ML20141D602
| ML20141D602 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 06/19/1997 |
| From: | Shirley Ann Jackson, The Chairman NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Leavitt M UTAH, STATE OF |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9706270276 | |
| Download: ML20141D602 (1) | |
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4 UNITED STATES i'
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555-0001 e
0 June 19, 1937 9
gg CHAIRMAN The Honorable Michael 0. Leavitt Governor of Utah Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-0601
Dear Governor Leavitt:
I am responding to your May 19, 1997, letter indicating your opposition to a proposal by Private Fuel Storage, LLC (PFS), to construct and operate an Indepen nt Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI) on the Reservation of the Skuli Valley Band of Goshute Indians. While I recognize the potential importance to you of the PFS proposal, it would not be appropriate for me to respond to the merits of the issues in your letter for the reasons that follow.
It is my understanding that, in pre-application meetings with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff, PFS has indicated that it intends to submit i
a license application this month for the project.
The Commission has
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well-established procedures for review of a license application for the independent storage of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste.
Once an application to construct and operate an ISFSI, pursuant to the requirements of 10 CFR Part 72, is received, the staff will undertake an acceptarce review to determine the completeness and adequacy of the application.
If the application is accepted for docketing, the staff will publish a notice in the Federal Reaister, with an opportunity for hearing, pursuant to 10 CFR Part 2.
Part 2 contains specific rules covering a State's opportunities for participation. After docketing, the staff will conduct a thorough technical review of the application to determine if it demonstrates compliance with all of the applicable regulatory requirements. All relevant non-proprietary material, including the application and the documentation of the staff's review, are to be publicly available.
If a hearing is held, an Atomic Safety and Licensing Board will be empowered to take evidence and render an initial decision on the application.
Under NRC rules, the Commission may be called upon to review that decision. Thus, it would not be appropriate for the Commission to comment or take a position on
.the merits of the proposal at this time.
t I am informed that the NRC staff has begun a dialogue with representatives of both the State of Utah and the Skull Valley Band of Goshute Indians.
I also
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understand that the staff is prepared to meet with you to discuss NRC's role f
in, and its rules and regulations governing, the licensing of spent fuel
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storage facilities.
Sincerely,
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Shirley Ann Jackson Ill.EI.El.ll.HIEM, c_
9706270276 970619 PDR COMMS NRCC
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STATE OF UTAH MICH AEL O. LE AVITT OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR OLENE S WALKER S ALT LAKE CITY usuranar aovannon QOVERNOR 84114 0601 Alay 19,1997 Shirley Ann Jackson, Chair Nuclear Regulatory Commission US NRC Washington DC 20555
Dear Chairman Jackson:
Over the last several years, I have stated publicly and unequivocally my opposition to the siting of a temporary storage facility for high level nuclear waste within the State of Utah. In 1993,I issued a Policy Statement regarding such efforts.
I am writing to you to reaffirm my strong opposition to the efforts of Private Fuel Storage to store high level nuclear waste at the presently proposed site on the Skull Valley Goshute indian 3
Reservation or anywhere else within Utah. Such storage presents a number of concems, including the following.
" Temporary" storage cannot be guaranteed to be temporary. The proposed facility will o
be designed and constructed as a temporary facility. However, there is no way to ensure that the spent fuel rods which are shipped and stored at the site will ever be removed.
Need for this temporary storage site is not documented.
o The General Accounting Office, with the concurrence of the Department of Energy, has determined that sufficient temporary capacity exists for spent fuel rods to be stored at existing sites, pending completion of a permanent storage facility.
Utah has not generated these wastes.
o Utah takes seriously its responsibility for managing the storage and disposal of waste problems within the state. We have no interest in increasing the risk to people in this area by importing high level nuclear waste.
Health and safety issues regarding transportation of high level nuclear waste have not o
been addressed.
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i Page 2 May 19,1997 1 recognize that the Skull Valley Band of the Goshute Indian Tribe has a compelling interest in economic development. However, the long term risks and impacts which high level nuclear waste storage p: aces on the Goshute Reservation and the State of Utah far outweigh the incentives.
I encourage your opposition to this temporary high level nuclear waste facility. I would welcome
'j the opportunity to discuss this matter with you. If you would like additionalinformation, please contact Dianne Nielson, Executive Director of the Utah Department of Environmental Quality, at 801-536-4404. Thank you for your careful considerat. ion of this critical issue.
Sincerely,
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Michael d. Leavitt Governor l
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