ML20092H544

Expresses Views in Support of Safe Operation of Facility. Commission Should Avoid Being Swayed from Responsibility by Rhetoric & Hysteria

ML20092H544
Person / Time
Site:	Shoreham File:Long Island Lighting Company icon.png
Issue date:	06/11/1984
From:	Caputo J SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY
To:	Palladino N NRC COMMISSION (OCM)
References
OL, OL-3, OL-4, NUDOCS 8406260187
Download: ML20092H544 (4)

Text

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OFFICE OF THE COMPTROLLER JoIEPH R. cAPUTo ' -

COMPTnOLLEn June 11, 1984 r?-- - - . . _ ,

Mr. Nunzio J. Palladino, Chairman f E 2. ' '. s

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U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555 r ~ - -- - - - - -

Dear Mr. Palladino:

- . 7. . b. _, Sb' Although I had requested an opportunity some time ago to go before your hearing officers on the Shoreham issue, my '

appearance has not been scheduled in a timely fashion.

Therefore, I am taking this opportunity to present my views regarding the Nuclear Power Station at Shoreham. ,

Here in Suffolk County, we anxiously await our daily paper, Newsday. Every day we read something; the latest in news, dialogue, and sometimes nonsense about the Shoreham Nuclear Power Station. The rhetoric presented obscures and confuses the basic concerns regarding the plant, namely, evacuation and the economic impact.

As I am sure you are aware, an evacuation plan can be put

, in place just the way it has been by the Four County Nuclear l Safety Committee in White Plains regarding the Indian Point

' Nuclear Power Station. In that area and region, Four County administrations who are affected by Indian Point, as Re s po n s ib l e Public Officials, have cooperated with the Power Authority of the State of New York and Consolidated Edison Compaay, in order to develop an effective emergency. evacuation plan. They have also seen fit to print and publish a 20 page document which introduces the public to the need for emergency planning, what could be an emergency, how they would be notified, whether they should stay indoors or leave the area, l

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PDR DEPARTMENT OF AUDIT AND CONTROL H. LES D E NNISON EX E CJTivE O F FICE SUILDING e VETER ANS MEMORI AL HIGHWAY e H A UPP A UG E. N. Y. I1788 e (St 4) 34 39

e Mr. Nunzio J. Palladino June 11, 1984 Page 2 where they should go, how to locate their own area, what route to take from the area, various public reception centers, various school reception centers, various bus pick-up points, and what the public should know about the area. They also present a short synopsis about radiation from nature and man, and they advise the public how to stay prepared and the relevant factual points about Indian Point.

Ho' wever, here in Suffolk County,_an hysterical atmosphere has been created, and in this atmosphere an attitude has developed that the Shoreham Nuclear Power Station is not safe and can never be safe, and Suffolk County cannot be evacuated safely IF THE NEED SHOULD EVER ARISE.

As one public official who was elected on a Countywide basis, (serving in my fifteenth (15th) year of public service),

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I feel it is important to have my input registered with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Only you, the Federal Government, have the chance to rise above the rhetoric, and you l must do it because there are 2,600,000 people living in the two

Counties of Suffolk and Nassau who will be directly affected by anything that happens with the Shcreham Nuclear Power Station.

The whole State of New York will be affected, depending upon l

what happens with this power source, especially if it is not to be utilized. The only solution to this problem is to open the plant, once it is objectively determined to be capable of safe '

operation.

How do we get people to accept the plant? We have to educate them. Educate them to the extent that they are confident that evacuation is possible if the need should ever develop. More than likely, the possibility or need for an evacuation is extremely remote. But, if it did, we have Police Officers, we have Deputy Sheriffs, we have Correction Officers, Firemen, Volunteer Firemen, School Teachers, Bus Drivers, Constituents, we have the public at large, all willing to cooperate in order to develop a proper evacuation plan. It can be done. With the proper education of the public, a safe evacuation plan is possible. With the proper education, everyone could understand that they are safe. With the proper education of the public, we will know that it is safe to operate this nuclear power station. There will be more benefits to the community, to the populace, to the County, to the wh ol,e Long Island spectrum, if this plant functions.

Continued.............

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Mr. Nunzio J. Palladino (

June 11, 1984 L Page 3 r 4

I i There are those who would say people like myself who live i in Shoreham want the plant to open because if it doesn't, our [

taxes will rise considerably. While I admit no one wants their taxes to rise, it is ridiculous to believe we would expose our .

children, our loved ones to any danger. The fact of the matter j j is, because the Shoreham Nuclear Power Station is in our  !

" backyard", we have educated ourselves thoroughly regarding I nuclear power. We are not as concerned about an evacuation j plan because we do not fear the plant. The rest o f t'.n e people  !

in Suffolk County need to be educated as well to see the need,  ;

the urgent need for nuclear power. A few years back, we had to  ?

wait on lines at gas stations for at times, as long as an hour because of our dependency on foreign countries for our fuel oil. The prices of oil soared, and the public was screaming  !

for an alternate source of energy, and to be independent of l those foreign countries. We now have that energy, nuc, 3r I power. i From the financial viewpoint, the operation of this plant, i if safe, is mandatory. The Shoreham Plant represents 28% of the tax base in the Town of Brookhaven. Overall, Lilco pays i

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10% of the County's real property tax bills. Additionally, the  ;

! Shoreham Plant represents 90% of the revenue for the t Shoreham/ Wading River School District. In a general sense, it is my belief that the average household in Suffolk County will  !

experience a 10% increase in its annual tax bill if the l Shoreham Plant does not open. This is made up of the annual

tax assessment of $52.4 Million Dollars on the Shoreham site, I and the potential liability with respect to Lilco's certiorari l

case regarding its tax assessment. On top of this, it is l extremely likely that rating agencies will consider a further j

downgrading of the Town, School District, and County, thua ,

i resulting in higher interest costs when we go out to borrow.  !

I know that there have been various studies prepared for  !

Lilco and the County Executive with respect to the financial impact on the taxpayers under various scenarios. The latest  !

study was conducted by Touche Ross & Company, as commissioned {

by the Blue Ribbon Panel organized by the County Executive. i Conclusions of each study are subject to question because of l

( pre-determined positions.

We have structured our governmental annual budgets in ^ '

anticipation of certain revenues, which apparently will not be forthcoming. This is causing us, at this time, to prepare for

• borrowing huge sums of money at higher than normal interest costs, all of which will be paid by the taxpayer.

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continued.............

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Mr. Nunzio J. Palladino June 11, 1984 Page 4 In summary, it is you, the Federal Government, who can help us. You, the Federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission, can help us to solve this problem. By implementing and putting this plant in operation, we will then have an opportunity to function.

Please heed this beckoning. Please help us. Do not turn your back on us, do not allow yourself to be swayed from your respons-ibility by rhetoric and hystcria.

Thank you.

Sincerely yours,

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J seph R Caputo scounty Comptroller JRC:jm e