ML19326B008
| ML19326B008 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Davis Besse  |
| Issue date: | 02/27/1973 |
| From: | Anthony Giambusso US ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION (AEC) |
| To: | Thomas Ashley HOUSE OF REP. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19326B009 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8003050997 | |
| Download: ML19326B008 (8) | |
Text
{{#Wiki_filter:4 ~~ y - y s 4 'I s ,r g i FER p-ie73 D mTk Docket No. 50-346 Q v(j n f JL: Honorable Thomas Ludlow Ashley House of Representatives
Dear Mr. Ashley:
Your letter of February 6, 1973, to the Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, enclosing a letter from Us. Kathy Kearns con-cerning the Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Plcnt and the safety of nuclear reactors, has been referred to me for reply. l As you know, the civilian nucicar power industry has an in-pressive safety record. President Nixon pointed this out in his i Clean Energy Message of last year in which he stated, "... the i safety record of civilian power reactors in this country is I l extraordinary in the history of technological advances. For l more than a quarter century - since the first nuclear chain i i reaction took place - no member of the public has been injured by the failure of a reactor or by an accidental release of radioactivity." The industry's safety record is due in large part to the defense-i in-depth concept applied to the construction and operation of j nuclear power plants. This involves high quality materials and 1 workmanship, and cafety systems decigned both to prevent serious j accidents and to limit the consequences in the small chance that l they occur. The safety features built into reactors are i redundant which means that in the remote event one system fails to function properly, one of the backup systems would be activated. In dealing with a technology as complex as that for nucicar power l reactors, it can be expected that technical and scientific questionc on which viewpoints differ vill be raised. Eevever, Congress I has established a regulatory program which assures careful and i Laowledgeable consideration of these matters, a program which l provides not only for cocprehensive continuing review by a j Government agency with expertisc in the technolugy, but also for a hearing process wherein the views of the interested public can be considered in making safety decisions. hfj e 8008050 N Q
Hon:;rable Thomas Ludlow Ashlsy 2 Any application for a construction permit or operating license for a nuclear power reactor is subjected to an intensive review by the Ator.ic Energy Commission's (A.E.C.) Regulatory staff with the protection of the public health and safety and the environment as the main considerations. A copy of the Safety Evaluation on the Davis-Besse application prepared by the Division of Reactor Licensing (now the Directorate of Licensing) of the A.E.C. is enclosed for your information and use. The A.E.C. is also required, under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (iiEPA), to perform an evaluation of the potential environmental impact of the proposed plant and balance the benefits derived against possible risk to the environment. In the case of the Davis-Besse plant, we have asked for comments on our Draft Environmental Statement. After these are received from interested Federal, State, and local agencies, and the public, a Final Environmental Statement, addressing all si:;nificant environmental matters, will be prepared by the A.E.C. and made available to the public. Three booklets are enclose.d which further describe the procedural aspects of the Com:aission's consideration of applications to construct and operate nuclear power plants, as s ell as our continuing review of a plant once it is in operation. Sincerely. Ori:inni signed ay A. Gian:.br.sy A. Giambusso, Deputy Director for Reactor Projects Directorate of Licensing
Enclosures:
DISTRIBUTION: 1. Safety Evaluation Docket File JYore, ASLB 2. " Licensing of Power Reactors" RP Reading E.Hughes 3. "Ato=ic Power Safety" L Reading JCook, DR 4. " Nuclear Power and the Environment" PWR-4 Reading OCR (3) 5. Rep. Ashley's Referral 2/6/73 note J. O' Leary A.Schwencer Chairman Ray (2) E. G. Case M. Groff G. Ertter (DR#5245) A. Giambusso R. C. DeYoung gm ',,, Y See Previous Yellow for Concurrence Chain omer >..L....'h.......... ..................L:DD. .F3... 0CR.- 5 g sumue >v..M.. N...m f..... _ AGi.@.. .E10..-.. ~ .. !.... t 7...... . 2./..' /.7..S....... 2_/._,<.d. 7.3... DATE> Form AEC-31s (Rev.9 53) AECh 0240
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a i l Honorable Thomas Ludlow Ashley 2 l f Any application for a construction permit or operating license for a nuclear power reactor is subjected to an intensive review by the Atomic Energy CoWasion's (A.E.C.) Regulatory staff f with the protection' of the public health and safety and the environment as the main considerations._ A copy of the Safety Evaluation on the Davis-Besse application prepared by the Division of Reactor Licensing (now the Directorate of Licensing) of the A.E.C.'is enclosed for your information and use. The A.E.C. is also required, under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969'(NEPA), to perform an evaluation of the potential environmental impact of the proposed plant and balance i the benefits derived against possible risk to the environment. In the case of the Davis-Besse plant, we have asked for cocoents on our Draft Environmental Statement. After these are received from interested Federal, State, and local agencies, and the l public, a Pinal Environmental Statement, addressing all [ significant environmental matters, will be prepared by the A.E.C. and made available to the public. Three booklets are enclosed which further describe the procedural l aspects of the Consnission's consideration of applications to construct and operate nuclear power planto, as well as our i continuing review of a plant once it is in operation. I f Sincerely, I 1 A. Giambusso, Deputy Director j for Reactor Projects i Directorate of Licensing
Enclosures:
DISTRIBUTION l. Check-Ling Docket File JYore, ASLB 2. Safety Evaluation RP Reading EHughes 3. " Licensing of Power Reactors" L Reading JCook, DR MGroff Reading OCR (3) 4. " Atomic Power Safetyn 5. "Nuclenr Power and the Envid9nig gy ASchwencer 11 fspumo hpaction. 6. JCAE Press Pelease No. 686 Chairman Ray (2) 7. Rep Ashley's Referral 2/6/73 note AGiambusso ECase -(N GErtter (DR#5245) 'm d Q MGroff See Pre ious Yellow for Concurrence Chain RCDeYoung 7 w; O F FIC E. y.) f ,MGroff:kmf AGiambusso._ .OCR t,, : 3%.< - g,,,,,,, 2/ /73,2/. /73.2/.. ./73 '/M f? i._ om. -mm m oncm -
B k 9 9 DISTRIB' 'ON k Docket... J. Cook, DR RP Reading OCR (3) L Reading MGroff Reading J. O' Leary PDR Docket No. 50-340 Chairman Ray (2) A. Giambusso G. Ertter (DR#5245) Honorable Thoaas Ludlow Ashley M. Groff House of Representatives "9
Dear td.r. Ashley:
f,' g] s ASLB N Your lettdr of February 6,1973, to the ChaiyQcggg9,,Agn$ gill assume followup Energy Comission, enclosing a letter fron Ms. Kathy learns. con-action cerning the Davis-Desse Jiuclear Power Plant and the safety of nuclear reactors, has been referred to me for reply. You ray be interested to know that the nuclear industry has an ir-pressive safety record. President Nixon pointed this cut in his Clean Energy Message of last year in which he stated "... the safety record of civilian power reactors in this country is extraordinary in the history of technological advances. For more than a quarter century -- since the first.nucicar chain reaction tock placo -- no tw.ber of the public has been injured by the failure of a reccter er by an accidental release of radicactifity." A copy of the Frcsident's nessage is enclosed for your information. N The industry's safety record is duesin large part to the defense-in-depth concept applied to the construction and or>cration of nuclear power plants. This f avolves high quality natorials and workranship, .and _safnty systecs. designed both sto pravant -serious accidents and to li: nit the consequences in the snall chance that they cecur. The safety features built into reactors are reduodant in nature which neans that in the remte event one system fails to function properly, one of the backup systens would be activated. s In dealing with a technology as conolex as that for nacicar power reactors, it can be expected that technical and scientific cuestions on which viewpoints differ will be raised. The irportan: point is that Congress has established a ragalatory prograu wnich arsures careful and knowledeeable consideration of these mtters, a progran which provides not only for cc:@rchensive continuing review hy a Goverrtent agency with execrtise in the technology, but also for a hearing process wherein the views of the interested ;iublic carc be considered in making safety dscisions. As you my be aucre. tre Jcint Comittee en Atonic Energy has reccatly annour.ced that it is
t 9\\ 'b Honorable Thomas Ludlow Ashley 2 e a planning to hold public hearings on the general subject of nucle reacter safety early in this session of Congress. Such hearings are positive steps which can make a definite contribution to imm decision:xking on safety questions and to enhance public conficer in the overall regulatory process. A copy of the press release issued by the Joint Comittee is enclosed. Any application for a construction pemit or operating license i: subjected to an intensive review by the Atonic Energy Comission( (A.E.C.) Regulatory staff with the protection of the public hesit and safety and the envirorr.ent as nain considerations. The ench checklist giving a step-by-stop description of the A.E.C's licend process,for nuclear. plants will give you an indication of the c:a ness of these reviews. A copy of the Safety-Evaluation on the N Besse application prepared by the Division of Reactcr Licensing ( the Directorate of Licensing) is enclosed for your revievr. The A.E.C. is required, under the National Environmental Policy / of 1959 (iiEPA), to perfom an evaluation of the potential emnroc irpact of the proposed plant and balance the benefits derived acs possible risk to the envirunwnt. As you know, in the case of ca Davis-P, esse plant, we have asked for coments on our Draft Emric Sta tenent. After tnese are received fron interested Federal. 5t' local.acencies, and the public, a Final Environnental Staternt, dressing all significant environnantal natters, will b2 pre,3ared A.E.C. and nade available to the public. We will send you a cca titta. Three booklets are enclosed which further describe the procedur.'.1 of the. Coa.nisslon's consideration of applicationi to construct en nuclear power plants, as well as our continuing review of a plant is in operation. Sincerely, e c%! +um l' s. A. Civbusso. Nputy Dircetar for Ecacter Projects Directorate of Licensing
Enclosures:
1. Check-List 2. Saf nty Evalua tion 3. 'L1 censing of Power Reactor 5" DL "hcerir-frwer-{ Safety" ' ~"~ ~ " "" ~ ~ " " ~L
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5. "Huclear Power and the Envi ronmnt" MGro'ff:n AQii 5"JP JCAE--Press"iM1 sse-no""Cb "y/""/fy"c." "E/3.du /73 e2rr > CHAD..kDC'*.0y.I s 3 Ce... Fem AEC-H s (Rd.9-56@CM d4DI OY Nb 0
.s = D 9k k . s DISTRfBUTTON Docket File Q RP Reading J.' Cook, L Reading OCR (3) MGroff Reading J. O' Leary Docket No. 50-346 PDR Chairman Ray A. Giambusso (2) House of RepresentativesI!onorable Thonas Lud G. Ertter (DR#5245) N' UI ff 1 Scar f r. Ashley: n Y t. J. Yore, ASL8 - Your letter of February 6,1973 E. Hughes N ' v// Energy Comission, enclosing a letter f nucicar reagtors, has been referred i \\ jV, A ron its. Kathy Kearns con-ac and the safety of NE'1 s,uCl>, u t L y f.o.-ktereste %, 0 for reply. w pressive safety recor&t: ' W the nuclea & < %, Clean Encray Messaga of last year iPresiden r s d. record of civilian pcuer ranctors in e n which he stated "...n his the histor century y of te hnolo ;ical advances.this cow.try is extraordi since tha first nuclear chain reaction t r/Orber of tia pu'lic has beca injurad by t or by an accinatal release of radioacti i ook place - no r.e fc.ilure of a reactor mssege-4s-eno40 sed-for yeur-informetion v ty." A cepy-(4 e.e-i-resient's po, a n ti adocraifno 1$ H-involves high quality natorials and 'nd alety systcas desir limit t i ned both to I>r=-"" erious accident safety $ro I a is a,',.ghinccthattheycccur.scndto jo neans th i +1 one of 5.5 L ck' "re roo,undant im:neteN uhich The s' c: s ld a i ate U" UIIY' a i eni ..b x as that for nuclear ;;cher-on which vis ~ Ainet. Congress l points [jfhh[j]t;[,' f,C careful and I.nowledceable considhas establis , b' - " ' y st1ons, n C 7 '"~ "~ ihich provides not only f it-ts ; n. e c f assures ovattnent agency with execrtise in tha tor cc::prehansiva co ring process wherein the vicus of th ~ r e considarci in nahing safety decisions e int"D'-echnoiocy, but rlso fo j a T / d01nt-Co::.=iuee-ey-hto ; g
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~. v D k 9 h (* lionorable Thomas Ludlow Ashley 2 anning to hol actor safety ca. ly in thublic hearings on the a o p "itive sessi a rek 19 on s 'fety que Gi n/a c.of C teps 5:hich can make Sy6h deci fir to i 1 + 10 " all regu sanchoenhandeJubn' L 'ad ,y process tq* h e h lic t u L jyy t:.g daint-M 4 -t,,L'wc(g.i,. Jy a,6plic; tion for/~%,ttesWnciosei-- Nf43~f .:;.7 g w. O, e p 7-m-a constructio&L,Gr cpara ww [M, subj,ected to an intensive review by the Atc n peiwi (A.E.C. and sar,c)ty Regulatory r,taff with t.'Lg protection i"' ^ c Energy'Comi N "and the environment CS,'?, Gin considerat
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- :,tep-t Ge-nca vi in sta-tee -an-indication-of_ t.' thejirectorate of Licensing)f s cn lB m.e A cony of the Safety Evaluatio M~. i s on of T.cactcr Licene c The s m;,, q,osed for ycur W~"~a --2 of Im'hE.C. id/5;uired, under the N irpact o. the proposed plar.t and bala9 the potential eny D3VIS-Dasse plant, te havu cskea f nce the ba Stacrent. %.3il the caso o" local acenci,es, and the public, a Final dressing all significant environ ntal
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nviron::2ntal St'. tem and mde available to the public. -We t inr ...UM-Three hooklets are enclosed t$1ch fu of the Comissica's consideration of appli nuclear pouci plants, as well cs our contin is in operation cations to construct u ng review of a plc Sincerely, s 0"-:v?:' m n;- s ~r; - 2 N A. Giarbusso, Deputy Directo fo" Reactor Projects
Enclosures:
Directorate of Liccasing 1. Chach-List c _ 2. S1f?tv Eva hn tien 3. "H* P Licensing of ewer Feach S" 's '%f~:ic'frer3 faty"~" -- - - i DL I 5. G:: clear Petced and the Environ un* icd E
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4 / /. I. February 9, 1973 / \\ s N 1. Fr. Hoffmann A-24 May we t. ve your advice on filing the attached tter in the Public Document Room? Ref: Ltr Rep. A (ley to Chairman, 2/6/73 N Docket No. 50-346 s ./w Jeanne Cook. Office of the, Director of Regulation .h_\\_______________________ W w/. 2. Jeanne Coch 003 Sethesda Approved for filing in PDR. Document not to be filed in the FDR. s..,.. I Martin R. Hoffmann General Counsel
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g'P. Thomas Lud1= g g*y (Chio) !COu ra Ot nuusE '~~~ - - 3,g. **" rite toc,',, f IO I Chairman 2/6/73
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^ C'40N F AQCgg3,gg g A rr, 2[jg/73 A c h no wle dg e d_. b'ONAIU4f OF, teterim Report __. _ Chairman cEs CorriON 2eferral O O,;2.aoi ,;, e, _ Director of Regulation titcotr I D C's.e Giasabusco { 5.ncl Itr fat rathy I REMARKS bewa readinC about Davis-Besee and rcaras, BOuling Creen, Ohio, who ha Acturn inecming with reply. l 1 tuelcar power plantrcgulations imposed on the building a deq info on faderal s n operatim of a \\~ REFERGED to Ciambusso f/ action is NottFtCAh0N 10 INE JCAE 1 Cys: ( 2/9/73 RECOMvENDED 7 ~~ o' Leary } j (r j x N\\ { l t DO NOT 'N COoy O!5ECTOR CF REGULAf*ON h i COMMUNICAflONS CONTROL Form HQ #32 {$ 270) US A EC
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9 ', ~ '-. 9 y b s 9 k 1, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, U.S. WASHINGTON. Q.C. ..E.ch.....fi ,tec'.2.3 Chairnan Ato:nic Energy Co:n:nission Washington, D. C. 20545
Dear Sir:
The attached cc==unication is sub-mitted for your cor.sidsration, and to ask that the rec.uest cado therein ~ be complied with, if possible. If you will advise ne of your action in this matter and have the lottor roturned to no with your reply, I will appreciato it. Very truly yours, Thonan I,n.d. lou Asbl.9.L'.i.. !.:. c. .. 9.ti) O".1.Q D: aria. - U r(*) .t M'd4 4 0;ts _...
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....v*- ',l ,. J< - *. January 28, 1972 Congressman Thomas Ashley House of Representatives Washington, D. C. 20510
Dear Congressman Ashley:
Recently, I have been reading about the building of a nuclear power plant in Port Clinton, Ohio. In one article that I read, it stated that if an accident occured at the cite it could p6scib11y doctroy a square area of one hundred miles. This is a frightening thought. I woul:1 I lko to know what fodoral ro,c.ula ti on:) are imposed on the building and operationc of a nuclear power plant. I I would appreciate any information that you could provide me with. Also.if you know of any person that I could write for more informat_lon about the subject. Thank you very much for your time. Sincerely, f .,% d' L Kathy Kearns 248 Dunbar-Marshman Bowling Green State University Bowling Green, Ohio 43403 _. _}}