ML19322D163
| ML19322D163 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane  |
| Issue date: | 12/04/1979 |
| From: | Mitte J AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED |
| To: | Harold Denton Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19322D162 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8002080683 | |
| Download: ML19322D163 (3) | |
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Nuclear Regulatory Commission 1717 H Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20555 Attention:
H. R. Denton, Director Reactor Regulatio1. Office
Subject:
Nuclear Regulatory Commission November 5th decision on Nuclear Construction Permits I am writing to express my opposition to your November 5th decision to stop issuing construction permits and operating licenses for nuclear power plants.
I feel that your decision is not based on sound fact but that it is influenced by the general public that sets the political tone in Washington.
This public seniment may guarantee short term political job security but it will do little to guarantee this nations current thrust for energy independence.
For my concern as a citizen I would like to see an immediate review and a reversal to your November 5th decision.
Sincerely,
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J. E. Mitte
/as s002080(oD
Y Reaction to the NRC's Anncuncement of A Licensing Freeze by Carl Walske, President of the Atomic Industrial Forum j
a Against a backdrop of news from Iran and elsewhere that has ominous implications for our future energy supply, the Nu-clear Regulatory Commission has introduced yet another un-i settling element.
Its action in imposing a freeze on issuance of operating licenses and construction permits poses the threat of an open-ended delay in nuclear licensing.
This is the pros-pect that the Kemeny Commission feared when it considered sev-eral possible nuclear moratorium proposals, and which in the end I
it rej ected precisely for this reason.
The industry has already expressed its strong agreement with the thrust of the Kemeny Commission report.
We are pledged to re-medying the lapses revealed by the Three Mile Island Accident, and we hasten to add that, if there is one deficiency in the Kemeny report, it is a lack of recognition for the tremendous remedial effort that has been mounted in the seven months since the accident by the industry and NRC.
The NRC's freeze seems also to discount this seven month effort; we believe it should not take another seven months, or 12 or 24, to apply the lessons of TMI.
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If the NRC persists in imposing this freeze, then it must recog-nize how illogical it is to hold up operating licenses for a handful of reactors that have had the full benefit of the TMI l
lessons learned, while at the same time certifying 70 other re-actors--some twins of the ones awaiting licenses--as being safe to operate, based on the same TMI les_ons.
Each such reactor delayed, ult.imately costs the consumers some $2-million a week, just in interest charges, and deprives the nation of energy equivalent tc what could power 300,000 automobiles.
Because the N.C today functions in a heated political environ-4 i
ment, and is often internally split on nuclear licensing issues, 1
we feel it is urgent that the Commission now set itself a public agenda and schedule for resolving those issues it feels must be addressed in the wake of the Kemeny report.
The nation can ill-afford an indefinite hold on nuclear licensing or one that is subjected to politically inspired delays.
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4 November 6, 1979 1
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.e Atomi2 idrat,lil F ry m, Isc.
7101 Wisconsin Avenue Washington. D.C. 20014 Telephone: (301) 654-9260 TWX 7108249602 ATOMIC FOR DC I
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j President
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November 7, 1979 p,y'"
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Dear Forum Member:
It appears that the senior levels of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission are not hearing enough from the nuclear estab-lishment regarding the need for a resumption in licensing reactors.
Certain Congressmen and our critics have been more vocal.
A statement I issued on the subject is enclosed.
If you likewise have feelings to express, I suggest you send them to the five NRC Commissioners and Harold Denton, Director
'of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
You may also want to send copies to your Congressional delegation.
Sincerely,
[
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