ML20214P451

Responds to Recipient 870429 Concerns Re Emergency Planning in Licensing of Plant.Recipient Assured That Protection of Public Health & Safety Will Be Strongly Considered in Decisions Made Re Licensing of Plant

ML20214P451
Person / Time
Site:	Seabrook
Issue date:	05/28/1987
From:	Murley T Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:	Zafris J AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED
References
NUDOCS 8706030385
Download: ML20214P451 (3)

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UNITED STATES 8 o NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

h.  ; WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555

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MAY S 81987 l

l Ms. Joyce Zafris 264 High Street Newburyport, MA 01950

Dear Ms. Zafris:

In your letter of April 29, 1987, you expressed concerns primarily regarding emergency planning in the licensing of the Seabrook nuclear power plant.

Under the Commission's regulations, an applicant who does not meet the emer- l gency planning standards is provided an opportunity to demonstrate that ade-quate interim compensating actions have been or will be taken promptly, l including the implementation of a utility offsite emergency plan in lieu of I state and local government plans. To date, Public Service of New Hampshire (the utility) has not submitted to the NRC an offsite emergency plan developed and implemented by the utility. On April 8, 1987, the utility submitted off-site plans for the Massachusetts portion of the 10-mile EPZ in an effort to comply with the Commission's decision regarding the submittal of state and local government emergency response plans prior to issuance of a low-power (operation up to 5% power) license. The Commission has not made a decision as to whether the plans submitted by the utility are sufficient.

In addition, on April 22, 1987, the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board (ASLB) denied the Seabrook petition for a waiver and reduction of the emergency plan-ning zone (EPZ) from 10 miles to 1 mile because of a lack of technical merit.

The Seabrook uwners must now determine follow-up actions.

As you may know, the NRC and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are the two Federal agencies tasked to evaluate emergency preparedness at and around nuclear power plants. The NRC is responsible for assessing the adequacy of onsite emergency plans developed by the utility while FEMA is responsible for assessing the adequacy of offsite emergency planning and assisting state and local governments in the preparation of emergency response plans. The New Hampshire state and local government plans are currently under review by FEMA. Some of the offsite emergency planning issues you raise in your letter (e.g., evacuation network, population density, agreement letters) will be a matter for litigation in a public hearing of the New Hampshire offsite emer-gency plans before the ASLB beginning on September 14, 1987. In order for full-power operation to be authorized, issues involving offsite emergency planning must be resolved. We are providing a copy of your letter to FEMA officials for their information and consideration in activities regarding the continual development and exercising of the offsite emergency plans for Seabrook.

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-Ms. Joyce Zafris ,

Your comments on energy needs and other options for Scabrook have been noted.

However, the NRC is responsible for the licensing and related regulatory furctions for commercial nuclear power plants in the United States and the consideration of the economics of nuclear power versus other energy sources does not fall under the statutory responsibility of the NRC.

! I appreciate your concern and thoughtful comments regarding emergency planning for the Seabrook area. Please be assured that protection of the public health-and safety will be the main consideration in decisions that are made regarding the licensing of Seabrook.

1 Please advise me if I can be of further assistance.

i Sincerely, Original signed by Thomas E. "urley Thomas E. Murley, Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation DISTRIBUTION:

i TEMurley, NRR VNerses, NRR JHSniezek, NRR EJReis, 0GC RWStarostecki, NRR DANussbaumer, GPA FJMiraglia, NRR DJPerrotti, NRR JLBlaha, NRR CDeliso, NRR 87-19 i

JLFunches, NRR MCBridgers, EDO

FJCongel, NRR DFMossburg, NRR - 879130

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FKantor, NRR PDR/ Local PDR RJBarrett, NRR TTMartin, RI LJCunningham, NRR RRBellamy, RI WTRussell, RI RSWilkerson, FEMA

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Ms. Joyce Zafris Your consnents on energy needs and other options for Seabroo have been noted.

However, the NRC is responsible for the licensing and related regulatory functions for coninercial nuclear power plants in the (Jnited States and the consideration of the economics of nuclear power versur other energy sources does not fall under the statutory responsibility of the/NRC.

I appreciate your concern and thoughtful comments re/

garding emergency planning for the Seabrook area. Please be assured that pr9tection of the public health and safety will be the main consideration in decisions that are made regarding the licensing of Seabrook.

Please advise me if I can be of further assist nce.

Sinc /

erely, nel dsned by P. J. Conget Dr. Frank J. Congel, Director Division of Radiation Protection and Emergency Preparedness Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation DISTRIBUTION:

TEMurley, NRR NRR JHSnfezek, NRR VNersey,OGC EJReis, RWStarostecki, NRR DANulsbaumer,GPA FJMiraglia, NRR DJPp'rrotti, NRR JLBlaha, NRR CD,eliso, NRR 87-19 JLFunches, NRR MC8ridgers, ED0 879130-FJCongel, NRR DFMossburg, NRR - 879130 DBMatthews, NRR Central Files CRVan Niel, NRR PEPS R/F FKantor, NRR PDR RJBarrett, NRR TTMartin, RI LJCunningham, NRR / RRBellamy, RI WTRussell, RI ./ RSWilkerson, FEMA

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