ML19322D021
| ML19322D021 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane  |
| Issue date: | 01/09/1980 |
| From: | Harold Denton Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Crawford W GULF STATES UTILITIES CO. |
| References | |
| 80-002085001005, 80-2085001005, NUDOCS 8002080273 | |
| Download: ML19322D021 (1) | |
Text
ff(
k
[gs.# Rf og*'o UNITED STATES
'g S',
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION w
g
.g WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555
\\..V...f JM 9 1980 Mr. W. Donham Crawford Chairman of the Board Gulf States Utilities Company P. O. Box 2951 Beaunnnt, Texas 77704
Dear Mr. Crawford:
This is in reply to your letter of November 21, 1979, about licensing of of nuclear power plants.
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 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.
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.
This Action Plan will include new or improved safety objectives, detailed criteria for their implementation, and various implementation deadlines. Our goal is to have approved NRC requirements available to all utilities shortly after February 15, 1980.
It is recognized that there will be a significant effect on the availability of power generating capacity if those plants now in the final stages of construction do not receive operating licenses by the dates previously anticipated, and every effort is being made to avoid unnecessary celays.
Si ncerely, Y
/
Harold R. Denton, Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation E002 08 0 2-q 5
GULE' STATES UTILITIES COMPANY OEAUMONT. TEXAS 77704 POST OFraCE BOX 2951 AREA COD 2 713 838 6631 W. DONHA.11 CRA WFORD O
Chairman of the Snard und Chirj Encutive Offierr November 21, 1979 Mr. Harold R. Denton, Director Nuclear Reactor Regulation Office Nuclear Regulatory Commission 1717 H Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C.
20555
Dear Mr. Denton:
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission's decision to impose an indefinite moratorium on the licensing of nuclear power plants seems to ignore current events in the world and the nation.
At a time when nuclear power could be used to lessen the impact of the Iranian oil shut-off, the NRC has chosen instead to stop issuing operating licenses and construction permits until the spring of 1980 at the earliest.
There are seven nuclear units awaiting operating licenses, and a typical reactor displaces 10 million barrels of oil a year.
How can we pass up this opportunity to offset, at least partially, the lost Iranian oil?
Although Gulf States Utilities Company is not affected directly by the NRC freeze, we are concerned about the impact the action could have on the utilities which sell us power during periods of heavy demand.
If we are unable to obtain electricity from other utilities during hot summer months, brownouts and blackouts become a real possibility.
The other current event overlooked by the NRC is what has been happening in the nuclear power industry since the Three Mile Island accident.
The industry has been working non-stop since TMI to correct the deficiencies which that mishap revealed.
Much of what the Presidential Commission on TMI recommended already has been embraced by the industry. \\
\\
S TO 791122e ?$'3I t
~
- d.
~
Mr. Harold R. Denton Page 2.
November 21, 1979 Obviously, a moratorium is not necessary in order to apply the lessons of Three Mile Island.
That already is being done.
We believe the Presidential Commission was right in rej ecting a freeze on licensing.
We urge the NRC to examine its po.ition and allow the continued development of this n
safe, economical and dependable energy source.
Sincerely, i
WDC/mhm w
---g
,r e