ML20126M030

Responds to 850126 Concerns Re Decommissioning of Plant. Decision to Decommission Will Be Predicated on Util Taking Adequate Steps to Protect Public & Environ.Des Expected by 850731 & Fes by 851031

ML20126M030
Person / Time
Site:	Humboldt Bay
Issue date:	06/10/1985
From:	Zwolinski J Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:	River J AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED
References
NUDOCS 8506200214
Download: ML20126M030 (3)

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UNITED STATES

• 8 o NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION D E WASHINGTON D. C. 20555

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Mr. John River  ;

P.O. Box 454 -

Ukiah, California 95482

Dear Mr. River:

In your letter of January 26, 1985 to Mr. Peter Erickson of my staff you expressed your concern over the long-term storage of spent fuel rods at the Humboldt Bay nuclear power plant. Your letter as well as letters from others in Humboldt County and elsewhere have become part of the official record of the decomissioning of this plant.

It is the responsibility of the Nuclear Regulatory Comission (NRC) to assure that the decomissioning of Humboldt Bay power plant is conducted in a manner that does not endanger the health and safety of the public.

In order to accomplish that, the NRC requires that Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) submit a Decommissioning Plan describing how the decommissioning will be conducted and an Environmental Report which describes the environmental aspects of the decommissioning. Both of these documents were submitted to the NRC on July 30, 1984 and we have completed our initial review. Questions generated during the review have been sent to PG&E on January 23 and February 14, this year and PG&E has provided responses to most of the questions. The NRC is currently evaluating those responses.

An important aspect of the decomissioning planning is the receipt of coments from the public. For the Humboldt plant, this was done through the public meetings held on September 10 and December 4,1984 in Eureka, California as well as through letters such as yours. Both PG&E and the NRC need to know what the public environmental and safety concerns are so that they may be adequately considered during the decommissioning process. Consequently, the transcripts of the meetings as well as the letters become part of the official decomissioning record and are reviewed to determine if there are additional facts which should be considered. The transcripts, the letters from the public and all correspondence from PG&E and the NRC are available in the Humboldt County Library, 471 i Street (County Courthouse), Eureka, California.

Following our review of environmental issues we will publish a " Draft Environmental Impact Statement" (Draft EIS) that will be made available to the public in the Humboldt County Library and will also be sent to State and Humboldt County agencies as well as other Federal agencies. This Draft EIS will present the NRC evaluation of potential environmental impacts of decommissioning the Humboldt plant. Coments on the Draft EIS from State, local and Federal agencies and the public will be included and evaluated in the Final Environmental Impact Statement (Final EIS).

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Mr. John River After the staff reviews are complete and if it is determined that PG&E has taken the precautions necessary to assure no undue risk to the health and safety of the public and the environment, the decommissioning wf]l be

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approved and the NRC will publieh a Ff nal EIS.

In sumary, I want to assure you that an extensive evaluation of all of the certinent information, including comments from concerned citizens, regarding the decommissioning is undertaken before a NRC decision is made. A favorable decision will be predicated on PG8E taking adequate steps to protect the public and the environment during its activities. Our target date for completing the Draft EIS is July 31, 1985 and for completing our final action on the decomissioning plan and the Final EIS is October 31, 1985. We will send you a copy of the Draft EIS when it is available.

Sincerely, John A. Zwolinski, Chief Oper ting Reactors Branch #5 Division of Licensing

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June 10, 1985 Mr. John River '

After the staff reviews are complete and if it is determined that PG8E has taken the precautions necessary to assure no undue risk to the health and safety of the public and the environment, the decommissioning will. be approved and the NRC will publish a Final EIS.

In summary, I want to assure you that an extensive evaluation of all of the pertinent information, including comments from concerned citizens, regarding the decommissioning is undertaken before a NRC decision is made. A favorable decision will be predicated on PG&E taking adequate steps to protect the public and the environment during its activities. Our target date for completing the Draft EIS is July 31, 1985 and for completing our final action on the decommissioning plan and the Final EIS is October 31, 1985.

We will send you a copy of the Draft EIS when it is available.

. Sincerely, Original signed by John A. Zwolinski, Chief Operating Reactors Branch #5 Division of Licensing DISTRIBUTION DL #803 gDodetFHe-(DocketNo;"50-133)Oh '

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