ML20071L805
| ML20071L805 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Indian Point  |
| Issue date: | 07/28/1982 |
| From: | Peyser P, Udall M HOUSE OF REP., HOUSE OF REP., INTERIOR & INSULAR AFFAIRS |
| To: | Palladino N NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20071K233 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8209240092 | |
| Download: ML20071L805 (2) | |
Text
UW " TavE Congress of tije ~L4ttitch stated kDust Di NtPit%CntHtibt5 EzsMngton, B.C. 2051.5 July 28, 1982 The Honorable Nunzio Palladino Chairman United States Nuclear Regulatory Co4 4ssion Washington, D.
C.
20555
Dear ' Chairman Palladino:
This' is to express our strong opposition to che Commission's July 27, 1982 order limitinig the scope of the' ongoing Indian Point nuclear station Special Proceeding.
We ui ge the' Commission to reconsider and withdraw 'this unfortunate directive to its Atomic Safety and Licensing Board (ASL3).,
As you know, the Indian Point Special Proceeding began'as an a,
effort by the NRC to investigate the consecuences of a ~ serious nuclear accident at that site.
We endorsed the Commission's original decision to undertake 'such an investigation because it is essential that the agency examine all evidence relevant to whether or not the public can be protected in the. event of an accident at Indian Point.
The need for this investigation persists, and the Comnission's new order imposes an unwarranted and unnecessary restriction on the types of issues to-beccon-sidered by the ASLB.
The Commission's July 27th order has the effect of changing the rules in the middle of the game.
Section II D of ~the order imposes new restrictions on the admissfon' of conten'tions in the Special Proceeding in a way that contradicts or, goes f ar beyond the Commission's. previous orders pertaining to this matter.
In fact,.the new restrictions come more than a month after the start of the e.videntiary hearing itself.
This unusual intervention by the Commission in the ongoing activities of one of its licensing boards unnecessarily calls into question the Commission's willingness to hear and consider' the ' views of the public living n' ear f acilities licensed by the' NRC,
.. The order also raises troubling questions about the ' seriousness with which.. the Commission regards off site emergency planning as an important means of assuring that public he'alth. and safety will not be endangered by the operation of a nuclear plant, Since - the risk to which.the public is exposed is in inverse -
proportion to the nacquacy of the emergency plan, it is clear that any consideration of whether the public can be protected in the event of an accident, must take account of both'the 8209240092 820816 PDR COMMS NRCC
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CORRESPONDENCE PDR
adecuacy of the emergency plan and NRC's regulatory recuirements, It is our understanding tha't the Board has alrea'dy heard some testimony addressing Indian Point evacuation plans, hMle the full effect of the order is not yet clear, we. further under' tand that the Commission's order could be interpreted s
by the Board as a directive..to rejecti those emergency planning contentions previously admitted, In the event that the Board does reject the emergency plann2.ng i
testimony, or any other contentions alrea'dy admitted for the' record, we request that the testimony and transcripts be provided in full to the House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs.
We encourage the Commission to expeditiously reconsider its July 27th order, and ask. that you keep.us, fully and currently informed of all developments relating to this matter, O
Sincerely,
/
c/
L 7
MORRIS K. UDALL ETER A.
EYSER ^
~
Chairman.
Member of Cong ess Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs
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