ML20126E406

Requests That New License Be Required for Facility Operation W/Pu Fuel,Necessitating Complete Health,Safety & Environ Review.Uncertainty Among Scientists Questions Validity of AEC Conclusions Re Amend 4 & Change 34

ML20126E406
Person / Time
Site:	Big Rock Point File:Consumers Energy icon.png
Issue date:	03/16/1973
From:	Reizen M MICHIGAN, STATE OF
To:	Ray D US ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION (AEC)
Shared Package
ML20126E404	List: ML20126E400 ML20126E406 ML20126E409 ML20126E411
References
NUDOCS 8101270264
Download: ML20126E406 (3)

Text

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DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH WILLIAM G. MILLIKEN, Governor MAUtiCE 5. REl2EN, M.D., Director p

a March 16,1973

. Ms. Dixy Lee Ray, Chairman U. S. Atomic Energy Comission Washington,.D.C. 20545 l

Dear Ms. Ray:

The Divisio'n of Radiological Health staff of the flichigan Denartment of Public Health has reviewed the Chance No. 34 and Amendment !!o. 4 (dated December 6,1972) to Facility Operatino License No. DPR-5 authorizino Consumers Power Company to operate its Big Rock Point Huclear Reactor Plant-at Charlevoix, i4ichigan, to use fuel rods enriched,with plutonium oxide.

There is enough uncertainity anona scientists to ouestion the validity of the conclusion by the Atcmic Enercy Comission staff found in Docket No. 50-155, License No. DPP,-6, Anendrent Mo. 4, Iten 4, "the arendment does not involve sinnificant-hazard considerations different from those previously eval uated. " The departnent ouestions this staterent since the anendnent permits an increase in plutonium inventory from 50 kilcarams to 150 kilocrans and constitutes the first licensure for significant plutonium fuel usage in commercial reactors.

Plutonium fuel is more toxic than the conventional uranium core comosition and its physical properties make it one of the most difficult eierents to control.

It could, in our opinion, not only chance the public health and safety criteria for normal operation but could also meterially increase the potential public hazard in event of an incident.

Finally, the Hazards Summary Report did not consider the use of. plutonium fuel and an. environmental inpact statement has not been submitted for the operation of the Big Rock Point Plant.

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Therefore, I am requesting that a nes license be imquired for the operation of this plant with plutonium fuel which will necessitate a complete health, safety and environrental criteria review. The request is L, sed upon health and safety issues for persons offsite in event of incident and such concern, in our opinion, lies within the state jurisdiction.

Sincerely, Maurice S./ eizen, M.D.

Di rector cc:

Governor Hilliam G. Milliken Mr. L. Manning Muntzing, Director of Regulation Mr. John F. O' Leary, Directorate of Licensina

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Mr. Angelo Giambusso, Deputy Director for Reactor Projects Mr. JErome HasT60sl5DisTitanFAnorney CEnerB i

Mr. F. M. Hoppe, Director, Public Utilities Division Mr. Jares Woodruff, Deputy Director, Public Utilities Division Mr. A. Gene Gaziay, Director, Department of flatural Resources Mr. Ralph Purdy, Deputy Director, Bureau of Uater 'ianaaenent & Uater Resources Mr. John Soet, Chairman, Air Pollution Control Commission Mr. Donald E. Van Farowe, Chief, Division of Radiological Health f

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May we have your advice on filing the attached letter in the Public Doctrnent

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Room?

Ref: Ltr from Mich. Dept. of Public Health to the Chairman dtd 3/16/73 Docket No. (50-155) le eanne Cook Office of the Director of Regulation 2.

Jeanne Cook 008 Bethesda Approved for filing in PDR. & LPDR Document not to be filed in the PDR.

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MICHICs A14 ' DEPARTMENT OF ' PUBLIC HEALTH uNSING, MICHIG AN 48914

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' March 16,1973 C

, Ms. Dixy Lee Ray, Chaiman

11. S. Atonic Enercy Comission Wshinaton, D.C.

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Dear Hs. Ray:

The Division of Radiolocical Health staff of the Michinen Department of Public fiealth has reviewed the Channe No. 34 and Aendmant No. 4 (dated Decer>ber 6,1972) to Facility Operatino License No. OPR-6 authorizinn Consurers Powar Com, any to operate its Biq Rock Point Nuclear Reactnr Plant n

M at Charlevoix Michican, to use fuel rods enriched with plutonim oxitie.

J There is enour:h uncertainity amnq scientists to question the validity of the conclusion by the Atomic Enercy Comission staff found in Docket lio. 50-155, License No. DPR-6, Amendrent No. 4. Item 4. "the amendment does p

not involve sienificant hazard considerations different from those previously eval uated. " The department questions this statement since the amanhent pemits an incmase in plutonium inventory from 50 kiloorams to 150 kiloarams and constitutes the first licensum for sinnificant plutoniun fuel usaoe in cor:nercial reactors.

Plutonf un fuel is more toxic than the conventional uranium core cotoosition and its physical properties make it one of the est difficult elenents to control.

It could, in our opinion, not only change the public health and safety criteria for nomal operation but could also materially increase the potential public

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hazard in event of an incident.

Finally, the Hazards Sumary Report did not consider the use of plutonium fuel and an environmental inact statement has not been submitted for the

.t operation of the Big Rock Point Plant.

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U. So Atomic Energy Commission March 16,1973 Page 2 Therefort, I ar requestinn that a new license be required for the o9eration of this plant with plutonius fuel which will necessitate a complete health, safety and environmental criteria review. The request is based upon health end safety issues for persons offsite in event of incident and such concern, in our opinion, lies within the state jurisdiction.

Since rely, Maurice S. Reizen M.D.

Di rector cc:

Governor Willian G. !H111 ken Dr. L. Hanninq Muntzin1, Director of Requlation

'tr. John F. O' Leary, Directorate of Licensinn Mr. Angelo Gianbusso Deputy Director for Reactor Projects Mr. Jerone Haslowshi, Assistant Attorney Genert.1 Mr. F. M. Hoppc, Director, PuSlic Utilities Division

tr. Jams tfoodruff, Donaty Director, Public Utilities Division Mr. A. Gene Ca21ay, Director. Depart'. Tnt of Natural "~. sources "r. P, alps Purdy, Denuty Dimetor. Bureau of '.htar Manaan,ent A *later Resources Ptr. John Soet, Chairnan, Air Pollution Control Cornission Mr. Donald E. Van Farown, Chie', Division of Radialoqical !!ealt's 4

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U. S. Atomic Energy Commission March 16,1973 Page 2 Therefore, I an requestino that a new license be required for the operation of this plant with plutoniun fuel which will necessitate a complete health, safety and environmental criteria review. The request is based upon health end safety issues for persons offsite in event of incident and such concern, in our opinion, lies within the state jurisdiction.

Sincemly,

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Maurice S. Reizen, M.D.

Di rector cc:

Governor William G. Milliken

.Mr. L. Manning Muntzinq. Director of Regulation Mr. John F. O' Leary, Directorate of Licensing Mr. Angelo Gianbusso, Deputy Dimctor for Reactor Projects Mr. Jerom Maslowsl:1, Assistant Attorney General Mr. F. M. Hopoe, Director, public Utilities Division Mr. Jams Woodruff, Deputy Director, Public Utilities Division Mr. A. Gene Gazlay, Director, Department of Natural Resources Mr. Ralph Purdy, Deputy Director, Bumau of Water Mananenent & Water Resources Mr. John Soet, Chairnan, Air Pollution Control Comission Mr. Donald E. Van Farowe, Chief, Division of Radiological Health t

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