ML19320D644
| ML19320D644 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Yellow Creek  |
| Issue date: | 07/01/1980 |
| From: | Harold Denton Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Jourdan D AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19320D645 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8007220027 | |
| Download: ML19320D644 (2) | |
Text
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JUL 1 1980 Mrs. D. O. Jourdan, Jr.
107 West Quitman Iuka, Mississippi 38852
Dear Mrs. Jourdan:
Your letter to James Schlesinger concerning the Yellow Creek Nuclear Power Plant has been referred to me for reply.
As you may know, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission is responsible for the regulation of nuclear power plants.
(See Enclosure 1, "hRC Responsibility in Regulation of Nuclear Power Plants"). Before the NRC issues a Construction Permit or an Operating License for a nuclear plant, the regulations require that extensive studies be performed to show that the proposed plant will not endanger public health and safety. Such studies are performed by the power company applying for a license, and are extensively reviewed by the NRC staff.
In addition, an independent review is conducted by the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS). Following that, a public hearing may be held before the Atanic Safety and Licensing Board. The licensing prccess is described in more detail in Enclosure 2.
In the case of the Yellow Creek Nuclear Plant, the applicant (TVA) submitted a multi-volume Preliminary Safety Analysis Report in June of 1976. We(theNRC staff) reviewed this application in detail over a period of two years. The review is described in our Safety Evaluation Report (see Enclosure 3) and Supplement Number One to our Safety Evaluation Report (see Enclosure 4).
The Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards reviewed the Yellow Creek application on December 16, 1977 and January 5,1978. As may be seen from pages 21-1 of and pages 21-1 and A-1 of Enclosure 4, both the NRC staff and the ACRS concluded that the Yellow Creek Nuclear Plant could be constructed and operated without undue risk to the health and safety of the public.
A public hearing on the radiological aspects of safety of the Yellow Creek Nuclear Plant was held in Iuka, Mississippi on July 6,1978. After the Hearing Board concluded that the proposed Yellow Creek facility would not endanger public health and safety, the NRC staff issued Construction Permits CPPR-172 and CPPR-173, on November 29, 1978, for Yellow Creek, Units 1 and 2, respectively.
My purpose in outlining the steps that led to issuance of Construction Pennits for the Yellow Creek facility is to illustrate the extent and depth of the review pro-cess that is carried out prior to issuance of any nuclear plant license, and the opportunity for public participation in the process. Let me assure you that if the NRC staff, the Advisory Cocuittee on Reactor Safeguards, or the Atomic Safety and 80 0 7220 0M g
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Mrs. D. O. Jourdan, Jr. Licensing Board are not convinced of the safety of a proposed nuclear plant, that licenses for the construction and operation of the plant are not issued until the areas of concern are corrected.
I hope that this letter has been responsive to your concerns.
Sincerely, Dr...
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_ H. R. 0 sana Harold R. Denton, Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Enclosures:
i 1.
NRC Responsibility in Regulation of Nucicar Power Plants 2.
The Licensing Process 3.
Safety Evaluation Report 4.
Supplement 1 to the Safety Evaluation Report
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