ML20039E240
| ML20039E240 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Zimmer |
| Issue date: | 12/22/1981 |
| From: | Huddleston W SENATE |
| To: | NRC OFFICE OF CONGRESSIONAL AFFAIRS (OCA) |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8201070058 | |
| Download: ML20039E240 (2) | |
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3Cnifeb States Senate December 22,.1981 Respectfully referred to:
Congressional Liaison l
Nuclear Regulatory Comission e
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Because of the desire of this office to be n
responsive to all inquiries and cormanications,,
-j your consideration of the attached is
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requested.
' sour findings and views, in N,,,
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duplicate form, along with return of the L't-l enclosure, will be appreciated by i
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- 1 09:5 :sr ;, 1911 uv s Senator Walter Huddleston U.S. Senate
- a sh ington, ' D.C. 20510 Dsar Senater Euddleston:
I should like to urge you te ask the nuclear Regulatory Co::ission to give the quality control prograc at the Zimner nuclear.
Iower Flant to an independent contractor and to halt construction while this group is evaluating the plant's safety.
The NRC report released November 17 analysing the NRC's investi-
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gation op Zic=er last winter revealed the inadequacy of the agency's present investigatory procedures, an inadequacy confirmed by William J. Dircks's testimony before the Subcommittee on EnerEy and the Environment in the Rouse of Representatives that week.
The URC report relcased Eovember 25, presenting the_ first results of the current URC investigation and finini.SimiinnaM%s and Electric, owners of the plant, ';200,000, demonstrated that CGGE has been guilty of falsifying records, inticidating and.'.arassing quality control inspectors, and allowing a general breakdown in the quality assurance pr gram.
At the same time, however, the report stated-that the plant appears safe.
In the words of an editorial of Ecvember 29 in the Lexin5 ton Herald-Leader, " Frankly, it is difficult to see how the NRC can label the Z1 cer plant ' safe' in light of such violbtions--particularly the falsifying of records on equipment installed at the plant."
i The NRC is continhing to investigate the plant, but its main answer to the quality assurance breakdown there has been to require CGEE to complete a quality confirmation program.
CGLE cannot realistically be expected to bring to light its own past violations, particularly since the discovery of these will necessitate costly repairs and delays.
Furthermore, el hough the URC is considering strengthening its investigatory procedures, it does not have the staff or the funding at the present to ensure that CGGE does an honest job.
The Diablo Canyon plant, like Zismer, suffered a breakdown in quality control.
I heard on the rndio this week that the ERC has now granted it an independent auditor.
The ari $ents of Esntucky, a not inconsiderable nunber of whom, like mycelf, live within fif ty siles of the plant, stand in need of the sane raassurance as the residents of California.
Sincerely, j+. -,
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Eury 3. Davis
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