ML20151C936
| ML20151C936 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | South Texas  |
| Issue date: | 03/21/1988 |
| From: | Sweeney M HOUSE OF REP. |
| To: | Zech L NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20151C935 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8804130280 | |
| Download: ML20151C936 (3) | |
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March 21, 1988 I,ando W. Zech, Jr.
Chairman Nuclear Regulatory Commission 1717 H Street Washington, D.C.
Dear Mr. Zech:
This letter is to inform the Nuclear Regulatory Commission that I support without qualification the granting of a f ull power license to the South Texas Project (STP).
Any delay in licensing at this stage will serve no benefit, will not increase saf ety, and will unnecessarily penalize the utility's customers and the partners in the plant.
With the STP located in my Congressional District, not only have I seen the progress of the plant over the years, but also wy constituents built it, operated and live near it.
NRC staff members have briefed me thoroughly on all technical issuec involved in the plant's operation, allowing the conclusion that today no technically-based safety concerns exist at the plant.
l On the separate issue of personnel-related problems, the NRC staff has assured me that the allegations made by the Government Accountability Project, J
which are currently being reviewed by the NRC's Of fice of Investigation, Will This raise any technical concerns impacting on the plant's operations.
not revolves around issues fundanentally unrelated to revies as you know, time card falsification, and drug safety--issues such as sexual harassment, use.
Providing further endorsement of the technical integrity of the STP, the design of the plant itself ensures that any operational constraints will be identified and remedied during testing leading up to full p*ower operation, even after licensing.
With the resolution of all technically-based safety matters and the existence of an elaborate array of operational checks and balances, any This eleventh hour allegations against licensing must te viewed skeptically.
includes Government Accountability Project (GAP), an organization both opposed to the generation of nuclear power itself and renowned for its last mirute attacks of nuclear power plant safety.
0804130280 880329 PDR COMMS NRCC CORRESPONDENCE PDR
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To be sure, if GAP can precisely identify and coevincingly substentiate any safety concerns it has, then it has an immediate moral obligation to do In the absence of such substantiation and hard documentation, GAP's continuing allegations have to be judged repetitive, unsupportable and so.
presumptively irresponsible.
The negative consequence of GAP's continued inamendo-making is to oest doubt where no doubt should exist in the minds of my constituents about the safety of the plant. This too is irresponsible.
If GAP seeks to find the appropriate forum to display its opposition to nuclear power generation in this country, then I would suggest that forum to be the halls and appropriate subcommittees of the Congress, not a NRC hearing To use the process of licensing as a means to air deep-seated grievances about the very generation of nuclear power itself is to revisit a on licensing.
debate fully thrashed out more than two decades ago--a debate, that is, about i
the utility of nuclear power itself, not about compliance with licens ng requirements.
The plant's operators have demonstrated crepliance with licensing They have done so in good f aith while also facing down regulations.
constantly any and all allegations and innuendos about this specific plant.
1 I have visited the plant several times: I have participated in a number of meetings on the issue of the plant's operation; I have been briefed extensively on all aspects of the STP; and I have talled to hundreds of residents throughout the area about the plant.
cace again, I support without qualification the MRC's granting of a full power license to the South Texas Project.
Sincerely, Mac Sweeney Member of Congress DMS/am E
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Congressman Mac Sweeney 14th District, Tcxas (202) 225 2831 WooNngton, D.C. 20515 l
1713 Lu,#.h House Otuce Building FOR IMMEDI/TE RELEASE March 21, 1988 Press Contact s Laura Epstein WASHINGTON -- Predicting the South Texas Project (STF) t/ould soon be operating at full power, U.S. Congressman Mac Sweeney delivered a strong today to the Nuclear Regulatory Constission (NRC) ptfor letter of endorsement to the final licensing hearing.
technical safety probisms at the STP were completely "My concerns atout "The NPC has conducted an dispelled by NFC of ficials last week," he said.
exhaustive investigation that covered all potential problems with design, construction and equipment at the plant."
The Congressman aise questioned the Government Accountability Project f or their continuing ind to dato entd r tanti4ted al10gations, which he
'GAF) said cnly create doubt where no doutt chould exist in the minds of his constituents.
"To be sure, if GAP can preefsely identify and convincingly substantiate any safety concerns it has then it has an irmediate moral ebligation to do so," Sweeney said.
- In the absence cf such substatiation and hard docurentation, GAP's contiruing allegations have to be judged repetitive, unsuppotable and presumptively irresponsible.'
l if GAP can substatiate any of their allegations they Sweeney said that are rorally otligated to do se.
Sweeney praised those who worked to make STP a reality, saying, 'With the I
granting of a full-pever license, the dedication and hard.vors of literally
- bousands of people frer "a+ eserda County and the greater flouston area will finally pay off."
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