ML20198S449
| ML20198S449 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 11/26/1997 |
| From: | Shirley Ann Jackson, The Chairman NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Hoyle J NRC OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY (SECY) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20198S433 | List: |
| References | |
| SECY-97-253-C, NUDOCS 9801260184 | |
| Download: ML20198S449 (2) | |
Text
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NOT ATION VOTE l,
l RESPONS_E SHEET l
TO:
John C. Hoyle, Secretary FROM:
CHAIRMAN JACKSON
SUBJECT:
SECY 97-253 - POLICY OPTIONS FOR NUCLEAR POWER REACTOR FINANCIAL QUALIFICATIONS IN RESPONSE TO RESTRUCTURING OF THE ELECTRIC UTILITY INDUSTRY Approved xx Disapproved Abstain Not Participating Request Discussion COMMENTS:
See attached comments.
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Shirley nn Jack on SIGNATURE Release Vote / xx !
November 26. 1997 DATE Withhold Vote /
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Entered on "AS" Yes No 722281# 2n25 CORRESPONDENCE PDR
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CHAIRMAN'S COMMENTS ON SECY-g7-253 l approve Opbon 1 - Rr/.n the re -e in 10 CFR 501TfL 50.80 and AMw C to Part 50 and =M a new==d=. 50.87. to nrovide wt.w-4 s. ;. dna NRC ev* '. of = ^ " =&ina -
g,w e or
-a _ e of U--- - ' - to==
WW nom-as a basis for the staN to proceed with a proposed rW,r,.,Ws. This opbon reiterates the NRC's concoms about the ~
4 possible effects that rate deregulation could have on the protodion of public heellh and safety, and posibons the agency for change in ensunng that financial 7 ~ -a:-,i, will be property assured for both ' electric
- and 'non-electnc utilities.'
i i
l am concemed, as docussed under Option 1 costs, that the NRC wlN ' continue to conduct ad hoc reviews
- in f:'.: rr#4rq whether hoonsees in States sponsoring deregulatica initiatives remain electric utiNties. The staff should pro-actively sample " electric utlRty detonninetions' as States finakze deregulation schons, ord should ci.',p a coherent, offiderd plan to accomplish this.
Also, the staff has stated that the assumption to the 1964 fnendel queglications rule - a financial duabihty is not a safety hazard per se - is generally true (booed on th9 fact that licensees can, and under the Commission's regulations would be obhged to, simply comes opershons if necessary funds to operate safely were not available). However, I do not see this issue as being so cieer cut.
The staff should conhnue to assess this ' grey area" (where margins of safety are reduced due to financial pressures). To that end, I will continue to push for the C;:'g-ar,t of, and proper use of, tools such as performance indicators to monitor the erosion of safety margins. The staff should i
evaluate and report back to the Commission (in about a year's time), their exponence in using finardal indicators (that it is developing) in evaluatis,g this ' grey aree", and include an assessment i
of the assumptions regarding the staffs ability to effectively monitor financial stress on the safety I
margins of a plant.
Finally, the staff should also expedite, for Commission consideration, the paper addressing the F
issue of the potenbal impact of the NRC's hearing process on the Dmely transfer of hoenses under 10 CFR 5J.80.
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