ML20138Q943

Requests Review of Directors Decision Under 10CFR2.206 Denying 850829 Petition for Preparation of EIS Re GE Morris Operation.Natl Environ Groups Indicated Intention to Urge Review of Decision

ML20138Q943
Person / Time
Site:	07001308
Issue date:	11/14/1985
From:	Shawn Campbell, Zalman R ILLINOIS SAFE ENERGY ALLIANCE
To:	Palladino N NRC COMMISSION (OCM)
References
CON-#485-252 2.206, NUDOCS 8512300120
Download: ML20138Q943 (3)

Text

i 1.S.E.A.

ILLINOIS SAFE ENERGY ALLIANCE

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~85 NOV 18 P3:2 53 West Jackson Boulevard, Room 343

• Chicago Illino;s 60604 * (312) 663-1667 November 14, 1985 f

Mr. Nunzio J. Palladino

.g Chairman

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' ' " " ' " " ' " ~ " '

United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C.

20555

Dear Chairman Palladino:

On November 6,1%5, the Illinois Safe Energy Alliance received notice of the Director's decision under 10 CFR 2.206 that our petition of August 29, 1985, which requested that a complete environmental impact statement be prepared for the General Electric Morris Operation, and reconsideration of the license for the facility to store spent fuel without such a federal environ-mental impact statement, was denied on November 4,1985 by the Director of the Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards.

Illinois Safe Energy Alliance has read the Directors' decision, and hereby requests that you carefully review this decision and once again reconsider the substantive issues involved, which we still believe indicate that a comprehensive environmental impact statement is needed for the General Electric Morris Operation to be properly licensed under federal law.

On November 15, 1985 Illinois Safe Energy Alliance will hold a press conf!rence in Chicago announcing our intention to request your careful review of this decision, and that you extend the period of your review at least until January 1,1986, so that the serious issues raised in the petition be given a more ample period for thorough consideration. During this period, Illinois Safe Energy Alliance will also complete an analysis of what we consider to be errors and deficiencies in the November 4th decision, which we will forward to the Commissioners.

During the unusually brief period, just over two months, during which the Director's decision of November 4,1985 was reached, Illinois Safe Energy Alliance received endorsement of its petition by several national environ-mental groups. These groups have also indicated their intention to urge the Commissioner's to review the Directors decision more carefully, allowing more adequate time for public and State of Illinois official coments, and order that a complete environmental impact statement be prepaied concerning Morris.

8512300120 851114 PDR ADOCK 07001308 Sincerely, C

PDR achell e Zalman, Ph.D.

Stanley ampbel Co-Chairperson, ISEA Co-Chairperson, ISEA cc: Governor James R. Thompson Attorne,y General Neil Hartigan

l.S.E.A.

ILLINOIS SAFE ENERGY ALLIANCE i

53 West Jackson Boulevard, Room 343

• Chicago. Illinois 60604 * (312) 663-1667 For immediate release For information:

251-7350 Friday, Nobember 15, 1985 Rachelle Zalman 312/663-1667 Press Conference 10:a.m.

Betty Johnson 815/399-0089 Palmer House Hotel Sandburg Room Barbara Johnson 612/376-7556 COALITION URGES GOVERNOR TO ACT ON PROMISE RE:

NUCLEAR WASTE THREAT TO ILLINOIS WATER The Illinois Safe Energy Alliance (I.S.E.A.)

asks that Go"ernor James Thompson fulfill his promise to ask that a long overdo formal Ervironmental Impact Statement, required under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1970 (NEPA) be ordered for the General Electric Morris Operation (GEMO) for storage of nuclear irradiated fuel that is accepting this vaste_ from i

out of state reactors and putting Illinois groundwater at risk.

The Governor made this promise to ISEA Research Director on Nuclear Waste, Katherine Quigg in an informal meeting on June 2, 1985 and signed a i

brief statement to this effect, as well.

On August 29, 1985, the ISEA had filed its own petition, written by Quigg, with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) asking that a com-l prehensive Environmental Impact Statement be required and that GEMO's license for continued receipt and storage of spent nuclear fuel be reconsidered pending the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

ISEA review of GEM 0's status was prompted because current shipments to Morris have already brought its fuel in"entory to above 400 metric tons and will fill Morris to its licensed capacity of 750 metric tons over the next four years.

That would result in several hundred million to several billion curies of radioactivity and several tons of plutonium sitting between two flood plains on earthquake fractured land located above major Illinois aquifers through the turn of the century.

(OVER)

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ISEA P. 3 NUCLEAR THREAT TO ILLINOIS GROUNDWATER repository in their state, primarily due to groundwater concerns. "It behooves Governor Thompson to recall some of the bitter lessons 4

our state is learning aoubt the costs of nuclear facilities today, I

and be decisive in preventing an even more bitter tasting experience with nuclear waste tomorrow."

. Organizations which have endorsed the ISEA petition and are sending their concerns to the NRC include the Environmental Task Force, i

the Environmental Policy Institute, the Nuclear Energy Information

Service, all based in Washington, D.C.,

the five state, thirty orgnisaational Radioactive Waste Transport Coalition which includes i

Minnesota PIRG, Nukewatch, and the Norhtern Sun Alliance, Greenpeace Great Lakes, the McHenry County Defenders, and the eight organization ISEA.

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