ML20236J234
| ML20236J234 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 05/07/1998 |
| From: | Diaz N NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Hoyle J NRC OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY (SECY) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20236J168 | List: |
| References | |
| REF-10CFR9.7, RULE-PRM-50-63, RULE-PRM-50-63A SECY-98-061-C, SECY-98-61-C, NUDOCS 9807080099 | |
| Download: ML20236J234 (1) | |
Text
NOT ATION VOTE RESPONSE SHEET TO:
John C. Hoyle, Secretary FROM:
COMMISSIONER DIAZ SECY-98-061 - STAFF OPTIONS FOR RESOLVING
SUBJECT:
A PETITION FOR RULEMAKING (PRM-50-63 AND 50-63A)
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RELATING TO A RE-EVALUATION OF THE POLICY REGARDING THE USE OF POTASSIUM IODIDE (KI) BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC AFTER A SEVERE ACCIDENT AT A NUCLEAR POWER PLANT Approved I
Disapproved Abstain Not Participating Request Discussion
- COMMENTS:The pennon in its amended form is modest and moderate..it asks only tnat States be required to
' consider" potassium lodine as one element of emergency planning. Notwithstand!ng that the NRC has full authority I
under the Atomic Energy Act to make K1 stockpiling a mandatory part of emergency planning at every nuclear plant, the petitioner, unlike many commenters, is willing to defer to a State's judgement. I find this reasonable.
The record of the rulemaking makes plain that the U.S. has fallen behind other' nations in leaming and applying one of the majorlessons of Chemobyl. If after all the 1(Jurir Gen that nas accrued since Chemobyl-on the efectiver:ess j
of Kl. Its safety, and the conse.:;uences of being without it-we at the NRC are unwilling to institute a rulemaking to require states to even consider KI, this will be viewed, correctly, as indicating how little value NRC attaches to this measure. Given NRC's vacillation and, at times, obfuscation regarding the issue of KI, the approach of only providing information to the states without a rulemaking, although sound per se, is, after all these years, no longer enough.
Thus, to deny the petition would appear as defaulting on our responsibility to protect the health and safety of ths American people. As an incidental, although not trivia' matter giving the USG involvement in the ' lessons teamed" from Chemobyl, it would also mean forfeiting any claim the NRC may have to leadership in the intemational nuclear regulatory community. Fer all of these reasons, I am voting to prove the petition and move expeditiously to rui making.
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SIG'NhTUREf
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5O~N Release Vote /
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DATE Withhold Vote /
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Entered on "AS" Yes No l
9907080099 900626 I~
PDR COMMS NRCC h
CORRESPONDENCE PDR h
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