ML20236P124

Responds to Transmitting Righetti Ltr,Urging Immediate Issuance of OL on Temporary Basis for Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant & Questioning Value of Laws That Require Nearly Four Years to Compile Info to Issue OL

ML20236P124
Person / Time
Site:	Diablo Canyon
Issue date:	06/13/1977
From:	Dircks W NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO)
To:	Lagomarsino R HOUSE OF REP.
Shared Package
ML20236J368	List: IA-87-214, Discusses ACRS 92nd Meeting on 671207-09.ACRS Completed Review of PG&E Application for Const of Nuclear Unit at Diablo Canyon Site.Facility Can Be Constructed W/O Risk to Public Health & Safety ML20236J366 ML20236J587 ML20236J622 ML20236J671 ML20236J804 ML20236J841 ML20236J985 ML20236K008 ML20236K057 ML20236K327 ML20236K351 ML20236K384 ML20236K422 ML20236K563 ML20236L228 ML20236L279 ML20236L316 ML20236L364 ML20236L420 ML20236L474 ML20236L565 ML20236L647 ML20236L689 ML20236L706 ML20236L724 ML20236L756 ML20236L787 ML20236L806 ML20236L866 ML20236L901 ML20236L922 ML20236L931 ML20236L986 ML20236M007 ML20236M024 ML20236M065 ML20236M681 ML20236M725 ML20236M744 ML20236M771 ML20236M777 ML20236N015 ML20236N032 ML20236N085 ML20236N115 ML20236N139 ML20236N193 ML20236N208 ML20236N255 ... further results
References
FOIA-87-214 NUDOCS 8708120226
Download: ML20236P124 (3)

Text

- _ _ _ - - _ - _ .

q s JUN 18 IFF Docket nos. 50-275 and 50-323 The Honoraole Robert Lagmarsino United States House of Representatives ,

Washingtoh, D. C. 20515  !

Dear Congressman Lagmarsinos I am pleased to respond to your letter of May 19, 1977, to Mr. Ben Rusche.

Your letter forwarded correspondence from your constituent, Mr. Eighetti, who urged immediate issuance of an operating license on a temporary basis for the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant. He also questioned the value of laws that require nearly four years to compile adequate information to i issue an operating license.

First, let me discuss the present status of the Diablo Canyon coerating license application. Since last year, construction has been essentially completed for the first of the two units at this site. Also, since.last year, the plant's owner, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (IGE), has been {'

performing an engineering analysis to determine what modifications may be necessary to ensure that the plant can withstand a more severe earthquake than the ones for which it was originally designed. Tnis analysis is time conmraing and will not be completed in time to support a decision on the operating license before the summer of 1978. [A decision on an operating license would be n.ade only after reviews by the NRC staff and the Advisory Ccanittee on Reactor Saf eguarcs (ACRS) are completed and the Atomic Safety On3 Licensinq Board (ASLB) has considered the matter at public hearings.]

l On the other hand, it might be possible to reach a decision on an interim operating license by the end of 1977. This possible approach and the technical information that would be needed to justify it were outlined in a letter  ;

to the California Energy Resources Conservation end Develo;raent Corcission {

l on March 18, 1977, (Enclosure 1). PC&E has indicated that it will apply for such an interim license and provice the required technical information at the earliest practical date.

I As to the delay, the Diablo Canyon oparating license application has been 3 uncer review since October 1973, which is an exceptionally long time. The i aelay has been due to the time necessary to resolve seismic safety questions.  !

The first two years of the review were consumed in investigating and evaluating l l

- . i D \pt 8700120226 870729 PDR FOIA  !

p , ,CONNOR87-214 PDRL

[____ ______ -- -- .

)

• u 4

The Honorable Robert Lagamarsino -

2-l the newly discovered Hoegri fault that runs about 31/2 miles offshore from the plant. The imC staff and U. 8. Geological Survey evaluations then indicated that the maximum potential earthquake at the site could be substantially more severe than that for which the plant has been originally designed, necessitating the analysis that is currently underway.

I tr.at you will find this information responsive to Mr. Righetti's concerns.

Sincerely, a JSigned) William J. Dircks William J. Dircks Assistant Executive Director for Operations l

Enclosure:

1. Letter to Errergy Eesources l conservation ana Develognent Cccnission

'l I

I I

i i

$EE PREVIOUS YELLOW FOR CONCURRENCES OELD DD/ D RCDe .R e 6/ /77 - ~6/ /77 6/ /77 d L h err.e s

• LWR-#1* LWR-#17 AD/ LWR P D OCA -

DATTTson:klf l JStolz

.u w.w > pg .1 ton--- - -

DVassallo- EG e ossick {[#4 -

p.ts k / /77 6/ /77- 6/ /77--

6~ ~ - /77 .

. 6/(0/77 6//3/77- ,

NRC FORM 338 (9-76) NRCM 0240 W un s. oovsmuusut enswriue orricar ieys - eas4 4 ,,

7-

. , e - r DISTRIBUTION V Docket Files (50-275 & 50-323) M j NRC PDR H Local PDR

EDO Reading NRR Reading ECase RBoyd {

RDeYoung_ i HDenton

, RHeineman i VStello i 1 DCrutchfield .

J Attorney, ELD -

)

l CA-(3) '

GErtter (f02010)

HGroff(if02010) {

EHughes .

L0reher JStolz DAllison EHylton JYore, ASLB j IE(3) 1 DVassallo  !

LYGossick '

bec: Pacific Gas & Electric Company l

l C. Kammerer, CA l

1 l

I T

i f d t

i orrecE W _ _

sunNAms > ,

I D A t s' >

NRC FORM 318 (9 76) NRCM 0240 . D uJ s. ooVERNMENT PRINTINO oFF#CEs 1976 = 826 634