ML20206Q197
| ML20206Q197 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Seabrook  |
| Issue date: | 07/22/1986 |
| From: | Mavroules N HOUSE OF REP. |
| To: | Zech L NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20206Q090 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8609040247 | |
| Download: ML20206Q197 (2) | |
Text
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NICHOLAS MAVROULES o'smet omas '
era pierna Massac=userts 7o was.oro, senser AAM CEs Congress of tfje hitch 6tates i::.;;i,';;
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Apouse of Representatides Gemenas ovsesesset ame 10 Watcows stessy asuNnston, at 20515
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Wasenneton. DC 20415 Wassacmuesive i2o2 2n do20 July 22, 1986
<eooi 2 nano Honorable Lando W. Zech, Jr.
Chairman Nuclear Regulatory Commission 1717 H Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C.
20555
Dear Mr. Zech:
As the U.S. Congressional Representative of the Sixth District of Massachusetts, I represent many of the people living in communities surrounding the New Hampshire Yankee's Seabrook Nuclear Power Plant.
Being within the evacuation zone, these residents would be the first victims of any accident at the Seabrook nuclear plant.
An adequate evacuation plan would prevent the tragic loss of life in the event of an accident.
Unfortunately, the proposed evacuation plans do not provide sufficient guarantees of safety for these residents and, to date, Governor Michael S. Dukakis of Massachusetts has withheld his approval of these plans.
I think you will agree that until a safe evacuation procedure is established, the plant should not be opened.
I have recommended to Governor Dukakis that an outside, independent group be retained by the Commonwealth to evaluate the feasibility of a workable evacuation plah.
The Governor has appointed Dr. Albert Carnesale, a respected nuclear engineer, to review the safety considerations raised by the Chernobyl nuclear nlsaster and their relation to evacuatibH blans ror i Massachusetts.
I feel an obigCtive group of experts could provide elected officials, like myself, as will ~a'5'Those living in the affected region, with a better understanding of the issues at hand.
In addition, this approach would restore public confidence and alleviate some of the controversy that has surrounded this debate.
I understand that New Hampshire Yankee is planning to begin operation of Seabrook this summer at 5% capacity, pending NRC approval of a low power license.
I believe this would be a terrible mistake. _I would encourage you to withhold approval of
_the low power license, at least until the covernor s inaependen_t i
study is complete._
Beginning' operations, even at 5% of full capacity, could create more problems than it solves.
If further study finds the evacuation procedures un' acceptable, the lives of thousands of residents as well as thousands of summer vacationers will be at risk.
8609040247 860822 PDR COMMS NRCC CORRESPONDENCE PDR
4 It 10 my undsrctcnding thnt tcchnically, th3 NRC can opprova a utility-devised evacuation plan that has not been approved by the state and local governments; thus, such an approval of the Seabrook plan, though unusual, would not be impossible.
If Seabrook began operation with only a New Hamphire Yankee-devised evacuation plan, without the full cooperation and participation of state and local governments, the plan would be useless in the event of an accident.
With almost 100 nuclear power plants in operation in the U.S., a considerable amount of our nation's energy is being provided by nuclear reactors.
Although our nuclear power plants have a few more built-in safety features than their Soviet counterparts, the possibility of an accident such as the one at Chernobyl, is not unreasonable.
If we are going to use nuclear materials, we must use them responsibly; I am sure you yourself are more aware of this than Il Thank you for your attention to this matter.
I hope you will give my suggestion serious consideration.
I look forward to hearing from you on the progress of this situation.
sincerely,
.c44 N cholas Mavroules Member of Congress NM:mg/ra 1
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