ML19318C234
| ML19318C234 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane  |
| Issue date: | 06/06/1980 |
| From: | Harold Denton Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Oneill E VIRGINIA, COMMONWEALTH OF |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8007010246 | |
| Download: ML19318C234 (10) | |
Text
N4 h SD-sao p =g'o UNITED STATES o
'g E'
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION o
f-cE WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555
'%....$i JUN 6 1980 Mr. Everett W. O'Neill, Chairman Board of Supervisors Westmoreland County Virginia Montross, Virginia 22520
Dear Mr. O'Neill:
Thank you for sending me a copy of! he resolution on nuclear power adopted t
by the Board of Supervisors of Westmoreland County on May 14, 1980.
After the accident at Three Mile Island, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission decided not to license new nuclear power plants until criteria for improved safety had been developed.
The TMl accident has shown that there is a need for improvements in the approach to safety. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has found that actions recommended by its own staff and by the President's 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 information are necessary and feasible.
Interim measures have been taken, and an Action Plan has been developed that includes other safety improvements, deta;1ed criteria for their implementation, and various implementation deadlines.
Meanwhile, in order to avoid unnecessary delays, the Commissioners have approved the issuance of NRC licenses for three nuclear power units to load fuel and, under specific conditions, to operate at low power levels for testing.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is working with the nuclear industry to ensure the public health and safety at all nuclear power plants that are currently in operation or that may start operating in the future.
Any plants that are found to be unsafe will not be allowed to operate.
With regard to the development of a nuclear waste disposal program, this is treated in the enclosed message of February 12, 1980, to the Congress from the President concerning the establishment of a comprehensive radioactive waste management program.
1 THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS P00R QUALITY PAGES 8007010
JUN G 1530 Mr. Everett W. O'Nell).
As to providing the public with accurate information about nuclear power, much effort is being devoted to this.
Examples are the Report of the President's Commission on the Accident at Three Mile Island, a report on Three Mile Island by a Special Inquiry Group of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and numerous other NRC reports and news releases on all aspects of the regulation of nuclear power plants.
The Annual Report of the NRC summarizes its activities; the issue for 1979 will be published soon.
Sincerely,.
A EHarold R. Denton, Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Enclosure:
President's Message of 2/12/80
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i February 12, 1980 t
Office of,the White House Press Secretary j
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THE WHITE HOUSE TO THE CONCRESS OF THE UNITED STATES:
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-Today I an establishing this" Nation's first comprehensive My paramount objective 1
radioactive vaste management program.
in managing nuclear vastes is to protect the health and safety I
I share this of all Americans, bothinow and in the future.
f responsibility with elected officials at all levels of our Our citizens have a deep concern that the i
government.
beneficial usei. of nuclear technology, including the generation 3 3 j
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of electricity, not be allowed to imperil public health or i
safety now or in the future.
For more than 30 years, radioactive wastes have been i
generated by programs for national defense, by the commercial c.
nuclear power program, and by a variety of medical, industrial i
and research activities. Yet past governmental efforts to
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manage radioactive wastes have not been technically adequate.
Moreover, they have failed to involve successfully the States, j
j local governments, and the public la policy or program decisions.
j Hy actions today lay the foundation for both a technically l
J superior program and a full cooperative Federal-State partner-ship to ensure public confidence in a waste manageoent program.
My program is consistent with the broad consensus that has evolved from the efforts of the Interagency Review Group on Radioactive Waste Management (IRG) which I established.
The IRG findings and analysis were comprehensive, thorough and widely reviewed by public, industry and citizen groups, l
i State and local governments, and members of the Congress.
t Evaluations of the scientific and technical analyses were j
obtained thr,ough a broad and rigorous peer review by the scientific community. The final recommendations benefited from and reflect this input.
My objective is to establish a comprehensive program My t.
for the management of all types of radioactive wastes.
i policies and programs establish mechanisms to ensure that h
elected officials and the public fully participate in waste ij decisions, and direct Federal departments and agencies to implement a waste management strategy which is safe, technically l,~
,t sound, conservative, and open to continuous public review.
This approach will help ensure that we will reach our objective -- the safe storage and disposal of all forms of i
nuclear waste.
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Our primary objective is to isolate existing and futurs 1
a radioactive waste from military and civilian activities from
!l the biosphere and pose no significant threat to public health b
The responsibility for resolving military and and safety.
civilian waste management problems shall not be deferred to 3
The technical program must meet all future generations.
relevant radiological protection criteria as well as all other This effort must proceed applicable regulatory requirements.
regardless of future developments within the nuclear industry -_
Its future size, and resolution of specific fuel cycle and J
The specific steps outlined below reactor design issues.
are each aimed at accomplishing this overall objective.
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2 First,'ay Admin'istration is committed to providing an effec-fl tive role for State and local governments in the development and implementation of our nuclear waste management program. I as therefore taking the following act1ons:
o By Executive Order, I as establishing a State Planning Council which will strengthen our intergovernmental relationships and help fulfill our joint responsibility to protect public health and safety in radioactive waste matters. I have asked Governor Riley of South Carolina to serve as Chairman of the Council. The Council will have a totaA of 19 members: 15 who are Governors or other elected officials, and 4 from the Executive, departments and agencies. It will advise the Executive Branch and work with the Congress i
to address radioactive waste management issues, such
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as planning and siting, construction, ard operation of facilities. I will submit legisla' ton during this sepsion to make the Council permanent.
In the past,". States have not played an adequate part o
in the waste management planning process -- for example, in the evaluation and location of potential waste disposal sites. The States need better access to information and expanded opportunity to guide waste management planning. Our relationship with the States o
will be based on the principle of consultation and I
concurrence in the siting of high level vaste repost-tories. Under the framework of consultation and concurrence, a host State will have a continuing role in Federal decisionmaking on the siting, design and construction of a-high level. waste repository.
State consultation and concurrence, however, will i
lead to an acceptable solution to our waste disposal problem only if all the States participate as partners l
in the program I as putting forth. The safe disposal l
of radioactive waste, defense and commercial, is l
a national, not just a Federal, responsibility.
o I am directing the Secretary of Energy to provide financial and technical assistance to States and other jurisdictions to facilitate the full participation of State and local government in review and licensing proceedings.
Second, for disposal of high level radioactive waste, I as adopting an interia planning strategy focused on the use of mined geologic repositories capable of accepting both waste from reprocessing and unreprocessed commercial spent fuel.
a interia strategy is needed since final decisions on many steps which need to be taken should be preceded by a full environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act.
In its search for suitable sites for high level waste repositories, the Department of Energy has mounted an expanded and diversified program of geologic investigations that recognizes the importance of the interaction among geologic setting, repository host rock, waste form and other engineered barriers on a site-specific basis. Immediate attention will fo'us c
on research and development..and on locating and characterizing
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a number of potential repository sites in a variety of different geologic environments with diverse rock types. When four to five sites have been evaluated and found potentially suitable, one or more will be selected for further development as a licensed full-scale repository.
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It is lapor~ tsst' to stress the following two points' First, because the suitability of a geologic disposal site car be 4
verified only through detailed and time-consuming site specific evaluations, actual sites and their geologie environments must be carefully examined. Second, the development of a repository will proceed.in a careful step-by-step aanner.
Experience and information gained at each phase will be reviewed and evaluated to determine if there is sufficient knowledge to proceed with the next stage of development. We should be ready to select the site for the first full-scale repository by about 1985 and have it operational by the mid-1990's.
For reasons of economy, the first and subsequent repositories should accept both defense and commercial wastes.
Consistent with n'y decision to expand and diversify the Department of Energy's program of geologic investigation before selecting a specific site for repository development, I have decided that the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant project should be cancelled.' This project is currently authorized for the unlicensed disposal of transuranic waste from our National defense program, and for research and development using high level defense waste. This project is inconsistent with my policy that all repositories for highly radioactive vaste be licensed, and that they accept both defense and commercial wastes.
The site near Carlsbad, New Mexico, which was being considered for this project, will continue to be evaluated along with o.her sites in other parts of the country.
If qualified, it will be reserved as one of several candidate sites for possible use as a licensed repository for defense and commercial high level wastes.
My fiscal year 1981 budget contains funds in the commercial nuclear waste program for protection and continued investigation of the Carl: bad site.
Finally, it is important that we take the time to compare the New Mexico site w'.th other sites now under evaluation for the first waste repository.
Over the next five years the Department of Energy will carry out an aggressive progra,m of scientific and technical investigations to support waste solidification, packaging and repository design and construction including several experimental, retrievable emplacements in test facilities.
This supporting research and development program will call upon the knowledge and experience of the Nation's very best people in science, engineering and other fields of learning and will include participation of universities, industry, and the government departments, agencies, and national laboratories.
Third, during the interia period before a disposal facility is available, waste must and will continue to be cared for safely. ' Management of defense waste is a Federal responsibility the Department of Energy will ensure close and meticulous control over defense waste facilities which are vital to our national security. I as committed to maintaining safe interia storage of these wastes as long.as necessary and to making adequate funding available for that purpose. We will also proceed with research and development at the various defense sites that will lead the peccessing, packaging, and ultimate transfer to a permanent repository of the high level and transuranic wastes from defense programs.
In contrast, storage of commercial spent fuel is primarily a responsibility of the utilities. I want to stresa that interia spent fuel storage capacity is not an alternative
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to permanent disposal. However, adequate storage is necessary
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4 until repositoriet.are available. I urge the utility industry to continue to take all actions necessary to store spent fuel in a manner that will protect the public and ensure efficient and safe operation of power reactors. However, a limited amount of government storage capacity would provide flexibility to our national waste disposal program and an alternative for those utilities which are unable to expand their storage capabilities.
j I reiterate the need for early enactment of my proposed spent nuclear fuel legislation. This proposal would authorize the Department of Energy too. (1)-design, acquire or construct, and operate one or rore away-from-reactor storage facilities, and (2) accept for storage, until permanent disposal facilities are available, domesti'c spent fuel, and a limited amount of foreign spent fuel in cases when such action would further our non-proliferation policy objectives. All costs of storage.
l, including the cast of locating, constructing and operating l
permanent geologic repositories, will be recovered through fees paid by utilitie.s and other users of the services and will ultimately be borne by those who benefit from the activities generating the wastes.
Fourth, I have directed the Department of Energy to work jointly with states, other government agencies, industry and other organizations, and the public, in developing national plans to establish regional disposal sites for commercial low level waste. We must work together to resolve the serious near-term problem of low level waste disposal. While this task is not inherently difficult from the standpoint of safety, it requires better planning and coordination. I endorse the actions being taken by the Nation's governors to tackle this problem and direct the Secretary of Energy to work with them in support of their effort.
Fifth, the Federal programs for regulating radioactive waste storage, transportation and disposal are a crucial com-ponent of our efforts to ensure the health and safety of Americans. Although the existing authorities and structures are basically sound, improvements must be made in several areas. The current authority of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to license the disposal of high level waste and low level waste in commercial facilities should be extended to include spent fuel storage, and disposal of transuranic waste and non-defense low level waste in any new government facilities. I am directing the Envirormental Protection Agency to consult with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to resolve issues of overlapping jurisdiction and phasing of regulatory actions. They should also seek ways to speed up the promulgation of their safety regulations. I as also directing the Department of Transportation and the Environ -
mental Protection Agency to improve both the efficiency of their regulatory activities and their relationships with other Federal agencies and state and local governments.
Sixth, it is essential that all aspects of the waste management program be conducted with the fullest possible disclosure to and participation by the public and the technical community. I am directing the departments and agencies to develop and improve mechanisms to ensure such participation and public involvement consistent with the need to protect national security information. The vaste management program will be carried out in full compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act.
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Seventh, becadse nuclear waste management is a problem shared by many other countries and decisions on waste manage-i ment alternatives have nuclear proliferation implications, I'
I will continue to encourage and support bilateral and multi-lateral efforts which advance both our technical capabilities and our understanding of spent fuel and waste maragement options, which are consistent with our non-proliferation policy.
In its role as lead agency for the management and disposal of radioactive wastes and with cooperation of the other relevant Federal agencies, the Department.of Energy is preparing a detailed National Plan for Nudlear Waste Management to imple-ment these policy guidelines and the other recommendations of the IRG. This Plan will provide a clear road map for all parties and will give the public an opportunity to review the entirety of our program. It will include specific program goals and milestones for all aspects of nuclear waste manage-ment. A draft of the comprehensive National Plan will be distributed by the Secretary of Energy later this year for public and Congress 16nal review. The State Planning Council will be directly involved in the development of this plan.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission now has underway an important proceeding to provide the Nation with its judgment on whether or not it has confidence that r:dioactive wastes produced by nuclear power reactors can and will be disposed of safely. I urge that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission do so le a thorough and timely manner and that it provide a full opportunity for public, technical and government agency participation.
Over the past two years as I have reviewed various aspects of the radioactive waste problem, the complexities and diffi-culties of the issues have become evident -- both from a technical and, more importantly, from an institutional and political perspective. How3ver, based on the technical con-ciusions reached by the IRG, I as persuaded that the capability now exists to characterize and evaluate a number of geologic environments for use as repositories built with conventional mining technelogy. We have already made substantial progress and changes in our programs. With this comprehensive policy and its implementation through the FY 1981 budget and other actions, we will complete tae task of reorienting our efforts in the right direction. Many citizens kate and all aust under-stand that this problem will be with us f ' many years. We must proceed steadily and with determinat.on to resolve the remaining technical issues while ensuring full public partici-pation and maintaining the full cooperation of all levels i
of government. We will act surely and without delay, but i
i we will not compromise our technical or scientific standards l
out of haste. I look forward to working with the Congress l
and the states to implement this policy and build public confidence in the ability of the government to do what is required in this area to protect the health and safety of our citizens.
JIMMY CARTER THE WHITE HOUSE, 00000 l
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.s lAN R D. WILLIAMS NN ALEIS(v"RYNIA2244 WESTMORELAND COUNTY, VIRGINI A c24cf-as y
MONTROSS, VIRGINI A 22520 VIRGINIA:
At a regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors of Westmoreland County held on the 14th day of May in the George D. English, Sr. Memorial Building, Montross, Virginia, those present were:
Everett W. O'Neill, Chairman S. Dorsey Edwards, Jr., Vice-Chairman Augustus R. Johnson William O. Sydnor Ian R. D. Williams Upon a motion by Augustus R. Johnson, duly seconded by S. Dorsey Edwards,.
Jr. and unanimously carried, the following resolution was adopted:
RE:
SUPPORT FOR NUCLEAR ENERGY WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors of Westmoreland Countv, Virginia is deeply concerned that the present policy of producing electric energy is too dependent upon the use of oil which is both costly and limited in supply, and WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors of Westmoreland County recognizes the importance of using nuclear produced power that is far less expensive and not subj ect to limited supply, and WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors contends that power and energy in abundant supply are necessary for the continued growth and security of our nation and the economic well being of its citizens and that nuclear energy must be allowed to play a significant role as an energy source for the for-seable future if any measurable degree of self sufficiency in the production of power and energy required for these purposes is to be attained, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Supervisors of West-moreland County, Virginia, does hereby, in order to accomplish the foregoing, urge that:
(1) the moratorium on nuclear power plant licensing be lifted.
(2) licensing procedures for nuclear p' ants be simplified and '
shortened.
(3) the Federal government agressively proceed with the develop-ment of a nuclear waste disposal program.
(4) all appropriate agencies of the Federal government work with the nuclear industry in a cooperative effort to achieve the ultimate in safety of design construction, and operation of nuclear facilities.
SUPPdRT FOR NUCLEAR ENERGY _
Pcgs 2 the Federal government assume its responsibility for pro-(5) viding the American people with accurate and true informa-tion about nuclear power.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this resolution be mailed to the Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Senator Harry F. Byrd, Jr.,
State Senator John H.
Senator John W. Warner, Congressman Paul S. Trible, Chichester and Delegate Calvin G. Sanford.
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TESTE COPY:
HESTON, County Administrator
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