ML20127L712

Expresses Appreciation for 690529 Memo Forwarding Ltr from Congressman Quie Re AEC & State of Mn Jurisdiction Over Control of Radioactivity Releases in Effluents from NSP Monticello Plant

ML20127L712
Person / Time
Site:	Monticello
Issue date:	07/03/1969
From:	Seaborg US ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION (AEC)
To:	Janes R PRESIDENT OF U.S. & EXECUTIVE OFFICES
Shared Package
ML20127L707	List: ML20127L704 ML20127L712 ML20127L735 ML20127L740 ML20127L760
References
NUDOCS 9211250256
Download: ML20127L712 (4)

Text

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Mr. kbert P. James

. Assistant Dimeter Office of Intergoverracontal Relatiais

, Office of the Y1oe President

Dear Mr. Janos:

'Ihank you for your assoranstan of May 29, transmitting a copy of a letter moeived fmo r ie;ressmn w Quie conceming AEC's and the State

, of Minnesota's jurisdiction over the control of radioactivity pleases in effluents fma the Northem States Power C<mpary's Manticello nuclear generatirs facility.

We had previously aceived a letter from Congmaanan Qaie dated May 23, and I asa enclosing a oopy of my moponse to that letter which I believe will answer the questions posed in his letter to Mr. Boe.

Por your infomation I have written to Governor leVander offering to meet with him here in Washington, or altematively or in addition, to have several of our senior technical staff meet with him in Minnesota to discuss the untter. Such a meeting obviously will not asolm the 1egal question involved, but I feel it might be helpful in allaying his ooncem agarding the standards armi controls which the ABC would place on this reactor for the protection of the public health and safety.

If I can be of ary further assistanoe, please let me know.

Cordially, (Nn4kwa1,$1l Chaiman i

Enclosums:

Ltr to Cong msaman Quie frcai

Chairman hahnrt; w/ enclosures 1

! SEE PAGE 'IMO FOR COPY BISIRIBUTION

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Comissioner Raney Camissioner Johnso'1 Comissioner Costagliola Comissioner 'Ih:r:pson Secretary (2) 000 (2)

General Manager (2)

Howard Brown, AGM John A. Erlewine, AGM0 Congressional (2)

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!!onorable Albert H. Q2ic

lbuse of Representatives --.

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Dear Mr. Quie:

Thank you for your tran:nittal' of thy 23,1969, enclosing a letter to you from Governor IcVandor, concomin3 th3 recent action taken by the 7.trr.e:cta Pollution Contml / coney with respect to the Northem States Tower Ccgany's nucicar generating facility near Monticello, Minnesota.

I havs ,also been anked to m: pond to your letter of*1by 26 to Ucnc.T.ble Nils Doe, Director, Offico of Intercoverrrental Relations, t

Executive Offices of the President.

As you are undoubt'edly aware, them has been an exchange of corre-spendence on this subject between Governor IoVander tad tryself, and -

between Repmsentative Chet Holiticid, Chaiman of the Joint Cccmittee.

on Atomic Entr;y, and Mr. Robert C. Tuvesen, Chairr.an, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. This correspondence, uhich is enclosed, i partially answers, I believe, the questions in your letter to Mr. Boe, -

and also the points raised in Governor LeVander.'s letter to you of thy 12.

In your letter to Mr. Boo you coment on the see.".ing incon22tity of the AEC's position to insist on far lower standards than those set forth by .

the l*PCA. The fact that the MPCA permit contains radiological condia

; tions that are core restrictive than those that would be imosed by the l

./JC does not rean, we believe, that there is a corrolative er even masurable inercase in the pmtection affonied the public. As discussed in r.y replies to Govemor IcVander, we feel that some of the restrictions in the permit, depending on how they arc interproted and adminictemd,.

could be unduly burdensore without making a maninrful contribution to ,

the public health and safety. Indeed, again depending on their-Merpretation and administration, certain of the requirements in-the permit micht_ actually imair the safety of the facility.

h You raise the question as to whether there is rocn within the Atomic ll 1 Er.argy Act to reach administrative ape:rcnt between- the AEC and the State agency concerning standanis. Urder the Atec:ic' Energy Act the

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1 g , Honorhble Albert H. Quie Cons;ress placed the responsibility for the licensing.and i'eCulation of nuclear naterials and of nuclear power reactors with the AEC. Under section 274 of the Act the Corm:ission, by forcul ageerent, can relirquish to the states certain of its regulatory responsibilitics for nuclear cateriale - for exrple, radicinctopes. Nineteen states have t thus far entered irto such a roenents. The Congess, however, did not provide for the relirguishment of the Comnission's authority over the licensin7 and re~ulation of nuclear reactors to the states in j recoi711 tion 'or the very connlex, interrelated technical considerations that are involved in the desi;n, construction, on3 operation of nuclear power plants, and the fact that these plants have the potential to release radicactive raterial that could affect amas outsice the state in which they are locatyd.

For your inforrntion, I have written to Govert:or LeVander offerin; to naet with him here in '.lashircten, or altern'stively or in addition, to have several of our cenior technical staff r.cet with hin in ;ttnncsota to discuss the rattor. 'hile we have held pr2Vicus discusalonc with rcrters of the .".ir:ncota Follution Control . cncy, I fcel that it uould 5

be helpful if 'n discurr.d this atter nerssn211y .dth the Coverr.or.

In t.dlition, C.' air: an Eolifield of the Joi .t Corr.ittee on Atomic Er. erg, has offered to provi. 2 briefin a an.: bc:'r..Tou".d infon"ation, with /6C participation, to t?.a Minnesota cercressic.ul delei;atica, either as a

! r;roup w ',r.lividually, en the iscu23 raise.i by the pcsition Governor Le? nder h".3 ti..cn in tai 3 Itatter. If it .::ald be hel,rful, I ml s:znior :wbers of the /sC staff .:culd also be :loased to naet with you

! for sirdlar discussions.

, I appreciate your intemst in thic natter. If '. e can be of any further assistar.ce, please lot rc kno1 .

I Cordially, t

Chainran

Enclosures:

1. Exchar@ of Ltra tetween FETYPED IN OFFICE OF DIRECIOR OF Chair:nn Seaborg ', Gov. Idlander REGULATION TO ADD TWO NEW SENTENCES

2. Ltr to RCruvesen dtd 5/3/ O TO SECOND PAMGRAPH OF THIS PAGE fm Hon. Chet liolifield AT THE CHAIFRAN"S SUGGESTION SEE ATTACiED YELTLW WR PREVIOUS

, CONCURRENCES. SEE PABB THREE FOR COPY DISTRIBUTION _

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