ML20034B077
| ML20034B077 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Comanche Peak  |
| Issue date: | 04/05/1990 |
| From: | Taylor J NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | Bentsen L SENATE |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20034B078 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9004250298 | |
| Download: ML20034B077 (6) | |
Text
_ _ -
,,,.J._*
q I
"4 o
fg UNITED STATES
[
- g NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION j
W ASHINGT ON, D. C. 20666 i
k i
April 5,1990
..m l
The Honorable Lloyd Bentsen i
United States Senator g61 Federal Building Austin, Texas 78701 i
i
Dear Senator Bentsen:
I am responding to your letter of March 14, 1990, in which you forwarded a letter from Jason Hiller of Fort Worth, Texas. Mr. Miller requested that you support legislation to assure the safety of the Comanche Peak Steam i
i Electric Station.
\\
In the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, and the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, the Congress mandated that nuclear power should be available for use as an alternative energy source in this country and that if utilities i
do elect the nuclear option, t1eir use of it is to be regulated by the U. S.
i Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).
Over time, the NRC has developed a comprehensive set of requirements which, if met, provide reasonable assurance that nuclear power plants can be built and o)erated safely in this country.
It is important that the public understand i
taat reasonable assurance does not mean the same thing as zero risk, a goal that no modern technology can obtain. However, it does mean, that the risk of a serious accident is considered to be quite small, and that plans are in place to protect both the plant workers and the people living in the vicinity of the plant in the unlikely event of such an accident.
In 1984, the Commission concluded a generic rulemaking to reassess whether radioactive wastes produced by nuclear power plants could be safely disposed of, to determine when such dis)osal capability would be available, and to determine whether such wastes could >e safely stored in the interim. The Comission found, at that time, that there was reasonable assurance that the wastes from nuclear power reactors could be safely stored at the reactor sites until com-Accordingly the Commission mercial high-level repositories are made available.
adopted a rule, codified in Part 51.23 of Title 10 to the Code of Federal Regulations, to make provisions for the safe storage of such waste in the event that the reactur operating license should expire before the reactor wastes could be removed to a commercial repository.
In September 1989, the Connission updated this rulemaking, and it will continue to review the adequacy of existing reactor waste storage capability every five years until a repository for high-level radioactive waste is available.
On February 8,1990, the Director of the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation i
issued a license to Texas Utilities Electric Company that authorized the loading of fuel and the conduct of start-up tests at power levels of up to five percent of rated power in Unit 1.
That license was granted only after the NRC was satisfied that the requirements described herein had been adequately satisfied and that the NRC staf f had determined that Unit I at the Comanche Peak site could be operated with reasonable assurance that the public health and safety and the environment will be protected. That determination has not yet been made for Unit 2.
O N Obbb bob y
,.v.
The Honorable Lloyd Centsen 2
As with all licenses issued by the NRC for nuclesr power reactors, the license contains technical s cificatiens that set forth the particular safety and en.
vironmental protection saeasures to be imposed upon the plant, and the conditions of its operation that are to be inet to ensure protection of the health and safety of the public and the surrounding environment. Through its inspection and enforce.
ment program, the NRC will continue to maintain surveillence over the operation of Unit 1 and the completion of construction of Unit 2 throughout the plant's lifetime to ensure compliance with the Commission's regulations in accordance with the existing laws.
I hope that this information responds to your request.
Sincerely,
)
Original Signed By hmes M. Taylor James M. Taylor i
Executive Director for Operations Distribution:
See next page S:e previous concurrence page*
0FC :D:CPPD:NRR : TECH EDITOR :A g(g:D:P
- ED
- 0CA/GPA j
,7,_
NAME :CGrimes*
- BCelure**
- D tchf T0 rley
- JTa; Iq r
.....:............:............:............:..........:(............:..........:.........
/O/90
- Qf/y/90 DATE :03/26/90
- 03/26/90
- 03/7790
- 01
/90 g'h
- Comments incorporated 0FFICIAL RECORD COPY M
3'b Document Naine:
BENTSEN LETTER 4
V k
b
The Honorable Lloyd Bentsen DISTRIBUTION DocketFile(50-445/446)
NRC PDR.
Local PDR EDOReading(ED0-5264)
ADSPReading(ED0-5264)
CPPD Reading JMTaylor DCrutchfield TQuay CGrimes JLyons RWarnick JHWilson MHalloy MFields Congressional Affairs JG11111and,RIV/PA RMartin, RIV JScinto, OGC THurley FMiraglia FGillespie JPartlow DMossburg (EDO-5264)
SECY(90-0277)
MBridgers(ED0-5264) l JBlaha l
HThompson EPeyton(90-18)
4 The Honorable Lloyd B ntsen of Unit 1 and the comp etion of construction of Unit 2 throughout the plant's lifetinie to ensure cono tance with the Commission's regulations in accordance with the existing laws.
+
I hope that this informati n responds to your request.
Sincerely, James
. Taylor Execut e Director for 0 rations Distribution:
See next page DFC :D:CPPD:NRR : TECH EDITOR :AD5P:NRR
- D;NRR
- DO
- 0CA/GPA t.....:......
NAME :CGrine BCalure*
- DCrutchfield:TMurley
- JT lor l DATE:03f)(/90
- 03/96V90
- 03/ /90
- 03/ /90
- 03/
90
- 03/ /90
' Comments incorporated l
OFFICIAL RECORD COPY Document Name:
BENTSEN LETTER 1
s i
s--
i'9,,
UNITED STATES
.' g NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION y
B
.e WASHINGTON, D. C,20555 4
\\.
~
- j EDO Principal Correspondence Control FROM:
DUE: 04/02/90 EDO CONTROL: 0005264 DOC DT: 03/14/90 FINAL REPLY:
SCn. Lloyd Bentsen TO:
Dennis Rathbun, CA FOR SIGNATURE OF:
- GRN CRC NO: 90-0277 Exocutive Director DESC:
ROUTING:
ENCLOSES LETTER FROM JASON MILLER CONCERNING RMartin, RIV COMANCHE PEAK Scinto, OGC DATE: 03/21/90
' ASSIGNED TO:
CONTACT:
NRR Murley
.SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR REMARKS:
REPLY TO AUSTIN, TEXAS OFFICE.
1 NRR RECEIVED: MARCH 21, 1990 ACTION:k mi ADSP:CRUTCHFIELD/
NRR ROUTING: MURLEY/SNIEZEK MIRAGLIA PARTLOW GILLESPIE M0SSBURG ACTION DUE TO NRR DIRECT 0!,
BY dS AR ?O-
/
/-
i
y_
~
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY CORRESPONDENCE CONTROL TICKET PAPER NUMBER:
CRC-90-0277 LOGGING DATE: Mar 20 90
~ ACTION OFFICE:
EDO AUTHOR:
Lloyd Bentsen--Const Ref AFFILIATION:
UNITED STATES SENATE-LETTER DATE:
Mar 14 90 FILE CODE:'ID&R-5 Comanche
SUBJECT:
Legislation to provide for regular' inspections _of Comanche Peak ACTION:-
Direct Reply DISTRIBUTION:
OCA to Ack, DSB SPECIAL HANDLING: None
-NOTES:
Jason Miller DATE DUE:
Apr 4 90 SIGNATURE:
DATE SIGNED:
AFFILIATION:
itec'd Off. D)0 3-at-90 DMe-B',3c.fr-Thae EDO --- 005264