ML20153C374

Ack Receipt of 870706,14 & 16 Ltrs Inquiring About Gap Request for Independent Task Force to Review Allegations & Citizens Concerned About Nuclear Power Motion to Reopen Record Re Plant

ML20153C374
Person / Time
Site:	South Texas
Issue date:	07/31/1987
From:	Harold Denton NRC OFFICE OF GOVERNMENTAL & PUBLIC AFFAIRS (GPA)
To:	Bentsen L SENATE
Shared Package
ML20153C231	List: ML20153C227 ML20153C255 ML20153C300 ML20153C318 ML20153C331 ML20153C348 ML20153C374 ML20153C393 ML20153C416 ML20153C460 ML20153C531 ML20153C547 ML20153C573 ML20153C582 ML20153C602 ML20195G452
References
FOIA-88-107 NUDOCS 8805060217
Download: ML20153C374 (1)

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" JUL 31 ISB7 $/CA g*...* PA IP SLITP The Honorable Lloyd Sentsen f gu United States Senate _

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961 Federal Building ,.

Austin, Te'xas 78701 .

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Dear Senator Bentsen:

The Comission is in receipt of your July 6, July 14, and July 16, 1987 letters inquiring about the Government Accountability Project's (GAP) request  ;

for an independent task force to review allegations and Citizens Concerned 1 About Nuclear Power's (CCANP) motion to reopen the record regarding the South i Texas Nuclear Project.  ;

In a July 15, 1987 letter, the Comission informed GAP that the agency could f detemine more appropriately whether the appointment of an independent task I force is warranted, after careful review of the allegations in detail. (See I attachment.) Thus, the Comission encouraged GAP to provide the allegations (

to the agency. GAP repeatedly has refused to provide the allegations to the agency and has yet to do so. Once GAP complies with this request, the agency will be in a position to make the appropriate determination regarding allegations management. Further delay by GAP in turning over the infomation will only result in further delay in the agency looking into the matters to which GAP has alluded in its comunications with the NRC and others.

The Comission recently denied CCANP's motion tosreopen and referred it to the NRC staff for consideration under 10 CFR i 2.206.

Thank you for your concern regarding these matters.

Sincerely,

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Harold R. Denton Director Office of Governmental  !

and Public Affairs

Attachment:

NRC Letter to GAP, July 15, 1987 fo~lA-88-lo7 Gfl2 8805060217 380428 h88 PDR

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July 15, 1987 OPPN t 07 TMS SE C R ET ARY

'87 J117 A9 :52 Billie P. Garde, Esq. d.h-Director, Midwest Office Richard E. Condit. Esq.

Staff Attorney Goverreent Accountability Project 1555 Connecticut Avenue,'N.W., Suite 200 SERVED JUI. I 71987 Washington 0.C. 20036

Dear Ms. Garde and Mr. Condit:

This letter responds to your May 29, 1987 petition under 10 CFR 2.206 for the establishment of an investigative unit independent of MRC Region IV and the Executive Director for Operations (ED0), to review allegations concerning the South Texas nuclear power plant.

You s mifically state in your petition that "[ilt would be inappropriate to

• have the E00) or anyone connected with Region !Y decide the merits of this

, petition since they are the individuals we are seekino relief from," GAP 2.206 Petition at 15. A 2.206 petition is addressed to the Director of Nuclear Reactor Regulation or the Director of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards. 10CFR2.206(a). These directors report to the ED0 who by virtue of his position is involved in the 2.206 deliberative process. Taking into consideration the plain langusoe of your request, the Cornission decided to treat the docueent that you characterize as a 2.206 petition as a request for Cessnission consideration. The Cossission notes, however, that the detemination of the most appropriate means of evaluating allecations is essentially within the Cosmission's discretion and is not within the scope of actions contemplated by 10 C.F.R. 2.206.

The agency can best detemine whether the allegations should be handled by Recion IV personnel or by an independent task force only after detailed review of the nature of the allegations. The Commission encourages GAP to provide the allegations to the agency promptly pursuant to the May 20, 1987 subpoena issued to Ms. Garde. Additional delay in turning over the infomation to the agency will only result in further delay in look'nq into matters which you claim are relevant to public health and safety. Af ter the agency has reviewed the substance of the allegations, it will be in a better position to determine whether Region !Y is the appropriate entity to review the allegations or

, whether the appointment of an independent task force is necessary. The Cosmission assures GAP that the agency will handle the investigation of the allegations properly, both with regard to technical review and confidentiality, incerel ,

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