ML20154P691
| ML20154P691 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 03/17/1980 |
| From: | Kammerer C NRC OFFICE OF CONGRESSIONAL AFFAIRS (OCA) |
| To: | Ahearne J, Bradford P, Gilinsky V, Hendrie J, Kennedy R, The Chairman NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| References | |
| TASK-TF, TASK-URFO NUDOCS 9810230048 | |
| Download: ML20154P691 (5) | |
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UNITED STATES A
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION o
p WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555
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MAR 171980 l
' MEMORANDUM FOR:
Chairman Ahearne Commissioner Gilinsky Commissioner Kennedy g
Commissioner Hendrie Commissioner Bradford
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Carlton Kammerer, Directok
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FROM:
' Office of Congressional Affa?
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SUBJECT:
UDALL COMMITTEE HEARINGS ON HR 639 " Atomic Energy Act Amendments of 1980" q'
L The following witnesses appeared before the Subcommittee [ Chairman Udall (D-Ariz), Representative Kostmayer (D-Pa) and Representative Vento (D-Minn on Thursday March 13:
'he Honorable William Hughes (D-NJ)
Ellen Weiss and Robert Pollard - Union of Concerned Scientists A. J. Pfister - General Manager, Salt River Project David Berick -- Environmental Policy Conter.
Drew Diehl - Sierra Club Representative Hughes appeared to discuss H.R. 3832 which calls for a licensing moratorium until a Select Panel evaluates the safety of nuclear power, including waste disposal, and reports their. findings to the Congress.
l The Subcommittee Members questioned the other witnesses on such topics O
as State participation in licensing high-level waste reprositories, V
whether or not commercial power plants scheduled for near-term operating licenses should be allowed to operate, the advisability of a Nuclear Safety Board similar to the National Transportation Safety Board, the advisability of a moratorium on nuclear power plant construction or operation, allowing states to make need-for-power determinations, and reorganizing the NRC.
A list of witnesses appearing befre the Subcommittee (Chairman !!dall andRepresentativeSymms(R-Idaho)_
on Friday, March 14, is attached.
Governor Babbitt favored most provisions of H.R. 6390, and made the following observations:
(1) The NRC should be Ule to impose zoning restrictions around nuclear power plants.-
-(2) The NRC should not hold a utility responsible for the failure of a state or local government to prepare an emergency response plan.
(3) There should be standards by which one could determine the competence of a utility to operate a nuclear power plant prior to 9810230048 800317 PDR COMMS NRCC
. CORRESPONDENCE PDR A
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e' licensing.
(4) The proposed Nuclear Safety Board is not a good idea in that it establishes a regulatory body to oversee and regulate another regulatory body.
He would perfer a high level, quasi-governmental citizent panel to oversee the NRC.
(5) That there should be positive, federally-supplied, incentives to states to establish regional reprositories for low level wastes.
The panel of industry witnesses did not favor most of the provisions of H.R. 6390, stating that they would prefer a Congressional Statement on the role of nuclear power in our energy future which would serve as a
" preamble" for NRC safety goals.
The panel was also critical of the Commission's draft action plan, stating that some of the proposed new requirements would divert indu3try resources away from higher priority improvements.
Chai~ man Udall asked the witnesses several questions r
submitted by Representative Mathis (D-Ga), on H.R. 3302 and H.R. 6567 which was introduced by Mr. Mathis. A copy of the questions is en-closed.
The witnesses indicated that the provisions of H.R. 3302 were
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preferable to those of H.R. 6390.
The remainder of the hearing dealt with proposed modifications of the Price-Anderson Act.
The Public Citizen Panel favored modifications which would remove liability limits.
The Insurers Panel favored the present system of imdemnification.
Copies of prepared testimony are available in the Office of Congres-sional Affairs.
Enclosures:
As stated cc:
OGC OPE SECY i
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ELD SP NRR l-IE N NMSS SD RES l
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STATDfENT BY MR. MATH!S l
I regret that I am unable to a tte::' the hearings scheduled for today before the Subcommittee on H.R. 6390 and the other pending bills to modify the NRC licensing process, including the two bills which I J
have introduced (H.R.
3302 and H.R.
6567).
I want to compliment Chairman Udall for the initiative he has taken in calling this series of hearings to address this important topic.
I intend to review the tran-script of today's hearings and continue to work with -the Chairman and i
other interested parties to assure that the nuclear program continues to meet the highest levels of safety and' if necessary, to support legislation to that end.
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In that regard, I would appreciate it if the appropriate witnesses would be asked to respond to the following questions:
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1.
Do you believe that legislation along the lines of H.R. 6390, LH.R. 3302 or H.R. 6567 is needed at this time?
,.. -2.
What effect would a moratorium on issuance of construction
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f'. permits a'nd/or operating licenses have on supplies of electric power and j
costs to utilities and consumer?
3.
If legislation is enacted, what feat.ures of H.R. 3302 do you believe would be helpful?
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i U. S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CO!!MITTEC ON INTERIOR AND INSULAR AFFAIRS SUSCOllMITTEE ON ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
-liEARINGS ON H.R.
6390, THE ATOMIC ENERGY ACT AMENDMENTS OF 1980 AND OTHER NUCLEAR POLICY BILLS
- Friday, March 14, 1980 Room 1324 Longworth HOB 9:45 a.m.
i NITNESSES
.. The Honorable Bruce Babbitt, Governor, State of Arizona h(I Panel consisting of:
Iir. Sherwood.H. Smith, Jr., President, Carolina Power & Light Company
.Mr.' Sol Burstein, Executive Vice President, Wisconsin Power Company Mr. Uilliam H. Griggs, Senior.Vice-President, Duke Power Company lir. Stephen-Howell, Atomic Industrial-Forum Policy Committee on Follow-up to the Three !!ile ~ Island Accident
' Panel consisting of:
.ilr. Harvey Rosenfield, Staff Attorney, Congress Watch
'llr. Milliam Schultz,. Staff Attorney, Public Citizen Litigation Group
,(y
\\m/ Panel consisting of:
Hr.; Richard A.. Schmalz, General Counsel, Hartford, Accident and Indemn.ity Company 11r.; Joseph Marrone, Vice President and General Counsel, American Huclear Insurers tir. Ambrose B. Kelly, Mutual Atomic Energy Liability Underwriters
- LIST OF OTHER NUCLEAR POLICY BILLS ATTACHED.
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a-3 COlililTTEE OU INTERIOR AND INSULAR AFFAIRS SUBCOM11ITTEE ON ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONIiENT HEARINGS ON H.R. 6390, THE ATOMIC ENERGY ACT AMENDMENTS OF 1980 AND OTHER NUCLEAR POLICY BILLS *
- OTHER NUCLEAR POLICY BILLS Nuclear Licensing
& Regulation Nuclear Haste H.R.
336 (fir. Fish, et. al.)
H.R.
1071 (fir. tioakley, et. al.)
A H.R.
789 (fir. Meiss, et. al)
H.R.
1791 (fir. Hanley)
U H.R. 3302 (11r. tiathis)
H.R.
1852 (fir. Goldwater, et. al.)
H.R.
3387 (fir; Ritter)
H.R.
2586 (liri Staggers) '
H.R.
3415 (Mr. Hollenbeck, et. hl.)
H.R.
2611 (fir. Udall & tir. Bingham) fi. R 4 3476 (fir. Ertel, et. al.)
HaR. 2762 (firs Seiberling, et. al.)
H.R. 3581 (ris. Oakar)
H.R. 3193 (Mr. Lundine)
H.R. 3698 (11r. Jeffords)
H.R.
3298 (Mr. Jeffords, et. al.)
H.R. 3699 (Mr. Ritter)
H.R. 3692 (fir. Runnels)
H.R.
3832 (fir. Hughes, et. al.)
H.R. 4361 (Mr. Heftel)
H.R.
3945 (lir. !!arkey)
H.R. 4455 (tir. Hef tel) ii. R. 3988 (Mr. Meiss)
H.R.
5809 (Mr. Derrick, et. al.)
H.R. 4066 (tir. Gonzales)
H.R. 5819 (tir. McCormack H.R. 4096 (Ms. Holtzman)
H.R. 5923 (tir. Carr & tir. Molpe)
H.R. 4174 (11r. Dodd)
H.R. 6116 (fir. Udall)
H.R.
4340 (fir. Goodling)
H.R.
6212 (Mr. Lujan, et. al.)
H.R.
5775 (Mr. Edwards, et. al.)
H.R. 6567 (tir. 11athis)
H.R.
6024 (fir. ItcCloskey) t
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