ML20209E390
| ML20209E390 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Davis Besse, Perry, 05000000 |
| Issue date: | 09/02/1986 |
| From: | Zech L NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Celeste R OHIO, STATE OF |
| References | |
| CON-#386-578 ML, OL, NUDOCS 8609100252 | |
| Download: ML20209E390 (3) | |
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UNITED STATES -
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION o
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~ WASHINGif 0N, D. C. 20555
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CHAIRMAN The Honorable Richard F. Celeste
. Governor of Ohio Columbus, OH 43266-0601.
Dear. Governor Celeste:
I am responding to your letter of August 15, 1986 in which you urge that the Perry nuclear power plant not be licensed for full power nor Davis-Besse be permitted to achieve full power operation until.the State-of Ohio has carried out a review of the adequacy of emergency evacuation plans for those two plants, and in which you withdraw your support and March implementing directive for evacuation plans for the Perry and Davis-Besse plants pending completion of that review.
The Commission is aware of your concerns regarding the implications cf the Chernobyl accident, the recent seismic event in northeastern Ohio, and the past problems at Davis-Besse. We are 'de' voting'significant staff risources to consideration of these important issues. Be assured that the NRC will not authorize full power operation of these plants unless and until all necessary findings have been made: that the public health and safety will
~be adequately protected and that adequate. protective measures can and will be 'taken in the event of a radiological. emergency.. We do ' intend, however,.
to authorize full power operation of these facilities if and when we make these findings.
In this regard, the matter of full power licensing for
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Perry is scheduled for consideration at a Comission meeting on September 5, 1986.
The NRC Staff is prepared to provide whatever support the State of Ohio may desire in carrying out its review of the Perry and Davis-Besse emergency evacuation plans.
I have asked James Keppler, NRC Region III Administrator, to coordinate any NRC involvement you may request, and to communicate directly with the team *you have assembled. Our Staff will be, prepared to address the emergency planning concerns contained in your letter when they meet with your review team.
4 I trust this letter is responsive to your concerns.
If you have further questions regarding these matters, we will be pleased to address them.
Comissioner Asselstine does not agree with this letter.
i Sincerely, W. (hk Lando W. Zechudr.
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STATE OF OH'lO '
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR COLUMBUS 43266-0601 ThCHAAD F. CELESTE covenson August 15, 1986 Lando W.
Zech, Chairman Nuclear Regulatory.Commi.ssion Washington, D.C.
20555
Dear Chairman Zech:
The explosion and fire at the Chernobyl power plant on April 26, 1986, has prompted a sober reassessment of nuclear safety around the world.
As I wrote your predecessor on May 7, Ohio has good reason to join in this reassessment, because the Davis-Besse nuclear plant at Port Clinton, Ohio, has one of the worst records in the country, and on June 9, 1985, came as close. to a meltdown as has any U.S.
nuclear plant since the Three Mile Island accident of 1979.
The Davis-Besse plant has not since returned to service.
Meanwhile, a 5 pt. Richter scale earthquake occurred on January 31, 1986, centered 10 miles from the Perry Nuclear. Power -
'Pl' ant near Painesville', Ohio.
Desp'ite my repeated' requests and those of U.S. Senators Howard Metzenbaum and John Glenn and U.S.
Represer.tatives John Seiberling and Dennis Eckart, the NRC decided not to conduct a thorough investigation of the safety significance of the earthquake.
I was pleased to read NRC Regional Administrator James Keppler's remarks of July 15 which suggest that the NRC will be taking a harder look at the safety of the Perry plant before approving full-power operation.
As you know, in general the NRC has jurisd' ction over safety i
aspects of nuclear plants, and state governments have jurisdiction over their cost.
However, as a federal court reaffirmed in March, 1985, state governments do have jurisdiction over propose ~d evacuation plans for nuclear power plants.
I strongly disagree with the reasoning of the Commission's July 24th decision, which suggests that a utility evacuation plan prepared without state or local participation, could provide adequate public protection.
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.Ch' airman Lando Zech i
. August 15, 1986 Page two Both the Chernobyl accident and the earthquake raise questions about whether the evacuation plans for Davis-Besse and Perry are realistic: whether the 10 mile radius of tha evacuation zone is adequate; how much time.there will be for evacuation to be carried.'out;.the nature and dispersal of-radio'ac.tive releases;.'and the effect of an eatthq'uake on transportation' routes necessary'for evacuation.
Until these and other questions are squarely addressed, neither Davis-Besse nor Perry should ach'ieve. full-power operation.
For this reason, I withdraw my support for evacuation plans for the Perry and Davis-Besse power plants, and my March 24, 1986, implementing directive, pending Ohio's review of evacuation plans in light of the explosion and fire at the Chernobyl power plant, and the earthquake near the Perry plant.
Ohio's review will be completed as soon as possible, and I 1
expect that the NRC will withhold the license for full ' power operation at the two plants until our review is satisfactorily completed.
If not, however, I am prepared to take all steps necessary and appropriate to preserve Ohio's rights in this matter.
I am asking a team chaired by Bil'1 Denihan, Director of Ilighway Safety, including Tom Chema, Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, and Adjutant General Ray Galloway, to conduct this review.
I am encouraging them to seek whatever expert help they require to assist them, and to provide a full hearing for the concerns of local public officials and the general public.
As soon as possible, the task force will report its findings on the basis of which I will then reconsider approval of the evacuation plans.
Sincerely, Richard F.
Celeste Governor RFC/bec 9
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AUGUST!15, 1995 -
PVit 1stMCDiATE asLCASE Off1CE :0F TMt;00VERNOR's ' PRESS SECRETARY CELEstt ASES NRC iTO WOLD PERRY AND ERVIS-SESSE i
PENDIteG.5 TATE ~ REVI' Chi 0F RVAcuhT30W F1ANS,
Governor kichard.F. Celeste 'today (asked the U.S. NJylear Regalatory Cosimission to retuse to grant t'al'l-power licenses to the Davis.Desee and Ferry nuclear power plants until the state of onto completes a review of evacaation. plans tor both plants.
This action is aimed at ensarino the' safety and protection of
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- ore 'both. plants rasch 1all ~ ope ration.
i Celeste's regaest came in a letter de'.ivered to Lando W. 4ech,
. chairman og the U.S. Nuclear RegJ1 story Commission.
Tnte Governor's action is being taken in light et re ce nt sobe ring incidents botn.her,e and abroad -- tne emplosior,and tire et tne l!
Cnernopyl power plant argd the earthgasAt tSat oCcJrred estly.this year near the Perry plant
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- Both incidents have raised seany legitimate concerns about the adegasey at evectation plans at the Perry and Davis-Desse plants,' the Governor said*
i Tne Covernor has asked. Bill Denihan, Director.o1 Highway Safety, to enaar a teasn inclading. Tore Chema, Cnairman of the Pablic Ut21 s ties Convaission of..Dhio, and AdjJtent General Ray Galloway, that will condJct this review.
"Chio's review will De completed asiaocn as possible, and 1 expect that the NMC will :witnhold the license ter fall power.
operation et the two plants antil oar review is satistactorily cortp le t e d,
- the Governor said in han letter to tech.
"It net, however.- I am. prepared to 4.ake all stepa necessary and appropria te' to pre' erve ' Ohi'o's rights.in this matter.'
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- "Both the Chernoby' accident and the earthqJake raise qJestions anost whether the JvaoJation plana tor Devia-5ense and Perry.are realistics whether the 10-mile radius of the evacuation sone is adegaate s how sesch time there will be tor evacuation to be carried out the natJre and dispersal of radicactivo releasest and the ettect of an earthgJake on transporation roates necessary l
tor evacuation,' Celeste to,1d tech.
In March, 1985, the U.S.
District court in.New. York rJ1ed that elected otficials have the authority and the responsibility to enaJre public saf ety around nucigar. power plants.
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pas 15 '0E 15:33 E! MR.IC SE55E i A.S yt. Richter scale earthgaske osserced on January 31, 19 s, center'ed to sites seem the iPorry Masleer iPower Plant near Paineeville, Ohio.
on February 7, covernor Coleatef eeked the NRC tot a 2411.
The^ Atomic satety and Licensing
. investigatlen og the earthquake '.'
Appeal soard ordered.esploratory hearings 'on the edesseey et Perry'.s seismic desions bat the-Mac vacated the order and no complete NRC investagstion was conducted.
In a 3etter dated May 7, 'the Governor asked the NRC to reconsider
.its decision and to determine whether the esethqaske presents e ee== 4e tter, Go' erner ce les te alme -
v estety issae et Perry.
sn-t.he asked the NRC to let the pab11c know what it is doing to-strengthen sStety stan'dards betore Davis-Besse retJens to operetion.
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9 t Contacts trian Usher. or Debra PhillL* s, (614) 466-5034.
p copy oi-Governor. Celeste 's letter i s attached.
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