ML20147B835

Expresses Concern About Getr Shutdown Beause It May Disrupt the Supply of Radioisotopes,Some of Which Are Only Made Commercially at the Subj Facil.Requests Restart Oper to Begin as Soon as Possible

ML20147B835
Person / Time
Site:	Vallecitos File:GEH Hitachi icon.png
Issue date:	12/20/1977
From:	Tower J SENATE
To:	Hendrie J NRC COMMISSION (OCM)
Shared Package
ML19261A240	List: ML20147B823 ML20147B835 ML20147B852
References
NUDOCS 7810110205
Download: ML20147B835 (2)

Text

g haume. Mcusne A.c Uum Anmu N ' ?JCnHeb Sfafes Senaic WAsHINGTOH, D.C. 2.D310 d = ff = =

December 20, 1977 gg Joseph Hendrie Chairman Nuclear Regulatory Commission 1717 H Street, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20555

Dear Mr. Chairman:

I am concerned about the potentially serious consequences of the Commission's recent order directing the General Electric Company to suspend operation of its Vallecitos test reactor at Picasanton, California. I urge you tc take immediate steps to ensure that this facility can resume ~

operation at the earliest possible time consistent with the need to provide reasonable assurance of safe, accident-free operation.

The 50-megawatt Vallecitos reactor, which received in 1957 the first Atomic Energy Commission operating license granted a privately owned test reactor, has become the world's largest commercial supplier of medical radioisotopes, producing as much as 90 percent of some key radioisotopes used for diagnostic work in the United States and abroad.

The reactor has been providing more than 50 percent of the U.S. production of medical radioisotopes for hospitals and pharmaceutical firms in 20 countries and accounting for diagnostic treatment of some 8 million patients a year.

It has been a major supplier of some particularly important isotopes -- 50 percent of the world's mo]ybdenum-99, used to diagnose cancer and coronary and pulmonary thrombosis; and 95 percent of the world's Xenon-133, used for lung diagnosis.

Japan and Germany are especially dependent on the Vallecitos i

! facility for their medical radioisotopes, since they have no indiginous sources of supply. This facility also produces Iridium-192 and Cobalt 60, used for 90 percent of the radiographic quality assurance inspections for large metal projects such as weld on pipelines, nuclear submarines and power reactors.

Continued shutdown of this f acility could seriously disrupt the supply of radioisotopes, some of which can only be made commercially in the United States in this California facility.

l The decision to shut down the plant was based, as you know, l

on' recent U.S. Geological Survey information showing signs l of possible new f aults near the plant. Although it is my understanding that the General Slectric Company has provided '

'the Commission with considerable evidence indicating that  !

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./ . l a fault does not exist near the facility, I also know it is imperative that the Commission base its decisions on data obtained from sources which are not only competent, but also completely independent, both in fact and in appearance. For i this reason and in order to gain the necessary geological  !

information as quickly as possible, I urge you to give serious consideration to the appointment of a special task force composed of independent, private geological consultants.

In the meantime, I respectfully request that the Commission take all steps necessary to enabic the Vallecitos reactor to restart operation immediately.

Si cerely yours,

/ I 6W ,#4Y Jr n Tower JT/hro (

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