ML20212F300
| ML20212F300 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 12/09/1986 |
| From: | Zech L NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Earl A WISCONSIN, STATE OF |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20212F304 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8701090648 | |
| Download: ML20212F300 (2) | |
Text
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UNITED STATES j[
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION g
wAsMINGTON, D. C. 20$55 j
yh December 9, 1986 CHAmMAN The Honorable Anthony S. Earl Governorlof Wisconsin Madison, WI 53707-7863
Dear Governor Earl:
This responds to your October 30, 1986 letter requesting that spent fuel shipments through Wisconsin be suspended until the matter of a malicious act involving a section of track in Minnesota has been resolved, and until a physical inspection of the route is completed.
I share your concern over the seriousness of the incident and am interested in the results of the investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Please be assured that this agency will continue to do all in its power to protect the public health and safety in the area of transportation of this type of material.
Your letter was also addressed to the Secretary of Transpor-tation, so I will confine my response to issues relating directly to the NRC role in the transportation of spent nuclear fuel.
However, we have learned from the Department of Transportation that the Federal Railroad Administration completed an inspection of the track for the entire route during the week preceding the incident.
We also understand that the portion of the track where the incident occurred has since been reinspected.
The NRC is responsible for the regulation and licensing of activities involving the receipt, possession, use and transfer of radioactive materials.
It develops safety standards for packaging design and certifies the containers used in moving nuclear materials which could constitute a significant health hazard if the containers were breached.
In July 1986, the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA), which reports to the Legislative Branch, concluded that the container specifications required by NRC provide a level of public protection higher than that required for any other hazardous material shipping activity.
OTA also concluded that the probability of an accident severe enough to cause extensive damage to the public health and environment was extremely remote.
OTA found that radiological consequences of a severe accident would likely be lower than those from accidents involving other hazardous material considered more routine.
These findings are consistent with the NRC reevaluation of its transportation regulations which concluded that present regulations are adequate to protect the public against unreasonable risk from the transport of radioactive materials.
0701090648 861209 PDR COMris NRCC CORRESPONDENCE PDR
L 2
In view of the above, the NRC has determined that shipments of spent nuclear fuel i n general, and specifically those discussed in your letter, can continue and can be accomplished safely.
I hope that this responds to your concerns.
Please contact me if you have any further questions.
Sincerely, b w.
/A.
LandoW.Zec,Jr.[
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