ML20042C519
| ML20042C519 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Seabrook  |
| Issue date: | 03/18/1982 |
| From: | Tsongas P SENATE |
| To: | Palladino N NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8203310478 | |
| Download: ML20042C519 (1) | |
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March 18, 1982
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Mr. Nunzio Palladino Chairman U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C.
20555
Dear Mr. Palladino:
I am writing to you regarding a letter sent to you by Nicholas J. Costello, a Massachusetts State Representative, which concerned itself with the ability of the Seabrook nuclear power plant to withstand earthquakes.
I feel Mr. Costello raises a very is; timate concern and want to insure that the Seabrook nuclear power plant is adequately safeguarded against any geological disturbances.
I would like to receive a copy of your reply to Mr. Costello.
Please address your correspondence to my energy assistant, Mitch Tyson. Your assistance in this matter is greatly appreciated.
Sincere
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PAUL E. TSONGAS United States Senator sN S
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Docket Nos.:
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- O The Honorable Nicholas J. Costello Massachusetts House of Representatives Boston, Massachusetts 01913 --
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Dear Mr. Costello:
&I Thank you for your letter dated February ll,1932 to Chaiman palladino in which you express concerns related to the seismic design of the Seabrook nbelear power planti.-
The Seabrook project Manager for the Division of Eicensing, Mr. Louis L.-
Wheeler, has attempted on several occasions to schedule a conference call to you with our staff siismalogists to give you an insight into the status of our current evaluation of Seabrook and provide a framework for making a femal reply to your letter.
Unfortunately, there were schedule conflicts each time which hav'e prevented such a call from bsing made.
During our comunications with your staff, Mr. R. Berkson suggested that further correspondence'on this matter be deferred until your staff has reviewed the appropriate sections of the Seabrook Final Safaty Analysis Report.
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After completion of that review, your staff will write to Mr. Wheeler and provide clarification of your intarests and identify any further information you may Wish to have.
Upon receipt of your letter, a follow-up reply to your February 11, 1982 letter will be ;;repared.
You should also be aware that!'on March 3,1982, the Nucleer Regulatory Comission's Atomic Safety and Licensing Appeal Board issued a " Decision on Remand" with respect to tWo seismic issues relating to Seabrook. That decision was issued after an dxtensive reanalysis and public hearing in
!!ashua, New Hampshire with rdgard to the seis.aic design of Seabrook.
The Appeal Board, in that dec'ision concluded, among other things, that the present seismic design of'Seabrook is both conservative and acceptable.
As the decision delineates in~ detail much of the history of seismic questions'which had been raised with respect to Seabrook,.a copy is attached for your infomation.
3 Sincerely, I-
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(signed) T. A.Rehm William J. Dircks, Executive Director
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Enclosure:
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{j HOUSC Opr REPRESENTATIVCS
'h fl STATC HOUSE. SCSTON 02133 RICHoLAG.!. CoSTELLo Committees on tov ccEx c?s7RicT Natural Resources end Agricvhure wn TEMALL ROAD Commerce and Leber
"[,*[.,',o 1 e i 3 Special Commission on Hosordous Weste Chairman, ShellAsh subcommittee ROOh* 473fr. STATE HOUSE
' % 722 2210 February 11, 1982 1*r. Nunzio Palladino, Chaiman U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Osunission Washington, D.C.
20555 rear Chaiman Palladino:
I a:n a state representative, representing nore than forty-thousand citizens of the far northeastern corner of 1Ss echusetts. This area borders the Seabrook Nuclear Power Plant construction site in Seabrook, New Hampshire.
Tne other day I was asked about the plant's ability to withstand earth trecors.
Uhfortunate3g, sufficient information does not appear to be readily available cn this very vital subject.
Re::ent quakes in our region have given rise to much concern from everyone sto lives in this area.
I uould like to be able, as an elected and trusted official, to offer my constituents or any concerned citizen some reassurance that future quakes vould not pose any dangers to public health or environ-nental safety with regard to the Seabrook plant.
Given the current inforantion on hand, it simply is not possible.
My deep concern is based on the fact that the Seabrook plant is situated in the middle of the fault which extends into the state of Maine where the epicenter of the nost recent quake measuring Richter magnitude 5.2 rocked the eastern New England earth and frightened thousands of residents.
Furthernere, we are not guaranteed by geological egerts that New England is free from the chance of any reoccurances.
I, therefore, feel that the plant at Seabrook should be constructed to withstand quakes of Richter magnitude 6.0 or better and unnt to have written proof that such safeguards are indeed in place.
Be the case that such is not, I would like a further explanation of why and would favor an inmediate halt in the construction process until neasures to safeguard the plant against quakes of 6.0 are appropriately and expeditiously undertaken.
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s l.h. Idin:$1o Palladino, Chainmn Pago 2 February 11, IM2 It is imperative that I receive a highly qualifiable explanation relati-e to the above mentioned concerns.
I request this ir.formtion as a state representative but, assuringly, will not hesitate to obtain it via my federal delegation.
I shall anticipate a prompt response.
'Ihank you for your time and attention to this mtter.
Sincerely,
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NIGOLAS J. 005TELIO State Representative NJC/kmp (r:
Cbngressman Nicholas Mavroules Senator Paul Tsongas Senator Eduard M. Kennedy e
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