ML19317H364
| ML19317H364 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane  |
| Issue date: | 04/21/1980 |
| From: | Harold Denton Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Halberstadt V AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8006020181 | |
| Download: ML19317H364 (4) | |
Text
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.5 Mrs. Vivian Halberstadt THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS 1112 Grinnell P.oad POOR QUAUTY PAGES Green Acres Wilmington, Delaware 19803
Dear Mrs. Halberstadt:
This is in reply to your letter of February 28, 1980, to President Carter about licensing nuclear power plants.
A statement by President Carter on Decenber 7,1979, about the Report of the President's Commission on the Accident at Thrce 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 pemits.
" 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 The NRC has in-circumstances surrounding a plant dictate.
dicated, however, that it will pause in issuing new licenses and construction pemits in order to devote its full attention I endorse the approach the NRC to putting its house in order.
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 refoms 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 conmitted to protect the public The Three Mile Island accident resulted in a need health and safety.
for changes in the approach to safety. The Muclear Regulatory Commission has found that actions recomnended by its own staff and by the President's Ccantssion on the Accident at Three Mile Island in the areas of human factors, operational safety, emergency planning, nuclear pc.ar plant design and siting, health effects, and public infomation are necessary and feasible.
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.a "rs. Vivian Halberstadt p j:,,, :h.
At this tice 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-fectives, detailed criteria for their inplementation, and various taplementation 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 availability of: power generating capacity if those plants new in the final-stages of construction do not receive operating licenses by.the dates previously anticipated and every effort is being cade to a' void unnecessary delays. With 'ais objective, the Commissioners approved on February.28, 19S0, the issuance of an NRC license to the Tennessee Valley Authority for the Sequoyah Nuclear Plant Unit I to load fuel and, under specified conditions, to operate at low power levels for testing.
Several other similar cases are under consid-eration.
Every effort is being nade to protect the public health and safety at all nuclear power plants that are currently operating 'or that may begin operating in the future.
Sincerely,
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Harold R. Denton, Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
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llowever, he 3.sid there are still am isappoir.!ed by this commis. h.
Ahearne told Congress vesterday, some nev Three Mile Island. sion. I th.ni it is ignem : tne prest. i.
Ahearne said his agency's self. inspired requirements that will dent and Corgress." Devill >asd l
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a " pause" - cou d end in the next operation ptsnts can be autho' rued. Victor G..insky told tt.e pne: Ibe case.by-case L-sis.ill be made "on a licensing dclay had b. n few dtys when the NHC considers granting an interim operating For in.ttance. he sttid. it was inund l
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h few v.whs, /st.:arne s.a 4 in teni-vaes.i.e teatsista.
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