ML20030D776
| ML20030D776 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 07106698 |
| Issue date: | 07/23/1981 |
| From: | Aspin L HOUSE OF REP. |
| To: | Hendrie J NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20030D775 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8109160218 | |
| Download: ML20030D776 (2) | |
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%onge of Repregetttatibed n-414-551 7414 IEasifngton,D.C. 20515 July 23, 1981 Mr. Joseph M. Hendric Chairman Nuclear Regulatory Commission 1717 H Street, NW W:shington, D.C.
20555 D:ar Mr. Hendrie:
I wrote to you on June 11, 1981, requesting an investigation of the Nuclear Regulatory Commiseion's supervisory activities involving four shipments of spent nuclear fuel from Morrfs, Illinois, to Genoa, Wisconsin, from May 26th to June 7th, 1981.
In a letter dated Jub 16, 1981, William J. Dircks, the executive direutor for operations of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, responded to my letter.
]
In Mr. Dircks ' responu, he acknowledged there had been contamination of the
- asks' surfaces and truck bed on two of the shipments. The contamination level exceeded Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations on the second and third shipments.
Mr. Dircks also acknowle'dged that the cause of the contamination on t e second shipment was not fully understood before the third fuel shipment was authorized.
h Mr. Dircks said that while the cause of the contamination was not understood, the NRC staff in the Region III office, was " confident that such contamination was not due to Leakage of the spent nuclear fuel being shipped, but rather was the result of contaa aation initially fixed on the casks surface which loosened during transport."
The uncertainty of this statement bothers me.
Because of these acknowledgements by Mr. Dircks, I fail to see how he could reach a conclusion that the Region III staff was not negligent in allowing the third and fourth shipments to be made.
One of my major reasons for questioning the procedures followed is the concern expressed by residents in my congressional district. Public officials in my district worry about the possibility of an accident occuring while spent nuclear fuel is being transported through my dierrict. This concern predates the incidents with the casks.
Mr. Dircks implies that va should not be concerned with this contamination problem because the casks in question are enclosed by a rigid metal cage which renders the cask and truck bed inaccessible during transport. What bothers me and many of my constituents is the possibility of an accident occuring and emergency personnel being called to the scene. Would this metal cage then still be intact and could the emergency personnel come in contact with the contaminated casks and truck bed?
8109160218 810826 PDR ADOCK 07106698 C
Peg: 2' Mr. Dircks claims that the long range solutions to minimize the amount.of fixed curface contamination which become loose during transport of spent nuclear fuel is under review by the NRC staff. He has not indicated to me when a final determination will be made. Therefore, I am asking the Nuclear Regulatory Comr.ission today to issue a moratorium on the transfer of spent nuclear fuel from one site to another until the cause of the contamination of the shipments from Morris, Illnois, to Genoa, Wisconsin, can be absolutely determined and until measures can be implemented to make cure such contamination does not occur on future shipmadec.
In light of Mr. Dircks' response to my inqu:
,If rel th t this request is reasonable and that your and my concern for the public hea11:h and s tfety r : quires such action.
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Lo s Aspin Member of Congress LA:thg k
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