ML19309B510
| ML19309B510 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane  |
| Issue date: | 03/03/1980 |
| From: | Harold Denton Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Page E AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19309B511 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8004040223 | |
| Download: ML19309B510 (2) | |
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
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MAR 0 31980 Mr. Earl M. Page 2662 Cheswick Drive Troy, Michigan 48084
Dear Mr. Page:
This is in reply to your letter of November 21, 1979, to President Carter, which was referred to the Nuclear Regulatory Cocsission by the Department of Energy on January 25, 1980.
A statement by President Certar on December 7, 1979, about the Report of the President's Commission on the Accident at Three Mile Island (the Kemeny Commission) included the following:
" Finally, I would like to discuss how we manage the transition period during which the Kemeny reco=mendations are being implemented. There are a number of new nuclear plants now awaiting operating licenses or construction permits.
" Licensing decisions rest with tne NRC and, as the Kemeny Commission noted, it has the authority to proceed with licensing these plants on a case-by-case basis, which may be used as circumstances surrounding a plant dictate. The NRC has indicated, however, that it will pause in issuing new licenses and construction permits in order to devote its full attention to putting its house in order.
I endorse the approach the NRC has adopted, but I urge the NRC to complete its work as quickly as possible, and in any event no later than six months from today.
"Once we have instituted the necessary reforms to assure sa'fety, we must resume the licensing process promptly so that the new plants which we need to reduce our dependence on foreign oil can be built and operated."
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is committed to protect the public health and safety. The Three Mile Island accident resulted in a need for changes in the approach to safety. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has found that actions recommended by its own staff and by the President's Co= mission on the Accident at Three Mile Island in the areas of human factors, operational safety, emergency planling, nuclear power plant design and siting, health effects, and public information are necessary and feasible.
At this time we are preparing for review and approval by the Nuclear Regula-tory Cocmission an Action Plan that will specify the precise actions to be s
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Mr. Earl M. Page taken. It will include new or improved safety objectives, detailed criteria for their implementation, and various implementation deadlines.
As soon as the Action Plan is completed and approved, the resulting regulatory require-ments will be transmitted to all ut1Jities concerned.
It is recognized that-there will be a significant effort on the availability of power generating capacity tf those plants now in the final stages of construction do not receisa operating licenses by the dates previously anticipated, and every effort is being made to avoid unnecessary delays.
Sincerely,
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[1$ch Harold R. Dehton, Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation e
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