ML20128C478

Expresses Concerns on Inadequate Emergency Preparedness at Plant

ML20128C478
Person / Time
Site:	Monticello
Issue date:	03/09/1970
From:	Hatling R MINNESOTA ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL CITIZENS ASSOCIATION
To:	Seaborg G US ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION (AEC)
Shared Package
ML20128C468	List: ML20128C464 ML20128C478
References
NUDOCS 9212040440
Download: ML20128C478 (2)

Text

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cMINNESOT A LENVIRONM ENT A L CONTROL CITIZENS ASSOCIATION : . _

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• Saint PaulMmnena 53101

• PhacH6121222-2996 1 March 9,1970

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Glenn T. Seaborg  ;

Chairman  ;," -

-Atonic Energy Commission-

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1717 "HH Street N71 Washington, D.C. 20545

Dear Dr. Seaborg:

Since _ the Atomic Energy Commission requires a-program of public safety l boiore granting an operating license for a nuclear reactor, we must; tell 1.- you there is'no. such program that- can protect the people of Minnesota _in -

event of a nuclear accident at Monticello.

On the advice of Governor Harold LeVander,- we have discussed the matter ofl public safety with both- the Minnesota Department of. Civil Defense and the -

Minnesota Department of Health. We have found that = while the state:is 5 aware .of the hi6hly specialized problems that are created by this; energy source _ little or nothing has been done because of staff limitations,-

W.Mquate funds, and splitting of responsibilities. Several other-serious; casic inadequacies make what planning has -been- done completely and 'obviously!

unworkable.

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1. No single authority exists to act or dictate public action in event--

of an accident.

2. The critical function of mor itoring of radioactive releases- has been:

fallaciously- delegated to the utility because 'of lack of; str.te funds -

i and personnel. (Obviously since one can't see,;haar,- feel, taste, -

or smell' radioactivity. people areL entirelyEdependent on a' monitoring .

system for assessing the extent of accident. Te fr.illto-see howithe.

state and- the Atomic 2ne ruy l Commission can. disengage itself from this monitoring responsibility.)

7 3. No provision has been made for specific education of the public in; saae of a serious radiological accident. A public-safety pro 6 ram must obviously depend on _ an _ informed:public. ;3ut public education-has been limited to making radiological training availablesthrouchi

}. home study. - The pro 6 ram can only_ be' called hopeless.1 People = do not J l

know4 tout it. i Even if ' they did, it is doubtful they would voluntarily" attend school.-- even to save their lives, when they have never been: told j . that any risk exists. The public not only does not. know what to do in' _

t event of an accident - they do rot know even that an accident could~

happen. _

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An cffcetive educoticnal undortaking 'would take months and require a great nunber of qualified public infornation people. Such a a x __. -._ _ __._i progress not only has not yet: been started resources for starting it. .-- there are - no stats ___ .

There are other problems: lack of emergency transportation and co' mmuni- ~

_,,, cations '-- inadequate medical _ facilities to handle the number of victims of radiological exposure -- not enough doctors, nurses,' firemen, and policemen specially trained for radiological accidents.

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'P.,thaps the most serious mat ter that came up in our discussions .

o hui to with evacuation.

U Both state departnents as this time appost to be resigned to the fact that it would be an impossible task to evacuate the area.

Neitherofisprotection.

means there any certainty that shelters would provids an cffective .

1 One point all agreed on was that the Monticello reactor does represent a haze.rd of. catastrophic potential -- end that if'a major acci. dent did-occur, else. the only real protection for the public would be to be somewhere As desirable as evacuation would appear to bs, the fear was expressed that the task of evacuation might be impossible and that as many people might be_ killed and injured through confusion and panic as from- radiation exposure. 3 One. can only conclude from this that if there is no way to evacuate the '

people from the area in event of a nuclear disaster, the reactor site was obviously a mistake and cannot be ~ acceptable to the people of Minnesota.

These are but some of the difficulties m&.ing the Twin Cities and surruun (_

areas totally unable to cope with an energency should it occur. No.operr tion of this reactor must be allowed until the health and safety of the public is a assured.

1 license for Monticello until such time as these difficulties .

Yours truly, Russell Hatling Director of Public Information.

BJHaah copios:

Governor Harold LeVander, Attorney General Douglas Head, Minnesota .  ;

State Legislature, Minnesota Dopartment of Public Health, Minnesota-Department of Civil' Defense, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Menbers of U.S. Congress, Members of the Press -

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