ML20234F471

Forwards Press Release Re Util Decision to Withdraw Application for Bodega Bay Atomic Plant.Partial AEC Press Release & Partial ACRS Also Encl

ML20234F471
Person / Time
Site:	05000000, Bodega Bay
Issue date:	10/30/1964
From:	Whelchel C PACIFIC GAS & ELECTRIC CO.
To:	Price H US ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION (AEC)
Shared Package
ML20234A767	List: IA-85-665, Discusses Seismic Design of Nuclear Power Plants,Including Const of Nuclear Plants in Seismically Active Zones ML20234A761 ML20234A769 ML20234A792 ML20234A798 ML20234A803 ML20234A812 ML20234A816 ML20234A827 ML20234A830 ML20234A838 ML20234A841 ML20234A844 ML20234A847 ML20234A851 ML20234A855 ML20234A858 ML20234A861 ML20234A864 ML20234A868 ML20234A871 ML20234A874 ML20234A893 ML20234A896 ML20234A900 ML20234A911 ML20234A922 ML20234A929 ML20234A932 ML20234A937 ML20234A944 ML20234A956 ML20234A965 ML20234A968 ML20234A976 ML20234A984 ML20234A993 ML20234A996 ML20234A999 ML20234B005 ML20234B008 ML20234B023 ML20234B032 ML20234B035 ML20234B040 ML20234B062 ML20234B066 ML20234B076 ML20234B084 ML20234B098 ... further results
References
FOIA-85-665 NUDOCS 8709230133
Download: ML20234F471 (7)

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039 dh P ClFIC GAS AND ELECT.RIC COMPANYJfp l ;l 246 Market Street San Francisco 941o6

..H LCHEL SUtter 1 4212 October 30, 1964 1

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Mr. Harold L. Price Director of Regulation U.S. Atomic Energy Cotamission Washington, D.C. 20545  ;

Dear Mr. Price:

Enclosed is a copy of the release being made to i I

the press this morning on Bodega.  !

Sincerely yours, To .c .

J CCW:ca Enclosure i

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...... T ELE PHON E SU f.4 211 FOR DOEDIATE RELEASE

• Pacific Gas and Electric Company President Robert H. Gerdes announced today that the Company has decided to withdraw it$ application to the Atomic Energy Com-mission for the Bodega Bay Atomic plant.

Mr. Gerdes' statement follows:

"We have repeatedly stated that if any reasonable doubt ~ exists about the safety of the proposed Bode 6a plant, we would. not consider going forward with it..

"The Bodega site and the en6ineering 4.eaign of the plant were studied ex-tensively and confirmed as safe by eminent consultants in geology, seismology and i seismic design. The Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards, a;2 independent Group of twelve eminent scientists and engineers established by law to advise the Atomic Energy Commission, came to the same conclusion. We are convinced that these views are sound.

"The regulatory staff of the AEC, however, has recently reported that it ,

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has some doubt 'at the present state of our knowledge' about the capability of the structure to withstand the maximum assumed earthquake. Although a6reeing that 'the i .>

proposed engineering principles appear reasonable,' the Staff has expressed concern I over the lack of any experimental or experience proof-test of them.

"The doubt raised by the Staff, although a minority view, is sufficient to cause us to withdraw our application. We vould be the last to desire to build a plant with any substantial doubt existin6 as to public' safety.

"We have made provision for adequate electric generating capacity elsewhere to take care of our customers' needs for the several years immediately ahead.

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Our decision to withdraw the Bodega application does not mean we have' lost L .;

any confidence whatsoever in nuclear-electric generation.. Atomic plants are safe and- ,1 q

l dependable, as experience in California and elsewhere has shown. Nucleex fuel is -l l."

plentiful and rapidly is becoming the most econcaic heat sourco lfer pcwer generation. -

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Its application is especially important for meeting the future energy needs of' grow- -

ing California.

"RHkE's purpose remains, as' always, to provide our. customers with the most -

efficient, reliable and safe service at the lowest feasible rates. Further develop- ~i ment of this important peaceful use of the atom is essential to' thib objective." <

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dlhlTED STATES h ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSIO W A SHI N GTON, D.C. *20545 i

No. G-247 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEAdo Tel. 973-3335 or (Tuesday, October 27, 1964) 973-3446 AEC RELEASES TWO REPORTS ON PROPOSED REACTOR AT BODEGA HEAD, CALIFORNIA The Atomic Energy Commission today is making public two reports concerning the safety aspects of a nuclear power plant proposed by Pacific Gas and Electric Company at Bodega Head, approximately 50 miles north of San Francisco.

One report is from the Commission's Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards, a group estab,lished by law to advise the AEC on safety matters involved in r,eactor construction and operation. The ACRS has concluded that there is reasonable assurance that the proposed reactor can be constructed and operated at the Bodega Head site without undue hazard to the j health and safety of the public.

The other report, by the Division of Reactor Licensing, has been issued by the AEC Director of Regulation, whose staff makes safety reviews of reactor licensing applications. The Regulatory Staff has concluded that " Bodega Head is not a suitable location for the proposed nuclear power plant at the present state of our knowledge."

Under AEC regulatory procedures, a decision by the i Commission on PG&E's application will not be made until after the holding of a public hearing and issuance of an initial decision by a three-member atomic safety and licensing board.

Pacific Gas and Electric Company has applied to the Commission for~a permit to construct a 325,000 electrical kilowatt boiling water reactor at the south end of Bodega

, Head, a peninsuka sbparating Bodega harbor from the Pacific Ocean. The proposed reactor site is approximately 1000 feet west of'the western edge of the San Andreas fault zone.

The application for a provisional construction permit was made on December 28, 1962. Nine amendments.to the appli-cation have been received. In addition to information provided (more) /

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. ATTACHMENT #1

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l ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON REACTOR SAFEGUARDS UNITED STATES ATOMIC Ef4ERGY COMMISSION WASHINGTON 25. O.C.

October 20,1%4

' Honorable Glenn T. Seaborg -

Chairc:an

, U. S. Atomic Energy Com:nission Washington, D. C.

Suh, ject: REPORT ON BODDGA BAY ATOMIC PARK - UIET NO.1

Dear Dr. Seaborg:

At its fifty-fifth meeting'on May 7-9,1%4 at Argonne, Illinois, and at its fifty-eighth meetin6 on October 7-10,1%4, the Advisory Com-mittee on Reactor Safe 6uards again considered the proposal of Pacific Gas & Electric Company to construct and operate a 1008 W(t) boiling vater reactor on Bouaga Head north of San Francisco, California. The Co=mittee had the benefit of oral discussion with representatives of the applicant and its consultants, with the AEC Regulatory Staff and its . consultants,' including staff members of the U. S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the U. S. Coast and' Geodetic Survey (USC&GS) and of the reports cited below. Subcocznittee meetings were held July 31, 1%2 and March 20,1%3 and members of the Cournittee agaib visited the excavated site on June 3,1%4. Numerous information meetings were held with the applicant, the AEC Regulat' o ry Staff, and with consultants.

This propocal had been considered at the Co'm:nitteel s forty-seventh ineeting and reported on in its letter of April 18,1%3 which stated:

" Tentative exploration indicates that the tractor and turbine buildings vill not be located on an active fault line. The Connittee believes that if this point is established, the design criteria for the plant are adequate from the standpoint of hazards associated with earthquakes. Careful examination of the quartz-diorite tock below should be made during building excavation, to confirm this point. Furthermore, the Connittee suggests that,,4uring design, careful attention should be given lo the ability of emergency shutdown systems to operate properly during and subsequent to violent earth shocks, and to the stress effects that might be introduced bece ase the reactor building and the turbine building are to be anchored in different geological forcations. The need for earthquake-induced shutdown und isolation or the prisaary system can be considered at a later time."

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Att #1 - G-247 .

s Honorable Glenn T. Scaborg 3- october 20,19%

of testing or other experimental' verification of structural design features associated with earthquake protection; provisions to assure adequate cooling vater in case of damage to normal and emergency supply systems; core behavior during earthquakes; design and tests of critical plant ' components such as instrumentation, isolation valves, and control rod operating mechanistas to withstand earthquake damage; additional considerations which may be needed if zirconium clad fuel is to be used. .

The C'o mmittee recognizes that the applicant has accepted very conserva-tive values for earth shear movement, earthquake magnitudes, and taurutmi heights as des 18n criteria. These criteria should not be con-strued as precedents for use elsewhere.

• With due consideration being given to the items discussed above, the Advisory Con:mittee on Reactor Safeguards is of the opinion that the power reactor facility as proposed may be constructed at this site with reasonable assurance that it may be operated without undue hazard l' to the health and safety of the public.

Sincerely yours,

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Herbert Kouts Chairman References Attached.

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