ML20154N704
| ML20154N704 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 07/11/1979 |
| From: | Kammerer C NRC OFFICE OF CONGRESSIONAL AFFAIRS (OCA) |
| To: | Ahearne, Bradford, Gilinsky, Hendrie J, Kennedy NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20154N706 | List: |
| References | |
| TASK-TF, TASK-URFO NUDOCS 9810220065 | |
| Download: ML20154N704 (4) | |
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UNITED STATES
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3 NUCLEAR' REGULATORY COMMISSION j
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555
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July 11, 1979 WW k MEMORANDUM FOR:
Chairman Hendrie
[-(7Apl Commissioner Gilinsky Commissioner Kennedy OMg S j
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Commissioner Bradford Commissioner Ahearne FROM:
Carlton Kammerer, Directo g
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Office of Congressional Af 1
SUBJECT:
UDALL COMiiITTEE HEARING ON STATE PARTI IPATION IN THE WASTE LICENSING PROCESS (3
The' Subcommittee on Energy and the Environment of the House Committee on V
Interior and Insular Affairs held oversigit1iea' ngs on the role of the 2
States in the Waste Licensing Process on June 28. Chairman Udall (D-Ariz.),
Rep. Marlence (R-Hont.),
Rep. Clausen (R-Calif.), Rep. Marriott ()-Utahep. Bereuter (R-lieb. ),
s Rep. Lujan (R-N.M.) Rep. Weaver (D-Oreg.,
Rep. Seiberling (D-Ohio), Rep. Bingham (D-N.Y.), Rep. Huckaby (D-La.),
i Rep. Vento (D-Minn.), and Rep. Symms (R-Idaho) attended the hearings.
Witnesses included Mr. William Dircks and Mr. John Martin of NRC, Rep. Seiberling, l Mr. Worth Bate: man of DOE, Mr. Mich:e1 O' Hare of MIT, Mr. Edward Helminski of the National Governors Association and Peter Franchot of the UCS.
In his opening statement, Chairman Udall indicated that the first step in 1
resolving the social and political issues surrounding waste management is to recognize that no facility'will be constructed unless the citizens in
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the area feel the repository will be safe and that the risks and benefits of waste management are balanced and distributed among the different regions 4
He indicated that it m'vSt be possible to devise a package (n
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of " assistance and incentives" for citizus, interest groups, and local governments accepting waste repositories.
Rep. Lujan added his feelings that that New Mexico was being " dumped on" in terms of being considered as a site for wastes resulting from the development of energy sources for other states, adding that it was not proper for one state to enjoy the benefits of energy production without incurring the environmental costs of pollution or waste disposal.
William Dircks and John Martin of HMSS represented the NRC at the hearing. The NRC testicony included points presented in NUREG-0539 on state participation in the waste licensing process and identified' items which must be resolved in giving states veto power over the siting of facilities.
In response to a 7
9810220065 790711 PDR COMMS NRCC CORRESPONDENCE PDR K
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question from Rep. Clausen, Mr. Martin indicated that additional disposal technology must be developed in order to satisfy the NRC's " defense-in-depth" policies on waste isolation, adding that the NRC would liike for DOE to establish an "indestructable waste form" for nuclear wastes. Mr. Clausen then requested that the NRC provide, for the record, a descri ation of the state of the art of waste management technology which 1dentifies tie speciff c technological short-cbmings, provides an estimate of the amount of time nece.ssary to resolve those problems, and defines the magnitude of the waste disoosal problem. Kep. HJckaby suggested that the NRC and DOE consult more closely on t.he waste problem when he was told that the NRC had not received DOE comm?nts on NUREG-0539.
Rep. Weaver indicated that the Subcommittee Staff would submit additional questions for the record.
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Rep. Seiberling appeared to discuss H.R. 2762.
The bili is identical to that introduced in the Senate by Sen. McGovern (D-S.D.).
Rep Seiberling indicated that the bill would:
O (1) Require the NRC to notify the State Governor cr7 its intent to evaluate a disposal site in that state.
(2) Allow the Governor to form a Federal-State co::rnittee to investigate the proposed action. At the conclusion of the study, the Governor or state legislature could either concur or norn-concur with the proposed action and provide alternate recommendations.
J Mr. Worth Bateman testified for D0E. Mr. Bateman estimated that the cost of waste management would range from $25 billion to $30 biHion for wastes generated up to the year 2000.
fir. Michael O' Hare of the MIT Dept. of Urban Studies prowided testimony on a possible system of incentives for people who accept undesirable projects into their neighborhoods.
He also provided his views on. Other methods of gaining local acceptance of such facilities.
L Mr. Edward Helminski appeared for the National Governor':s Association.
Mr. Helminsk!
endorsed a policy of allowing state and local authoritie:s to participate with federal agencies in the development of waste management programs and policies.
He added that a Federal-State Commission would be "the most viable means of l
formalizing that process." Mr. Helminski also indicatedl that the NGA had recom-mended that a State Planning Council be established by Executive Order.
The l
Council would serve as advisor to the federal government on wada management policies and programs and have equal weight as federal agencies in structuring a nuclear waste management program.
If federal agencies did not accept the Council's I recommendations, the recommendations could then be subraiitted for Congressional or presidental consideration. Mr. Helminski also provided the NGA policy position on nuclear energy and a position paper on waste management for the record.
Mr. Peter Franchot testified for the Union of Concerned Scientists.
Mr. Franchot indicated that increased public participation in the waste licensing process i
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. would serve to weed out technically flawed ' sites and gain public approval of technically acceptable sites. - Mr. Franchot endorsed H.R. 2762 as providing a basis for this public p3rticipation.
Copies of written.testimeriy are available'in OCA;
.cc: OPE.
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