ML20204J250

Raises Concerns Re NRC Consideration of Plant Restart. Unsettling Questions Remain Re Potential Impacts of Plant Operation on Public Health of Area Residents.Full Adjudicatory Hearing Requested

ML20204J250
Person / Time
Site:	Pilgrim
Issue date:	09/27/1988
From:	Erin Kennedy SENATE
To:	Zech L NRC COMMISSION (OCM)
Shared Package
ML20204J256	List: ML20204J250 ML20207M248 ML20207M266
References
NUDOCS 8810250062
Download: ML20204J250 (2)

Text

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'EtiV ARD M. ' KENNEDY

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Ettittb htatesi 6citate WASHINGTON, DC 20510 September 27, 1988 Mr. Lando W. Zech, Jr.

Chairman Nuclear Regulatory Commission 1717 11 Street, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20555

Dear Mr. Zech:

I have stated on a x number of occasions that I do not believe the Pilgrim plant l's, ready to be considered for restart.

roblems have not been resolved, and these A series issues of crit must 3't1'p'nd be fully a thoroughly addressed prior to the evaluation of a restart' petition.

I am particularly disturbe'd that the Commission is considering restart before the development and successful exercise of a fully-approved off-site emerghncy preparedness plan. Such a rush to restart can only be in orpreted as ill-advised and potentially dangerous to the pu lic safety.

Furthermore, unsettling questions remain relative to the potential impacts this plant has hdd on the public health of area residents. The National Cancer s Institute will soon begin a study of cancer mortality in populations living near nuclear power plants. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has already released disturbing statistics on cancer rates near the Pilgrim reactor. This information nhould lead us to approach the subject of restart with caution. We\should, at a minimum, defer the restart decision until the initial findings of the NCI study are known. \

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There are also a number of continual concern that remain regar<.ng the completion of important safety improvements at the plant. The NRC decision on the use of the direct torus vent has still not been made; safety questions about the Mark I Boiling Water Reactor have not been resch'ed ; add the licensee's .

recent performance rating in the area of radiological controls '

remains loos than reassuring. In spite of these outstanding issues -- and a number of other unresolved concerns -- the NRC continuca to deny the people of Massachusetts the opportunity to participate in a full adjudicatory hearing. This is the only forum which would of fer a thorough and fair ex:mination of the restart question.

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C RREsPONDE

L a '. ~

Mr. Lando W. Zech, Jr. Page h o Last January, I Chaired a Hearing of the Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources to examine the proposed Pilgrim restart. During that hearing, I heard from a number of witnesses, most of whom expressed. deep disappointment with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's performance in relation to the Pilgrim i plant. Of particular concern was the continual inaccessability 4 of the Commissioners to the general public. I am very disappointed that the Members of the Commission are not here this evening, so that they could personally listen to the concerns of the people living near the Pilgrim plant.

Let me conclude by saying that now is not the time to consider restarting the Pilgrim Nuclear power Station. There are far too many unresolved concerns relating to safety and public health protection. Only 'when and if these concerns are fully addressed, should the Commission be examining the re. art .stion.

Sin re,1y

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't,f I dward ). 'onnedy

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