ML19309B018

Opposes Recent Licensing of Plant.Urges NRC to Reverse Decision & Resume Moratorium of Licensing Until Kemeny Commission Recommendations Have Been Implemented

ML19309B018
Person / Time
Site:	Sequoyah
Issue date:	02/29/1980
From:	Boreiko T AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED
To:	Ahearne J NRC COMMISSION (OCM)
References
NUDOCS 8004020489
Download: ML19309B018 (2)

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DOCALT 4Gna R o fROD,4 UIll.FAC.bNs).N J Energy and Enviroriment-A TASK FORCE OF CITIZENS FOR PARTICIPATION IN POLITICAL. ACTION February 29, 19 4 6

Chairman John Ahearne United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555 $ Y g 50 *

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Dear Chairman Ahearne and Members of the N.R.C. :

1. mute DoddI CN" SW188 c

The Energy and Environment Task Force of Citizens for Par pation in Political Action (CPPAX) is strongly opposed to your D I /.

recent licensing of the Sequoyah 1 Nuclear Reactor in Tennessee.

This N.R.C. decision comes just four months after the Kemeny Commission, having investigated the safety problems raised by ,

the accident at the Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant, released its report criticizing the organization, procedures and practices involved in the regulation and operation of nuclear power in this country.

As part of its overall conclusions, the Kemeny Commission stated:

l "To prevent nuclear accidents as serious as Three  !

! Mile Island, fundamental changes will be necessary I l

in the organization, procedures and practices -- l and above all -- in the attitudes of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and, to the extent that the institutions we investigated are typical, of the nuclear industry."

The Kemeny Commission noted four areas in which they found serious deficiencies in regard to the operation and regulation of nuclear power plants. They cited the need for improvements in safety equipment and control panels, the improved training of plant operators, clarification of the existing body of regula-tions, and the reorganization of the N.R.C. itself.

As far as is discernable from our perspective, there has been no serious action taken in any of these problem areas. We can find no evidence of significant improvements in technology or control panels. We have seen no indication that the body of regulations, which the Presidential Commission calls " confusing",

have been significantly revised.

The most straightforward recommendation of the Kemeny Commission, which has not been adirassed, is the reorganization o f the N .R.C. itself. The Kemeny panel sharply criticized the operation of the N.R.C., stating that: "We therefore conclude that there is no well-thought-out, integrated system for the assurance of nuclear safety within the current N.R.C. For all these reasons we recommend a total restructuring of the N.R.C. ".

8 0 04 0:3 04 y

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i d1early, it is essential that it be demonstrated to the public that the N.R.C. has adopted the Presidential Commission's recom-(

mandatione. Until such time, a moratorium should remain in effect on ' construction and licensing of new nuclear facilities.

It is particularly disturbing, and even ironic, that N.R.C.

l announced its intention to remove its " pause" in the issucce of l operating licenses for nuclear power plants on the same day that 60,000 gallons of radioactive water spilled into the containment j building of the Crystal River Nuclear Gencrator in Florida. In i light of this accident, which has been termed the worst since '

the Three Mile Island Accident, it is unfortunate that your Commission has followed through on its announced intention to resume licensing. -

On behalf of the 2,000 members of CPPAX, we urge you and other members of the N.R.C. to reverse your decision on Sequoyah 1 and resume the moratorium on the licensing of nuclear power plants.

We urge this in view of the absence of evidence that the recommen-dations of the Kemeny Commission have been-implemented. In addition, we urge your reappraisal because of the continuing safety problems with the operation of nuclear power stations, as evidenced by the Crystal River accident.

We urge your immediate attention to this matter.

Sincerely, A~ f e.m Edmun Crot Thomas Boreiko CPPAX Executive Board Chairman CPPAX Executive Board Member copy: Presid?nt Carter l

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