ML20073S262

Forwards Ltr for Review About Question Re Evacuation Plans at Northern States Power Prairie Island Nuclear Facility in Red Wing,Mn

ML20073S262
Person / Time
Site:	Prairie Island
Issue date:	02/23/1994
From:	Wellstone P SENATE
To:	Rathbun D NRC OFFICE OF CONGRESSIONAL AFFAIRS (OCA)
Shared Package
ML20073S259	List: ML20073S262
References
CCS, NUDOCS 9405270209
Download: ML20073S262 (3)

Text

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WASHINGTON, DC 20510-2303' February 23, 1994 Mr. Dennis K. Rathbun, Director Nuclear Regulatory Commission Office of. Congressional Affairs Washington, DC 20594

Dear Mr.'Rathbun:

I have been contacted by a= constituent of mine, Mr. Christopher Taylor, about-a question he has regarding evacuation plans at Northern States Power's Prairie Island Nuclear: Facility in Red Wing, Minnesota.

I have enclosed a copy.of his letter for your review.

Mr. Taylor has requested my assistance in ascertaining whether.

any federal laws are out of compliance in the event that a flood closes the only bridge. connecting Prairie Island to the rivershore.

Mr. Taylor wonders whether the closing of this-bridge would violate laws relating to emergency' evacuation plans..

I would appreciate it if you would review this matter and advise-me of your findings.

Please direct your response to Scott Adams, a member of my staff, at:

2550 University Avenue W.,

1. 100N St. Paul, MN 55114 612/645-0323 Thank you for'your assistance.

Sincerely, h i u,,,4, h." M 4 m Paul David Wellstone United. States Senator PDW aba Enclosure 9405270209 940405 PDR ADOCK 050002B2 H

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'ppyristopher C. Taylor The Senate 504 James Ave. Apt. 318 Washington D. C. 20510 Mankato, MN 56o01 (507) 367 4527

Dear Senator Wellstone,

I am writing to you today to express my ooncem about possible violations of federal law by Northem States Power (NSP). On Dec. 13,1993, the Minnesota House of Representatives Committee on Jobs, Energy, and Community Development held a meeting to hear testimony on NSP's proposal to build a temporary nuclear waste storage facilh at Prairie Island. I believe some of the testimony provides reasonable cause for federal officials to open an investigation.

The troubling testimony involved the only road to the nucleer%wer plant and the Prairie Island indian Reservation. During last summer's floods, this road was at risk of flooding. The Goodhue County Commissioners were asked by the Mdowakanton Dakota Indians for assurances that this road, which is the only escape route for the Prairie Island residents, would remain open. When the Commissioners refused to make the road a. priority, reservation officials contacted NSP.' NSP planned on using helicasters to transport employees to and from the power plant. Thus, they weren't interestd in helping the reservation residents. ' Only after reservation officials requested the assistance of the Bureau of Indian Affairs did the Commissioners and NSP negotiate with the residents. The reservation paid half the cost of keeping the road open and NSP paid the other half.

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1 am very concemed about two implications of this testimony. First, I was give j

' the impresalon that NSP would be able to continue power generation at this plant even though the only road to the plant wou'd be closed. : How is this possible? If an 1

accident occurred, would helicopters be sufficient transportation for moving employees out of the plant and emergency officials in? Is this system acceptable under the i

federal laws protecting employees and the laws goveming the operation of nuclear 2

j power plants? Second, NSP apparently had made no provisions for the evacuation of

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the Prairie island residents. The reservation residents include elderly people and i

children, some of whom live three blocks away from the power plant. ~ l was under the j

impression that nuclear power plants must have an evacuation plan in order to get an j.

operating prirmit. With the residents' escape route closed, wouldn't NSP's evacuation plan be wikily inaccurate and unacceptable? Thus, shouldn't their operating permit 1

l have been suspended until a proper plan was submitted?

f As a more citizen of Minnesota, I am not in a position to investigate the legalities j

of the incidents disclosed in testimony, But I am very concemed about them. I urge i

j you to contact the appropriate authorttles and encourage them to look into the -

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incidents of this summer.

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Thanks in advance for any assistance you can provide.

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' Sincerely.

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Christopher C. Taylor i

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