ML20207A697
| ML20207A697 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 07/10/1986 |
| From: | Zech L NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Dole E TRANSPORTATION, DEPT. OF |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8607160134 | |
| Download: ML20207A697 (2) | |
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UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION f
g WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555 g
.p
%+o.*e July 10, 1986 CHAIRMAN The Honorable Elizabeth H. Dole Secretary of Transportation Washington, DC 20590
Dear Madam Secretary:
The U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the U. S. Department of Transportation have a mutual interest in public health and safety.
We have an issue of current mutual concern related to the siting of airports near nuclear facilities.
I am concerned that NRC and its licensees are not in a position to monitor effectively, on a continuing basis, proposals before the FAA which may create hazards in the vicinity of operating nuclear facilities.
The NRC conducts a review of hazards when considering any nuclear facility for licensing.
This is done to assurc that the risks to the public from the facility are acceptably low.
In several past licensing reviews, the NRC staff has commented on proposals under review by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) which had the potential for creating an aircraft hazard to the nuclear facility under review.
The staff's comments were given considerabic weight by the FAA.
I, therefore, propose that we develop a formal process to assure that routine and timely consideration is given to the proximity of nuclear facilitics in FAA decisions on airport siting, airport expansion, aircraft take-off and lai. ing patterns, airspace control, and any other matter that could affect the public health and safety in the vicinity of operating nuclear facilities, rather than addressing this issue in an ad hoc manner.
Routine and timely consideration of the proximity of nuclear facilities in FAA's decisions will help assure public health and safety.
If an airport siting decision is made and the public risks from operating reactors due to aircraft hazards increase unacceptably, the licensee may be required to harden or otherwise modify structures, systems, and components susceptible to sircraft crash and fire.
Those tre modifications that may have been unnecessary if consideration were given to the related hazards in a timely manner.
These illustrate the importance of developing a 3rocess to ensure our early involvement in and review of suci plans.
[%D1003 N
a I would appreciate your views on how the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the U.S. Department of Transportation might cooperate in assuring that full and timely consideration is given to aircraft hazards and the safety requirements of nuclear facilities.
The NRC staff stands ready to discuss with appropriate personnel from your. Department the review procedures and acceptance criteria it uses for evaluating aircraft hazards.
Sincerely, M Y.
I s Lando W. Zech, Jr. h l
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