ML20235X562
| ML20235X562 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Seabrook  |
| Issue date: | 10/05/1987 |
| From: | Humphrey G SENATE |
| To: | Chilk S, Smith I Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel, NRC OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY (SECY) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20235X538 | List: |
| References | |
| OL, NUDOCS 8710200042 | |
| Download: ML20235X562 (3) | |
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GORDoN J. HUMPHREY couurmas ht* MAMMM84 f>tMED SECCES Nae s
LABOR AND HU AN RESOURCf S
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Balttd $tates $tnatt WASHINGTON, DC 205to October 5, 1987 1
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The Honorable Ivan W. Smith Chairman Atomic Safety and Licensing Board US Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555 Attention:
Samuel J. Chilk Secretary of the Commission
Dear Judge Smith:
I submit the attached statement regarding the off-site radiological emergency response plans for Seabrook under authority of Section 2 715 of the Rules of the Commission.
Thank you for your attention.
With warmest regards, I am j
Sincerely yo*n:
I i
i Gordon
. Humph ey, USc GJM/jc
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STATEMENT OF SENATO G
UMPHREY NEW HAMPSHIRE OFFSITE EMER ENCY PLANNING HEARINGS SEABROOK NUCLEAR POWER PLANT OCTOBER 5, 1987 EMERGENCY PLANNING IS ESSENTIAL TO THE SAFE OPERATION OF SEABROOK OR ANY OTHER NUCLEAR POWER PLANT.
IN 1980, WHEN THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION (NRC) UPGRADED ITS EMERGENCY PLANNING REQUIREMENTS IN REACTION TO THE ACCIDENT AT THREE MILE ISLAND, THE COMMISSION DECLARED THAT:
...IN ORDER TO DISCHARGE EFFECTIVELY ITS STATUTORY RESPONSIBILITIES, THE COMMISSION MUST KNOW THAT PROPER MEANS AND PROCEDURES WILL BE IN PLACE TO ASSESS THE l
COURSE OF AN ACCIDENT AND ITS POTENTIAL SEVERITY, THE NRC AND OTHER APPROPRIATE' AUTHORITIES AND THE PUBLIC 4
WILL BE NOTIFIED PROMPTLY, AND THAT ADEQUATE PROTECTIVE ACTIONS IN RESPONSE TO ACTUAL OR ANTICIPATED CONDITIONS CAN AND WILL BE TAKEN.
THE HEARINGS WHICr COMMENCE TODAY PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE PROPER MEANS AND PROCEDURES ARE IN PLACE TO PROTECT CITIZENS WHO LIVE IN THE VICINITT OF THE SEABROOK PLANT.
THE NRC'S ATOMIC SAFETY AND LICENSING BOARD IS CHARGED WITH AN IMPORTANT TASK:
IT MUST j
DETERMINE WHETHER THE NEW HAMPSHIRE OFF-SITE EMERGENCY PLANS I
MEET THE NRC'S REQUIREMENT THAT "THERE IS REASONABLE
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ASSURANCE THAT ADEQUATE PROTECTIVE MEASURES CAN AND WILL BE TAKEN IN THE EVENT OF A RADIOLOGICAL EMERGENCY."
I CONTENTIONS UNDER CONSIDERATION BY THE LICENSING BOARD I
PALL UNDER THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES:
PROCEDURES FOR NOTIFICATION AND COMMUNICATION; SHELTER; EVACUATION TIME ESTIMATES; RESPONSE PERSONNEL; TRANSPORTATION AVAILABILITY AND EMERGENCY SUPPORT SERVICES; RECEPTION CENTERS; AND, LETTERS OF AGREEMENT.
AS THE LICENSING BOARD BEGINS TO HEAR l
SWORN TESTIMONY REGARDING THESE CONTENTIONS, I WOULD LIKE TO DRAW THE BOARD'S ATTENTION TO SOME UNDERLYING ISSUES WHICH
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' iNUST BE ADDRESSED DURING THE COURSE OF THIS PROCEEDING.
FIRST, THE ESSENCE OF EMERGENCY PLANNING IS PREPAREDNESS.
FAMILIARITY AND TRAINING ARE BASIC TO SMOOTH
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PLANNING AND REDUCE SIGNIFICANTLY THE DANGER OF IMPROVISATION.
THE NEED TO REHEARSE FULLY EMERGENCY RESPONSE ACTIVITIES HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED BY THE NRC IN ITS REQUIREMENT j
UNDER SECTION 50.47 THAT PERIODIC EXERCISES BE CONDUCTED TO IDENTIFY DEFICIENCIES AND EVALUATE PLANS.
THIS REQUIREMENT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE COMMISSION'S 1980 DETERMINATION THAT AN AD IIOC EMERGEllCY RESPONSE IS UNACCEPTABLE.
I URGE THIS BOARD TO EXAMINE CAREFULLY PLAN COMPONENTS WHICH DEPEND UPON k
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m ANTICIPATED RATHER. THAN REHEARSED RESPONSES IN ORDER' TO L'
DETERMINE WHETHER-THEY PROVIDE THE NECESSARY ASSURANCE THAT.
PROTECTIVE MEASURES'WILL BE TAKEN.
SECONDp THE REQUIREMENT THAT PLANS."CAN AND WILL"'BE
. IMPLEMENTED IS' CENTRAL TO.THE NRC'S EMERGENCY ~ PLANNING
' REGULATION. -PLANS MUST BE JUDGED ON THEIR WORKABILITY RATHER THAN THEIR FEASIBILITY.
THE RECEIPT OF CONCRETE EVIDENCE i PROVING THAT EVACUATION PLANS RII& WORK UNDER ALL. ANTICIPATED CONDITIONS -- SUMMER AND WINTER, SHOULD BE A PREREQUISITE TO'
- ANY POSITIVE. FINDING BY.THIS BOARD.
- THIRD, PRACTICAL AND COMMON SENSE. CONSIDERATIONS HOLD EQUAL.IMPORTANCE TO QUANTIFIABLE ISSUES..DURING.THE DEBATE WHICH
- FOLLOWED THE DECEMBER 1986 ANNOUNCEMENT THAT SEABROOK
- OWNERS WOULD SEEKLTO WAIVE.THE TEN MILE EMERGENCY PLANNING ZONE REQUIREMENT, MANY IN SUPPORT OF THE WAIVER CHOSE TO
. IGNORE THE FUNDAMENTAL. ISSUE OF-HUMAN NATURE.
JUST AS IT IS CLEAR THAT PEOPLE.LIVING WITHIN AT LEAST TEN MILES OF-A NUCLEAR POWER PLANT WILL WANT TO LEAVE THE' AREA IN THE EVFNT OF AN ACCIDENT,'IT IS OBVIOUS THAT PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN TliE SEABROOK-EMERGENCY PLANS IS IMPERATIVE IN ENSURING AN EFFECTIVE. EMERGENCY RESPONSE.
LASTLY, UNDER SECTION 50.47 OF THE COMMISSION'S RULES,
.THE NRC IS REQUIRED TO BASE ITS FINDINGS REGARDING THE ADEQUACY OF EMERGENCY PLANS'ON THE FINDINGS AND DETERMINATIONS OF. THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (FEMA).
I BELIEVE THAT AS' FEDERAL EXPERTS IN DEVELOPING, COORDINATING.AND IMPLEMENTING EMERGENCY PLANS AND. PROGRAMS, FEMA'S' ANALYSIS OF EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PLANNING FOR THE SEABROOK NUCLEAR POWER PLANT PROVIDES AN INVALUABLE ASSESSMENT OF'THE PLANS.
THUS, I UNDERSCORE THE IMPORTANC E OF FEMA'S POSITION PARTICULARLY REGARDING THE CRITICAL IS:-
OF SHELTER FOR -THE TRANSIENT " DAY-TRIPPER" BEACH POPULAT!
THE SITING OF THE SEABROOK PLANT WITHIN A WELL-POPUU AREA-CLOSE TO POPULAR BEACHES PRESENTS UNIQUE PROBLEMS l'.
IMPLEMENTING EMERGENCY RESPONSE MEASURES.
THE CONTENTIU' BEFORE THE LICENSING BOARD ARE COMPLICATED, AND CRITICAL THE CITIZENS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
IT IS THE DUTY OF THIS BCAC,
THROUGH A FAIL AND OBJECTIVE HEARING ON THE EMERGENCY PLAN TO ENSURE THA? THE DIFFICULTIES PRESENTED BY SEABROOK'S LOCATION DO FOT RESULT IN ANY REDUCTION IN THE MARGIN OF SAFETY OF THo3E WHO WOULD POTENTIALLY BE AFFECTED BY AN
- i. ACCIDENT AT THE SEABROOK PLANT.
SEABROOK CANNOT OPERATE UNTIL AN ADEQUATE EMERGENCY I
- RESPONSE CAN AND WILL BE ASSURED.
THE PROTECTION OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THOSE RESIDING WITHIN CLOSE t
PROXIMITY TO THE SEABROOK NUCLEAR POWER PLANT DEPENDS UP '.
THE ASSURANCE THAT, IN THE EVENT OF A RADIOLOGICAL EMERC STATE AND LOCAL OFFICIALS WILL BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT AN l
EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE EMERGENCY EVACUATION PLAN.
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