ML20209C397
| ML20209C397 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 04/15/1987 |
| From: | Zech L NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Guthman E PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, PHILADELPHIA, PA |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20209A941 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8704280670 | |
| Download: ML20209C397 (2) | |
Text
?
48-8 UNITED STATES i
[ y %j NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D. C. 20$$5 g j
%,...../
CHAIRMAN April 15, 1987 Mr. Edwin Guthman Editor of the Editorial Page The Philadelphia Inquirer 400 N. Broad Street Philadelphia, PA 19101
Dear Mr. Guthman:
I do not agree with the statement in your editorial of April 12 that the employees of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission do not take their safety responsibilities seriously. I do not believe your statement is based on dny reasonable interpretation and review of NRC employees' performance of their duties.
The more than 3000 people who work for the NRC share a dedication to protection of the public that is unsurpassed. This agency takes prompt and vigorous action when our requirements are not met. The fact is that the NRC is currently denying a numbee of nuclear plants permission to operate because of safety concerns. Currently there are 9 plants with operating licenses which cannot return to operation witFout NRC's prior pennission.
I would point to the recent order shutting down the Peach Bottom plant as evidence that we will move quickly and decisively. The action on Peach Bottom was not taken to give the NRC " ammunition to ccunter critical testimony" at a Congressional hearing. It was taken, to use your words, in recognition that "Those in charge of regulating and providing nuclear power must regard it for what it is -- a force so great as to always pose a potentially grave threat to the public's health and safety." That attitude does prevail at the NRC today, and I assure you that as the Chairman of this agency, I intend to see to it that our dedication to safety will continue.
Sincerely, b43.
Lando W. Zech, Jr.
1 I
8704280670 870422 PDR COMMS NRCC CORRESPONDENCE PDR
- ra*yo{
-Pubitenee Anleetpendent Enryiseentes Newspaper by PWi wm
{
saws e00 N. BroadStew4. P,0. Bos 8363 puledelyue renenera.ascKusa.
adelphia,pm 19161 p os cuatrama 3~ w g Sunday, April upwtMottrHa AN 12, 1967 maine ss BUGENE1 2033R75J $, t
- 4. -
T~IC-Page 8-E g
IIow toim_ prove the Change minds, notjobs
' Some
.the mony o f the Nuclear about most damning test the pervasive Regulatory of Co fallings !.
thhrhas come tolightmmission si witnesses Thursday anbsfore NRCinvestigatorprobing thMlle y Istand*
acciden th ered by allegations the investigator e same ; w dered to re, port to Mr R b allege as or.
Covernmental
' examples p
of the e Senate ee, Affatrs denca.dly attempted The NR Cornmitt.
o erts, who They to destroy the rovi evt.
deal with serious agoney's safety refusal to matter'further' C did not probe the
'k nuclear reactors probletns arou at tions a t the NRC,of opera. was* stateVictorthnd Stello, dic
\ ~gative'nowo fnoother agency whe regulat"I at ! can unequivocally the U:! sis hau W re senter agency ofory orinvestf. see Valley Authority official how toPersonally a mf F :c t end NRCinquiryabsstansw safetyp er an TVA reactor in Tennessee M
' cut.cr o.f d M roblemsata the tudustry hti reguld.w..-2.; + allegsfly told the execullve .
r.Stello t
..mn A. m.p: o stall it. fror.L' m.c de NRC's qqcseous 4asin charge ofcr,iminalpJuflan Creenspun who un recently seconfing '
t oftotwoe t
G*.ur5 other don took place.
\ brought by the rosecutiona
[Henc
' US.e Justice D investigation. estimony,NRC officials, udi U' part* there was no
\ ; DefensiveNRCofftetals the N C Sen. John Glenn (D a bill creating four,independchsfr 3
i ing attempted to'portraf m the boat. th nsored t
is an aggressive protector epub. ovence of their spectors general, one agency of who ent in.
\ Oc, citing (ountyte Peech Bottom the dectaton own though tc, shut d reacto?theNRChatanintactivittaa, In . AI. of the NRCm
\ York dog bureaucrac fag dr e,w on the rsonoci routi job. The nelyaswere fectual, tbe w;y,sleep.soom it ais weak and (net.ernal pe.after le w tch demonstrated.frastrated NRC employeetnesses (ommittee R., pa. ,member Sen Jeek before the heantg and oshugown cam s, clearly t(is unpr)e,cedented nethe ' Sen.
actior NRC Glenn and
'mindependent others beli eve an inspector ilom dmmunition to solely to give the co, et Peach Bot
- speculated th counter .ntnissioners Ultimately, ore' responsible, Perhaps.would mais m critical test (' Deverfulfill tt,obligatihowever, the NRC will the ac e lie until an e[ntir w'
i linesecs were these:nta vades Y4ulladthe agency.elyby Underlyin new attitude per-ons to thepu (ng that a Louisiana utilie A 1963 internal NRC siem We charge is p Waple psmise:gthatatti-ty cov o a!!eg, nuclea potcotlatly serious teactor w ervd safety up Jt 0efdct is rpower must regardit for whatof
}t 4ntly by asleaked to the u.
NBC Comraission
. s 41 a tility,appar.,,,.piplic's ' Pose a a.potentially force he l b grav so great a as to lways Roberts or his,. staff. cr Thomas the When a t .and safety.e threat to the
. ~ Jhat at'titada cattainlydoesti't pre.,'
vail tMay..'
t-
.