ML20058K947
| ML20058K947 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Nine Mile Point  |
| Issue date: | 05/08/1990 |
| From: | J Walsh HOUSE OF REP. |
| To: | Carr K NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML17058A649 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9008030157 | |
| Download: ML20058K947 (3) | |
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May 8, 1990 Mr.1:enneth M. Carr, Chairman U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 5
1717 H Street,'N.W.
Washington, D.C.
20555 Dear Chairman Carrt I an enclosina the latest letter from the Retire Nine Mile One group in Syracuse, stoned by their co-chair, Tom Walsh.
The points raised in the letter by Mr. Walsh (no relation to 'ne) uill need a response from the N.M.C.
Your assistance in providing ne additional information is appreciated. As you know, the problem relating to Mine Mile One is still very much of concern in upstate New York.
I hope to hear from you soon.
Rest wishes.
Sincerely' M1ES T.
WALS9 Member of Conaress JTW:aaj EncloBure I
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Retire Nine Mlle One A broad based coalition of citizens concemed about the safety of the Nine Mlle One Nuclear Facility Steering Committee Chris Binaxas Linda Clark Ollie Clubb Helen Daly, PhD.
Clifford Feldman A pr 11 3 0, 1990 Cindy Gagne Chris Lynen Norman Roth Virginia Durkin Stamm Edward Swift, MDc
Dear Congressman Walsh:
Tom Walsh Thank you for your attention to our concerns about the Mark I containment at Nine Mile One and the ef fects of advanced aging at the facility. The information provided by the NRC is being evaluated by reactor saf ety specialists. We will appraise you of their conclusions.
In recent weeks, disturbing information about the role played by The Instituto of Nuclomr onwar coerations in the regulation or nuclear power plants has cane to our attention. The institute, known as INPO, was created in the r
af termath of the Three Mile Island accident by the nuclear industry to inspect plants and review corporate operations.
INPO is a membership organization f unded by the utlities.
Niagara Mohawk is a member and evaluations have been made cf their nuclear operations.
The NRC has transferred some of the monitoring of nuclear power plants, including saf ety evaluations, to INPO and has ac kno wl edg ed that they do not wish to duplicate the ef forts of INPO. However, INPO is not required to share their findings with the NRC and release of INPO reports to the public is prohibited. An INPO memorandum defends the groups secrecy, stating that "public and/or political pressure may be brought to bear on the NRC to follow-up on INPO evaluations for th, purpose of reg ulatory action."
When the INPO reports on the Seabrook Nuclear Power Plant were recently obtained by citizens pups, they revealed a litany of problems never before documented and not addressed
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P.O. Box 563 University Station Syracuse, New York 13210
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in the NRC's licensing process for Seabrook. Many of the problems af f ected crucial saf ety systems which the company
-admitted it would not address until af ter full power operation had begun. Recent testimony before Congress on this matter by Ralph Nader and Robert Pollard is enclosed.
The INPO/Seabrook situation has direct implications for people concerned about the safety of Nine Mile One. For many years, INPO has produced reports about Nine Mile One.
How can we be certain the NRC has. a complete picture-of the condition of Nine Mile One? How can we know that all the problems discovered at Nine Mile One have been addressed if we do not know what the INPO reports on Nine Mile One contain?
While we recognize the right of organizations to. conduct confidential internal eva?uations, when INPO conducts an evaluation they are opera ing in lieu of the NRC. INPO reports should be available to the public as would the reports of the NRC. The current process endorses secrecy and eliminates public accountability.
We ack that you request the NRC to obtain all INPO reports related to Niagara Mohawk's nuclear operations and release them to the public document room as would be required of NRC reports. We also request 'an accounting of the number of INPO reports produced related to Niagara Mohawk's nuclear operations. We hope you will insure that all in f o rma t i on contained in reports relating to Nine Mile One be subject to restart action procedures currently in process by the NRC.
We hope you will share our concern that an industry group has became the industr y watchdog, eliminating the public scrutiny of nuclear plants guaranteed by law.
S i nce r el y,
RETIRE NINE MILE ONE t
I by Tom Walsh, co-chair
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