ML20003F262
| ML20003F262 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | McGuire, Mcguire  |
| Issue date: | 04/02/1981 |
| From: | Hendrie J NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Johnston E HOUSE OF REP. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20003F244 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8104200480 | |
| Download: ML20003F262 (1) | |
Text
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UNITED sTA1ES
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION p
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April 2, 1981 CHAIRMAN The Honorable Eugene Johnston United States House of Representatives Washington, D. C.
20515
Dear Congressman Johnston:
This is in response to your letter dated March 2,1981 expressing concern about projected delays in the licensing of new nuclear power plants in general and the effect of such delays on the McGuire Station in particular.
The Comission has made it clear to its staff that expedited licensing decisions are a high priority and has itself devoted considerable time in seeking ways to reduce the delays being encountered in licensing new plants ready to come on line. On March 12, 1981, we provided the House Appropriations Subcomittee on Energy and Water Development with a letter report on possible additional improvements in the licensing process.
In addition, we have submitted a legislative proposal to the Congress which would authorize the Comission to pennit fuel loading and low power testing prior to the completion of an operat-ing license hearing.
I am enclosing a copy of our March 12 latter, without attachments, for your infonnation.
If you require additional information on our efforts, copies of the attachments, our legislative proposal, and our monthly status reports may be obtained frdm our Office of Congressional Affairs on 634-1443.
With regard to the McGuire Station licensing schedule, our most recent estimate is that a Licensing Board initial decision should be issued in June of this year.
Comission review of that initial decision and a decision on the operat-l ing license should then be accomplished by the beginning of August. This represents a gain of about eight months over our prior estimate of March 1982.
l Please be assured that the Comission is taking action to reduce the delays l
encountered in the licensing of new nuclear power plants while ensuring the l
health and safety of the public.
Sincerely, Joseph M. Hendrie
Enclosure:
As stated 8104200 @
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March 12, 1981 CH AIRMAN The Menorable Tom Bevill
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Chairman N N -
Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development Co=ittee on Appropriations U.S. House of Representatives Washington, D.C.
20515
Dear Mr. Chairman:
Answers to " additional questions for the record" concerning NRC's 1982 apprcpriation reques.t were provided to you on February 25, 1981 with the exception of a report on opti' ens to review and accelerate the licensing process.
On February 27, 1981 we submitted the monthly status report updating our licensing scheduling which showed a 13 reactor month improve-ment in the total delays projected fer licensing plants. This letter responds to the request to provide a report on possible additional improvements to the licensing process.
The basic problem we are confronting is the backlog of licensing decisions for new plants ready to come on line. As stated in our previous responses, we believe the problem is a direct consequence of the TMI. accident and of
.he nationally accepted need to carefully reexamine the way in which the NRC and the nuclear industry fulfill their shared responsibility for safety. As a consequence of that accident we were forced to slow our
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l licensing process for more than a year, in spite of the utilization of additionalresourcesprovidedbytheConbressforthatpurpose.andthe internal redirection of staff resources..
This substantial pause occurred.while plant construction continued.
Due to the need for acplicants to address TMI requirements and the need to adjudicate these new requirements in some cases, our licensing approval process is now on tne critical path for operation of a number of plants.
l We believe that considerable reductions in the delays are possible. To that end the Commission has already made it clear to the staff that l
expedited licensing decisions are a high priority in this agency.
As is evident from the February 27 monthly status report, we have already found ways to reduce the impact on two plants by expediting staff review, and in the case of McGuire, improving the hearing schedule.
Construction slippage on the Zimmer and San Onofre-2 plants has also reduced the impact I
of the licensing process.
However, the Comission is also investigating changes which could be made to reduce the length of the licensing process in general, in order to benefit all potentially affected plants.
1/Comissioner Ahearne notes these were to develop and evaluate additional requirements based on lessons learned from TMI.
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The Honorable John F. Ahearne Chairman I5 Nuclear Tsegulatory Comission i@
Washington, D.C.
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Dear Mr. Chairman:
ilm We are writing to c =unicate our strong concern about the nuclear licens-f_C ing procedure in general and the effect that delays in this process could t...._
have on ene particular project, the McGuire Statien in Ncrth Carolina.
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It is our understanding that your January 30, 1951 report to the House in A:prepriations Subec=ittee on Enercy and Water Develcpment, followed by 5
testimony before that Succom:ittee and also the Interior Subco:r.ittee on
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Energy and the Environment, underscored the following pr:ble.:s inherent G:+
in the current systed:
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" Costly delays in the licensing process are all too frequent; IE.
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- There is a misallocation of staff resources at the Ccmission which has aggravated the licensing delay situation; Mi Is
- There is a need for a clearly-stated nuclear licensing policy.
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Combined, these problems will jeopardize our efferts to ensure adequate E9-enerev supplies for the nation and will ccst U.S. censumers virtually E
bilifons of dollars in unne:essary expense.
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Your report to the Appropriations Sub:c=ittee pointed out that it is I-.
precable the construction of 13 plants will have been completed and these 55 plants will be idle a total.cf 90 months prior to the issuance of
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cperating licenses.
The resultant costs are estimated to run in the Ti billions of dollars.
This points out the need for action to improve the 3
licensing system.
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We would suggest that imediate steps need to be taken to expedite the
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licensine procedure.
Specifically, we feel that the imediate 1:e effe:tiveness rule should be reinstated so that licens.ed plants 'may 5
'begin operati:ns as soon as authorized by a properly-informed licensing 3
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