ML19351D426

Requests Comment on Encl G Dow Concerns About Evacuation Planning Around Facility

ML19351D426
Person / Time
Site:	Seabrook
Issue date:	07/14/1980
From:	Mavroules N HOUSE OF REP., SCIENCE, SPACE & TECHNOLOGY (FORMERLY
To:	Kammerer C NRC OFFICE OF CONGRESSIONAL AFFAIRS (OCA)
Shared Package
ML19351D425	List: ML19351D423 ML19351D426
References
NUDOCS 8010100102
Download: ML19351D426 (4)

Text

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N.GCMOLAS MAVROULEB

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' Wadingess,B.C. 20515 July 14, 1980 Mr. Carlton Kammerer Director, Office of Congressional Affairs Nuclear Reg'ilatory Commission 1717 H Street, N.K.

Wahington, D.C.

20505

Dear Mr. Kammerer:

Recently I have received a number of constituent complaints expressing their sincere concern about the lack of adequate evacuation proceedures for the communities surrounding the Seabrook nuclear power plant in New Hampshire.

Enclosed is a copy of one such inquiry from Mrs. Gail Dow of Salisbury, Massachusetts.

Because of the seriousness of the matter, I would appreciate it if the Nuclear Regulatory Commission would look into this matter and assist me in assuring that the safety of my constituents has been addressed properly by the Public Service Company's present evacuation plan.

I would like to thank you for your time and effort in dealing with this problem, and I look forward to receiving the Commission's reply in a timely fashion.

~ cepely, Nicholas Mavroules Member of Congress NM:ct/db

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Dear Congressman Mavroulen,

PARt Please find encionwdogmqsult$cle,,fr m the New' iurypo y 980 News of June 19, 1980, wh: ch is of vital interent to 'many of your constituents.

The irresponsibility of Public Service Co. is obvious in the first paragraph and worsens as the article continues. It states that the evacuation of 100,000 people from.within 10 miles of the plant could be accomplished in six hours. Anyone who lives on a State highway, as I do,0:tt 1 A) knows this is impossible, as traffic is often bumper to bumper 6 to 7 hours8.101852e-5 days <br />0.00194 hours <br />1.157407e-5 weeks <br />2.6635e-6 months <br /> on any summer weekend. P.S.C. acknowledges that schools, hospitals and rest homes were not included in the evacuation plans. Presumably, people will evacuate leaving school age l

children, the sick and elderly in their families behind? Barely mentioned is the panic fag or or the fact that not everyone will be prepared with a full tank of gas, etc. Not even mentioned are factors such as those without transportation and people with valuable throughbred horses, greyhounds etc, they would be loath to leave un-attended for who knows how long.

New " interim" rules promulgated by the H.R.C. regarding a 15 minute warning system seem to represent progress, yet P.S.C. Project manager Bruce Beckley states he doesn't agree with the rule as it has no provision for assessment of the accident by the utility. An assessment of the Thre's Mile Is. accident by the utility and the N.R.C. took several days, is this what residents of this area can expect alce?

Your recent survey asked the Question ' ~#ould you a'llow a nuclear plant to be built within 20,mi. of your home?' I feel Allow was an unfortunate choice of words, since your constituents had no say in allowing Seabrook Station to be built and even Seabrook residents 1 ave had little effect from their negative votes and opposition.

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As in the past, we will be supporting you in the coming. election,

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putting a sign on our lawn, etc. It's evident that Seabrook Station will become a reality and many of us fear for our property values should there be an accident. For that reason we ask that P.S.C. be made to adhere strictly. to the new N.R.C. ' rules and' seriously address s

the evacuation and warning system problem without resorting to jokes or doubletalk. Thank you for taking the time to read this heartfelt request.

Sincerely g

CN Mrs. Gail Dow 131 Beach Rd, Salisbury, Ma.

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said to0.000 people wWn 10 determined IRAIAm===amama The warshg system would 40 alghts, Public Servlee Co.

h # pegelt alasingssa.

fireleedby eng the purchsee ef esponsive wrote la a May 18 report to 79C to tgdste a ISO sesty af saw eq$ met and to use af evenusesselmssettensmate usavaliable maapewer, the uses. -

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Bob Hortes, of iERDB "There are problesse, we Asescistes, sold the sebaste scree,"ProjectManagerBruce repressnes he peak populaties Beckley med, "But there are af the ares es a het Sumely is ashliens. Wheter PSC and Na Juk.Hesoldthedatawesettied raleperers hay yes athe towns) frem eceue rsports, traste Gee equipment. or t (tesquipment studies. esteting read satsarts ispurchasedbythestate, FEMA '

and aerist phoeng:spbe takes la ( Fedaral Emerseac It?B and19ft.

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But, he said, the eettmate teos seashew it's seing ta be doesn't takelateesssidsentinea haught."

N^^ Epic" facter, the time essend "We're act asylag we're gang

a sfacusse ashesis, hospitals to hay abens6We're est asying

and sureing homes, and the waffe not to big teen,"

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Bodley seresshg that-NMM Aseec., led its la. Det essesy what the federal

} formaties en traffle and goversspent will require le popslatism h:o a esmputertmed esmergencywarshgsynenshas j

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W.C. to find "elser times," or Beckley also noted thet he to tknefrom ehm thegemmel diesgreed with tl

e federal popslaties b teW to leave as government's 15einste notice area to the moment the last requiremet.

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The Nuclear Regulatory EVAC almslated as Commiselon le ellowing 15 evacuaties by entering the shutes between the time an amberef estmatedveniciosat accident occurs and the thne deelganted

pehte, and towns are leid absee it, working "arecessing" them through he treugh allseefcomnumication antwork atil all the cars had from the utility, to the state ist.

psBre, to thesisteCivu Defense, But several pisenere fremt te le to tenns, 3 "Sentreek 10"======m8a=

Beckley said the procedure attending toseesten has ao provkies for seassement wheter to study heldme of tesectestbyutilitiesbefore eder " rest werM" emerymey temmunites are settled.

eenditises Data from the 5.lach thielf "At what peht wSt you ad. HMM study will be medo tem lhe ame assedstad eith avausbie to lesal CD edReishl people laeving to a panie with and he state to he5 ferimmiste partial teste of gas and desses temprehemelve emergemey' of feeder headerot" Mampene plaselsrSeabroskStaties.

Selecteemaa Mary Lusise Is addition to tee PSCM Wasissyenhed, esmalesioned retort. FEMA '

Osasa were emeermed wie which le eherged with the towee'shulty to infersa evaluating local emergency ree6 dents sheet eveematles, pinas Ier meelser reseters, has wthis to 18 minstre seqeged ressetly esamtssicaed a by the Neeleer Regulatory McLees, Va. fires to study commisena.

eveeuseos ames a Seehroek Under aos "Isterba" rules.and 11 sther "prehlem"useleer tramissed h IIe enke af op rescaersessa e

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The Honorable Nicholas Movrm.les United states nouse of Representatives j

washington, D. C.

20515

Dear Congressman Mavroules:

Thank you for your letthe of August 1,1980, regarding the concerns of your constituent Mrs. Gail Dow on the response of the Public Service Company of New Hampshire to the NRC requests for evacuation time estimates and for installation of a notificacion system for the public around the Seabrook site (now under construction).

Since the summer of 1979, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has been actively pursuing a major program of upgrading the state of emergency Preparedness in the environe of operating nuclear power plants. The new i

and more stringent rules and criteria adopted by the NRC have three M ncipal elements:

(1) performing detailed planning to a distance of about 10 milas around the site, (2) establishment of detailed criteria for defining an emergency, and (3) establishment of a system to promptly notify the public j

if an emergency is declared and advise them of the protective actions to j

be taken.

By direction of President Carter on December 7,1979, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is responsible for review of off-site emergency plans, which includes evacuation planning, of State and local authorities in the environs of a nuclear power plant. The NRC works closely with FEMA in this regard. Upon ccepletion of its review, FEMA will present its findings on the adequacy of off-site emergency plans to NRC, and the NRC will then make the final licensing decision.

As part of this effort the NRC in December, 1979 requested the construction permit licensees to estimate the time required for evacuating areas near their sites during an emergency. These time estimates were to cover evacuation of the general population during normal and adverse conditions and the evacuation of special groups such as hospitals. The licensees were also instructed to have these evacuation times reviewed by the local officials responsible for carrying out such evacuations to insure their accuracy.

FEMA will also provide the NRC with an independent assessment of the evacuation times around the Seabrook site.

Public Service Cospany of New Hampshire submitted its evacuation time estimates to the NRC on August 4, 1980.

In this submittal they pointed out that it was a preliminary effort because the detailed emergency planning on which final estimates must be based was not complete for the area around Seabrook. The study did not consider special groups (e.g., hospitals) or the public notification system and the study was not reviewed by the local response officials (e.g., local police, etc.) for accuracy.

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'4, The Honorable Nicholas Mavroules <

P The licensee will be required to have their evacuation time estimates reviewed by local officials and integrate them into the upgraded emergency planning g

'l required by the new NRC requirements.

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s This upgraded emergency planning must include public education,-,91anning for evacuation and other protective measures, and the administrative and physir.al means to promptly notify the public within about 10 miles of the site in the

- event of an emergency. The notification system must be designed to essentially i

complete the initial notification of the public _within about 15 minutes.

1 This planning will be revfewed by the NRC and FEMA.for adequacy and in

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addition, it must be exe'rcised before the Seabrook site will be licensed.

A copy of the new rule is enclosed.

Mrs. Dow also indicated that the " panic factor" was not taken into consideration

' l by the utility in development of its evacuationt time estimates. The Environ-mental Protection Agency (EPA) studied a large number of evacuations carried out over the years and found no basis for the widely held view that people panic during crises or will panic during an emergency. In fact they found that people are more deliberate during emergencies.

I hope'that we have addressed Mrs. Dow's concerns. If she has any further questions or concerns she should feel free to contact Mr. Tom McKenna of the NRC at (301) 492-7939 who is the emergency planning reviewer for the Seabrook site.

Sincerely, 0

LW) I.i, usam f

J-3-c Nilliam J. Dircks l

Executive Director for Operations Enclosures Rule Change 9

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