ML20127J628
| ML20127J628 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Monticello  |
| Issue date: | 08/06/1970 |
| From: | Christopher Henderson US ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION (AEC) |
| To: | Larson, Ramey, Thompson US ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION (AEC) |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9211190384 | |
| Download: ML20127J628 (3) | |
Text
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Caunissioner Ramey Ccredssioner Tha:pson Canissioner Larson ITOPOSED REPLY TO MR. ROBIRI' P. CIASS s
Enclosed is a copy of a proposed reply to Mr. Robert F.- Class, Comander, St. Anthony Park Post No. 34, The American Legion, St. Paul, Minnesota, which we discussed at the last meeting of the Camissioners' Enviremental Group. The letter has been revised in accordance with the chances suggested at that tire, and I would appreciate it if you would let re know if you have any further corrections. I will call your office early mxt week.
Signed Ct.H C. L. Henderson Assistant Director of Ret'Aation for Actrdnistration Lnclosure:
Proposed ltr to I*.r. Class cc: Chairman Seaborg (2)
Caanissioner Johnson bec: CLHenderson i-3Felton DR Reading GErtter (DR-2687) 4 4
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Mr. Robert P. Class, Ccmmander St. Anthony Pcrk Post No. 34 The American Legion 2029 Juliet Avenue St. Paul, Minnesota 55105
Dear Mr. Class:
I; am pleased to reply to your letter to Chairman Seaborg dated June 25, 1970, in which you enclosed a resolution concerning the preservation of the Minneapolis-St. Paul area air and water resources.
E$ch application to construct and to operate a nuclear power plant is subjected to the extensive licensing process described in the enclosed booklet, " Licensing of Fouer Reactors." This includes a thorough review by the AEC's regulatory staff and by the independent Advisory Cormittee on Reactor Safeguards. After reviewing the application of the Northern States Power Company for the Ponticello plant, the regulatory ntaff and the ACRS have concluded that there is reasonable assurance that the plant can be operated without undue risk to the health and safety of the public.
I am enclosing a copy of the regulatory staff's public safety evalua-tion of the Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant, prepared prior to the public hearing on the f acility's operating license application, which contains a number of consultant reports including the report of the ACRS. The evaluation addresses all of the points that were raised in
.the resolution you sent except that relating to the authority of the State of Minnesota, through the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, to set radioactive discharge limits more restrictive than the standards set by the AEC. This matter is presently the subject of litigation between the Northern States Power Company and the State. You will note that section 3.7 of the report (pages 32-42) describes our evalu-ation of the liquid and gaseous radioactive wa'ste system and our con-clusions, and sections 4 and 5 (pages 43-50) analyze the radiolog1 cal consequences from a design basis accident and discuss emergency plan -
ning. As the report indicates, the protection of the St. Paul and Minneapolis water systems, even in the unlikely event of an accident at the plant, was considered in our safety evaluation.
Public hearings before an Atomic Safety and Licensing Board to consider Northern States? application for an operating license for the Monticello plant were held l April, May, June and August 1970. After the public hearings are concluded, the Board will issue an initial decision based on the evidence presented at the hearing. The AEC will authori::e operation 9
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- Mr. ' Robert T. Class, Conmander of the facility only upon a favorable decision in this proceeding cnd in accordance with any limitations found necessary or appropriate.
If the plant is licensed to operate, it will be subject to AEC inspection and surveillance throughout its lifetime.
With respect to the radioactive ef fluents released by nuclear power plants, I an enclosing a print of Part 1 of the hearings on the environmental effects of producing cicetric power held by the Joint Connittee on Atonic Energy in late 1969 and early 1970.
I would call your attene in especially to testirony by Connissioner ihcos J. Thonpson (pages 175-194), Cornissioner Clarence E. Larson (pages 238-276), and Dr. Paul Tonpkins, Executive Director of the Federal Radiation Council (pages 391-415). This testinony discusnes in detail sources of radioactive effluents from a nuclear power plant and how these effluents are processed, the bases for radiation protection standards, how these standards are applied as linits on normal releases of small quantities of radioactive naterini, the results of environnental nonitoring prograns around nuclear power plants, and environnental research prograns on the effects of radiation !! t are carried out by the AEC.
In summary, operating experience has shown that actual releases of radio-activity f rom these plants have generally been small percentages of limits inposed under AEC regulations. Based on our present kno'. ; cdge and operating experience, we do not believe that the low levels of radioactivity released from nuclear pouer reactors will have a perceptible adverse effect on the environnent or on public health and safety.
For your information, I also an enclosing copics of speeches nade by Cornissioners Larson, Rancy, and Thonpson during the past year concerning the licensing and regulation of nuclear power plants.
These remarks dis-cuss the AEC's concern for public health and safety in its regulatory activitics, and describe some of the studies and the experience that confirn our confidence in the safety of nuclear power plants licensed by the AEC, Sincerely,
/
11arold L. Price Director of Regulation
Enclosures:
1.
Licensing of Power Reactors 2.
Safety Evaluation of Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant 3.
Part 1 4.
Specches
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