ML19308B911

Discusses Comments of Boards & Executive Legal Director Re Mod of Rules Governing Board Review of Uncontested Issues. Requests Response by 790119

ML19308B911
Person / Time
Site:	Crane
Issue date:	01/05/1979
From:	Kelley J NRC OFFICE OF THE GENERAL COUNSEL (OGC)
To:	Gilinsky V, Hendrie J, Kennedy R NRC COMMISSION (OCM)
Shared Package
ML19308B912	List: ML19308B911 ML19308B917 ML19308B920 ML19308B921
References
TASK-TF, TASK-TMR NUDOCS 8001170614
Download: ML19308B911 (2)

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UNITED STATES

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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION a$

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e WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555

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!.1 January 5, 1979 G

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MEMORANDUM FOR:

Chairman Hendrie

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Commissioner Gilinsky 2*

Commissioner Kennedy

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Commissioner Bradford

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Commissioner-Ahearne T

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FROM:

James L. Kelley, Acting General Counsel

SUBJECT:

MODIFICATION OF RULES GOVERNING BOARD SI:=;

REVIEW OF UNCONTESTED ISSUES jn E

-We have received the comments of the boards and the Executive

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Legal Director regarding the above subject.

(Attached)

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• ..rf believe it is fair to say that there is consensus on the

{ _ "t following points:

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1.

There is a sharp distinction to be drawn between the E

role of the boards at the construction permit stages.

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The current restrictive review standard applies only p57 to the latter stage.

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2.

The Atomic Energy Act, as amended in 1962, intends a

T limited role for the boards at the operating license E. = -

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stage.

The restrictive review standard is intended, El.=2._

at least in part, to resolve the anomaly created by f~;;

the fact that a licensing board is formed at the-

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operating license stage only-if a. controversy arises,

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howevernlimited;in scope. ' This board could*then 7re

" t j5,2; sumably explore other safetycor.. environmental: issues w : =. ::.:n not raised by the parties. EThere wo'11d be no board

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.iEE:2 review of theserissues, of' course,yabsent the~ exist '- -

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ence of a controversy.

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The boards do not have the resources to examine"on1

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their own the full range of issues at the operating EG license stage without-the assistance of the marties 74.,5 in an adversary setting, i.e..,-the boards cinnot-act 2

. _ f"l" as general " overseers" of theistaff's performance'. -

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. - t=gg~1 CONTACT:- William M. Shields, GC' X 43215

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The Commission 2

January 5, 1979

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4.

The boards have generally interpreted the current lll3 l

standards as meaning that they say examine " serious" safety or environmental questions not raised by the F = ===-

parties.

(OELD hearing counsel agree with this inter-

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pretation.)

The boards have not felt constrained by 1.

the terms " extraordinary circumstances" and " sparingly."

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Provided that it would-not be-inter.oreted as a-Com-

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mission directive for increased board' examination of L =" :..

uncontested matters (see Mr. Rosenthal's note at 2),

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some moC.'ication of the language of the current rules Efsh l

might be appropriate.

Since the boards appear to focus T= :=.

l their inquiry on_" serious" safety.or environmental'

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issues, the deletion or modification of language in-

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""~7 volving " extraordinary circumstances" and " sparing;1y" could bring the regulations in line with current prac-E. =5=

f tice.

If you approve, then this effice, in consultation

@=i"D with OELD, will prepare ' appropriate amendment papers i:l"..'"

along these lines.

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Please provide your comments to my office by Friday, L=.=

January 19

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Attachments:

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Memo, 12/15/78,2:Rosenthal

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to Kelley ist=3:

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Memo, 12/20/7.8, Yore to

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Kelley

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Memo, 12/21/78,.Shapar to 2

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