ML19340E041

Responds to Requesting Withdrawal of Pilot Knob Mine from List of Potential Facilities for Consideration by Lawrence Berkeley Lab Until Concerns Are Resolved

ML19340E041
Person / Time
Issue date:	11/24/1980
From:	Ahearne J NRC COMMISSION (OCM)
To:	Teasdale J MISSOURI, STATE OF
References
NUDOCS 8101060266
Download: ML19340E041 (1)

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November 24, 1980 CHAIRMAN The Honorable Joseph P. Teasdale Governor of Missouri Jefferson City, Missouri 65102

Dear Governor Teasdale:

I have reviewed your letter of October 10, 1980 concerning the feasibility study being performed for the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) by Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory (LBL).

I am concerned that there has apparently been a serious misunderstanding of the purposes of the study.

The study is being performed to identify existing underground facilities which may be suitable for use as an NRC-supported research facility to test the capabilities and limitations of various geotechnical instruments and measure-ment techniques that may be used by DOE to characterize potential repository sites.

DOE has the responsibility to select candidate sites for repository development. The NRC's responsibility on the other hand is to regulate DOE's activities. Therefore, our interests are limited solely to technical assess-ments of the DOE program and do not include selecting potential repository sites. As such, any NRC-supported research facility would not be developed for use as a geologic repository for high-level wastes, and no radioactive wastes would be used for experimental purposes.

As requested in your letter, the NRC has directed LBL to withdraw the Pilot Knob mine in Iron County, Missouri, from consideration until after the NRC staff meets with your representatives to further discuss our intent and any additional concerns you may have. My staff will be available to meet with your representatives at your convenience.

Sincefely,

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ExecuTivt Orrict STATE OF MIS SOURI JErrERSoN CITY JOS EPM P. T E.AS DALE c.o o.

October 10, 1980 Mr. John F.

Ahearne Chairman Nuclear Regulatory Commission 1717 N.

Street, N.W.

Washington, D.C.

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Dear Mr. Ahearne:

Recently we have been advised that the Nuclear Regulatory Cerr.ission has authorized the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory of Berkeley, California to conduct a feasibility study of the Pilot Knob mine in Iron County, Missouri, for evaluation as to its feasibility for development as a high level radio-active waste repository site.

I appreciate the advanced notification prior to the commence-ment of the study, but I must inform you that the State of Missouri is not interested in having this study done without a great deal of additional information.

I request that you withdraw the Pilot Knob mine from your list of potential facilities for consideration by the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory until complete discussions between our offices are conducted.

Sincerely, f

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President Carter Charles Duncan Missouri Congressional Delegation 1

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