ML061320264

E-mail from K. Mcmullin of Entergy to Various, Regarding Exchange Between Senator Clinton and NRC Chairman Diaz During Oversight Hearings on 3/9/06

ML061320264
Person / Time
Site:	Indian Point
Issue date:	03/10/2006
From:	Mcmullin K Entergy Nuclear Operations
To:	Brian Mcdermott, Jason White NRC/FSME
References
FOIA/PA-2006-0140
Download: ML061320264 (3)

Text

John White -FW: Exchange between Senator Clinton and NRC Chairman Diaz duringesig on 306 Page1 From: "McMullin, Kathy" <KMcMull @ entergy.com>

To: "'Brian McDermott"'

<BJM~nrc.gov>, "White John arwl @nrc.gov)" <jrwl @nrc.gov>,"'Timothy Rice"' <tbriceXgw.dec.state.ny.us>, "'Jack Spath"' <jps~nyserda.org>

Date: 3/10/06 11:48AM

Subject:

FW: Exchange between Senator Clinton and NRC Chairman Diaz duringoversight hearings on 3/9/06 FYI Journal News Coverage: Feds vow 'thorough' Indian Point study By GREG CLARY gclary lohud.com THE JOURNAL NEWS (Original publication:

March 10, 2006)The head of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has promised Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton that his agency will conduct a "thorough, independent review" of Indian Point after news of radiation leaks prompted five area congressional representatives to push for legislation that would force that in-depth inspection.

NRC Chairman Nils Diaz told Clinton at a hearing of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee yesterday that the agency would conduct an independent safety review of the nuclear plants.Clinton, D-N.Y., said she expected the review would include elements of federal legislation introduced Tuesday by Maurice Hinchey, D-Middletown, and co-sponsored by Eliot Engel, D-Bronx, Sue Kelly, R-Katonah, Nita Lowey, D-Harrison, and Connecticut Rep. Christopher Shays.Entergy officials have said the NRC is overseeing the plants properly and additional formal assessments, such as the lawmakers are proposing, were not necessary."Perhaps an assessment, given Indian Point's recent media attention, will clarify for the public that Indian Point is being operated safely," said Entergy spokesman Jim Steets.At yesterday's hearing, the senator said the independent review was needed to restore public confidence in Indian Point after tritium and strontium 90, two radioactive isotopes, were found at the Buchanan plants and a soon-to-be-replaced emergency siren system failed during a test Wednesday after similar problems in the past year."As I have indicated, public confidence in the plant has been steadily eroded by a series of mishaps at the plant," Clinton said. "And so, when the NRC completes its normal review processes, as happened recently, and gives the plant a clean bill of health, it doesn't inspire public confidence." The NRC's annual assessment of the plants' operations, which was put on the agency's Web site Saturday, said Indian Point's performance for 2005 was "in a manner that preserved public health and safety." Agency officials said an investigation of the complex's radiation leaks was not completed and wasn't included in the 2005 assessment and that the sirens' overall failure rate did not fall below the 94 percent threshold for proper operation.

6hn Whit F between Senator Clinton and NRC Chairman Diaz duringoversight hearings on 3/9/06 The details of the NRC review that Chairman Diaz announced yesterday will be included in a letter the NRC will send to Clinton in coming weeks, according to her office. She said she hoped the NRC's promise would make the legislation unnecessary, but she would continue to support it until she was satisfied with the regulators' response.Hinchey said he was grateful for Clinton's efforts."While we still need to see the NRC's commitment to a review in writing and learn of its scope and timing, this latest development is a victory for the people of New York and the surrounding areas," Hinchey said.TOP OF PAGE j PRINTER-FRIENDLY FORMAT I E-MAIL THIS ARTICLE Copyright 2006 The Journal News, a Gannett Co. Inc. newspaper serving Westchester, Rockland and Putnam Counties in New York. Use of this site signifies your agreement to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, updated June 7, 2005.USA Today

• USA Weekend

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• Gannett Foundation

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Original Message-----

From: Conroy, Pat Sent: Thursday, March 09, 2006 8:06 PM To: Dacimo, Fred; Comiotes, Jim; Rubin, Paul; Ventosa, John; Mayer, Don; McCann, John Cc: McMullin, Kathy; Faison, Charlene; dl -IPEC -LIC; Steets, Jim

Subject:

FW: Exchange between Senator Clinton and NRC Chairman Diaz duringoversight hearings on 3/9/06 See link below: apparently the commissioner(s) may have agreed to some type of special safety inspection at IPEC This is from the Senate Oversight Committee Meeting on Environment/Public Works that convened today (which Senator Clinton is a member).Senator Clinton's office apparently issued a press release on subject item.-----Original Message----

From: Brian McDermott

[1]

Sent: Thursday, March 09, 2006 7:26 PM To: McCann, John; Conroy, Pat

Subject:

Exchange between Senator Clinton and NRC Chairman Diaz duringoversight hearings on 3/9/06 The Senator's staff has made a recording of the testimony publically available.

I John White- FW: Exchange between Senator Clinton and NRC Chairman Diaz duringoversi ht hearings on 3/9/06 Page 3 http://www.clinton.senate.gov/audio/clintonO3O9O6m.mp3 CC: "Lavera, Ron" <RLavera entergy.com>, "Sachatello, Ronald" <rsach90aentergy.com>