ML19330C122
| ML19330C122 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane  |
| Issue date: | 07/10/1980 |
| From: | Reid R Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Peace S AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8008070590 | |
| Download: ML19330C122 (4) | |
Text
UNITED STATES y ; ')
'g NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Tw }
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555
' JULY 10191B Mr. S. T. Peace, Jr.
215 South William Street Henderson, NC 27536
Dear Mr. Peace:
I am writing in response to'your recent letters to President Carter and Commissioner Joseph Hendrie. In your correspondence, you expressed concerns regarding the delay in placing Three Mile Island Nuclear Station, Unit No.
1, back into service, and the rate structure prescribed for the Metropolitan Edison Conpany.
As you may be aware, the NRC has ordered that a public hearing be conducted to determine whether the facility should be operated and, if so, under what conditions. The public hearing is scheduled to begin this fall.
During the hearing, the technical issues appropriate to assure public health and safety will be addressed.
The NRC staff is currently involved in the on-going review of technical information concerning the restart of Unit 1.
Based upon the current status of the proceedings, the development of a record on which the NRC can make a decision regarding restart is not expected before the early part of 1981.
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Comission (PUC) issued on May 23, 1980, a sequel to the PUC's June 19, 1979 Order regarding the allocation of the financial burden resulting from the March 28, 1979 accident at Three Mile Island Nuclear Sta+. ion, Unit No. 2.
The following excerpt from the May 23, 1979 Order may oe of interest.
"The basic conclusion of the Comission in this order is that Met Ed should continue to operate as a public utility. The Commission will provide Met Ed the means of financial rehabilitation.
However, we will write no blank checks on its ratepayers. We find that TMI-1 is no longer used and useful and that the base rates of both Met Ed and Penelec should be reduced.
This order, with its provisions for a fully current recovery of energy costs and an accelerated amortization of deferred energy costs provides an adequate framework for Met Ed's recovery.
Respondent must convince its bank creditors that it has the will and the ability to rehabilitate itself.
Abovc all, Met Ed must demonstrate candor and a villingness to address its problems and the initiative and ability to find solutions to those problems. The very real fears and concerns of its customers and neighbors must be allayed. Met Ed's cost must be reduced through load management and conservation-inducing rate structure change.
Met Ed must aggressively pursue the return to service of TMI-1 or an early decision on its conversion to the use of an alternative fuel.
If these things are done, the Commission is confident that Met Ed will not only survive but will regain its financial health.
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. Finally, we emphasize that this order does not end our regulatory concern.
The management investigation of the GPU Conpanies at Docket No. I-79080320 continues.
Further, we will continue to closely monitor the operations of Met FC, Penelec and the GPU Conpanies to assure the continued provision of safe, adequate and reliable service to Pennsylvania ratepayers at reasonable rates."
While we are, of course, concerned about financial inpacts on consumers, the NRC's primary responsibility is the assurance of public health and ssafety. State public utility comissions and the Federal Energy Regulatory Comission have primary responsibility regarding the financial aspects of electric power generation.
The former Atomic Energy Comission (AEC) had a Congressional mandate to develop and promote nuclear energy.
W'<tn the AEC was abolished in 1974, the NRC was created by Congress for the soie purpose of regulating the comercial production of nuclear energy. The U. S. Department of Energy (D0E) is now responsible for the Federal Government's nuclear research and development activities. Consequently, comments and questions about the future of this energy source should be directed to that agency.
Your comments and interest in these matters are appreciated.
Sincerely,
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J/f.
Robert W. Reid, Chief Operating Reactors Branch #4 Division of Licensing
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SCOTT PEACE, Assoc.
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HENDERSON. N C. 27536 BILL BARTHOLOMEW, Assoc.
Telephone: (919) 492-5061 April 30,1980
Dear Sir:
I am a citizen alarmed, as the great majority are, over our energy crisis.
I am only one among millions. My voice is small, and I can do little.
On the other hand, you carry a big stick and your voice can be heard..It is one of authority.
.We small people, the majority people, implore *you t o get back on the
' ball and put nuclear power back in its proper leadership position of energy production.
It is a pitiabic situation when the formerly greatest nation allows itself to be led by a few radicals.
If nuclear power poses all the threat that they promulgate, foreign countries, such as France and West Germany, have a very dismal future.
It is in your power to do something! Cet Three Mile Island Unit 1 back to work at once! The Three Mile Island accident was tragic, but its end result was a tremendous step forward in improving safety techno-logy. The company sho'uld not be penalized retroactively. _There are tens of thiFJsinds"6f'constimers who are being p'enalized with higher
'clectric, bills becdu'se of ' needless ~ delay. There ari otiier nuclear plants' not on stream (b6c'au~se oi~ tile same delay) when we need them
~
now.. If war breaks out it will be too late to get them in production!
Three Mile Island is symbolic! Cet it back on the line and most of the upheaval around it will be forgotten, or at least deenphasized, and wc can get on with the program. We learn by our mistakes, and they will always be with us.
Cun powder discovery, T.N.T., germ warfare and even atcuic fission did not dicimate civilization, and neither will nuclear i pcwor. Cet us back on the way to future progress.
lOpenupThreeMileIslandUnit1.
t Sincerely,
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~M S. T. Peace, Jr.
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Land Development Mouns REPRESENTED S. T. PEACE. AFLM
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IN 8.000 215 SOUTH WILLIAM STREET SCOTT PEACE. Assoc.
A COMMUNmES.
CILL BARTHOLCMEW. Assoc.
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. HENDERSON. N. C. 27536 Telephone: (919) - 492-5061 April 30,1980
Dear Sir:
I am a citizen alarmed, as the great majority are, over our energy cris is.
I am only one among millions. My voice is small, and I can do-little.
On the other hand, you carry a big stick and your voice can be heard.
It is one of' authority.
We small people, the majority people, implore you to get back on the ball and put nuclear power back in its proper leadership position of energy production.
It is a pitiable situation when the formerly greatest nation allows itself to be led by a few radicals.
.If nuclear power poses all the threa: that they promulgate, forei,gn countries, such as France and West Germany, have a very dismal future.
It is in your power to do something! Geti Three Mile Island Unit 1 l
back to work at once! The Three Mile Island accident was tragic, but its end result was a tremendous step forward in improving safety techno-logy. The company should not be penalized retroactively. There are tens of thousands of consumers who are being penalized with higher electrio bills because of needless delay. There are other nuclear plants not on stream-(because of the same delay) when we need them now.
If war breaks out it will ba too late to get them in production!
l Three Mile Island is symbolic! Get it back on the line and most of j
the ' upheaval around it will be forgotten, or at least deemphasized, and l
we can get on with the program. We learn by our mistakes and they will t
always be with us.
Gun powder discovery, T.N.T.,
germ warfare and even l
atomic fission did not dicimate civilization, and neither will nuclear power. Get us back on the way to future progress.
Open up Three Mile Island Unit 1.
Sincerel'y 7
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S. T. Peace, Jr.
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