ML20214J536
| ML20214J536 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Peach Bottom, Seabrook, 05000000 |
| Issue date: | 04/02/1987 |
| From: | Humphrey C SENATE |
| To: | Zech L NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20214J527 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8705280094 | |
| Download: ML20214J536 (2) | |
Text
' CORDON'J. HUMPHREY C0"unms ARMED SERvictS htw naupsent JUDICIARY 531 Hast st4 Aft omCE.uiONG LA8OR AND HUMAN RESOURCES
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united Etates Etnate WASHINGTON, DC 20510 April 2, 1987 The Honorable Lando W. Zech, Jr.
Chairman U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 1717 H Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C.
20555
Dear Chairman Zech:
I am writing today regarding your decision to shut down Philadelphia Electric Company's Peach Bottom nuclear plant due to the discovery that plant operators were sleeping at the controls.
I commend the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for its order to shut down the Peach Bottom plant and terminate quickly this threat to public health and safety.
The negligence of the Peach Bottom operators underscores the element of human error involved in the operation of any plant.
Regardless of the sophistication of plant safety systems, it is impossible to guarantee the effectiveness and competence of the human element.
For this reason, it is imperative that we maintain safety standards for nuclear power plants which provide the highest assurance that public health and safety can and will be protected.
As you know, the owners of the Seabrook nuclear power plant in my state have petitioned to waive current emergency.
planning standards and to reduce the emergency planning zone around the plant from ten miles to one mile in radius.
Seabrook supports its petition to reduce the emergency i
planning zone by stating that "[t]he basis for the alternate i
approach is found in enhanced safety features of the plant."
The sleeping operators at the Peach Bottom plant provide ample proof that plant safety features alone cannot assure proper operation of a nuclear power plant.
The situation at Peach Bottom is a real life example supporting the need for emergency evacuation planning in addition to technical safety features.
Any move to relax safety standards by reducing emergency planning zones or amending current safety regulations is unjustified as it would increase the risk to public health and safety involved in the operation of nuclear facilities.
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The Honorable Lando W. Zech, Jr.
April 2, 1987 Page Two Again, I support the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's swift action upon discovery of the irresponsible operation of the Peach Bottom nuclear power plant.
I hope that the Commission recognizes this event as testimony to the importance of maintaining standards which would not require the population living near nuclear reactors-to depend on engineered safety features but would provide an additional layer of protection through the implementation of current emergency planning regulations.
Thank you for your attention on this matter.
With warmest regards, I am Sincerely yours, ordon J. Humphrey, USS GJH/je 1
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