ML20212M516
| ML20212M516 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 08/12/1986 |
| From: | Roberts T NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Jeanne Johnston SENATE, ENERGY & NATURAL RESOURCES |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20212M519 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8608260347 | |
| Download: ML20212M516 (2) | |
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August 12, 1986 CHAIRMAN The Honorable J. Bennett Johnston Comittee on Energy and Natural Resources United States Senate Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator Johnston:
We appreciate your interest in the Comission's views on legislative proposals to suspend temporarily the Department of Energy's site-specific activities to develop a high-level radioactive waste repository.
In your letter of August 5, you asked the Comission to address the impact of three proposed amendments on: 1) its decision in the " Waste Confidence" proceeding on the availability of spent fuel storage or disposal as a consideration for commercial power reactor licensing; 2) the prospects for construction; 3)g licenses to the 26 nuclear power plants now under issuing operatin the continued operation of the 101 nuclear plants with operating licenses; and 4) the Comission's research and regulatory development programs in the high-level waste area.
The effect of a suspension of site-specific activity on the overall progress of the national program cannot be predicted. However, the Commission believes that a temporary legislative suspension, even as long as one-year, of DOE's site-specific repository development work need not necessarily affect its waste confidence decision, the licensing or the continued operation of commercial nuclear power plants.
In that decision (see FR Vol. 49, No. 171, August 31,1984), the Commission found reasonable assuraiice that one or more mined geologic repositories for commercial high-level radioactive waste and spent fuel will be available by the years 2007-09. The Comission further found reasonable assurance that, if necessary, spent fuel generated in any reactor can be stored safely and without significant environmental impact for at least 30 years beyond expiration of that reactor's operating license, either onsite or offsite, and that safe independent spent fuel storage capacity will be made available, if needed.
l Thus, as the Commission observed in its response to comments on the effect of the NWPA on its proposed findings, "The Comission believes that timely attainment of a repository does not require DOE's program schedule to adhere strictly to the milestones set out in the NWPA over the... duration of the l
repository development program. Delays in some milestones as well as advances i
in others can be expected."
(See FR Vol. 49, No. 171, August 31, 1984, p.
I 34663.)
If, hcwever, the period oTsuspension were indeterminately extended, or if it seriously disrupted the progress of the program, a suspension may erode the confidence the Comission expressed.
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PDR COMMS NRCC CORRESPONDENCE PDR i
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The Honorable J. Bennett Johnston -
Additionaly, NRC would likely suspend activities related solely and specific-ally to the review of those DOE site-specific activities for which DOE may not spend funds in the fiscal year in which the suspension is in effect. NRC would proceed with its generic high-level waste management research and regulatory development program.
On behalf of the Commission, I would like to thank you again for your interest in the impact of these legislative proposals on NRC activities. We hope these comments will be useful.
Sincerely, J
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Thomas M. Roberts Acting Chairman cc: The Honorable James A. McClure I
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