ML20127G460
| ML20127G460 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Monticello, Prairie Island  |
| Issue date: | 07/06/1973 |
| From: | Shapar H US ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION (AEC) |
| To: | Mondale W SENATE |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9211160608 | |
| Download: ML20127G460 (4) | |
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JUL 61973 LPDR Shapar Engelhardt Gallo Fomal Files Chron Honorable Walter F. bondale Gossick United States Senate Giambuss o Ert'ter (DRf5750 [
Dear Senator flondale:
OCR We are ple6 sed to respond to your June 14, 1973 referral of a letter from fis. Alpha Saaby concerning the Prairie Island fluclear Generating Station. lis. Smaby raises certain questions in her letter concerning public hearings to be held in connect-ion with the operation of the Prairie Island Station.
Hs. Smaby appears particularly concerned with what she sees as a conflict in the scheduling of the AEC's public hearings on the Prairie Island and !!onticello Plants. The regulatory staff of the AEC has also been concerned with this potential problem and has been active in assuring that such would not occur. As a consequence agreement has been reached by the participants in these hearinas, including the llinnesota Pollution Control Agency, llinnesota Environnental Control Citizens Association, lir. Steve Gadler, and the applicant for the licenses involved, the fiorthern States Power Company, that establishes a senedule of hearings uhich will not result in a conflict. The present schedule calls for the hearina on the Prairie Island Plant to begin in September,1973, and'the hearing on the ilonticello Plant in April,1974.
Such a schedule will permit full partici-pation in these hearings,by all concerned.
It would appear from fis. Smaby's letter that she is also l
concerned about the issuance of a license permitting fuel loading and testing of the Prairie Island Station prior to public hearinas.
Under AEC regulations provision is made for the issuance of such a license but only af ter an oppor-tunity to request a hearing is provided to the parties who l
are participating in the full power operating license proceed-j ing.
In the case of the Prairie Island Station no request for l
a hearing on the fuel loading and testing license was made.
Accordingly, the cresiding Atomic Safety and Licensing Board I
authorized the issuance of such a license. Of course issuance 921116060s 73o706 c/
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i Honorable Walter F. f;ondale.
of such a license would not be supported or permitted by the reculatory staff until it was satisfied that the health and safety of the public would not be endangered by the action and that appropriate consideration was given to environmentel impacts.
We will be pleased to furnish any additional infonnation you may desire.
Sincerely, Drie'nal u.cuec br L. K. suapar Howard K. Shapar Assistant General Counsel
Enclosure:
Incoming ltr. fm.
Ms. Alpha Smaby I
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DATE:
6/14/73 RE:
Alpha Smaby 1551 E. River Road Minneapolis Minnesota 55414 W
5 FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF THE ATTACHED LETTER, AND FOR A REPORT TO ME, IN DUPLICATE TO ACCOMPANY RETURN OF ENCLOSURES.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:
i Request your urgent attention to the questions raised by Alpha Smaby and your reply to the recommendations.
i RESPPCTFULLY REFERRED 70:
Congressional Liaison Atomic Energy Commission i
Washington; D.C.
i PLEASE REFER RESPONSE TO ATTENTION OF T}E FOLLOWING MEMSER OF 101 STAFP, ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE ENVILOPE ONLY.
r Gail Harrison a
THAIE YOU,
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o The Honorable Walter F. Mondale 443 Old Senate Office Building Washington, D. C. 20510
Dear Senator Mondale:
The Citizens of Minnesota have been placed in a dire predicament. We are faced with the operation of an unlicensed, untested nuclear power plant, Prairie Island, j
and with a Pollution Control Agency (PCA) that has been rendered helpless by the l
Atomic Energy Commission (AEC). The PCA, with Minnesota Environmental Control Citizens Association (MECCA), is an intervenor in an AEC Environmental Review Hearing for the Monticello Plant. The PCA and Steve Gadler, a private citizen are intervenors in the licensing hearings on Prairie Island.
5 The AEC is now threatening to sch6dule the Monticello and Prairie Island Hearings concurrently, which has forced the PCA, for lack of staff and money, to sign an agreement with NSP and the AEC that (1) it will stop all discovery on Prairie Island af ter August 15, (2) NSP will be allowed to fuel the plant, and (3) NSP i
will begin test operation of the plant.
Steve Cadler has refused to enter into this agreement because he feels that ques-tions concerning fuel densification and the emergency core cooling system should have full public hearing before the plant is fueled and operated. The PCA has de-cided not to raise these questions because it does not have the staf f to handle simultaneous hearings.
f or_two_.rea s ons.
i T gheueuinn of scheduling overlappingjtearinns is anna.lling._t n mn It is appalling that the AEC can schedule hearings in such a way as to, render the QCA powerlers.
It is also distressing that we pay three agencies whic'h'maki~de-cisions about the Prairie Island plant yet we will be d_enieLa_public.. hear.ing be-fore that plant is fueled and operated. Our state taxes pay for the PCA to protect' {
the quality of air and water for the people of Minnesota. Our Federal taxes pay the AEC to encourage the use of nuclear energy and our rate monies finance the building and operation of Prairie Island and Monticello by NSP. When questions about the operation and safety of these two plants are raised, it seems only proper that full public hearings be held so that these questions can be completely c.xplored.
Federal agencies must not be allowed to jeopardize the integrity of state agencies 1
by placing them in situations where they lack the staf f and the budget to do their.
job. Would you demand the AEC to schedule the two hearings in such a way as to allow the PCA to cover both hearings adequately and urge the AEC to withhold per-mits to fuel and operate the Prairie Island plant until a full public hearing is held?
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l AS:mky Alpha Smaby
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