ML20217G142
| ML20217G142 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Haddam Neck File:Connecticut Yankee Atomic Power Co icon.png |
| Issue date: | 03/24/1998 |
| From: | Shirley Ann Jackson, The Chairman NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Concannon T, Woollacott E CONNECTICUT, STATE OF |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9804020210 | |
| Download: ML20217G142 (2) | |
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION o
WASHINGTON, D.C. 2000H001
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March 24, 1998 CHAMMAN The Honorable Terry Concannon Mr. Evan Woollecott Co Chairs, Nuclear Energy Advisory Council Room 4035 Legislative Office Building Capitol Avenue Hartford, Connecticut 06106 Dear Ms. Concannon and Mr. Woollacott-l am responding to your letter of December 31,1997, in which you requested the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to continue to maintain the resident inspector position at the Haddam Neck site and participate in the monthly Community Decommissioning Advisory Committee (CDAC) meetings.
We agree that the level of regulatory oversight is an important component of building public trust and confidence. Although our regulatory activities include rulemaking, licensing, i,T;::%+f--i, and enforcement, you mention inspection and public participation as the aspects of greatest interest to your constituents.
Our inspection activities make use of specialist inspectors, subject matter experts, and project
. managers, as well as the resident inspector. The mix of resources allocated to inspection during a given period depends on the decommissionmg activities occurring at the site, emerging issues, and the expertise best suited to evaluating the licensee's performance. Thus, although we are committed to continuing vigilant regulatory oversight throughout the decommissioning and license termination processes, the resident inspector position is only o w of several methods available to provide an onsite presence to monitor regulated activities.
The current NRC practice is to maintain the resident inspector onsite for approximately one year aber a plant permanently shuts down. At present, a resident inspector is budgeted for Haddam Neck through fiscal year 1998, which ends on September 30,1998. However, as part of the NRC's Strategic Assessment and Rebaselming initiative, the Commission has considered the issue of reactor decommissioning. This issue paper is available on NRC's intemet home page.' in its delibershons on this issue, the Commission directed the staff to consider a number of emerging concems, includmg options affecting resident inspector staffing for permanently shutdown facilities. The staff is considering ophons such as placing an inspector onsite only during specific phases of decommissioning (e.g., during active dismantiement) or contrakzing reactor decommissioning inspection programs in headquarters. The staff expects to provide its recommendations on these emerging issues to the Commission in the near future.
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PDR-COMMS NRCC CORRESPONDENCE PDR Mdt%N
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Regarding NRC presence at the monthly CDAC meeting, the resident inspector has been attending these evening and weekend sessions when possible. Consistent with staff availability
' they provide a valuable conduit for information exchange. Our resources do not permit us to and other NRC activities, we expect to continue to attend the meetings, since we agree that I
commit to attend every meeting; however, if you anticipate that an NRC presence would be especially beneficial at an upcoming meeting, please contact Dr. Ronald R. Bellamy, Chief, Decommissioning and Laboratory Branch, at 6t0-337-5200 to make arrangements.
Sincerely,
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Swe of Connecticut NCTCLEAR ENERGY ADVISORY Co0NCIL Roon,40.15 REPAR8RNTATIVE TRRET CoNCANNoN Legislative ottice Building CD-Chair Capitol Avenue RYAN N00LLAcoTT Hartfordo CT 06106 Ca= Chair December 31,1997 The Honorable Shirley A. Jackson Chairman, Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555-0001 Dear Chairman Jackson.
With the unanimous approval of the Nuclear Energy Advisory Council (NEAC) membership we are writing this letter in support of the Community Decommissioning Advisory Committee (CDAC) which has been created to oversee the Decommissioning of Connecticut Yankee at Haddam Neck.
CDAC is performing an invaluable service to the community as the issues pertinent to the decommissioning are addressed. Given that the decommissioning is occurring some 10 years earlier than had been projected, this undertaking is thus more difficult and challenging. In addition, there has been an incredible public furore concerning potential on and off-site nuclear waste contamination at the Haddam Neck site following the testimony generated by the state Department of Public Utility Commission (DPUC) in support of their rate case currently before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Since Representative Concannon lives in Haddam, she is personally aware of the problems that have ensued following the release of James Joosten's testimony, particularly his rebuttal of Northeast Utility's response.
Consequently, NEAC has two requests to make of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission:
- 1) That the position of on site resident inspector be maintained at Haddam Neck; It would seem to be of the utmost importance and prudent to retain the NRC presence at the site.
The public needs to know that the NRC is being vigilant in exercising its oversight and in protecting their interests from the aspects of health and safety. At this juncture, their confidence has been undermined, especially as a result of recent developments. The citizens must be assured that the regulatory component is in place, with a physical ct c>L
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presence to monitor it.
- 2) That the NRC has a representative at the CDAC monthly meetings; These are well attended, and act as the conduit ofimportant information for the public whose questions and comments are welcomed by the committee. It is important that the appropriate
- authorities be there to provide the correct information in response. No other person can substitute for the NRC presence.
.We earnestly support the communication you have received from CDAC which outlined these same requests and we look forward to hearing from you in the affirmative.
For the Nuclear Energy Advisory Council
[ l.? O u_WJ Evan W. Woollacott Terry Concannon Co-Chair Co-Chair TC/mf ec: Hugh Curley, Chairman, CDAC Donald K. Davis, President & CEO CYAPCo I
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