ML19318B244
| ML19318B244 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 07002909 |
| Issue date: | 04/07/1980 |
| From: | Cellier F WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC COMPANY, DIV OF CBS CORP., WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CORP. |
| To: | Crow W NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| References | |
| 16026, W-UFP2-80-065, NUDOCS 8006250162 | |
| Download: ML19318B244 (12) | |
Text
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6 70-2] o3 PDA UFP2-80-065
-e-: vED Westinghouse Electric Corporation Power sys,te;ms ras.arrueio: vision Box 355
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'N Mr. W. T. Crow O
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3 Section Leader, Uranium Process Licensing Section
-i Uranium Fuel Licensing Branch 8
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,C,l Division of Fuel Cycle and !!aterial Safety g u, C J J,'"-
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U. S. fluclear Regulatory Commission q,
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Dear Mr. Crow:
Enclosed, I am sending you a handout of " Questions and Statements About Fuel Fabrication" that was distributed by the Safe Energy Alliance (Anti Group) and used by many of those speaking at the Scoping !!eeting in Prattville on March 27, 1980.
I have also enclosed local (proposed plant site area) newspaper articles, relevant to the nuclear issue, published on or about the meeting date.
We have submitted the five (5) copies of our License Application to Oak Ridge flational Laboratory, as you directed.
I am awaiting your findings as to how we might obtain a copy of the official transcript of the Scoping Meeting.
Information on this, or any questions regarding these enclosures, should be directed to me at (412) - 273-6300.
Very truly yours, Frank Cellier Project Manager Enclosures cc:
D. M. Batson R. A. Williams File 160 THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS tmz POOR QUAUTY PAGES k
16.'?2S a.. ah 8006250)fpQ
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P QUESTIONS AND STATEMENTS ABOUT FUEL FABRICATION Do fuel fabrication plants effect the health of the workers?
The NRC estimates the average exposure of a worker in a fuel fabrication operation to be 260 millirems annual whole body dose and 9,950 millirees critical organ dose to the lungs.
According to recent estimates, this dose increases each worker's risk of cancer 10% - 2 to 3 additional cancers per 100 workers - and doubles the worker's risk of leukemia after 10 years.
Not only will the workers in the plant be exposed to radiation but so will the people who transport radioactive materials to and from the plant.
Can we trust this fuel fabrication plant to be accountable for all the radioactive materials it receives?
Recently 8,000 pounds of weapons grade material was reported missing from Apollo, Pennsylvania's NUMEC fuel fabrication plant.
Do fuel fabrication plants effect the health of area residents?
The Atlanta Journal reported that cancer deaths in the county surrounding the Jonesboro, Tennessee fuel fabrication plant have doubled in the twenty years since the plant opened.
Westinghouse assures the residents of Montgomery and Prattville that the fuel fabrication plant is safe.
s it safe to release radioactive materials into the air and into the Alabama River?
ls it safe for truckloads of radioactive material to be shipped from and to the plant on a daily basis?
Is it safe for workers and area residents to be exposed to unnecessary radiation?
We of the Safe, Energy Alliance think not.
Join us in protecting Alabama's citizens and environment. FOR INFORMATION CALL 264-LIFE (10 AM til 6 PM).
i 16026
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6 Will there be any use of Plutonium in tim Prattvil e facility at opening date b ( d (O ;q k g /g or any time in the future? $ // M % d P' f
What kind of security system will the plant have in case of sabotage or thef t?
Will any b'-products from the plant be vented into the atmosphere?
y Will any waste or radioactive materials be buried at plant site or anywhere in the Prattville-Montgomery area? If so, where and how much.
IF THE AUSWER IS YES, ASK: How long will these products remain radioactive and how long are the containers made to last?
What is the least and the most daily dose of radiation a worker will receive?
Has work on construction of the plant been contracted and if so who are the contractors?
Will any radioactive or non-radioactive ~ particles be released into the air?
What percentage of workers will be required to wear masks? To take showers?
What is the maximum permissible level of radiation that could be released in the effluent water?
What amount of nitrates and heavy metals will be released into the river?
Will. mixed oxide fuels be present?
Will an evaporation pond be used?
Will there be enough radioactive material at any one time at the plant to allow critical mass to be reached?
4 s Why is the life of the plant going to be only 40 years?
How many trucks carrying radioactive products entering and leaving the facility en a daily basis?
Is Westinghouse responsible for accidents of fuel shipments outside the plant?
Have residents down stream of the plant who obtain their drinking water from the Alabama River been notified that Westinghouse intends to dump radioactive materials, nitrates, nickel, and lead into the river?
NOTICE TO EVERYONE REQUEST A HEARING CONCERNING THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMEMT AS WELL AS A HEARING CONCERNING ISSUANCE OF A LICENSE.
l
/f p y/$$f8$Wf-was in fact April 3,1580, only a few days away. It was difficult to de-'
termine if Mr. Crow represented the U.S. government or Westinghouse.
Citizens and Prattville officials were assured by the NRC and West-inghouse that the amounts of radio.
active wastes and materials released.
Jnto the environment will be "as low as is reasonably achievable." I asked Mr. Williams of Westinghouse what that meant, but Mr. Crow replied that the amounts would be within levels set by the NRC and that the nearest resident couldreceive as much as.025 rems per year.,
I' asked Mr. Crow if the workers could receive as much as 100 times as much radiation as the nearest resi-dent. He responded with a definite no.
I asked Mr.Crowif the workers could be exposed to 50 times as much radi-ation as the nearest residenL Again he responded with a definite no. Later Mr. Crow stated that the NRC limits for worker exposure to radiation is in fact 5 rems -200 times greater than the amount that the nearest resident can be exposed to!
Another important fact exposed *at
, this hearing was that the environmen-tal reports to the NRC were prepared by Westinghouse employees who had never before prepared such reports.
The NRC was questioned as to wheth-er Westinghouse's men employees could be totally unbiased when ad-verse information would cost West-inghouse millions of dollars...
It was also exposed that West-inghouse would be allowed to release radioactive wastes and materials into the air, ground, and the Alabama -
Howmuch waste 7 River. Furthermore, Wesiin, house _
w uld be able to bury radioactive Edl*or, the Advertiser:
wastes in concrete and drums on the I was one of 150 citizens to attend a Prattville site. Mr. Crow admitted hearing held by the Nuclear Regu.
that the containers would not last latory Commission concerning the long enough to cbntain these radio-proposed Westinghouse Nuclear Fuel active wastes' until they are no longer Fabrication Plant that may be 1o.
radioactive. In effect, he admitted cated on the Alabama River near that these wastes will probably be '
released into the local environment. ;
Prattville.
Mary questioris were asked of West-Mr. Collier of Westinghouse 'has !
trighouse officials, but Mr. Bill Crow stated that the plant will not be a.
of the Uranium Fuel Licensing Sec-health hazard, yet they want to pro.
tion of the NRC answered almost duco 400 metric tons of nuclear fuel i every question for them. His answers' per year. How much waste will be a bypmduct of this 400 metric tons each e e tize produced an NRC press year.
l release showing the cut off date for public comment to be April 7,1980.
Mr. Crow has stated that the radio-l Mr. Crow informed her that individ-active materials produced at the pro-l uals could petition the NRC at any posed plant could be shipped any j l
time; however, as the meeting ended where in the world. This is not just a and people began to leave, Mr. Crow pro'ulem for the city of Prattville but stated that the cuteff date for addi-for each of us.-
tional information to be included in ROB CAMPBELL
. the Environmentallmoact Statement Montgomery
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LF TERNNO HEEDI ORI 5 Ques:: ions Pra:tviLie.nucleariue1piand Editor, The Journal:
to release radioactive wastes sentatives would be ori~ the each" ci us. In'1970 the United I am writing about the recent and materials inta air, ground, Westinghouse premises less States Public Health Service hearing held by the Nuclear and the Alabama River. than once a month, reported that there had been Regulatory Commission in Furthermore, it was revealed Westinghouse has tried to 142 worker deaths from radt-i Prattville concerning the pro - that Westinghouse would be convince the Prattville busi-ation exposure.
i posed Westinghouse Electric able to bury radioactive wastes ness community and the civic
~ At a time when the federal Corporation's Nuclear Fuel in concrete and drums on the leaders that there is no danger Fabrication Plant that may be Prattville site.
to the public from the radio-g P
located on the Alabama River When Crow of the NRC was active gas, radioactive water, er s s re s o-u s
we must have faith that out near Prattville.
questioned about this a most and other deadly garbage that Many important facts were disturbing disclosure was will be released into the en religiousleaders willcome for-i exposed by the more than 20 made. Crow admitted that the vironment. Westinghouse has ward in an organized effort to i
individuals who questioned Bill containers that this radioactive k.1ted the trap with their.esti. st p the rape of God s creation.
8 It can no longer be ov Crow' of the Uranium Fuel garbage will be stored in proba-mate that $2 million in in-that the nuclear issue,erlooked i
Licensing Section of the huele-bly would not last long enough creased retail trade will result isindeed ar Regulatory Commission.
to contain these radioactive from the construction of their a m ral peshon.
i A very important fact ex. ' wastes until they are no 16cger plant in the Prattville area.
I am not against progress but -
i pressed at this hearing was radioactive. In effect, he ad.
Westinghouse has been against science without cons-that the environmental reports mitted that these radioactive quoted as stating that the plant cience. As John W. Gofman, l
that were submitted to the wastes -will probably be re-will not be a health hazard, yet Ph.D., M.D., one of the fathers NRC were prepared by West-leased into the local Alabama they want to produce 400 of the nuclear age and the co-Inghouse employees who had. environment in the future.
metric tons of nuclear fuel per discoverer of pluto.nium, puts nev:r before prepared such re-Frank Collier; project man--
year. What amount of waste it, " Progress in ' technology ports nor had any of them had ager for the proposed nuclear products will be a by-product of might be defined as something any <xperience in the p'repara.' fabrication plant, stated that. this 400 metric tons each year? which enhances human health tien of environmental impact Westinghouse would monitor Critical Mass, a non-partisan and survival. The one technolo.
statements. The NRC was the environment on the plant group that acts as watchdog on gy which has the ability to pol-questioned as to whether West. site. This monitaring.will be the nuclear power industry, re. lute this planet permanently is inghouse's. own employees performed by Westinghouse ~ ports that since 1974 there have hard to consider as progress."
could be totally unbiased in the employees.
been 3:3 nuclear-transportation Rob Campbell.
preparation of environmental.
When questioned-about the accidents,118 of which spilled Montgomery rtports when any information ' quality c' Westinghouse - radioactive materials into the that would adversely effect the. monitoring 6.self, Crow stated environment. Crow has stated Seeyourviewsin print.'
piant being Iccated on theland that NRC representatives from that the radioactive materials Write Tite Editor, The salected by Westinghouse their inspection office would produced at the proposed plant AlabamaJournal, Caller Box wou!d cost Westinghouse mil-act in an overseer capacity to could be shipped anywhere in lions of dollars.-
Westinghouse. However, when the world.
. ROO, Montgomery, &
It was also exposed that further questioned, Crow
'Ihis is not just a' problem for J6102. Please sign letters and Weenghouse would be allowed ststed that these NRC repre. the city of Prattville but for give fulladdress.
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PAGE TWO-THI 1 QUNTAIN CITY !
THE PRATTVILLE PROGRESS f -
THU25DAyr MARCH 27,1930 ll Around Prattville l
b
- uc_ ear anergy ; A Balanced Buc.get 1
BY NORMAN RIDENHOUR.
second generation of nuclear power But elimination of the perennial Progress Publisher does not impress the Carter admints-deficits is essential to convince the-
'c The Nuclear Regulatory Com.
tration, which continues to downplay American people that government is, mission has ended its moratorium on fuel reprocessing and breeder de ' sincere in its effort to curb runaway 1 new nuclear power plants with the velopment in the 1981 budget for the prices and wages /Even if a balanced!
licensing of Sequoyah Unit No. i near Department of Energy. That budget budget is no more than a."spnbol,"
Chattanooga. A pending reorganiza, carries a disturbing tone of making as it has been described by House tion of the NRC and a new emphasis do with nuclear technology at hand Speaker Thomas P. O'Neill Jr., it on operator training and the monitor. rather than catching the wave of the would be a healthy reminder that ing of safety systems by the utility future.
fiscal integrity is not advanced by.
Industry have relieved much of the The inexorable risein oilprices and borrowing and spending cheap dollars !
anxiety about nuclear power that the uncertainty of overseas supphes and further eroding respect for Amer-arose after the Three Mile Island calls for an energy policy supporting ican currency.
accident a year ago this month.
the full range of non petroleum 00-O'Neill's reluctance to endorse the Yet an ambivalence remains in the, tions for meeting the nation s basic Carter administration's nuclear poli.
electrical needs.
President's economic objective spot-cy. On the one hand, it recognizes that Where the nuclear option is con-lights the difficulties in wiping out the -
nuclear power is a must because of cerned, the admtmstration is narrow-gap between federal spending and 1 federal revenues. The speaker in-the rising price of oil from abroad and ing the alternatives at a time when sisted that "as an old literaf," he the vulnerability of our oil supplies, they clearly should be broadened.
would be unwilling to d%mie the from the Persian Gulf. On the other
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BALANCED BUDGET social programs th' t contribute to the a
hand, the adtmnistration continues to The goal of a balanced federal deficits.
put a damper on further development budget for fiscal.1981, called for by.
And even those members cf the of nuclear power technology out of - President Carter in his bid to cool President's party who are pledged to !
p*
inflation, will be elusive.
seek a budget balance will be slow to '
ferat o u lear ea ons President Carter's effort to have it -
l both ways is putting the United States t
increasingly out of step with its part-ners in international energy agencies.
His attempt since 1977 to curtail nu-shut off the flow of funds to feed their
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clear fuel processing and the develop-favoite projects. O'Neill, conceding ment of breeder reactors is getting
. that he "is not in tune" with his nowhere, in fact, it was dramatically
. fellow Democrats,is skeptical of the rebuffed last month by a 66-nation
" discipline in the House to make nuclear fuel conference in Vienna..
, cuts." Congress must look to areas The conference recommended that other than defense, long a prime development of breeder technology
' target for Dem ocra ts, to actually be speeded up, and not only trim... assistance to the poor, the sick i
because the breeder vastly increases and the aged, as O'Neill sees it.
i the energy to be derived from the It should be pointed out that gov-i warld's finite supplies of uranium.
ernment caused inflation by spending The breeder is also seen as offering more money than it takes in, and now more operating safety, less envirori i
must cut back and live within its mental impact and a reduced waste
' means...like the States are forced to i
handling problem compared with to-do.
day's generation of power reactors.
Welfare cuts...it's about time, for,
, -h France has made the breeder the like a cancer, it has bred generations M
centerpiece of its aggressive nuclear of welfare folks who know no other program. With their uranium sup-life...never had or intend to get a job, phes reprncessing technology and aj and will always look to the govern-f araily of breeders, the French expect' ment for their living.
to go into the 1790s with an energy This is not true of all welfare, but
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resource equal to all of Saudi Ara.;
this is the only country where a man bia's oil. This prospect is stimulating or woman can be a bum and be paid breeder deve!opment in West Germa-for it!
ny and England, whose people see new competition arising from French inif ustries enjoying a relatively cheap and abundant supply of electricity.
The advance of Europe into thel
Orta PmMwde bhikeMant B' *"j'ddDE3 J03N370N latory Cummission took jammed C'ty Ha!! to hear sategeards on a proposed nucie:r fael fabrication. lie said the matertal pp TIVILLC - The public comments Thurse Westtagho'rse E ectric federal Nuclear Resu-day as some m peop!e Corp. offtelals,explam fact!!ty.
wocid be spread thr ugs-out, the pact ar.d cox The t.eari:q was caued worst possible accident.
to atov public ccmment on an environental,im atthefacilityisa"nacle '
at excursica.".
p pact study to berrepersi According to state ra-by the Oak Ridge Na d!ological heittt. offlect
.tlocal Laboratory under Aubry Godwin,a nuclear
- NRC direction-E excursion is a f: ash.1;ke,
NRC license beativ fgnition of nuclear mata-officerBlu Crow assund ria1,. somethinr, !!ie,
speakers the agency tcu would consider their con gu.c.ching a match ts loose powder.
g -
cerns as It agency pre-nere has nevar been -
pares its first environ a nuclear excursion at a mentalimpct study of a fuel fabrication facility,"
fuel fabrication plant. Crow said.
The study will. addnss Darrell Smith of De-healt!t and safety prob atsvil:e,a!!censednucle-lems at the plant as well at plant cperator,said he -
as poss.ble air and water was concerned that werk-i pollution cacsed by the ers la the plant might rer e
isellity.
ceive an overdose of radi-s Westinghouse officials say the $so rmulon plant, cactivity.
Crow said the corepany to te bunt on 800 acres will be required to hold nearPrattnue,willproc radioacuve doses to 5 ess slightly enriched m p p, 3.
... 6. usuuurtse-According to NRC-trucied from govern documents, a dose of 50 ment enrichment plants rems will cause radiation la Paducsh. Ky., and Oak sickness. There is debate Ridge. Tenn., into fuel penets for ese in West. among experts en the ef-fects of low-ievel radi-Inghouse l'ght wattr co anon exposure.-
clear. power reactors' Doris Beckley of Mont-arou-d the world.-
Projeet manager,gr'ery, a former resi -
Frank Cel!!er said the 'ndof herexperienceliv -
s of Middletown, Pa.,
t.
plact wiu have the poten tag irr the shadow of the 1121 to produce 1,0CO metric tons of fuel per~Three Mileisland Nucie-ac-Plant.' which ler-year and will employ W parienced the cation's
. persons. Two tr:ckloads of fuel per day are to h* worst noclearaccidenton shi; ped from the plant."this day lan year.
- f am for conserv'ation.
All but one of some.3 and solar energy, though
. people w% registered to I realize we cead nuclear spe2: at the meetint es* power," she said. "Why pressed cencercs about cdn't you bul!d your.
safety or envirentnental hazards at the preposed pg3,g g, peg.sylvanta?"..
David Alred of Mont-
, plant. However, applause for Leon nompsen, pres gemery wanted to know-ident of Cant Lock Co.. if theNRC would addresr' the relationship between Indicated the malarity cf tinion Carbide and Week the audience favored 10 t cation of the facility is @ Crow vertfled that l'a-cuse..
Pratwille.
ton Carbide which r::ns i
!bny ca!!ed fbr an end the Oak Ridge. Nattent i
to cenJtruction of planta Laboratory
.the or-that use fuel to be pro g;=g.ation preparty the 1
. daced at the plant. '
Citizens from Auburn, environmental statement Menigome T and Dire-'for the NRC - also is..a, t*
ing3am. shd questiora rsajor; supplier ef traniu m 'Ie said hre-from a list prepared by !stionship wi!! be ad-2 the anti neclear Safe 1
TN firtC e!'!cial sa;j Craw sa!d the'eevirce-Ecergy Eiance.sd 6s dressed in t% reprt.
r:ecut impact state nent g,,,g,,3ggi3,a 'or
!:ars of a mettJow1,is scheda!ed for cornp;,.
trcuted les!1ets warmng Prattydie toted the plant cacs ad when the core of a ne:!rar te.cter over. t%n An.1.
of increned camr risks Is to be tulit in a tornado,
bests r.nd begtu fission. Westinghouse eff!cn!s aug workyrs at the :ces ar*a and uked p
plantandres:centsof t!t
, sarmundre ans -. *atout the effecte on the 1:t uacentroliably, are say they tmpe te begia
. Cro e sa:d.raccactive.tra:sportauon ' system !!}
u..bv..ded.
cocstruction in E83., t l be Has low as is tecam%a 1ornado scat 12vels at the plant wtas
,,,,gg,3 p,!n,.s over the?
arehn i M(.*A 3 cs117 feasibia;' and wereNPesticqhouie\\s%ker-4 deemed-sa!a'as-Ic=g. asinesseld the tornado -~
Westin g haese stays will k eddnesed in 8
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- withla NRC guideil esdthe report and added that; Alabarna Jour rol Although he said acroe Isaividual peilets, whichs F@n Mar ch 2d, 10:D low. level radinactive are stons the sae"of an*
waste could be bee 4 at aspnur taWet. cani be!
the site, it would be safely handled with I
e piaced in N?tC-approvedg;,,,,,
,,.m costainers.
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XRC holds hearing on Prat :ville facility By KATIlY BEASLEY '
Th'e purpose of the hearing was'to ' learn specific '. badges, which employees are trained to read and Adveralser Staff Writer concerns of area residents, which will be addressed., understand, said Bob Williams of Westinghouse.
In the impact statement.
The Nfl0 limit for exposure to an employee is PRATTVILLE.- Some 20 citizens addressed Frank Cellier, project manager for.. West-five rems.per year and 0.025 rems per year for the staff members of the Nuclear Regulatory Com-Inghouse, said the plant will have the potential to nearest resident. A rem is a " measure of biological mission and Westinghouse Electric Corp. repre-produce 1,000 metric tons of the fuel per year.
effect of radiation," said Williams.
sentatives here Thursday night to ensure that their. Beginning production will be 400 metric tons, the:
Williams said about one shipment will be coming concerns about a proposed nuclear fuel fabrication equivalent of 135 millidn gallons of oil.
into the plant daily and two shipments will go out.
facility are considered before the plant is ap-The plant.will employ about 400 persons, with Several who addressed the, panel pointing out or j
proved.
.. about 350 local residents being hired, Cellier said. ' questioning potential dangers of the plant received Westinghouse plans to build a $G0 million plant -
The Prattville site was selected because of the e applause from the crowd. But possibly the loudest on 800 acres near Prattville, The main function of available skilled labor force, the local tax structure ?.. applause was for the last speaker, Leon Thompson, the plant will be to. convert uranium hexaflouride and suitablity of the land, Cellier said.
' ' ' president of Card Lock Co. and th'c only person to,'
There are 72 nuclear power plants currently speak who expressed support of the plant.
Into uranium dioxide, which will be fabricated into. licensed in the. United States and 80 are under fuel pellets and loaded into fuel assemblies for "I'll be about a mile from Westinghouse, or a construction to begin operation within the next 10 -
shipment to nuclear power plants.
years, said Cellier. With the construction of the ' little less. Based on the information I received o
. The company must have license approval from safety standards and so forth, I'm 100 percent for the NRC to operate a faci,1ity which will " possess new plants, the demand for nuclear fuel will soon ~ this plant and think we are very fortunate West-and use enriched uranium,, according to Bill Crow
. exceed what is presently being produced, he said. ' -inghouse has selected this site," Thompson said, 8
Safety measures to avoid radiation leakage and -
of the NRC staff.
, Most who addressed the panel expressed opost-Before the ~ application will be reviewed by NRC, exposure will include approved containers for;, 'tlon to the plant or showed great concern for the, storage and shipping that have been " tested under.
an environmental impact statement must be pre-pared, Crow told the capacity crowd in City IIall.
accident conditions" and personnel monitor ' safety of area residents in the event of an accident.;
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PAGI TWO--THI FCUNTAIN CITY" THE PRATTVILLE PROGRI55 THUR5 DAY, AP31L 3,1980 Jemies Jottings:
BY RICHARD JEFFRIES Last w1ek, along with many of you, I attenced the soiree at Prattville's t
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City Hall to hear what represent.
One or two speakers used the2r atives from the Nuclear Regulatory podium time to launch into the stan-Commission (NRCT and West.
dard rambling, loud and emotional inghouse Electric. Corp. had to say anti-nuclear tirade (it seems* In- :
evitable in any meeting even touching about the nuclear fuel fabrication fa.
cility proposed for construction near on' nuclear energy),.and drew scat -
t-our fair city.
Having had fairly extensive ex-perience involving Environmental tend applause from obvious sympa-Impact Statements (commonly called thizers. Contrastingly, one or two oth-EIS by denizens in that business),
ers presented quite wed prepared along with safe and protective siting
. comments and questions. However, I endeavors that could involve hazard-was a little concerned that the course ous actions or material,"I had an !
of - the questioning Indicated that understandable interest in how the '
yoursL truly may have more specific meeting would go (It would be a nov-expertise than nearly everyone on the etty to be an observer for a change visiting team. Regardless, desptta rather than a participant). Besides, the general oppositional stance of as a resident. I certainly have a most of the speakers, a measure of approval. by Prattville s real
. strong stake in the matter.
the As the presentations by the NRC citizens was the thunderous applause and Westinghouse personnel given to the last speaker, Mr. Leon progressed, I recognized the familiar Thompson, who strongly supported
" dog-and pony show" techniques the plant's siting just a mile from h,s i
which I've often employed myself, business.
but I was a little puzzled over a slight Now whatever your personal view-tmessiness evidenced by some of the point on the proposed plant, hopefully prcsentation team. I put it down to you've settled on it through a logical, simple stage nervousness since there
' pragmatic and completely unemo-had been little report of hostility in tional approach. If not,let me recom-
' the community, but the uneasiness mend that you review your position.
was understandable later;
, Don't let yourself be hustled either I suppose one could say I was a bit t way by rumor, innuendo, half. truths naive, judging from the tenor of the or essentially emotional arguments.
remarks made by most of the 18
' Especially since you can get the facts for yourself.
" citizens" who addressed the capaci-According to Mr. B'ill Crow, the ty courtroom crowd on that rainy stormy night. But something seeme5 l NRC staffer who headed the team just a bit amiss with some of the and moderated last week's meeting.
' applicable documents will soon be
" citizens" and their remarks. It turned out that they weren't all real
' available in a local public document
' citizens, nor did their remarks room. The Progress will likely carry I
the location when established. But for always address the issue at hand..
For instance, about a third of those I answers to pressing questions, Mr.
who claimed the podium apparently Crow advised addressing them to.
Com-weren't from around this area. I even -
U.S. Nuclear. Regulatory observed that a bearded type in this mission. Attention: Dr..E.Y. Shum, non citizen group strongly resembled Washington, D.C. :'05ss.
l a face seen in the forefront of a recent TV report on a Three Mile Island meeting. Up until then, I hadn't even considered the '"outside agitator" aspect of our situation. Like I said-naive. Ndw it's apparent we're deft-citely eligible for target status.
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t PAGI TWO-THI FOUNTAIN CITY THI PRATTVILI.I Pr. OGRESS THURSDAY, Apgjl, d,1930 All Around Prattville
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Irr:i-NukeidnD$n'1: Spealbb,.: r Cs
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BY NORNAN RIDENHOUR 4 plants, or when we had to deal with were articulately dressed, but their,
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Progress Publisher..
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drainage problems,. street paving, statements were just.-as ridiculous The Nuclear Regulatory Agency.-
etc.
and unrelated to this proposed plant (NRC) held a. forum for citizens in-Now, all of a sudden, they have as some of the shaggy counterparts.
this area to express any concerns that i great concern for residents in Pratt.
Some, however, were ' serious, should be included in the environmen-ville and Autauga County For most,. scared, and really feared nuclear tal impact study they are doing for: it was the first time they had stepped power in general, waste disposal, the proposed Westinghouse Nuclear.- foot in the county.
emissions into the air, etc. But when Fuel Pellet Plant in Prattville.
- For some, the greatest act they the safety of similar, ' accident-free.
The meeting,.-held last Thursday, ' could perform for their fellow man, in plants were brought up, they refused was well attended, but the people my opinion, would be to buy some to accept the answers.-
speaking on the issues, were not from soap and take a bath! I can't re-The. meeting was one-sided for Prattville, but. from Birmingham, member seeing such a rag tag bunch sure, and the anti-nuclear forces Auburn, Millbrook, Tuskegee, and - of young folks since a 'TV report on made the tost of it, with cheering, Montgomery.., +
recent rock concerts.
clapping, and rudeness:IThe next Of the 20 or so speakers, on two or To tell the truth, however, some meeting might find the tabfes turned; _ -
three were from Prattville, and most s s n..
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used the occassion to speak out.
against nuclear engergy la general.
~'
Some of the statements were far-fetched, like the woman from Max-as Prattville and Autauga residents well AFB, who questioned the noise might want to turn the tables on the pollution of trucks shifting gears to
. anti-nuke forces.
and from the plant. If she could hear I think I speak for the majority those trucks from Maxwell, they, in when I say we appreciate the concern my opinion, should use her for a mili-of those from Auburn, Tuskegee, tary listening post near Iran. She Montgomery, Millbrook;. Birm-might be able to pick up comments ingham and others. However, we've from the American Embassy there.
done a good job of handling our own One Prattville resident wanted to -
. affairs to date in one of the fastest know who would be responsible if a
. growing, most economically sound.
tornado hit the plant and scattered
. cities and counties in Alabama.
pellets across the county. Mother na-
.. In short, buzz off...we've handled -
ture? He was told, as has been re "
, our destiny to date without your help -
ported numerous times in this news. ~
! and feel capable of determining our ;
paper, that the uranium is only en-future without your help.
riched 3 percent higher than uranium
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still in the ground..,#
Students: andqyoung peopley monopolized the meeting and,too'c advantage of 'the:NRC staff to in-timidate the panel and question theirH policies, regulations, and many other,9 factors that had nothing to do' wit!G this type plant.
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We have to wonder why these peo _'
p!e from across the state have acM quired such an interest in our welfare.'s and well being now. They weren't : k arcand to assist us when we fought. '
five years with EPA for new sewage.-
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Some 150 to 200 peoplegathered at.%2 The.,. :- company - must.,~< r'~.:: acquire..;a.,., of the Card LocieCom
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q.- - m the City Hall courtroom. Thursday '. license.from the:NRC.'t'o.operafe~ai., owd a businessiabout a milefrom the-
. night with 20 or more addressing they facility;to '.'p6ssess and use enriched: ' site and base.i on the information I J staff members otthe. Nuclear Regud. uranium."~and.before.the application;. have received ~:6n? safety! standirds '
i latory Commission-and. Westinghouse ;f-will be reviewed by NRC, an environe and plant operation; I'm 100 percent:-
Electric Corp?.! representatives on..? mental, impact. statement.;musti.be'.lforthis plant and think we are very-opinions 'and-concerns. over a. pro-S prepared.NO i.t ut'.%-Fr:36." fortunate Westihghouse has selected' l posed nuclearfuel fabrication facility; :';;pThe purpcse'of the hearing Thurday Fthis site."' ~".}p s
- d*r;-:-drr here.. -. gdDW
.e^,:%Nlwas tolearnspecific concer::s of areas:..Some claimed:to represent groups--
- Strangely: enough'J/ most of:.thoseTl residents,.whicir will be addressed is. that were questionable,like c::e wom '
speaking.ta the' NRC staff members Ethe Impactstatementi;r n i.w an who said sterepresented a certain '
were not:from' Prattville, but. from.:.,,qSevershof.those speaki::g agabst<; church:cA check on Friday'niorning -
Montgomery!-Auburn,.Tuskegeeand $ the proposed plant were;from 50 toibrought the following from.a' church -
Most:were. young peopleiand.stug,1l100 miles from Prattville;. represent. Jspokesm
...WM -C
. Birmingham.fkr:.
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ing.various anti.cuelear groups and claim'to. represent our congregation:
dents':wh5 used the occassion;as'a:.'/said therwere!'speakingoabehalf of h?cr<any' othertgroup: within our'de' M.L'u < ~r.E R plattornsa'ga!ss't nuclear energy; and 'f the residents of Autauga County? andon,many wholsaid'she:was '
2. Susan Sinberg,fffrom:Montgomer.but try-ind;lntimidate.the commission i. health and well beinr 'My..-N>-
r members and. those fromsWest#.7,'.TAfterj.each-anti-nuclear.-speaker-the 1980 telephone book; asked "will.
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- Ufiaished,-thergatheringfoff.istudentsf.?
c Westinghouse plans to build lW'$5L.yand. young.. people-l.would:' lap. and. phtoniu inghouse.
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mi!!!os: plant- (1973 cost-figures).oni cheer their, speaker:, They also r.e ;,. her speech os the effe a
.c The plant will convert uranium diox-.;4challanged. facts.regulattons andpol*f on p 2CO acres adjacent to Union Camp.T./sponded teachj.imet afspeaker t
... Randy; Aronov of. Montgomery ide; which will be fabricated inta fuel?] fcy by.:the-NRCfgiven in answer tod. - asked it the Columiba;S.C' plant used pellets and loadedbintoAfuelfas-Mtheir.questi6ns@/..<.Ay'.TbdSM plutonium.)Again,'..the.-:-answer [was semblies for shipment :to4nucleacM '.Th'e.l'o'udest applatise of.thel night 4? proposed plant power plants.J:. *;..j...' d;'$.f, howeverfca'me when LeonThompsong-
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fold That most. plants.:were con- ~ was told.that it.was five rems.per In:o..rder to speak tn.the quesfion,
'I sidered to have a life span of 40 years'4 year for empoyees and 0.025 remspec,sthoselnattendance had to siga-up and I
but it could be shorter or longer..- r, year for the nearest resident. A rem",f most had no criticism or saw a need George B. AllisorrVof'. Prattville - is a " measure of biologica1'effect of. :t& speak against the proposed plant.
r wanted to know what action would be f. radiation. N..a.
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They.iwere most vocal'and cheered, taken if a tornadahit.the plant and..
- Mrs. Doris Beckly of MaxwellAFB9;however, when Thompson. spoke on scattered the pellets over the county.. wanted to know about the noise pollu. behalf of himself and others prisent He was reminded that.the pellets are-tion of t:veks going in and out of the: /,for.thiiplant.
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only enriched 3 p'ercent and would. beg plant.whenshif ting gears (no answer)' : e Fra5k Cellier, project mariagin for little more dangerous than uraniura. 'and if theplant was safegwhy didn't-!Westinghcuse, said tlie' plant.will.
still in the ground.W-Q.':
/. they. build?it in Pennsylvannia atn.havesthe potential ta.prcduce 1,000
- Jim Zeigler, fornier
- PSC memberg Westinghohse's home office..The an-- *niet:Etons of the fuel per.yeat_Be-who said he now had offices in Mont.a,swer was distribution in the scutheastM. ginning production will be 400 metric gomerf and Millbrook,Jasked about-- 'and that Prattville offered the best
- tons oc,the equivalent of 135 million the circulation of the environmentale. site's?available in the hundreds in "? bar$1s'of oil.
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study (198t); a time frame for com..h spected across the United States.1-77' He?sald the Prattv'ille? site was'-
ments (45 daysk/and what woulda Mack Wainwright of AutaugavilleDseleEted,because of.available skilled happen if their were a decline in then. said he wasn't pro or con on the plant: laboc: force, the local, tar, structure demand for nuclear-fuel (nothing as. at this points but wanted to knowwho.'.. and.sizitability of the land.k..f;. ?
- the need for addtional fuelis present1. to contactsor write for future ques- ; -w He:added that there arel2 nuclear' now); and'what the'transportationy ' tions. Hefwas given the address and b powerplanta currently 1 ice: sed in the routes would be for hauling the com.. - NRC member to contact.d r -; '. ' % United States and 80 underconstiuc-pleted product (depending on who it..While the opposition of the pro... tion on to be in production within the was delivered to). ML v.
posed plant came from outside nextf13} years and the demand for the majority.ofv. > nuclear-fuel will scon exceed what is Darrell Srnith of 5Deatsville,. who ~ AutaugeCounty, said he was a former nuclear techni-. those present were satisfied with the presecfly prcduced.,.
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clan,. asked what the-NRC allowed + desiresof Westinghousetobuildhere,%.: >.Ths{ plant will employ' about.400
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radiation exposure. limits'would-bel the safety of the plant, employees and : persohs with 300-350 area residents to
- for workers and areaFresidents..He community.,
^ be h]ied. Cellier said..#,'l._;.Q,j.{ g 1
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