ML20111B111

Advises That Petition Will Be Submitted by 841204 Asking for Assessment of Need for Shipment of 1,058 Spent Fuel Assemblies from Monticello,Mn to Morris,Il.Assessment Should Include Inquiry Into Alternatives to Shipment

ML20111B111
Person / Time
Site:	Monticello
Issue date:	10/31/1984
From:	Earl A WISCONSIN, STATE OF
To:	Palladino N NRC COMMISSION (OCM)
Shared Package
ML20111B104	List: ML20111B111
References
NUDOCS 8501080476
Download: ML20111B111 (2)

Text

f JJ State of Wisconsin g Office of the Governor .

Anthony S. Earl l

October 31, 1984 l

l Mr. Nunzio J. Palladino, Chairman U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555

Dear Mr. Palladino:

l I have been following with great interest your agency's response to Northern i States Power Company's plan to ship 1,058 spent fuel assemblies from ..

Monticello, Minnesota to Morris, Illinois. As you may know, I have consistently questioned the wisdom and necessity of these shipments.

On October 16, 1984 Wisconsin officials met with representatives of the NRC and the Federal Railway' Administration to explain why, in our view, l

the proposed Burlington Northern route should not be approved. Nonetheless,

! a route approval was issued by NRC within a few days of that meeting.

l I am deeply disappointed by the very narrow view the NRC is apparently taking of its authority to analyze and review these shipments. I understand that this may be the largest shipment of nuclear waste ever contemplated I in the country, yet no significant environmental review has ever been conducted by the NRC. No formal inquiry has been made into the need to transport this waste, and no attempt has been made to identify the best I route for the shipments.

Because of this lack of review, I have decided to officially petition the NRC asking for an assessment of the need for these shipments. That assessment should include an inquiry into the viability of alternatives to shipment, including dry cask storage. If the assessment does indicate a need for the shipments, the petition will ask the NRC to formally analyze l

alternate routes.

I believe it is essential that these questions be addressed. If the NRC and other federal agencies fail to do so, then I will support state legislation to fill this regulatory void.

I hope you share my belief that these questions are serious and need to be j resolved. I also hope that the Commission will delay the shipments until 8501080476 841217 '

PDR COMMS NRCC State Capnue CORRESPONDENCE PDR j P.O. Idox 7863 gDo Madison, WI 53707-7863 M2 608-266-1212

2

. . s'uch time as Wisconsin's petition can be considered. Please remember that

.these shipments are scheduled to occur over a number of years, and there is no immediate need for additional storage capacity at Monticello. I have instructed my staff to prepare a petition for submittal by December 1,1984. .

ncerely,(

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