ML20150D327
| ML20150D327 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Seabrook, 05000000, Shoreham |
| Issue date: | 05/25/1988 |
| From: | Humphrey G SENATE |
| To: | Zech L NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20150D317 | List: |
| References | |
| CON-#288-6446 OL, OL-3, NUDOCS 8807130423 | |
| Download: ML20150D327 (1) | |
Text
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%,GoRDC P( J. HUMPHREY couwms
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. ARMED SERYlCES ApolCWU 24 LA80R AND HUMAN RESOURCES
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Bilittd $tates $tilatt WASHINGTON DC 20510 May 26, 1988 Mr. Lando W.
Zech, Jr.
Chairman Nuclear Regulatory Commission 11555 Rockville Pike Rockville, Maryland 20852
Dear Mr. Zech:
The ongoing negotiations between the State of New York and.the Long Island Lighting Company to shut down the Shoreham nuclear power plant teach a hard and important lesson in regard to low power licensing.
The upshot of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC) 1985 de-ision to issue a low power license to a plant which had not cleared significant hurdles impeding full power operation is that the utility, and ultimately the ratepayers, will have to soak up an estimated $1100 million to $500 million in additional decommissioning costs.
My interest in the proposed "agreement" over the
. abandonment of Shoreham is due to the fact that the Seabrook nuclear plant could be placed in a similarly untenable situation by the NRC.
In the case of Seabrook, not only are there considerable off-site emergency planning issues which remain unresolved, but also the lead owner, Public Service Company of New Hampshire, has filed a voluntary petition for protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.
Until the financial qualifications of the plant owners and adequate emergency planning are assured, it would be irresponsible and unwise for the NRC to issue a low power operating license.
The Shoreham plant, which received a low power operating license in June, 1985, is concrete proof that premature issuance of a low power license is a shortsighted and costly policy.
It simply does not make sense to authorize low power operation at a plant which might not qualify for a full power operating license.
For this reason, I urge the Commission not to saddle the Seabrook plant with the additional costs associated with low power operation until the significant i
issues regarding emergency planning and the financial qualification of the Seabrook owners have been resolved.
8807130423 000701
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COMMS NRCC
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Gordon Humphrey, US cc:
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