ML20214G559
| ML20214G559 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Seabrook  |
| Issue date: | 05/19/1987 |
| From: | Zech L NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Conte S HOUSE OF REP. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20214G563 | List: |
| References | |
| CON-#287-3493 OL, NUDOCS 8705270105 | |
| Download: ML20214G559 (4) | |
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION o
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~87 MAY 19 N1 :21 gay 19, 19g7 CHA AN 0FFr.
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- The Honorable Silvio 0. Conte United States House of Representatives Washington D. C.
20515 SERVB) A4Ay 191937
Dear Congressman Conte:
I am responding to your letter of April 9, 1987 concerning the Seabrook nuclear power plant.
In your letter you expressed-your view that the Commission is not giving sufficient weight to concerns of various governmental units as the NRC reviews decisions regarding the issuance of a low-power license.
I hope you will understand that the Commission may not comment on the substance of the Seabrook emergency planning issues"so long as those matters are before the Commission or its adjudicatory Boards for resolution.
Any resolution must be made on the record of the Seabrook proceeding.
Your letter has been served on the parties to that_ proceeding.
However, I can assure you that the matters presented are receiving and will continue to receive the Commission's serious consideration.
The governmental units to which you refer are represented, directly or indirectly, in the proceeding and have the opportunity to participate.
Any final decision must take account of the views of the parties and is subject to judicial review in the United States Courts of Appeals.
Your letter also expressed concern about NRC resources being expended on reviews pertaining to further efforts on the part of Public Service Company of New Hampshire (PSNH) to justify a reduced emergency planning zone (EPZ).
With respect to Public Service Company of New Hampshire's request for a waiver of the regulation establishing the size of the emergency planning zone, that request was found insufficient by the Licensing Board that considered it.
Lacking a favorable determination that a gim_a facie case has a
been made, the waiver request will not receTve Turther Commission cons.ideration on the merits.
As a result of the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board decision to deny PSNH's petition on reducing the 10 mile EPZ, the NRC staff review of the petition, as such, has ceased.
However, we 8705270103 870519!
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.,. consider continuing the staff review of the Seabrook Station Probabilistic Safety Assessment (SSPSA) Update appropriate to obtain an additional perspective of the'rfsk assnciated with operation of ths Seabrook plant even though it was a part of the PSNH petition.
The staff is reviewing the SSPSA Update, consistent with the review of other plant probabilistic safety studies, to identify.any new plant-specific information. that mai have generic implications or information that augments ongoing analyses of issues already identified as concerns.
Issues such as potential accidents during plant shutdown conditions and induced depressurization in response to the potential of direct containment heating are examples of Seabrook specific information which will be utilized in current activities addressing these generic issues.
Commissioner Roberts did not participate in this response.
Sincerely, Q.
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Lando W. Zec Jr.
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c sco OCRATORY4:20 C08sSERVAT@s COMMISSION SCAAD OF REGENTS April 9, 1987 sMm,sowau nsmuTioN The Honorable Lando W.
Zech, Jr.
Chairman U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 1717 H Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20555
Dear Mr. Chairman:
As a Member of Congress, I am seriously disturbed about the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's posture regarding the Seabrook nuclear power plant.
As you are fully aware, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and thirteen local communities in Massachusetts and New Hampshire have declined to participate in emergency planning for an accident at Seabrook as a consequence of their conviction that no emergency planning can adequately These protect the health and safety of their citizens.
emergency planning issues are before the Commission and its Licensing Board and no doubt will be litigated for some time.
- 2. am concerned that the Commission is not giving sufficient weight to these legitimate concerns as it reviews decisions regarding the issuance of a low-power license.
It would be a disservice to the citizens of Massachusetts and New Hampshire to permit the operation and contamination of the Seabrook facility without knowing whether full-power operation will ever
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I am troubled deeply by the participation of the NRC
- Moreover, staff in extensively reviewing, without any formal request l
before the Commission, Public Service of New Hampshire studies that clearly have as their objective an intent to provide a technica3 justification for reducing the size of the emergency plannint ;one at Seabrook from 10 miles to 2 miles.
Regardless of whether or not a formal petition is filed, this effort is a clear attempt to circumvent the intent of Congress as expressed in P.L.96-295 to require Commission approval of adequacy of l
meaningful planning around nuclear power plants before issuing an operating license.
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i The Honorable Lando W. Zech, Jr.
Page Two April 9, 1987 I strongly request that the NRC cease any further expenditure of its staff time or contract funds for the purpose of reviewing these PSNH studies, and that the Commission make a public commitment that it will not consider any such attempt to reduce the size of the emergency planning zone at Seabrook or any other nuclear plant.
I also request that the Commission defer any action on issuance of a low-power operating license at Seabrook until all issues related to offsite emergency planning and preparedness have been fully and completely resolved.
To proceed otherwise only will inflame public sentiment on a matter that already is deeply mired in controversy, and will raise further questions regarding the Commission's responsiveness to State and local concerns in the licensing process and the implications that raises for appropriate revisions to the Atomic Energy Act.
Sincerely, 1
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Silvio O. Conte Member of Congress SOC /jj l
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