ML20195J764

Responds to 881012 Ltr Re Restart of Plant.Informs That Commission Postponed Decision on Proposed Restart of Plant to Further Evaluate Emergency Planning Issues & Scheduled 881209 Public Meeting in Rockville,Md for Hearing

ML20195J764
Person / Time
Site:	Pilgrim
Issue date:	11/28/1988
From:	Zech L NRC COMMISSION (OCM)
To:	Lawler R BREWSTER, MA
Shared Package
ML19307A057	List: ML20195J764 ML20195J777
References
NUDOCS 8812050044
Download: ML20195J764 (2)

Text

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'. ' p tea fbh i' 'i UNITED STATES j i , ) .,.. c 1 NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION ,

g / WASHINGTON, D.c. 20606 l

CHAIRMAN November 28, 1988 i

, i-Ms. Rita A. Lawler. Chairman ,

Erewster Board of Selectmen  !

2198 Main Street '

Brewster. Massachusetts 02631

Dear Ms. Lawler:

)

I am responding to your letter cf October 12, 1988 concerning the i-restart of the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station. You requested thtt '

the Commission delay consideration of the restart of the facility until emergency planning issues are resolved. As a result of our  ;

own cencerns about the status of emergency planning, the

• Commission, in a meeting held on October 14 1988, postponed its '

decision on the proposed restart of the plant In order to further  !

evaluate this issue. l The Commission is interested in hearino the views of local l officials and citizens on issues associated with the restart of l the Pilgrim facility, including the status of emergency planning  ;

in the towns surrounding the plant. Prior to the Commission's  ;

October 14 meeting, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff .

had conducted a series of meetings in the vicintty of the Pilgrim facility to hear the views of the public on the possible restart During the October 14 meeting of Pilgrim. the Commission heard the views of elected representatives from Massachusetts, including Lt. Governor Murphy, Senator Kennedy, and Representative Studds.

NRC staff representatives recently met with Civil Defense  !

Directors and other loci officials in the seven emergency l planning rene (E?Z) an/ eception center communities around Pilgrim. These meetic were held to enable the NRC to obtain i first-hand informati on the status of the local emergency plans [

and procedures and t, hear the concerns of local officials.  !

The Commission has decided to hold a public neeting in our Rockville. Maryland, headouarters building to hear from local  !

officials in the EPZ and reception center communities regarding i the status of emergency plans and the readiness of local communi. t ties to protect the public in the event of an cuergency. This j meeting has been scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on December 9. 1988. -

In order to fully consider all of this information. the ,

t Commission does not plan to reach a decision on the rest 3rt of i the Pilgrim plant at this meeting. (

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l The Commission takes most serie"sly its responsibility to protect f the public health and safety. I can assure you that we will not l authorize the Pilgrim plant to restart unless we are convinced .

that it can be operated safely and that the public health and i safety will be protected.

j sincerely. I VilA)th. iYN ^.

LandoW.ZeA,Jrh f

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