ML20030D253

Forwards Constituents SE Young & SE Hotchkiss Comments Re Facility Early Warning Sys

ML20030D253
Person / Time
Site:	Ginna
Issue date:	08/24/1981
From:	Horton F HOUSE OF REP.
To:	Hendrie J NRC COMMISSION (OCM)
References
NUDOCS 8109010075
Download: ML20030D253 (7)

Text

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FR \\NK HORTON C 3.'"II !. "' '. ((,7 ansraer omers.

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Mr. Joseph M. Hendrie ll-AUG 2 61981 > T

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Dear Mr. Hendrie:

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I have received the enclosed correspondence concern k'@'-

the efforts of Rochester Gas & Electric Company to comply with the early warning system for the Ginna Nuclear Power Plant located in my congressional district.

Contact was made directly with Mr. Howard Rot ay, D. nager of Government and Community Relations at Rochester Gas

& Electric, to discu.es the concerns of my constituents.

I am informed that the alternate to the sirens mentioned in the enclosed matc"ial is a tone alert system which must be installed in every home.

The cost of this system and the fact it would have to be testc( avery two weeks would seem prohibitive.

Also, the Ginna plant is located in a rural area where many work outside.

The purpose of this letter is to request your comments and suggestions concerning this situation.

I realize that NRC 654 pertains to all of the United States and would like to have the benefit of your experiences with plants located in other parts of the country.

Thank you for your courtesy and interest in this situation.

l I look forward to your response.

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Frank Horton

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FH: DRGS Enclosures PiEASE REPLY 70 Hon. Frank Ho,-9c.,

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JUL 24 M1i cmm5U;.,,@,',k,h,h,,g PROD.nd STEPHEN E. -YOUNG 2801 Shepherd Rd.

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Congressman Frank J. Horton T

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Dear Congressman Horton:

Earlier this week I had given your office a phone call to alert you to a problem that affected people that live around my home and most directly my wife and I. This situation will affect at least 700 others in the next few months. At the time speed was of the essence this was the reason for contacting people by telephone.

On July 15 Rochester Gas and Electric put up the first of 79 poles in the early warning system as mandated by the NRC. De problem came in when they put it in front of the home 1 just built last year. Now this may sound like just an idle complaint and the first reaction is "it has to go in front of someones house", if my home were located in the city I could understand this but with my house on 6 acres and a thousand acres of orchard around us the reason for the location is

, perplexing.

With time short and the cost of a legal battle the choice was to attack the problem politically.'My steps were to contact the proper assemblymen, congressmen and senatcrs. From that point 1 1

contacted the television and newspapers in this area. You may have seen some of the coverage this week, Rochester Gas and Electric's first reaction to myself and the press was that relocation was out of the question with all of the pole locations. Later in the week I received a call from the Vice President of Rochester Gas and Electric. John Mair. indicated to me that he had seen the' Press i

coverage of the problem and at this point in time agreed with me the poles are a visual and audio pollution problem to those located near them. He also indicated to me that he has set up a task l'

force to evaluate each installation of the sirens. Mr. Mair also said he would like me to look over the enginering aspects of the system with the project engineer I had contacted earlear in the week.

i You may be asking your self why the follow.up? The pole is still there and the effects of the,-

system still will ellect the environment. On Wednesday I notified RGandE that I would with the help of my neighbors be publishing a informational sheet on the system. This sheet will be distributed to the people that will be located near the poles on the map. For your information I have enclosed one of these letters for you review. We would also like you to know that we plan on following this dilemma through to the end to help all those concerned.

Thanks again for your help on this problem.

(315) 524 3312 l

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M WU STUART E. HOTCHKISS 5097 WAt. WORT 4 ONTARIO RD.

WALWORTH, N.Y.14568 Rochester Gas and Electric Corporation 30 July 1981 v

89 East Avenue Rochester, N.Y.14649 Attention: John W. Oberties, General Manager, Public Affairs

Dear Mr. Oberlies,

As owner of the property.at the,above address, I wish to acknowledge receipt of your explanatory letter of July 27, 1981, regarding installation of. "79 pole.

mounted alert sirens...around the Ginna nuclear power plant..."

in the third paragiap'. you state that the location for each of these 79 sirens has been "choosen". Since thb is an accomplished fact, r, lease provide me with a map of the locations you have chosen. This will enable me to better assess impacts on my personal environment and any requests for relocation in acmrdance with paragraph 5.

It seems logical that if any relocaiion were to be accomodated it would be economically efficient to resolve such issues prior to actual installation, since clearly any costs of adjustment will be passed on to your customers.

I must add that while I am aware of (and in disagreement with) the gorrnment's mandate, I was fully aware of the Ginna plant when I purchased 'ais property, and

'am frankly much less concerned about my risk and hazard from 'he nuclear plant than I am about the environmental impact of the sirens! Does the environmental impact report accurately address noise level and esthetic impacts on people and animals? I find it hard to believe that sound levels in excess of 100 db are acceptable.

The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle informs me that alternative warning systems are available.' Will you please provide me with information regarding the findings of your analysis of such alternatives?

(e.g. telephone rings, etc.).

S Very truly yours, LLU

/E Stuart E. Hu'tchkiss c:

Ser.ator Daniel P. Moynihan Senator Alfonse D'Amato Congressman Frank Horton Rochester ' Democrat & Chronicle

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STUART E. HOTCHKISS 5097 WALWORTH.OUTARIO RD.

WALWORTH, N.Y.14568 Rochester Gas and Electric Corporation 30 July 1981 89 East Avenue Rochester, N.Y.1464P Attention: John W. Oberlies, General Manager, Pcblic Affairs Dear Mr. Oberlies.

As owner of the property at 2200 Walworth Penfield Road. Walworth, N.Y., I wish to acknowledge receipt of your explanatory letter of July 27, 1981, regarding installation of "79 pole mounted alert sirens...around the Ginna nuclear power plant..."

In the third paragraph, you state that the location for each of these 79 sirens has been "choosen". In a similar letter concerning my principal residence I have requested you to provide me with a map of the locations you have chosen. This will enable me to better assess impacts to my tenants environment, the value of my investment and any requests for relocation in accordance with paragraph 5.

It seems logical that if any reloc.itiori were to be accomodated it would be economically efficient to resolve such issues prior to actual installation, since clearly any costs of adjustment will be passed on to. your customers.

I rnust adJ that while I am aware of (and in diragreement with) the government's.

mandate, I was fully aware of the Ginna plant when i purchased this property, and-am frankly much less corterned about risk' and hazard from the nuclear plant than I am about the enviror -

impact of the sirens! Does the environmental impact report accurately e oise level and esthetic impacts on people and animals? I find it hard to clie/e that sound levels in excess of 100 db are acceptable.

The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle informs me that alternative warning systems are available. In my other letter I have asked you to provide me with information regarding the findings of your analysis of ~ such alternatives, (e.g.

telephone rings, etc.).

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Very truly yours, ROA Stuart E. Hotchkiss c:

Senator Daniel P. Moynihan Senator Alfonse D'Amato Congressman Frank.Horton l

Rochester Democrat' & Chronicle

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RGhE WARNING SIGNAL _ SYSTEM

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Rochester Gas & Electric is installing a warning system. (fer use in case there is a problem at Ginna Nuclear Plat in Ontario). The control of this system will be turned over the county, and used as they see fit.

(These sirens will also be used for disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, chemical accidents, violent thunder storms, etc.).

The first warning siren has been erected o:. Shepherd Road in Williamson.

This is the first of 79 sirens to be erected in the surrounding towns of Ontario, Williamson, Webner, Sodus, Marion, Walworth and Fcnfield. NO PRIOR WARNING WAS GIVEN TO THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE GENERAL VICINITY OF THIS SIREN!

We feel that these sirens are a source of visual pollution, as well as audio pollution.

We are trying to have this system re-evaluated and make sure that all people involved are aware of the facts about this warning synen1. Here are some of the facts:

• Siren is approximately 4 feet in diameter

• Siren is approximately 55 feet from rorf surface

• Weight of tJie siren is 450 pounds

• Approximate cost of the siren is $15,000 plus installation cost, support equipment, and implementation, for a total cost of 51 million dollars.

• Intensity of signal at the horn is ]?.5 db.

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(Threshold of Pain - 105 db. to 140 db.-depending on the person)

Enclosed is a map of the locations of all of the warning signals. Please be aware of these locations, as you may be directly affected by these signals.

Also enclosed is a list of people you may contact if you have any questions, concerns, complaints or suggestions.

Picase contact.these people if you are at all concerned about these warning signals.

Thank you, Stephen Young Julv 15,1981

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Contact:

John Mair - Vice President of Rochester Gas & Electric 89 East Avenue Rochester, New York 14649 7M/546-2700 i

Dick Peck - Customer Representative of Rochester Gas & Electric 89 East Avenue Rochester, New York 14649 i

716/546-2700 l

Howard Rowley - Manager of Community Relations 89 East Avenue Rochester, New York 14649 716/546-2700 Alfonse M. D'Amato - United States Senator Federal Office Building 111 W. Huron Street Bufralo.New York 14202 716/846-4111 Frank J. Horton - United States House of Representatives 314 Federal Building Rochester, New York 14614 716/263 6270 L Paul Kehoe - New York State Senator 1 Montezuma Street I; cons, New York 14489 315/946-6512 Thomas A. Hanna - New York State Assembly 1680 Lake Road Webster, New York 14580

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716/265-9800

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. t JIM REDMOND acres of land located in the middle of fruit - still standing wtdde the hou:4 at 'z301 Shep-

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orchards along Shepherd Road in Williamsen.. ' ' herd Road. ' '

Stephen Young damn't like the,new view Wayne County, he said.

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• We're looking into it," uid RG&E spokm.

from his lizi.w; room sindow, even though "We aren't nemurily against the systun,'

risn Richard Peck.

the.%fmt.high powder blue warn.r.g airen, hmg said. "But'here we Arc,,out in the

• We can't make any promises.* But moving the siren is'*un'de' mar.kieration,* be said.

blends with the sky can a clear day.,* ",A,4 muntry,' witi. hundreds of certs cl tiers,

s Rcchester Gas &' Electric Co earlier this' around and they,put this thing in front of. ' ';Since Young lqan complaining, RG&E '

month planted the siren that will emit a 'our house. W & T 3 4 L i,.',4 ' 'A

. officials have been going from site to site to 12.%dedbd nobe stop a pole about 200 feet' After several phone calls You,ng said he'luisr Neo where the airens would intrude on pm.

cominced RG&E officish to take another pie.

from Young's window.

The riren was the first of 79 t.) be erectrd.1mk at where they're placing the sirens. He's Less tha 2 a half dozen airens have been under a f(deraUy mandated sptem to warn to mxt with RG&E engineers today.,

erected since the one on Shepherd Road.

rersidents'living within 10 mDes of the Ginna Young a'tuhnician at Xerox Corp., wanta Both Young end RG&E are compo"dng Nudear Plant in Ontario, Wayne' County, of to rnale,stfre the' system is the best por.sible letters to be delhcred to people living near the nudear accidenta.

. warning plan.

airens.

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' l'm just looking at it from my concern and

• AI) we really want is 'to inform thern that It has yet to le mnnected.

But it createe

• visual and audio poUution,". trying to help everyone else in the process,"he, 'ma's going to uput their emiro

. it and could cause health problems for Young' uid. -Pm actually pro.nucIcar and I can't even.

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e.nd his wife, Bonnie, he uid; ne Youngs, le sure Pm against the system." i'." ?..'.i ' ' Young and at least on'e neigh'or may hand Despite Young's mmplaints to RG&E offi- ' distribute letters to an atimated 700 famdies leth 25, are expecting twins next month.

It abo lowers the value of his houre and six dah and the media, the'4fApound siren is--

-'living near airens lain this week depending on e,.

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' and trievision to get further instructions." i'

. RG&E's letter explaining the purpcriand The $2.5 million plan to warn rdidents of a

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I pbccrnent of the sirena sill be 5.ent.out*this 'nudcar accident is akut a month behind week, Pak uid..., ~.

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"We chose the tsiren e ystem for one. as being a fe&ra) dea 41ine and umy mha RG&E's -

the most effective and timedested method of. - '"pncted 'Oct. I mmpletion date. * ;.,.. p -

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- #e warning people nf an emergency," Peck said., Oct.'.15,, Peck said.We should have the entire system.m p I

RG&E is abo having a broc'iure print <d for. -

_ Every nuclear plant i the 21.000 RG&E customers living in the m thq country a,s behind schpule."

! area te!!ing them.what to do when the sirens

-.The company has had d'ffict$lty' obtaining i

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i Phe brochure,.which should he ready tn a. 33 a!crt tone radios that will be plaad irr

couple.of weckt,, will also define radiat2on. high noise arens like factoria. The manufac.

gi,ve exnmples of radiation exprx.ure I ackt. turer has been qeluged with orders from -

ever/ other nudeaf pbnt in the co mtry, Pxk. '

[' Yc7mg said he may not dist}ildste his ictier ',. **'d',2. ',..

• h*'[,,, *.Y j if HG&E's letter and brochure are satisfactory e The ' federal-Nudear Regulamry Commis.

i, in explaining the situation. '

', _ ', " ~ elon ondercd all nuclear power plants to devel.

/1he tirens' courw!mg "definitcl-/ de n n*t ' op warnings systems bst August efter a nucle.

" inenn evacuaic,* ho uid. *We'll adviso pmple at occident at the Three Mile Island i to go in the houe and. turn on the radio *.Penblania'in March 1979.'; ',./;;pbnt in t

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