ML20003F512
| ML20003F512 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Diablo Canyon, San Onofre  |
| Issue date: | 04/06/1981 |
| From: | Dircks W NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | Alquist A CALIFORNIA, STATE OF |
| Shared Package | |
| ML16341B592 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8104220002 | |
| Download: ML20003F512 (4) | |
Text
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d w.x ea hehOlr 4C The Hencrable Alfred E. Alquist 4t 6
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Dear Mr. Alquist:
Your February 12, 1981 letter to President Reagan regarding the expediting of the licensing process for nuclear power plants and specifically the licensing of Otablo Canyon, Units 1 and 2 and the San Onofre, Units 2 and 3 has been referred to ne for response.
Since the D4I-2 accident, a significant arount of the NP.C resources have been concentrated on identifying t5e lassons to be learned from that accident and the associated requirenents that are necessary and sufficiant for the continued oceration of licensed fac111tias and for the issuance of new operating licenses.
That effort culminated with the issuance of tre NPC's T"I Action Plan, approved in hne 1000 The developmnt of that document and the !!RC's increased attention to the safety in the 70 operating reactors took so euch of our attention and our resources that wa were unable to license new plants for a year after the accident. Following the issuanca of the Action Plan, new operating licenses were issued to Sequoyah and flerth Anna units late last sunrer. Furthermore, low power test authorizations were issued to Salem and Farley. The Coccission has recently given the Di ector of the Office of Huclear Reactor Regulation approval to issue the full power license for Farley, Unit 2 when all remaining issues are resolved to the staff's satisfaction. We would anticipats Farley 2 and Salem 2 coing to full power in the near future.
Currently, tne overall picture is one of a licensing process that is returning to predictability at a considerably enhanced level of safety. However, the 1:rplecentation of this enhanced level of safety has raised a nuraber of potential new issues in the contested hearing; for both operating licenses and construction permits around the country.
Some of these units were substantially complete at the time of the Three !111e Island accident or have been completed since then.
Thus, we do face a situation in which, for the first time, cur hearings are or will be continuing for a significant number of plants that will be complete and ready to operate before the hearings conclude.
This situation is an indirect consecuence of the T'41 accident, which required a re-examination of the er. tire regulatory structure. We are not satisfied with the cresent situation and 77 tg? workinc to find ways to accelerate the bearines on these plants whose continued idleness orevents a substantial invest-rent feca benefiting either the consumers or the ocerating utilities.
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4 Y To that end, major improvements in the licensing process are underway or being considered. These improverents include:
Expedited and rescheduled review by the NRC staff for plants in the short term category--those presently complete and those to be completed in 1981 and 1982.
Increased efficiency of the hearing process and subsequent Commission and Appeals Board review. The time now being taken between issuance of the supplerental staff evaluation report and initial decisions by licensing boards averages 18 months. The NRC believes it can compress that tire to about 10 months by tightening up the times allowed for each part of the prehearing process and by providing firmer time management of the whole process. The Commission is publishing for public corrent proposed changes to its rules which would accomplish this.
Changes in the review process the Commission itself exercises over these cases. The Commission is considering two alternatives to shorten this review period which could save at least two months in each case that has been in heari ng.
Early completion of HRC staff review for plants to be completed in 1983 and beyond. This will require better scheduling of reviews and increased staff resources applied to casework. Some staff resources can be redirected by deferring lower ortority work and shif tino some work to other NRC offices.
Before making such a chance, the Commission will carefully review the inpact on other essential safety-related activities.
Ore further step to be considered is legislation to authorize the Comnission to issue limited, interin operating licenses befove completion of hearings where all applicable safety requirerents have been met.
In sumnary, we are confident the actions we have taken and those we will take will provide major imprnvaments in licensing schedules without compromising the regulatory requirements for safety.
With regard to your concern in the delay in licensing of the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant, hearings before the Atomic Safety and Licensing Appeal Board on seismic and security matters were concluded in October 1980 and November 1980, respectively. We expect the Board's findings in the near future. The staff has completed its review of issues related to low power operation of Diablo Cany on. The concerns raised by Governor Brown of California and others might result in another hearing on the matter of issuance of a low power license.
This hearing could commence in mid-May 1981. The staff issued supplements Nos.13 and 14 to Diablo Canyon's Safety Evaluation Report dealing with issues related to full power operation on April 2,1981.
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3-With recard to your concern in the delay in licensing of the San Onofre Units 2 and 3, the staff has completed the major part of its review. Staff safety evaluations were issued on Dece=ber 31, 1980, February 6,1981 and February 25, 1981. The review of the San Onofre Units 2 and 3 by the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards was completed early this month. A safety evaluation report addressing issues identifie1 by the ACRS and the remaining outstanding issues is in preparation and is scheduled to be issued in early May. We anticipate the hearings on this project to commence in early July.
We appreciate your interest in the Diablo Canyon and San Onofre projects and understand your frustration at the delays in their licensing. Please be assured that the HRC is taking every reasonable action to expedite the licensing process, consistent with our comit:nent to ensure the public health and safety.
Sincerely (Siped E!!:a J. DU;d William J. Dircks, Executive Director for Operations DISTRIBUTION: SEE NEXT PAGE, l
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SECY (3) (#81-0340)
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@ LETTER CMEMO C REPORT C OTHER SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR R EMARKS REF EDO 10189 Urges licensing of Diablo Canyon Respond to the general expediting of licenses & specifically Diablo Canyon.
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CLASSIFICATION l NLMBER CF PAGES CATEGORY acarAL aEGisTav No.
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