ML20148F188

Discusses NEPA & AEC Program for Nuclear Facility Licensing & Regulation.W/O Encl

ML20148F188
Person / Time
Site:	Pilgrim, Yankee Rowe
Issue date:	07/29/1970
From:	Price H US ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION (AEC)
To:	Sargent F MASSACHUSETTS, COMMONWEALTH OF
References
NUDOCS 8011040709
Download: ML20148F188 (3)

Text

{{#Wiki_filter:, 1 l - ( f0- ,-{. .2. m . ,, _ 'a f 3 l l l JUL 2 91970 1 THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS y lionorable Francis W. Sargent Governor of Itassachusetts P00R QUAUTY PAGES Bocton, Massachusetts 02133 < p c :.

Dear Governor Sargent:

H l Under the recently enacted National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, a copy of which is enclosed, each Tederal agency is required to consult with . f9 appropriate rederal, State, and local agencies concerning major Federal

• l actions significantly affecting the quality of the human environment and to prepare a detailed statement concerning, among other things, the environmental impact of the proposed action. I am enclosing a statement of general policy which indicates the manner in which the Commission proposes to exercice its regulatory responsibilitics under the Act. 'Ihis policy statement is based upon the Council on Environmental Quality's Interim Guidelines (copy enclosed), and was published for public comment in the Federni Register on June 3,1970.

As the policy statement indicates, the Co= mission has identified the licensins; of nucicar power reactors as one of the actions which would

            ,rcr;uire the preparation of a detailed environmental statement, and a                                                                                        i~

ctatement will be prepared for all pending and future applications before' a construction permit or operating licence vill be innued. At the prescat 1 tine, the application of the Boston Edison Company for the Pilgrim Station d is under review by the Atonic Energy Commincion, j Ao provided in our policy statement, when un receive an applicant's environmental report, a cu= mary notice of the availability of the report will be published in the Federal Fegister inviting uithin 60 days commente on the proposed action and the report from State and local ncencies of any affected State, with respect to matters within their jurisdiction, + vhich are authori cd to develop and enforce environmental ctandardo. If you would Ict us know the name of the pornon or agency responsible for coordinating this within your State, we vill send copics of the environmental report to your designce when it in received.

                                                                                                                                                                                .J Congreco nico recently enacted the Water Quality Improvenent Act of 1970 (copy enclosed), which amends the rederal Water Pollution Control Act.                                                                                        M Thic new 1cciciation rer;uires applicants for a conctruction permit and
                                                                                                                                                                )

operating license for any nuclear power plant which vill discharge efflu- - ents into the navigabic vnters of the United Statcc to provide the AEC 1 omcE n ;. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - - - . - - .~ - - -- - - - - - - ---- -- - - - ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ u

         $URNWE > !.  . . . . .       . . ~ . . ~   .. .                -             --   -    - --          -   -           - ~ * - " * *     *       * * " * " * "

cATE>l num JF.in... .e us a-m --= ~ ~~

• 7o 9 8 t

,. 7 m g- , l l J

                            ,                                                                                     L ../                                                  .-

o .. = g7 lionorable Francis W. Sargent ;l q k with a certification from the State or interstate pollution control - H agency, or the Secretary of the Interior, as appropriate, that there is #ff reasonabic assurance that the plant will not violate applicable water quality atandards. The AEC would generally be prohibited from issuing n;; any cuch permit or license without having received this certification. , Where actual construction of the facility has cocnenced, or where an < application was pending on Apri.13,1970, sections 21(b) (7) and (8) _ of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended, extend the - period of time within which the certification must be obtained. It .. would be hcipful to us to know the name and address of the agency autlerized to issue the water quality certification for the State of [ 1 Massachusetts. , If we can provide further information concerning these Acts or assistance 5 j in understanding how the Comnission intends to comply with their require- 0.: ments, please let me know. In this regard we would be glad to have our staff meet with interested State and local agencies for a briefing on the Commission's program for the licensing and regulation of nuclear facilitN. i={ This could include a discussion of both the environ:nental effects of nuclear power plants and the policies and , rocedures under which the Commission discharges its responsibilities for protection of public health and safety  ; with respect to the siting, construction, and operation of nuclear power  :.J reac to rs. 'Ihe discussion could also cover the Cocenission's program for .w.., the transfer to individual states of certain of the Cor: mission's authority l over the licensing and regulation of nuclear materials (radioisotopes, - r ource natcrials--uranium and thorium, and small quantitics of special ruclear materials). Thus far, sonc 22 states have assumed this authority - under agreements between their Covernors and the Comincion and are 'J currently administering about 471 of rull nuclear materials licensos in lj the United Staten, o Sincerely, . ( p gned ) Huold L Mee llarold L. Price Director of Regulation

Enclosures:

1. National Environmental Policy Act

2. AEC Statement of General Policy

3. Council on Environmental Quality's Interin Guidelines .=

4. Unter Quality Improvement Act of 1970 g

DISTRIBUTION: , .]m (See at tached sheet) i I omcr > .DR .... . . . .D.IR: AD1:DR.. .. BL . . R.

                                                                                                               ~      -   .. OGC
                                                                                                                               .          .. . . .D...R. .

CRESS $URNWE > ..E!EB1tonim1m.. ..Chlland er Soa. ..\. . ... .ER .c. . . . ..HLPr.ic e.. . T Sm.31, 2_(d 1p)>._.J/14 / 7 0. . . 71.. 17.0.. /.70 .. 7//4/_70.. 7 /. . 17 0.. .7/,d70

                                                                             ... ._7/

m .m , m. _. .. _ . _ , , , _ . . ,  %

4 DISTRIBUTION: IILPrice a JMFelton ... , l PAMorris ~.fr l IIKShapar RBoyd DMuller ! JJDiNunno, DOEA JErlewine, ACM0 . DR Reading ~ Wilson PDR DKnuth ERPrice RDeYourg 7;I CLong .:;..: :l

                                                                                                                                 ..l Il

[ .' t; .

                                                                                                                                  *.ii f

i OFFICE > .. ... . . . . ... . .. ....... . SJPNAME> . . . . . . .. . . - D31E_> ronn .u co m atev. 9-sa) u.s covt-tananas orrict w- o-*4-5= -

                                                                                                                    . . . . .._}}