ML19340A373

Expresses Support for Nuclear Energy Industry.Nuclear Power Considered Preferred Means of Generating Electricity Over All Existing Means.Essential Features of Nuclear Reactor Operation Have Proven to Be Practical & Safe

ML19340A373
Person / Time
Site:	Crystal River
Issue date:	10/19/1972
From:	Hale C AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED
To:	US ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION (AEC)
References
NUDOCS 8003250682
Download: ML19340A373 (5)

Text

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r' AEC DIMIBUTION FOR PART 50 DOCXET MAT 9IAL

. , - (TEMPORARY FORM) ' CONTROL NO: 5808 7777 ENVTRO FROM: DATE OF DOC: DATE REC'D LTR MEMO RP2 l CTDiER Chauncey C. Hale D-M w, Fla. 33528 .

10-10-72 10-25-72 X TO: ORIG CC OTHER SE.Y2 AEC FDR X SENT LOCAL PDR X DEL _ 1 CIASS: , G PROP INFO INPUT NO CYS REC'D DOCET 50:

1 50-302 DESCRIPTION: ENCLOSURES: -

Ltr furnishing co=ments on Draft Enviro Stctement for the Crystal River Unit 3......

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,,;_un PLAN 2 NAMES: Crytsal River Unit 3 FOR ACTION /INFORMATION 10-31-72 AB BUTLER (L) SCHWENCER(L) SCHEMEL(L) KNIGHION(E)

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. 3 50-302 1161 Fairway Dr.

Dunedin, Fla. 33528 October 19, 1972 Directorate of Licensing U. S. Atomic Energy Commission Jashington, D. C. 20545 Gentlemen:

It is my understanding that the AEC is seeking comments from the public on the construction of a nuclear power reactor as an addition to the two existing oil-fuied generating units at Florida power Corp. 's Crystal River power plant.

I have been a resident for nearly three years in the area served by the Corp. I have no interest of any sort in Florida power, but I am very much interested in being supplied uith electrical power in a continuing manner as the Florida Power Corp. has so effectively done in the past.

cannot pose as befng representative of the public-at-large as I have been privileged to have had experience in several of the herein related areas, briefly:

1. I have a PhD in Chemistry (1937, Univ. of Wis.).

2. I have been in the employ of Esso Research and Engr.

Co. for 35 years and am now retired.

3. my early work related to problems encountered in the use of fuel oils including the heavy bunker-type fuel used by ships and utilities.

4. Later work related to radio isotopes. I have made personal visits to the Brookhaven and Oak Ridge re-actors and have briefly handled a small neutron source intended f or activation analysis.

5. In the recent years I assisted a g roup of six

,_ engineers in the preparation of a report for the 4 W, h ,

National Air pollution Control Administration under g"'

/d, contract No. PH 22-68-55 entitled " Systems Study of

"d Nitrogen Oxide Control methods for Stationary Sources."

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. .. 4 6._ In compiling the report's bibliography I had intimate I

contact with all literature in the specialized field of interest of each engineer.

4 7. In retirement I am a regular subscriber to " Environ-mental Science and Technology" magazine.

8. I have perused the " Draft Environmental Statement by 4

the Directorate of Licensing, U.S. Atomic Energy Com-mission related to the proposed Operation of Crystal-

! River Unit 3, issued Sept. 1972.

4 I understand the Florida power Corp. has recently decided

not to proceed further on the construction of a nuclear reactor power unit at Crys.tal River as the delays caused by environmental studies and other requirements made it impossible to complete it

in time to meet the future demands. If this abandonment is correct, I hope my comments will be considered as applicable to the power 4

industry nationwide.

hiy position is that nuclear reactor power is the preferred

means of generating electrical energy over all other presently known means. I feel assured, based on operating experience to date, that the essential features in nuclear reactor operation have been proven to be practical and 8afc. However, I hope that reactor safety will receive continuing attention.

Accordingly, there'only remains the environmental problems of site location and thermal pollution. As to the former, I am much less concerned withr the possible environmental impact than with the practical aspects related to plant operation and cost control. The present exclusion area required around a nuclear plant permits the site location to be in moderately populated areas. The

Crystal River site is certainly acceptable. In my opinion, nature follows the_line of least resistance, and more often.than not, the results are' obnoxious to man. . Nature needs man's help to produce an orderly environpent. However, the evidence of empty beer cans, old tires, abandoned autos,_etc. indicates that a fiirly large segment of mankind also insists in following the 1 cast resistance route. In short, I am saying that a nuclear plant located in a

, large maintained area is a pleasure to observe and a credit to the

-nation's technological accomplishment. ,

m 3-The term " thermal pollution" immediately conveys the impression of something bad, but recent studies show that the

" heated discharge water" from power plants has caused little harm. (See Environ. Sci. Technol. 6, 1, 224-30, 1972). On the other hand, it is entirely possible that this discharge can be turned irto an asset, e.g., agua culture. (See ibid 6, 1, 233-7, 1972). Such advantage is currently being taken at the Crystal River site by the Ralston purina Co., starting with shrimp culture.

If the future electrical demand requires aniddition to the present units, more heatad water will be discharged regardless of unit type.

The nuclear reactor will double the discharge increase vs a fossil-fueled unit. This additional discharge, which may be roughly 2S%

of the total, cannot be expected to produce sufficiently more dam-age to marine life to be the reason to abandon the nuclear reactor.

In my opinon, the availability of sufftient electrical energy at reasonable-cost for all people in the service area greatly over-shadows any loss of marine life, if such occurs, or displeasure on the part of sports fishermen.

Further, it is my opinion that power companies are being i unduly harassed by minority interests to the detriment of the great 4 majority who are purchasers of electrical energy. The current out-look is for higher cost and limited supply, and the power companies mili get the blame and least deserve it.

Included in my classification of minority interests are the environmental alarmists or ecology nuts who have suddenly been able to hinder reasonable progress. To their ranks I add the numerous government agencies that have suddenly gotten in on the act and whose licenses and permits are slowing /ESking impossible worthwhile projects. They appear to be " empire builders" that like to imagine that the public demands their ser0 ices. Regretably, it is these influences that probably have causedFlorida power to aban-done its nuclear reactor project.

In seeking to determine if a majority of the general public either f avors the installation or not of a nuclear reactor at Crystal River, consideration must be given to the abailability of information should they choose to be interested. probably ,'.1 such knowledge

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is obtained f rom local newspapers and periodicals which usually have an alarmist slant. Accordingly any decision will involve sulfur dioxide and particulate pollution by fossil-fueled gen-erators vs. radiation hazard and thermal discharge damage by a nuclear reactor. In balancing one against the other, the final

-judgment could be for an adequate supply of electricity at the lowest possible cost, with the hope that the decisions will be made by scientists, engineers, and politicians who should be best qualified.

Very truly you rs,

, ,-;

Chauncey C. Hale cc Florida Power Corp.

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