letter to you from !!s. Emily Griffin.
In her lett r, fis. Griffin asks several questions related to the safety of various as cts of the nuclear fuel cycle.
In response to the question out emergency pl ning, I have enclosed a copy of the proposed change to 10 CFR art 50 which fines the flRC responsibility with respect to emergency planning. The sectio titled " Rationale for Change" (p. 75169) describes the curren flRC jud..ent concerning emergency planning which is based in part on the le sons 1 arned from the Three fille Island accident.
I With respect to lis. Griffin's que n about the storage of nuclear waste, the j
goal of the national nuclear wast
.anagement program is to isolate from the r-biosphere the existing and futur n lear wastes from military and civilian activities, including spent fu fro. the once-through nuclear power cycle, so as to pose no significant thrfat to p lic health and safety and the environ-l ment.
The overall performar (i.e., the maximum allowab 'yde objecti e for disposal of radioactive wastes e release of\\
be established by the Env ronmental Prote[adionuclides to the biosphere) will ction Agency (EPA) in their Environ-mental Radiation Protec on Standards which are scheduled to be published for
- public review and comm t during. the spiin_ of 1980. The flRC is responsible I
for providing and imp ementing the framewor of regulations and criteria that will ensure that th disposal methods develop d for all types of radioactive j
waste are consiste with the achievement of is goal of safe, long-term waste disposal.
With respect to the safeguards provided for nuclear power plants in earthquake
- ones, I have enclosed a copy of 10 CFR Part 100 which includes in Appendix A, the seismic criteria applied to nuclear power plants.
In addition, I have also enclosed a copy of the Standard Review Plan used to guide the flRC staff revieu of earthquake-related matters associated with specific license applications.
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The Fonorable David L. Boren
- In response to Ms. Griffin's question about the effect of a " melt down", I i
have enclosed a copy of a report prepared for the NRC titled, " Reactor Safety I
Study" (UASH 1400). Th.is report has been amplified by a subsequent report (enclosed) titled, " Risk Assessment Review G.roup Report to the U.S. Nuclear I
Regulatory Commission" and by a policy statement (enclosed) issued by the NRC regarding the Risk Assessment Review Group Report.
Finally, I have enclosed a copy of a pamphlet which describes the NRC licensing
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process as it applied to nuclear power plants.
I As I am sure you realize, the questions contained in Ms. Griffin's letter are i
quite general in nature and are the subject of extensive analysis and documen-tation by the NRC staff.
I hope that the enclosed reference material is respon-sive to Ms. Griffin's questions.
If additional information concerning these issues is needed, please contact me or Mr. Fred Hebdon, (301) 492-7066, of my staff.
i I
Sincerely,.
i (Signed) E.
n Cornell t
Willi. J. Dircks
' s A ng Ex'cutive Director for Operations i
Enclosures:
i 1.
Proposed Rule 10 CFR Part 50 2.
3.
Standard Review P ns 2.5.1
.2.5.5 4.
WASH 1400 5.
" Risk Assess nt Review l
Group Re rt to the U.S.
i Nuclear / Regulatory Commission" 6.
Policy Matement dtd 1/18/79 7.
" Licensing of Nuclear Power Reactors"
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ACTION CONTROL DATES CONTROL NO f,N
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ACKNOWLEDGMENT DATE OF DOCUMENT INTERIM REPLY 2/]4/M TO:
PREPARE FOR SIGNATURE O F '-
FINAL REPLY /'
O CHAIRMAN F6LE LOCATION 1 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OTHERs DESCRIPTION O LETTER OMEMO O REPORT O OTHER SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR REMARKS Ltr fres Emily Sriffin caecerning ufety of malear power and disposal of waste i
CLASSIFIED DATA DOCUMENT / COPY NO.
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O NSI O Ro O FRD ASS!GNED TO:
DATE INFORMATION ROUTING LEG AL REVIEW O FINAL 0 CCPY M thm 2/27/nd ASSIGNED TO:
DATE NO LEG AL OBJECTIONS NOTIFY:
g O ECO ADMIN & CORRES BR EXT.
COMM ENTS, NOTIF Y:
EXT.
JCAE NOTIFICATION RECOMMENDED:
0 YES O NO I
NRC* FORM 232 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS DO NOT REMOVE TH/S COPY PRINCIPAL CORRESPONDENCE CONTROL 6
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t Logging Date 2/20/80 NRC SECRETARI AT TO:
Comminioner Date XU Exec. Dir/Oper.
Gen. Counsel O Cons. Liaison Soicitor O Public Affairs O Secretary o
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Sen David Boren. Constituent Referral From:
Emily Griffin To-OIA Date 9/14/80 Subsect:
rare enneprnir ahnut the dangers nf nUC Maste disposa!
Prepare reply for signature of:
Chairman Commissioner O s oo. oc. co. Sol. PA. SE CY. l A. PE Signature block omitted Return original of incoming with response
& For direct reply
- Suspense: Feb 28 For appropnate action For information n,
OCA to Ack For the Commauson:
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' Send three (3) copies of reply to Secy Correspondence and Records Branch mace:
Rec'd Dff. EDO N
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