ML20138R158

Responds to R Digiacomo 851023 Inquiry Re Recent Issuance of Facility OL & Effect on Costs of Electricity & on Water Conditions in Schuylkill River.No Significant Impact on Water Use or Conditions Expected

ML20138R158
Person / Time
Site:	Limerick
Issue date:	12/18/1985
From:	Dircks W NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO)
To:	Specter A SENATE
Shared Package
ML20138R161	List: ML20138R158 ML20138R162
References
NUDOCS 8512300511
Download: ML20138R158 (7)

Text

_ __ . __ __ _ _. _ . .

E f g UNITE ST T S o NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

• $ R WASHINGTON, D. C. 20656 4

k..... DEC 181985 l

.?

i

}

I The Honorable Arlen Specter 4

l United States Senate

,j Washington, DC 20510 f

Dear Senator Specter:

.i l '

We are pleased to respond to your inquiry of November 19, 1985 regarding the concerns of one of your constituents, Mr. Robert DiGiacomo, with the recent issuance of an operating license to the Philadelphia Electric Company for Unit 1 of the. Limerick Generatino__ Station. Mr. DiGiacomo expressed several

concerns regarding the effect of the Limerick Generating Station on the costs j of electricity and on water conditions in the Schuylkill River.

The application for construction pennits and licenses to operate the Limerick Generating Station (LGS) have been under consideration by the Nuclear Regulatory Comission, or its oredecessor agency, since the initial submittal in early i, 1970. This consideration has included a review of the application with respect j to the Atomic Energy Act and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and

has resulted in issuance of permits for the construction of the LGS in mid-1974

'and a full power operating license for Unit 1 on August 8,1985. These proceed-

ings have included many opportunities for public participation and a review of the record of the Limerick proceedings over the years indicates an extensive i involvement by individual citizens, and representatives of local, state, and other Federal government agencies.

. As to Mr. DiGiacomo's concern for the cost of electricity, we recognize that i

the regulatory requirements imposed by the NRC have some impact on the costs to a utility of constructing and operating a nuclear power plant such as Limerick.

These requirements are, however, set to meet our statutory responsibilities for public health, safety, safeguards, and environmental impact assessment and do not include assessments of costs of electricity to ratepayers. .The latter are, of course, the proper concern of state' economic regulatory agencies such as the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission.

With respect to the concerns regarding the effect of the plant on the Schuylkill i River we note that, pursuant to the requirements of NEPA the potential environ-lL mental impacts of the plant on the Schuylkill River have been evaluated by the NRC. Upon reviewing the evaluation of these impacts by the Philadelphia Electric i

Company as well as the considerations by the Delaware River Basin Comission (DRBC) the NRC staff has concluded that no significant impact on present or i

-projected water use is expected as a result of water withdrawats planned for j the Limerick Station. The DRBC is comprised of representatives of the Federal

. Government and the states of Delaware, New Jersey, New York,'and Pennsylvania i

and has responsibility for water supply and water quality matters in the Delaware 4

River Basin. The assessments of the NRC staff, the DRBC and other involved 8512300511 851218 P il PDR ADOCK 05000352 H PDR ( ,

i ~:==~r - , . . - - . - . - . . , - . . - . - - . . . - - - .. .-... _-.-

4 agencies are discussed in further detail in the NRC's Final Environmental Statement which may be found in the local public document room in the Pottstown Public Library.

~ We trust that this information will be helpful to you in your ccmunications with Mr. DiGiaccr:o. .Your inquiry of November 19, 1985 is being returned as you have requested.

Sincerely, (Signed) T. A, Rehm

') William J. Dircks Executive Director for Operations

Enclosure:

Inquiry, dated November 19, 1985 DISTRIBUTION See next page j

• Previously concurred:

(3

, ,b

./ 'QG PD#4/PM PD#4/D D D/ DBL D

- *REMart n:1b *WButler ton' RBernero D senhut 12/10/85~ 12/10/85 -l /n/85 12/p85 12/$/85 D dton h WD r

- 12/ 3 /8' s 12/ /85 12/lI/85 4

2-4 the DRBC and other involved agencies are discussed in further detail in the NRC's Final Environmental Statement which may be found in the local public document roon in the Pottstown Public Library.

5 In conclusion, we. feel that each of the concerns expressed by Mr. DiGiacomo regarding the cost of electricity is within the zone of interest of the state

-regulatory agencies and that\the general concern regarding the Schuylkill River water conditions.has been appropriately addressed in the review of the operating license application. We trust that this information will be helpful to you in i your ccmmunications with Mr. Digi'acomo. Your inquiry of November 19, 1985 is being returned as you have requestsd.

Sincerely, i

WilljamJ.Dircks

. Execu ive Director for Operations i

Enclosure:

Inquiry, dated November 19, 1985

, DISTRIBUTION

' See next page.

I. ,

i

\;

i

~

9 4

! *Previously concurred:

i '

PD#4/PM PD#4/D DD/ DBL D/ DBL- D/NRR

, ,*REMartin:lbL *W8utler RHouston .RBernero DEisenhut

12/10/85 ~12/10/85 12/.- /85 12/ /85; 12/./85-i l , D/NRR '0CA ' D/EDO 1 HDenton WDircks l 12/ /85 12/ /85 - 12/J /85 W

may be found in the -local public document room in the Pottstown Public Libra ry.

In conclusion, we feel that each of the concerns expressed by-Mr. DiGiacomo -

-regarding the cost of electricity is within the zone of interest of the state regulatory agencies and that the general concern regarding the Schuylkill River water conditions has been appropriately addressed in the review of the operating license application. We trust that this information will be helpful to you in your communications with Mr. DiGiacomo. Your inquiry of November 19, 1985 is beingreturnedqsyouhaverequested.

N N Sincerely,

\

William J. Dircks Executive Director for Operations

Enclosure:

Inquiry, dated November.19,1985

\

. DISTRIBUTION See next.page

\ N

\ 'N

.\

'x

'N s

PD 4/ly)1' PD#4/D ~ DD/ DBL D/ DBL D/NRR E F tin':lb WButler RHouston RBernero DEisenhut

/j p'85 12/p/85: 12/ /85 '12/ /85~ 12/ /85 D/NRR OCA D/E00 'g HDenton WDircks 12/ /85 12/- /85 12/ /85-

. .. 2-- .---. - - - - - - - -

-J o .

M ' DISTRIBUTION Docket File d NRC PDR Local PDR EDO #001225 4

EDO Reading HDanton/DEisenhut PDi4 Reading Vogler, OELD OCA (3)

SECY WDircks PPAS i RBernero/LKriesel RHartin EHylton i TMurley, RI I

I

.I -

P 1 .

l i

em O

O

~

T s

, ( . .

gtN D.

4' 4 UNITED STATES 8 '

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 3 .s WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555 4,.....

EDO PRINCIPAL CORRESPONDENCE CONTROL

- = = - _ =

FROM: DUE: 12/13/85 EDO CONTROL: 001225 DOC DT: 11/19/85 SEN. ARLEN SPECTER FINAL REPLY:

TO:

OCA FOR SIGNATURE OF: ** GREEN ** SECY NO: 85-1022 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DESC: ROUTING:

ENCLOSES LETTER FROM ROBERT D. OIACOMO RE LIMERICK MURLEY DATE: 12/02/85 ASSIGNED TO: NRR CONTACT: DENTON ..

. SPEC:/.._ ~~. JCT:C;;O OR REMARKS:

~

RETURN INCOMING WITH REPLY.

NRR RECEIVED: 12/02/85 ACTION: DBL: BERNER0 i Routing: Denton/Eisenhut PPAS M0SSBURG w __ _

. 'Sen Arlen Specter gCORRESPONDENCE CONTROL TICKET

i. . 1. ,

$ECY NiMER: 85-1022 LOGGING DATE 11/27/85 0FFICE OF THE SECRETARY ACTION OFFICE: ED0 AUTHOR:

Sen Arlen Specter --Const Ref AFFILIATION: Robert Giacomo ID&R-5 Phil Elec LETTER DATE: 11/19/85 FILE CODE Limerick ADDRESSEE: OCA

SUBJECT:

Opposes operation of the Limerick station ACTION: Direct Reply.. . Suspense: Dec 9 DISTRIBUTION: OCA to Ack SPECIAL HANDLING: None FOR THE COPNISSION Champ SIGNATURE DATE:

D...E*.r.T

...a.

...n. ,

i EDO --- 001225 l E- . _, _ _ - _ . _ __ _