ML062420441

Letter from Representative Saxton Regarding the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station

ML062420441
Person / Time
Site:	Oyster Creek
Issue date:	08/09/2006
From:	Saxton J US HR (House of Representatives)
To:	Diaz N J NRC/Chairman
References
G20060714, LTR-06-0401
Download: ML062420441 (2)

Text

.J4SAXTONXO ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE THIRD DISTRICT.

NEWJERSEY SUECOMMITIEES:

S WWWHOUSE.GOVISAXTON TERRORISM, UNCONVENTIONAL THREATS AND CAPABILITIES JOINT ECONOMIC COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN CHAIRMAN PROJECTION FORCES RESOURCES COMMITTEE MILITARY PERSONNEL SUBCOMMITTEES:

FISHERIES AND OCEANS NATIONAL PARKS N .& "'t of Aeprcsentaie ma~rjinlton, :nBQ 20515 August 9, 2006 Dr. Nils J. Diaz, Chairman Nuclear Regulatory Commission 11555 Rockville Pike Rockville, MD 20852

Dear Dr. Diaz:

I send this letter as my official comment regarding the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS)issued as part of the operating license renewal process for the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Facility in Forked River, New Jersey.The recent DEIS, issued by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, states there are no environmental impacts that would preclude renewing the operating license extension of Oyster Creek. According to the report, the Commission has determined that the adverse environmental impacts of license renewal would not prevent energy planning decision makers from granting the operating extension.

As I understand it, the NRC conducted a thorough analysis to reach this determination.

However, I am concerned the environmental impacts of a potential atmospheric release of radiation have not been adequately addressed in this report. In 2005, the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) released a report evaluating the potential risks of boiling water reactor (BWR) plants with above ground spent fuel pools. The report, entitled Safety and Security of Commercial Spent Fuel Storage, found the potential vulnerabilities of BWR pools are plant-design specific, and recommended that,"The Nuclear Regulatory Commission should undertake additional best-estimate analyses to more fully understand the vulnerabilities and consequences of loss-of-pool coolant events that could lead to a zirconium cladding fire." Although the DEIS contains a specific section regarding Severe Accident Mitigation, I inqtiire.

s to whether or not the NAS suggested analysis was incorporated into the statement?

We must not underestimate the catastrophic impacts to our environment in the event a cooling pool is compromised.

I have long supported the involvement of an independent and unbiased third party, such as the NAS, in the license renewal process of Oyster Creek. Additionally, I support the inclusion of their suggested analysis in the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), and urge the NRC to make every effort to do so.Thank you for your continued commitment to this important matter.S e rel Jim Saxton Member of Congress RAYBURN HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING 100 HIGH STREET, SUITE 301 247 MAIN STREET WA SABHUINGTON, DC 2051U-3 LDN 5 MOUNT HOLLY, NJ 08060-1459 0 TOMS RIVER. NJ 08753-7468 WS)- 2812 80 (7321 914-2020----r~

I."9 y5~~ A~~*H~'~',i~~;l i~-,Z-~i--.TAO N EDO Principal Correspondence Control 1 3 4L1 o 4.-LD q FROM: DUE: 08/24/06 EDO CONTROL: G20060714 DOC DT: 08/09/06 FINAL REPLY: Rep. Jim Saxton TO: Former Chairman Diaz FOR SIGNATURE OF Chairman Klein DESC:** PRI **CRC NO: 06-0401 ROUTING: Comments Regarding the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) Issued as Part of the Operating License Renewal Process for Oyster Creek Generating Facility DATE: 08/15/06 Reyes Virgilio Kane Silber Dean Burns Cry, OGC Collins, RI Zimmerman, NSIR " Sheron, RES ASSIGNED TO: NRR CONTACT: Dyer SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR REMARKS: Coordinate with OGC.6 J )"VIM