ML20071H069
| ML20071H069 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane  |
| Issue date: | 12/02/1980 |
| From: | Smith E AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED |
| To: | Ahearne J NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8012100492 | |
| Download: ML20071H069 (1) | |
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5 Mrs. Cheryl Brown 4700 Old Gettysburg Road U
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Dear Mrs. Brown:
This is in reply to your letter postmarked October 27, 1980, to Daniel R. Muller of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Your concern about nuclear power seems to be mainly with the radioactive waste that results.
Enclosed is a message of February 12, 1980, to the Congress from the President which states that he is establishing this nation's first comprehensive radioactive waste management program, with the paramount objective of pr tecting the health and safety of all Americans, both now and in the future.
The President says he is persuaded that the capability new exists to characterize and evaluate a number of geologic environments for use as radioactive-waste repositories built with conventional mining technology.
He also says it is essential that all aspects of the waste management program be conducted with the fullest possible disclosure to and participation by the public and the technical community.
As to the need for nuclear power, the enclosed statement by the President on December 7, 1979 said in part:
"Every domestic energy source, including nuclear power, is critical if we are to-be-free as a country from our present over-dependence on unstable and uncertain sources of high priced foreign oil.
We must take every possible step to increase the safety of nuclear power production."
The resumption of operation of Three Mile Island Unit 1 is the subject of a hearing by an Atomic Safety and Licensing Board of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
That hearing started on October 15, 1980.
The Commission has determined that satisfactory completion of certain short-term actions and resolution of various specified concerns are required tc provide reasonable assurance that the facility can be operated without endangering the health and safety of the public.
The Commission has also determined that certain
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Mrs. Cheryl Brown.
long-term actions are required to be completed as promptly as practicable and that reascuable progress on the completion of such actions prior to restart is required in order to provide reasonable assurance that the facility can be operated safely over the long term. The decision on resumption of operation will be made by the Commission after the hearing is ccmpleted.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is making every effort to ensure that public health and safety is not endangered by those nuclear power plants that are currently in operation or that may start operating in the future.
Sincerely,
/
Sf Harold R.
Denton, Director Office of Nuclear Reactor
' Regulation
Enclosures:
As stated
February 12, 1980 1
orfice of the white nouse Press secretary l
Tnt ww:Tr segst to st cas:stss cr :st cuI:ro s:A:sss
- oday I as establishing thir"Mation's first comprehensive pro gr a=.
My paramount objective radioactive vasta sanagement in =anaging nuclear vastes is to protect the health and safety I share this of all Americans, both now and in the future.
responsibility with elected officials at all levels of our government. Our citizens have a deep concern that the beneficial uses of nuclear technology, including the generatica of electricity, not be allowed to imperti public health ce safety now or in the future.
Ter more than 30 years, radioactive vastes have been generated by programs for national defense, by the com5ercial nuclear power program, and by a variety of medical, industrial and research activities. Yet past governmental efforts to manage radioactive wastes have not been technically adequate.
Mcreover, they have failed to involve successfully the States, local governments, and the public in polley or progras decisions.
My actions today lay the foundation for both a technically superior program and a full cooperative Federal.3 tate partner.
ship to ensure public confidence in a vaste management program.
My program is consistent with the broad consensus that has evolved from the efforts of the Interagency Review Croup on Radioactive Waste Management (IRC) which I estantished.
The IRC findings and analysis were -osprehensive, thorough and widely reviewed by public, industry and citizen groups, State and local governments, anc members of the Congress.
Evaluations of tne scientific and technical analyses were obtained through-a broad-and rigorous peer review by the scientific consunity. The final recommendations benefited from and reflect this ic;'.L.
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My objective is to establish a comprehensive programMy for the management of all types of radioactive wastes.
policies and prograss establish sechanisms to ensure that elected officials and the public fully perticipate in vaste -
decisions, and direct Federal departments and agencies to - --
implement a waste management strategy which is safe, techntes11y sound, conservative, and open to continuous public review.
This approach will help ensure that we will reach our objective the safe storage and disposal of-all forss of ouclear wasta.
our primary objective is to isolate existing and futurs f
radioactive waste from r.111tary and civilian activities from the biosphere and pose no significant threat to public health and safety. The responsibility for resolving vf'itary and civilian vaste managssent probless shall not be deferred to futurs generations. The technical program sust seet all relevant radiological protection criteria as well as all other applica ble regulatory requirements. This effort sust pre.eed rersedless of future developments within the nuclear industry Its future size, and resolution of specific fuel cycle and reactor design issues. The specific steps outlined below are each aimed at accesplianing this overall objective.
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Tirst,' =y Administration is com=1tted to providing an effee tive role for State and local govern =ents in the develepsent and implementation of our nuclear waste management pro gr am.
I as therefore taking the following actions:
By Executive Order, I as establishing a State Planning o
Council which will strengthen our intergovernmental relationships and help fulfill our joint responsibility to protect public health and safety in radioactive waste satters. I have asked Covernor Riley of Scuth Carolina to serve as Chairman of the Council. The Council vill have a totaa of 19 members: 15 who are Governors or other elected officials, and 4 feca the Executive departments and agencies. It will l
advise the Executive Branch and work with the Centress to address radioactive waste management issues, such as planning and siting, construction, and operatica of facilities. I will submit legislation during l
this session to make the Council permanent.
o In the past,. States have not played an adequate part in the waste sanagement planning process -- fer example in the evaluation and location of potential wasta disposal sites. The States need better access to information and expanded opportunity to guide waste management planning. Our relationship with the States will be based on the principle of consultation and concurrence in the siting of high level vaste repost-tories. Under the framework of consultation and ccncurrence, a host State will have a continuing role in Federal decisionmaking on the siting, design and construction of a high level. waste repositcry.
State consultation and concurrence, however, will l
lead to an acceptable solution to our waste disposal probles only it all the States participate as partners
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in the program I as putting forth. The safe disposal of radioactive waste, defense and commercial, is l
a national, not just a Federal, responsibility.
O I as directing the Secretary of Energy to provide financial and_teaha' a=1 asstatance_to.3tates_and other jurisdictions to facilitate the full participatter of State and local government in review-and licensing proceedings.
Second, for disposal of high level radioactive waste, I as adopting an interia planning strategy focused on the use of mined geologic repositories. capabla_ of accepting both waste from reprocessing and unreprocessed commercial spent fuel.
An interia strategy is needed since final decisions on many steps which need to be taken should be preceded by a full environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act.
In its search for suitable sites for high level waste repositories, the Department of Energy has mounted an expanded and diversified program of geologio investigations that recognize -
the importance of the interaction among geologic setting, repository host rock, waste form and other engineered barriers on a site-specific ba:is. Isaediate attention will focus on research and development, and on locating and ct.aracterizing a number of potential repository sites in a variety of different geologic environments with diverse rock types. When four to five sites have been evaluated and found potentially suitable, one or more will be selected for further development as a licensed full-scale repository.
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3 It is 'important to stress the following two points: First, because the suitability of a geologic disposal site can be verified only through detailed and tise-consuming site specific l
evaluations, actual sites and their geologic environments =ust be carefully examined. Second, the development of a repost: cry will proceed in a careful step-by-step sanner. Experience l
and. internation gained at each phase will be reviewed and
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evaluated to detersine if there is sufficient knowledge to i
proceed with the next stage of development. We should be f
ready to select the site for the first full-scale repository j
by about 1985 and have it operational by the mid-1990's.
Tcr reasons of econcey, the first and subsequent repositories I
should accept both defense and commercial wastes.
l Consistent with s'y decision to expand and diversity the Department of Energy's program of geologic investigation before selecting a specific site for repository development, I have decided snat the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant project should l
be cancelled. This project is currently authorized for the j
unlicensed disposal of transuranic waste from our National r
defense program, and for research and development using high level l
defense waste. This project is inconsistent with my policy l
that all repositories for highly radioactive vaste be licenJed, j
and that they accept both defense and ecamercial wastes.
l The site near Carlstad, New Mexico, which was being considered for this project, will continue to be evaluated along with other sites in other parts of the country. If qualified, it will be reserved as e.a of several candidate sites for pessible use as a licensed repository for defense and commercial high level wastes. My fiscal year 1981 budget contains funds in the commercial nuclear vaste program for protection and continued investigation of the Carlsbad site. Finally, it is important that we take the time to compare the-New Mexice site with other sites now under evaluation for~the first waste
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repository.
Over the nort five years, the Department of Energy will f
carry out an aggressive program -of scientific and technical r
investigations to-support waste ic11dificattoa7 packaging l
and repository design and construction including several experisental, retrievable esplacements in test facilities.
This supporting-research and development program will call upon the htowledge-and erperience of the ' Nation's very best k
people in science, engineering and other fields of learning i
and will include participation of. universities, industry, and the government departments, agencies, and national laboratories L
t Third, during the it.heria period before a disposal Tacility- ---
l 1s available, waste.aust and will continue to-be-cared-for safely. ' Management of defense vaste is a Federal responsibilityg i
the Department of Energy will ensure close and meticulous eentrol over defense waste facilities which are vital to our national security. I as consitted to maintaining safe interia storage of these -wastes as long.as necessary and to saking i
adequate funding available for that purpose. -We will also l
proceed with research and development at the various defense sites that will lead the processing, packaging, and ultimate i
transfer to a persanent repository of the hign level and transurnaic wastes from def ense programs.
A In contrast, storage of commercial spent fuel is primarily l
f a responsibility of the utilities. I want to stress that i
interia spent fuel storage capacity is ret an alternative j
to permanent disposal. However, adequate storage is necessary l
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4 until repositori sc;are available. I urge the utility industry fuel to continue to take all actions necessary to st re spent in a sanner that will protect the public and ensure efficient and safe operation of power reactors. However, a 11=1ted amount of goverr.sent storage capacity would provide flexibility to our national waste disposal program and an alternative for those utilities which are unable to expand their storage capabilities.
I I reiterate the need for early enactment of my proposed spent nuclear fuel legislation. This proposal would autnert:e the Department of Energy to (IPdesign, acquire or construct, and operate one or more away-froa-reactor storage facilities, and (2) accept for storage, until permanent disposal facilities are available, domestic spent fuel, and a limited amount of foreign spent fuel in cases when such action would further our non-proliferation policy objectives. All costs of storage, including the cost of locating, constructing and operating permanent geologic repositories, will be recovered througn fees paid by utilities-and otner users of the services and will ultimately be borne by those wno benefit frem the activities generating the wastes.
Fourth, I have directed the Department of Energy to work jointly with states, other goverr. ment agencies, industry and other organizations, and the public, in developing national plans to establish regional disposal sites for commercial low level vaste. We sust work together to resolve the serious near-term probles of low level vaste disposal. While this task is not inherently difficult from the standpoint of saf ety, it requires better planning and coordination. I endorse i
the actions being taken by the Nation's governors to tackle this probles and direct the Secretary of Energy to work with them in support of their effort.
l Fifth, the Federal programs for regulating radioactive waste storage, transportation and disposal are a crucial cos.
ponent of our efforta_to ensure the health and safety of Ameri cans. Although the existing authorities and structures are basically _ sound, laprovements sust be made in several The current authority of the Nuclear Regulatory areas.
Commission to license thsedisposal_ of-high level waste 154 -
lov level waste in commeretal factitties should be extended to include spent ' fuel storage, and disposal of transuranic wasta and non-def ense low level waste in any new government facilities. I an directing the Environmental Protection Agency to consult.with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission-to - r resolve issues of overlapping jurisdiction and peasing of regulatory actions.- They should also_ seek _ ways _ta_ speed _up._ _
the promulgation of their safety regulations. I as also directing the Department of Transportation and the Environ-i sental Protection Agency to laprove both the efficiency of their regulatory activities and their relationships with other Federal agencies-and state and local governments.
r Sirth, it is essential that all aspects of the waste program be conducted with the fullest possible management disclosure to and participation by the public and the technical community. I as directing the departments and agencies to l
develop and improve sechanises to ensure such partici pation and public involvement consistent with the need to protect national security information. The vaste sanagesent program will be carried out in full compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act.
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0 Seventh, because nuclear wasta management is a 1-iblen shared by many other countries and decisions on wasta Lanage-ment alternatives have nuclear proliferation impl1=ations.
I will continue to encourage and Jupport bilateral and multi-lateral efforts which advance both our tecnnical capabilities and our understanding of spent fuel and waste management opticas, which are consistent with our acn-proliferation policy.
l 1
In its role as lead agency for the management and disposal of radioactive wastes and with cooperation of the other relevant Federal agencies, the Department.of inergy is preparing a detailed National Plan for Nuclear Waste Management to !?ple-ment these policy guidelines and the other recessendations of the IRC. This Plan will provide a clear road map for all parties and will give the public an opportunity to review tne entirety of our program. It will incluce specific pregra=
goals and silestones for all aspects of nuclear waste sacage-A draf t of the comprehensive National Plan will be sent.
distributed by the Secretary of Caergy later this year for public and Congressional review. The State Planning Council will be directly involved in the development of this plan.
The Nuclear Reguistory Ceanission now has underway an important proceeding to provide the Nation with its judgment on whether or not it has confidence that radioactive wastes produced by nuclear power reactors can and will be disposed of safely. I urge that the Nuclear Regulatory Ccamission do so in.a thorough and timely manner and that it provide a full opportunity for public, technical and government agency participation.
Over the past two years as I have reviewed various aspects of the radicactive waste probles, the complexities and difft-culties of the issues have become evident -- both frca a technical and, acre importantly, frem an institutional and political perspective. However, based on the technical con-clusions reached by the IRG, I as persuaded that the capability now exists to characterize and evaluate a number of geologic environments for use as repositories built with conventional mining technologv.-We-have-already-made substantial progress and enanges in-our programs. With this comprehensive policy and its implementation-through the FT 1981-budget and-ather actions, we will complete the task of reorienting our efforts in the right direction. -Many citizens know and all aust under-stknd that this. problem will be with_us_for. many years. We must proceed steadily and with determination to resolve the remaining technical-issues-while ensuring full publier partini.---- - -
pation and asintaining the full cooperation of all levels of government. -We will act surely and without delay, but we will not compromise our technical or scientific standards out of hasta. I look forward to working with the Congress.
and the states to implement thir policy and build public confidence in the ability of the government to do vaat is required in this_arsa to protect the health and safety of our citizens.
i JIMMY CARTER THE WHITE HOUSE, t
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CT "dE WM*TZ MOUSZ ?R555 SEORI~ARY Ctr:C BE % MITE 3CCSE KI.N MY CO.'01:SSICN STATI. TNT 3T WE PRIS 0ENT CH ~3 RspCR CN 3AZZ ML: :SLAND Roca 450, cid Executive Office 3uilding (AT 2:4 5 P.M. EST!
'"he purpose of this brief stat.aant this WI PRES 1::ENT:
his count v af terncen is to outline to you and to the public,. bo n in t l
f the Kemeny and in et.her nations of the world, =y cwn assessment ore :cman in the presentatica scme thoughts and ac.icns Report 11Xe to add, of course, of my cwn.
I have reviewed the report of the C:mmissien, which I._
the Three Mile Island suelear I
established te inses.igate the accidentThe Commission, headed by Dr. Jcha -K at d the utility pcwer plant. serious shortecmings in the way that both the Covernment an industry regulate and manage nuclear pcwor.
l The steps that I am taking today will help to assure that Saf ety, as it always has nuclear pcwer plants are cperated safely.
As I have said before, in and will remain, is my top priority.
t 3y this this count:y suelearper is an energy source of last resor.as we reac been of coal, on development 41 solar power and synthetic fuels, and
- :ne ant that h those ennanced produc.icn of 'American oil and natural gas, as we reac goals, then we can minisise our _ reliance on nuclear power.
greatee-reliance--._
Many of our foreign allies must place muct h t natural than we do en nuclear power, because they do not have-t e we must get on with the
- ce of developing alternative energy resources ancLwe must also pass, in order to do this, the legislation that I have propcsed to de Ccngress, To at every level of society to conserve energy.
h conserve energy and to develop energy resources in our country are t e making an effort But we cannot shut the two basic answers for which we are seeking.
door on nuclear pcwer for the United States.
The recent events in Iran have' shewn us the clear, stark dangers that exesssive dependence on inrported oil holds for our nation, we must make every effors to lead this country to energy security.
including nuclear power, is critical it Every domestic energy scures,are to be free as a country from our present over-depen and uncertain sources of high priced foreign oil.
we una-ante 4 do not have the luxury of abandoning nuclear pcwer or A suelear pcwer imposing a lengthy moratorium en its further use.35,300 bar.els of oil per day, o plant can displace We must take eve:y pessible step to increase barrels of oil per year.
I agree fully with the letter safety of nuclear power production.
and the spirit and the intent of the Kameny C::nmissica recocendations, ne others of waien u ch are within my own power to implement.
the NRC, or the utility scrne of w.
rely on the Nuclear Regulatory Co. mission, :
.ad s try i tse lf.
the Cover =ent's own house in ceder I will take To get uauL _
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Tars t, I w:M send to the C:ng :ss a rae:;anitation plan s n e al steps.
ts :lar:f as si g..:..:
s teer*;tnen the role of the Chaiman of the NRO.
of authority and responsibility and provide this persen v u t5, pcse t:
authcrity to en a daily basis as a chief executive of ficer, wit..
to actneeded safety recuirements in place and to implement bet a 3e Chairman must be able to select May persennel and to put peceedures.
en behalf of the C::-caission during any emerge. :y.
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feeend, I intend to appoint a new Chairperson of the m:: lear Regulatory C:-:-ission, semeene from outside that agency, in the spirit of the Kemony C =uniss:cn recemendation. In the meantime, I have asked Ceminissione: Anestne, nCw Ca the NRC, to serve as the Chairman.
M.r. Ahearne ull stress safety and the pr:mpt implementati:n of the needed ref:rms.
i In additica, I will establish an independent adviscrf cec =ittee to help keep me and the puolic of the United States infomed cf the p;cgress of the NBC and the industry in achieving and in :.aking clear the ec==ndations that nuclear pcwer will be safer.
21 Bird,1 am transferring responsibility o the Tede:
Emergency Management Agency, the 77.3, to head up all off-site emergency ac.ivities, and to ecmnlete a thorough review of emergency plans in all the states of our country with operating nucleaireacters by :une, 13 50.
Fourth, i have directed the Nuclear Regulaterf O_
.ission and to accalerate our p cgram to place tne cuer ariencias of the Ocvernment a resident rederal inspect r at every reacter site.
yifth, I am asking all relevant Government agencias to implement virtually al' of the other recommendations of the Kemeny C- -" ssion..1 believe there were 44 in -all.
A. detailed factaneet is.
being issued to the public and a more extended briefing will be given to me press this af taracen.
With clear leadership and improved c:gani:ation, the Government
- and the NRC will be better able to Executive 3:anch of act qui x1y on the crucial issues of improved training and standards, safety procedures, and se other Kemeny-Cesaissica rec =mmendaticas. -
respensibility to saka nuclear pcwer safer does not ss=p wie de aut In fact, the primary _ day by day respcnsibility rederal Gcvernment..
for safety rests with utility company :nanagement and with suppliers There is no substitute for tschnically qualified of n.: clear equipment.
and :===nittad people werking on the construction, the operation, and the inspection of nuclear pcwer plants.
Personal responsibility must be stressed. Some ene persen the corporate level and must always be designated as' in charge, both at also at eu pcwer plant site. The indust.y owes it to the American i t:nent to safety.
pecple to strengthen its
- call on the utilleles to implement the folleving cha=ges:
buildtng en the steps already taken. the industry must organize
- farst, for safe design, cperatien, and itse;f to deveicp ennanced standardsthe nuclear indus-ry must wc:A t=gethei e nstructi:n cf pla..ts ; sec:nd, to deveic; a.sd te maintain in cpera ion a c mprehensive Usining, exan: nation, and evaluation program for operators and for superviscrs.
This training program must pass muster _with the NBC througn accreditatica of tne training programs to be established.
Thi rd., centroi : c=s in nuclear pcwer plan s must be meder. :ed, standardi:ed, and simplified as muca as possible, to per=it t
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-e i. prove tne safe:y of nuclear power.
I we.-;d '.ike to discuss how we =anage this
.' 74. ydring which the Kemeny :ecem:.endatiens are he,ng W
- # 'S.*em* e. 4nte/.*e[e-e are a nu:-mer of new nuclear Nan:s.m Unde: law, the Nu: lear cperating 1;. emes o
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'i rest with tSe ncica:
has.n e a...g,7-- y ci 2= stances sur:cunding a note',
1-case by case basis, wh.-
33 plant er its application dicta-e.
it will pause in The NRC has indicated, however, that* 4 censes and constr o a - --
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-.-day-Onc* we have y... a ::se the Nn.
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..a, an,, r. - -in no pen. la-.
~5an six mcnths., :t3,sure safaty, we sus-resume the i-s -' used tne necessa:f.e,c
.,3 licensing p : cess premptyy so
.*1a* the new plants we need o educa b-i dependence en f oreign oil can he built and operates,.
am announcing today will help to insure the safety Nuclear pcwer does have a future in *he Uni *.ed Sja es.
-'se steps
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I" is an option that we must keep cpen. liers, the Nuclear Regulatory C::munission
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- ~and al.so the state and thei-surP departments and agencies the future.,s a safe one.
u and local gove:nments.co assure hat and Jchn ::euts:2 will New Dr. Tra:Gr, press, Stu,I1: ens.at,these decisions and ahcut me glad to answer your questions about Trand future of it in our =cuntry.
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