ML20126E382
| ML20126E382 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Big Rock Point File:Consumers Energy icon.png |
| Issue date: | 03/01/1971 |
| From: | Nader R AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED |
| To: | Seaborg G US ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION (AEC) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20126E381 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8101260323 | |
| Download: ML20126E382 (3) | |
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1156 19th Street, N.W.
y Washington, D. C. 20036 ggg March 1, 1971 e
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The Honorable Glenn T. Seaborg Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission s
Washington, D.C. 20545 t
Dear Sir:
On January 7, 1971, a B-52D bomber crashed'into Lake Michigan while on a practice bombing mission.
It has come to my attention that this plano was part of a training program that has been in operation since 1963, and which involved low level, simulated bombing runs passing within 500 to 1000 feet of the Big Rock Point nuclear power plant operated by Con'sumers Powcr company in Michigan.
Although the facts are not entircly clear, it appears that this plane crashed 10 miles from the plant and was headed in the direction of the plant at the time it crashed.
.it the estimated spood of 500 m.p.h.,
the plane would have had to stay in the air only an additional 11 seconds to reach the shore.
This narrow escape from a possibic nuclear catastrophe more than
. justifica the, suspension by the Department of Defense of these flights since January 28, 1971.
What is difficult to understand is why the flights had not been suspended at an earlier date.
Ever since 1963, these flights have been passing over the plant to a target sight six miles way from the plant at a frequency of around ten flights por day.
They were
' continued despite the repeated requests from citizens, the power company, and the_ insurers of the power plant to have the flights and the target sight moved elsewhere.
It is symptomatic of the federal bureaucracy that no
' action uns taken on these reque'sts until a plane actually crashed.
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- The Honorable Glenn T. Seaborg March 1, 1971
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i lEhe situation that existed at Big. Rock is not unique.
There;are a number of other power plants sub-jected to low flying-military and civilian aircraft.
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- One of the more outrageous situations' exists'at the Shoreham power plant in New York where experimental air-craft from'the Calverton ?>irport'four miles away fly at
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dangerously low levels'in their approach to and from the airfield.
In fact, this situation. has already been
~~~ bro ~ght to the attention of the co'mmission but has been-u summarily dismissed on the basis of a statistical
, improbability that an accident will occur.
The' Commission should hold public hearings en'this matter at the earliest possible date with'the ob octive j
of establishing minimum guidelines relating to aircraft flights in or'near atomic power plants.
The potential s
for a nuclear catastrophe clearly exists.
Such a catastrophe in fact was narrowly avoided at the Big Rock Point plant.
The commission would be remiss in its duty-to. protect the public if it does not hold such hearings or conduct a similar public process for determining the most appropriate policies.
Sincerely,
/ _.[tDk Ral h Nader i
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