ML11293A043

Comment (41) of Leo Bowman, Shon Small & James Beaver on Behalf of Benton County, Wa, Board of Commissioners, Supporting the Relicensing of the Columbia Generating Station

ML11293A043
Person / Time
Site:	Columbia
Issue date:	10/13/2011
From:	Beaver J, Bowman L, Small S Benton County, WA, Board of Commissioners
To:	Cindy Bladey Division of Administrative Services
References
76FR54502 00041
Download: ML11293A043 (4)

Text

Leo Bowman Board of County Commissioners David Sparks District 1 County Administrator Shon Small BENTON COUNTY District 2 Loretta Smith Kelty James Beaver Deputy County Administrator District 3 13 October 2011 /;ý

/LIP -~g Cindy Bladey, Chief C-Rules, Announcements, & Directives Branch Division of Administrative Services Office of Administration

('ýDI United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission C/')

Mail Stop: TWB-05-BO1M Washington DC 20555-0001 Re: Relicensing of the Columbia Generating Station

Dear Ms Bladey:

Attached, please find a resolution from Benton County affirming our support for relicensing of the Columbia Generating Station in Washington state..

Benton County appreciates the NRC's rigorous safety, security, and environmental reviews as part of the relicensing process, and we believe you Will find this. facility's record and importance to the community to be more than worthy of full relicensing through 2043.

Thank you, BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, Leo Bowman, Chairman Sh on Smiall James Beaver P.O. Box 190, Prosser, WA 99350-0190; Phone (509) 786-5600 or (509) 736-3080, Fax (509) 786-5625 0 )5 -T7- e"/-tl.< 0- 7 y-,/ commissioners@co.benton.wa.us <f 1Z9)/D" -5'1-23

cc: Governor Christine Gregoire US Senator Patty Murray US Senator Maria Cantwell US Representative Doc Hastings Energy Northwest Franklin County City of Kennewick

. City of Pasco City of Richland

• City of West Richland Tri-Cities Development Council

RESOLUTION BEFORE THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF BENTON COUNTY, WASHINGTON IN THE MATTER OF LICENSE RENEWAL FOR THE COLUMBIA GENERATING STATION WHEREAS, Benton County has long recognized that it is one of America's premiere "nuclear communities", and has supported projects, policies, and programs related to nuclear industries that are integral to our region's culture and economy; and, WHEREAS, Washington's first and only nuclear power reactor - the Columbia Generating Station - has safely and effectively operated in Benton County for over a quarter century;

and, WHEREAS, Columbia Generating Station's 8,100 GW annual electrical output represents 4% of the power generated in the state of Washington; and when combined with hydropower, solar power, and wind power, provides diversity, contingency, and grid balance for our region's energy production portfolio; and, WHEREAS, operation of the Columbia Generating Station provides about 1,100 high-quality jobs for our community, and generates about $440 million annually in economic activity; and, WHEREAS, the environmental, security, and safety record of the Columbia Generating Station is impeccable; and Energy Northwest has consistently shown a commitment to worker training, emergency planning, and educational outreach in regards to its operation of the Station; and, WHEREAS, the Columbia Generating Station produces clean, cost-effective power on a scale that dwarfs its physical and environmental footprint, as the Station that occupies barely a few hundred acres of land is able to power the equivalent of one million homes or supply the electrical duty of the entire city of Seattle; and, WHEREAS, the time has come re-evaluate the operating license for the Columbia Generating Station and extend its operations for an additional 20 years until the year 2043; NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Benton County Board of Commissioners that Benton County reaffirms its support for the operation of safe, relevant nuclear industries in Benton County, including nuclear power.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Columbia Generating Station and its operator Energy Northwest have been an asset to our community for 26 years, and that nuclear power is a vital piece of our region's and our nation's energy portfolio.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that based on the quality of this community asset and degree of this energy need, Benton County fully supports relicensing of the Columbia Generating Station by the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission for 20 additional years of operation until the year 2043. RESOLUTION //P-'4 PAGE 1 of 2

Dated this // day of &C ....-. 2011.

hairman of the Board Member Member Constituting the Board of Commissioners of Benton County, Washington.

Attest .of. BoaM.'e orig: BOCC file cc: Energy Northwest, Sustainable Development Prepared by: A.J. Fyall RESOLUTION #/__i.._PAGE 2 of 2