ML19317H291
| ML19317H291 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane  |
| Issue date: | 04/11/1980 |
| From: | Harold Denton Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Coleman E AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19317H292 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8005140317 | |
| Download: ML19317H291 (3) | |
Text
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/ UNITED STATES g y, , 'q '[g NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION /b - E WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555 f; %, v p APR 1 i ;580 +.... Mr. Ed Colenan Herbst & Associates, Inc. P. O. Box 90989 Houston, Texas 77090
Dear Mr. Coleman:
This is in reply to your letters of January 28, 1980, to President Carter and to me about licensing nuclear power plants. A statement by President Carter 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 recommendations are being imple-mented. There are a number of new nuclear plants now awaiting operating licenses or construction permits. " Licensing decisions rest with the 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 in-dicated, however, that it will pause in issuing new licenses and construction pemits 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 safety, 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 fcund that actions recommended by its own staff and by the President's 1 Commission on the Accident at Three Mile Island in the areas of human factors, operational safety, emergency planning, nuclear power plant design and siting, health effects, and public infomation are necessary and feasible.
Mr. Ed Coleman ApR 11 580 At this time we are preparing for review and approval by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission an Action Plan that will specify the precise actions to be taken. It will include new or improved safety ob-jectives, detailed criteria for their implementation, and various implementation deadlines. As soon as the Action Plan is completed and approved, the resulting regulatory requirements will be trans-mitted to all utilities concerned. It is recognized that there will be a significant effect on the i availability of power generating capacity if those plants now in the final stages of construction do not receive operating licenses by ~ J:tes previously anticipated, and every effort is being made to avoid unnecessary delays. With this objective, the Commissioners approved on February 28, 1980, the issuance of an NRC license to the Tennessee Valley Authority for the Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Unit 1 to load fuel and, under specified conditions, to operate at low power levels for testing. Several other similar cases are under consid-eration. Sincerely, (T.% m Harold R. Denton, Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
g, 14 HERBST & ASSOCIATES, INC. PROCESS & POWER EOUIPMENT P O. 80X 90000 HOUSTON. TEXAS 77000 (713) 440 4000 TELA 762ee2 January 28, 1980 ..)v N Office of the President /,b The White House l Washington, D.C. Attention: President Jimmy Carter
Dear Mr. President:
I am writing to request you use the influence of your office to encourage the Nuc_1_earJegu,latory_Cprm4 c:sion to reconsider their recent"dscTsion to delay operating licenses and con-struction permits for nuclear'p5GaF.'pl'an.ts. ~ - Although I will not be directly affected by the delay, I do appreciate that ultimately the costs associated with the deci-sion must be borne by all power consumers. This cost can only add to the inflationary trend we are now experiencing. Addi-tionally, delays in our nuclear program are ill advised at this time in the light of the recent events in Iran. Delays in this country's nuclear program can only serve to make our country more susceptible to, and perhaps eve ^ encourage the reoccurrence of similar events in the unste oil producing nations. Once again, I respectfully request the Nuclear Regulatory Com-mission reconsider their decision. Thank you for-your atten-tion to this matter. Yours very truly, HEREST & ASSOCIATES, INC. n llY/ l 4: Ed Coleman VEC:mk i l .y _.. _}}