ML20126E386
| ML20126E386 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Big Rock Point File:Consumers Energy icon.png |
| Issue date: | 03/22/1971 |
| From: | Seaborg G US ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION (AEC) |
| To: | Nader R AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20126E381 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8101260337 | |
| Download: ML20126E386 (3) | |
Text
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o e-UNITED STATES
!+ D-Y ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION W ASHINGTON. O C.
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1 MAR 2 % Jg]
i Mr. Ralph Nader 1156 19 th Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C.
20036
Dear Mr. Nader:
This is in reply to your letter of March 1,1971, concerning low-level flights near nuclear power stations.
i The proximity of the Air Force's Bay Shore bomb scoring site to the Big Rock Point plant near Charlevoix, Michigan, and the associated use of the plant in connection with training flights, caca to the attention of the /IC in 1963. At that time it was the AEC's under-standing that the plant was being used as a practice target and the AEC requested the Dernrtment of Dafense to recove the plant from the Air Force pract 'ce target list. The AEC was then inforced by D0D th.c the picnt vould not be used by the Air Force for this purpose.
We were subscquently infor:cd by D0D that the use of the plant as a practice target had been discontinued, but that low-level flights near the plant continued with the target for these runc being in Lake Michigan, several miles of fshore. Subsequent to the January 7, 1971 crash, low-level training flights were suspended and plans are being made to reroute the training flight path away from the plant site.
The Commission's regulatory staff has met with D0D representatives in regard to low.-level military flights. The staf f is preparing a list of site coordinates for all nuclear power plants for use by the Departcent of Defence. DOD, in turn, is preparing information on existing low-level flight paths for use by the staff. We plan further discussions on this matter with D0D and believe that a pro-gram can be developed, consistent with nilitary requirements, that will avoid low-level flights near these plants.
It is the practice of the AEC regulatory staff to evaluate potential hazards presented by air traffic in the vicinity of airports which may be near a proposed nuclear power plant site before recornending 2
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i Mr. R::1ph Nsdar.
approval of the c.lte nnd pleat denic;n. An otoe.ic cafety cr.d. licensinr; bonrd revices thcaa natects in public hearin-.s at schich the concitsions of the Ct x.iccien 't rsrul:.tcrv ctcif cnd the vien of other parties era concidared before a decision in rado on icr,u.taca of n perr.it to construct a plc.2 t.
In tbr coc of the rhorchnes Meclear Pc rer !:tation, which is about 4-3/4 niles fror,the Calvnrton !?rport ca Long Iclnnd, the Cc mianion's rag-ulctorf c. toff ceneluacd that '.bc prounsh nite is nuf ficiently for reny frc, the Cch r:on !.ir: ort that the prob:.bility ni a cresh at the cit.c ic e :sentinlly t: c nznoc!ated uith Ecuarcl ovnrfli:Sta arvi thct the prepo:ed pl:.it need not be desinned or onarcted with GNeini pro-visionc to protect the fccility.:; c. inst thn ef fect ; of an aircraf t crcah. This cen*.it : ion, n1 vell ca other ce tte e benrirr, en pinnt decir,n ev! locc:10.t, is prewntPf hMny, t.cauducred by an atonic safety cad licamin' bocrd. Sinca the thorchcn proceedin",10 ncar in the /.EC adjt dicction proc:ac,
'.t vou.td not, of counc, he cppropru.tc for ne to d!r.ce;p the nnrit a of any of thcce point,.
I cn en le.:In'; a copy of thc 'ctcff Sr faty C.clu ttioa for the propoced Saorchnrt 1;cclear Pcwr Station uhich uns filed in t'.irt precet cinr,.
it,ipcndi:: A thereto dia-cehacs the natter of prenicity of the cite to the Univ:rton lilrport.
In another ccsc, that of the 'Brcc l'J.lc 131and !uc3 car Poucr Station Uaito 1 and 2. nJditiencl Tirotect2.on cacinat aircraft ir.3act vc3 pro-vided in the dcai.n beer.uac of the proxinity of the p]nnt to Ol:ritcad Stato Airport (about 2-1/2 nilca).
In all enses, during nite revicu nceting, the staff entnines the natter of airpcrt proninity to the propor,ed sito. In one enac, a utility which had rada a tentativo ccicction of a nite near an Air Force bnou clectcJ to cht.nge the site location beforo cubnitting a fornal cpplication.
The Cr.;incion's ataf f has had under develop.ent for conc tir.a explicit criteria concerninr the desinn and location of nuclear pouer planto in relation to nonrby airports.
Tactors uhf ch are being considorod in the develop..cnt of these criterin include probobility of aircraf t crcuhes',
potentf ul consequances of such crnchen on or near a nuclear power plcnt, distance and orientation of the nucicar pouer plant frc a nircraft run-vays, type of aircraf t using the runwayu, and fraquency of runecy uno.
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!!r. nalph ;inder ITaen coupleted, these criterin vill be publiched for public comente and wa vill c160 cccd you a co::y..Your reqttat for a public hearing on t'.acce natten vill be considared ct that tit.o.
Cordicily, r ' ; re ;
Chairnan Tncl ootirc :
Staf f Cafety Evnluction for Shorehsa Distribution:
Cnairman (2)
Co=. Haray Comm. Johnsen Cc=. Larsen Secretary (2)
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