ML20203H975

Discusses Concerns Re Apparent Inadequacies of Evacuation Plans for Facility.Response to Questions Concerning Responsibility for Paying for Loss of Personal Property & Relocation of Families Requested

ML20203H975
Person / Time
Site:	Seabrook
Issue date:	08/01/1986
From:	Murphy M AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED
To:	Harold Denton Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
NUDOCS 8608050142
Download: ML20203H975 (4)

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. MARKET STREET SYSTEMS INCORPORATED five market street. Portsmouth, n.h. 93801 misnoutu , sawuen asun sume-s6u BAIA It4(IIH6 IWNiiNI$1H202MOMmHEEIIINNENINEN NIN August 1, 1986 Harold R. Denton, Director Office Of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555 Dear Mr. Denton; Over the past year I have become increasingly concerned about the apparent inadequacies of the evacuation plans that are to be used in the event of a nuclear accident at the Seabrook power plant. I have talked with local and state civil defense authorities and for the most part my questions and concerns are viewed as "end of the world scenarios". In the light of the serious incident in the Russian Ukraine, it would seem that any reasonable question should get a reasoned response from those responsible for the public safty, and if a sensible answer is not available then some competent authority should find an answer quickly.

An isolated individual just doesn't get serious attention from the planners no matter how serious his questions. Questioners such as me are looked upon as doom sayers or antinuclear nuts, and maybe some of us are nuts, but that doesn't answer the very serious questions that don't have answers yet.

You are in a position of considerable influence, and I would like to hope that your questions would be taken seriously. May I ask that you try and get answers to one or two of the of questions I've attached?

I'm sure you recognize that there are really only two questions,

- WHO IS GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING FOR THE LOSS OF PERSONAL PROPERTY?

- WHAT WILL BE DONE FOR A FAMILY THAT CAN'T G0 BACK HOME FOR A YEAR, OR EVER?

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Shh Maurice M. Murphy 8608050142 860801 PDR ADOCK 05000443 H PDR YG3

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WHAT IF........

~ The following depicts a possible news account of an announcenent made by a future governor of the state of New llampshire af ter an emergency at the proposed Seabrook Nuclear Power Plant.

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Concord, NH (AP) t a tumultous press conference held in the Rotunda of the State Captital today, Governor llugh McShain announced the details of the procedures to be employed?in compensating business and individuals who suffered losses during the evacuation of the ten mile area surrounding the Seabrook fluelear Pla'nt on the seacoast of New flampshire last July 3. The provisions of the Price Anderson Act, passed by Congress in 1957 will be applied by the l'

,' Seabrook Evacuation Compensation Committee in settling claims that are not covered by private ' insurance, the Governor said. Attorney General Ronald i

Peterson explained that the standard nuclear exclusion clause carried in all insurance policies -invalidates most claims made for damage to property and all business loss claims.

[ r I More than 125 fatalities were attributed to automobile accidents during the 4 three day evacuation ordered by Governor McShain when the nuclear reactor at Seabrook began to melt af ter several unexplained explosions rocked the ill

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fated plant just af ter noon last July 3. An estimated 300,000 persons were involved in a panic throughout the beach side communties when the main roads and side streats gridlocked after police lost control of the massive traffic ,

stalled on Interstate 95. The catastrophic fire that raged unchecked through

the resort town of Hampton Beach caused damage estimated at 350 million dollars. Four bodies are still unidentified of the thirteen recovered later

! from the ruins. Serious fires in the cities of Portsmouth, Nd, Kittery, ME and Amesbury, MA were contained by heroic fire fighters who remained at their posts despite the evacuation order.

J Attorney General Peterson revealed that the 560 million dollars available l through Price, Anderson to pay for losses resulting from nuclear accidents will not be provided af terall because of a quirk in the law requiring that losses

actually result from substantial off-site radiation. Since the operators at ,

the plant were able to close'down the nuclear reactor two days later without 3

any . reported radiation release, the benefits of the Price Anderson Act do not I apply. However, according to Peterson, the nuclear exclusion clause in private  :

i insurance policies does apply so that home owners and businesses are in effect

" uninsurred. The Governor commented, " Ironically, we'd have been better off if

! the plant had blown up and sprayed radiation all around - at least we'd have j gotten some of these claims paid."

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Total losses during the three day emergency resulting from fire, looting and l neglect have been officially esticated at one and a half billion dollars. The

Seacoast Chamber of Commerce has pronounced the season for this resort l community to be totally dead with small prospect for a recovery next year.

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- TWENTY 00ESTIONS ABOUT' EVACUATION ,

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1. Will police and fire departcent personnel remain on duty throughout the entire ' evacuation and emergency period, even for days and weeks?

2. Who is responsible for uninsured la;a or damage to property if inadequate protection is provided during nn c :rgency? -Is .the Public Service Company  ;

responsible for personal and propeccy loss related to a nuclear evacuation?

3. If an evacuation is ordered .will ar.y private citizen be permidt'ed to remain .

in the danger area, or will evacuation Le forced? .s ,

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4. Will residents be permitted to rec.cer the area during the evacuation?

5. How will traf fic directions be cufereed, by ignoring violations, by .

ticketing violators, by apprehendiad violators, or by physical / armed force?

6. How will stalled or damaged vehicles be removed f rom the right of way, who will be responsible for vehicle loss or damage?

7. How will traffic casualties be evacuated, and to where? >

8. Are there reserve traffic direction personnel and equipment available to deal with unanticipated problems, where will they be posted, how will they travel?

9. What contingency plans are in place to deal with the possible closure of major highway routes such as 195, Rt 495, Rt 1 or the Hampton Expressway?

10. How will major choke points such as the Pisca taqua bridges , the Merrimac bridges, the beach entrances to Rt 1 and Rt 51 be controlled?

11. How will incoming traf fic from the south, north and west on 195 and Rt 495 be diverted? Do the traf fic volume es tima tes include the effect of incoming traffic?

. 12. If incoming traf fic is diverted, will homecoming residents be permitted

! to continue through roadblocks?

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! 13. Will Pease Airforce Base and the Portsmouth Navy Yard evacuate?

14. If people are caught in the plume, what decontamination and treatment

! facilities are available and where are they located? 1 l 15. Will gas stations be required to remain open?

16. Will evacuees be registered in a network data bank on arrival at recep tion i centers? How will separated families be reunited?

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17. Who will pay for feeding and sheltering at the reception centers?

I l 18. How long will reception center resources be available? When will evacuees be expected to leave the centers?

! 19. What plans have been made to deal with an extended period of evacuation of j the Seacoast, for two weeks, six months or ten years?

l 20. If aome areas of the Seacoast are " subjected to intense radiation, how will these areas be isolated and how will surrounding areas be protected from

spreading contamination? -

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