ML20077L004

Repts on Litigation for Wk of 821129-1203

ML20077L004
Person / Time
Site:	Crane
Issue date:	12/07/1982
From:	Slaggie E NRC OFFICE OF THE GENERAL COUNSEL (OGC)
To:
Shared Package
ML20077K587	List: ML20077K992 ML20077K996 ML20077K999 ML20077L001 ML20077L004 ML20077L020 ML20077L024 ML20077L030 ML20077L036 ML20077L039 ML20077L042 ML20077L056 ML20077L059 ML20077L064 ML20077L070
References
TASK-AII, TASK-SE SECY-82-481, NUDOCS 8308080088
Download: ML20077L004 (4)

Text

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$. L... yAj SECY-82-481 December 7, 1982 2

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ADJUDICATORY ISSUE

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The Commission

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Leo Slaggie, Acting Solicitor R.: a: :.

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LITIGATION REPORT FOR THE WEEK OF

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LOVEMBER 29-DECEMBER 3, 1982

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Discussion:

1.

NRC v. NRDC, U.S.

Supreme Ct.,

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Nos.82-524, 82-545,82-551 (S-3 Case)

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. ;.$.U On November 29 the Supreme Court granted v

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the petitions for certiorari in the S-3

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case that ha~d been filed by Bal'timore 3as and Electric, et._ al., bv. the NRC, J :;.,

and by Commonwealth Edison et al. and J

C consolidated the cases. The Government's

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brief is due January 13, 1983.

We shall

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office in drafting this brief.

2.

General Public Utilities Corn., et al. v. Uniteci States,

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Civil Action No. 81-4950 (TMI tort claims suit against NRC)

-i m-On November 2.4.,

1982 Judge Troutman m-71..

denied the government's motion to dismiss GPU's claim against the United l

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States for the damages to the TMI i

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facility resulting.from the March 1979 accident.

GPU asserted that the NRC is rO.;

liable for its failure to wa'rn of a

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PDR COMMS NRCC l

CORRESPONDENCE PDR

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hazards and defects in the TMI. plant and for negligent approval of Babcock and Wilcox's emergency procedures.

The,

.L Department of Justice moved to dismiss on the grounds that the complaint in

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effect alleged a " misrepresentation" r"

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(i.e., the NRC i'stalleged to have misrepresented thd safety of TMI), and C

i.s therefore barred by an exception in.

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the.Fdderal Tort Claims Act that bars

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such claims against the government.

28 r-U.S.C. 2680(h).

The motion to dismiss

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in also argued that the,NRC conduct.

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complained of comes'within the

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. discretionary function" exemption from

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28 U.S.C.

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2680 (a).

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Judge Troutman rejected these arguments but recognized _that the caselaw is not entirely clear and that there is "sub-stantial ground for difference of

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opinion."

Accordingly, the court certified the matter for an immediate interlocutory appeal to the U.S.

Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit on the question:

"Is our decision correct that neith.er the misrepresentation nor the discretionary function excep-tion bars this suit?"

.-EZL The district court stayed all further

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proceedings pending the outcome of this

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appeal.. We are writing the Terts Branch, Civil Division of the Department of Justice, which has been defendinc s

this suit, to urge that in accordance with Judge Troutman's certification the c.

denial of the motion to dismiss should

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f be promptly appealed.

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NRDC and-the Sierra Club v. NRC,

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D.C. Cir. No. 82-1962 (CRER case)

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c;T...r;. e - ' m On December 2, 1982 the D.C. Circuit remanded to the Commission for "a prompt

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adjudicatory hearing str.ictly limited to

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the issues presented by the 10 CFR 50.12 exemption request for the Clinch River Breeder Reactor."

The panel, consisting

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of Judges McKinnon, Mikva, and Edwards,

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. reta:..ned the case anc. or.cerec the w

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Commission to file the record, as

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supplemented by the ac.. dicatory hears..ng

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and the Commission's supplemental e

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decision,-on or before February 4, 1983.

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The court ordered that site-preparation y

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activities as previously authorized by E

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the NRC may continue subject to further court order.

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OGC is preparing a separate analysis of this decision.

E. Leo Slaggie Solicitor o

DISTRIBUTION:

Commissioners 4

OGC.. _.

OPE-OCA -

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OPA REGIONAL OFFICES EDO ELD

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ASLAP:-

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