ML19339A583

Expresses Concern Re Lack of Citizen Input Into Planning Process Surrounding Evacuation Plan

ML19339A583
Person / Time
Site:	Grand Gulf
Issue date:	06/02/1980
From:	John Miller CLAIBORNE COUNTY CITIZENS FOR SAFE ENERGY
To:	Hendrie J NRC COMMISSION (OCM)
Shared Package
ML19339A579	List: ML19339A583
References
NUDOCS 8011040326
Download: ML19339A583 (2)

Text

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CLAIBORNE COUNTY CITIZENS FOR SAFE EHERGY James Miller Phonee BOX 474 James Devoual PORT GIBSON, MS. 39150 601-437-6863 s.

5 June 2, 1980 i

Mr. Joseph M. He2dric Chairman, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission -

Washington, D.C. 20555

Dear Mr. Hendric:

This letter comes to your agency out of genuine concern for the safety of the people of Claiborne County, Mississippi.

Within the county, there has been formed a group of concerned persons who have very serious problems with our State / Local Emergency Respense Plans for Nuclear Reactor Accidents. Claiborne County Citizens for Safe Energy (CCCSE) feels that we, the .

citizens of Claiborne County, have been systematically left out _

of t.he nianninst process surrounding the evacuation plan.

{ When one 1 thanizational structure imposed within t he criteria, tizens inputJ at the top of the chart. To this point,'no met has~been developed by which this could have

,taken place. We do n4.t understand how the state and county, along with Mississippi Pceer and Light (MP&L) could have possibly sub-mitted their plan for approval to your agency wi*:hout the citizens of this county having some degree of knowledge as to what the plan

[ encompasses. -

We are very upset about the state of affairs surrounding our state / local plan and know of no other agency to turn to but yours for some direction on this most critical issue of emergency evacu-ation. One must remember that at Three Mile Island (TMI), both the NRC and state and local were at the mercy of the utility company for information about the advisability or needs for an evacuation.

It's a general consensus that during this key crisis point information was inadequately provided.

e pono-tw v )

a . . .

, J Page 2 June 2, 1980 4

The issue of Alcorn is ' &ceat importance. Alcorn has a population of approximately thraa thousand (3,000) persons during most of the year. This figure is half of the total number of people surveyed within t'* ten-mile radius.

According to the local Civil Defense Director, A.C. Garner, "he can't be sure that the evacuation of Alcorn would go smoothly because no transportation arrangements have been made and he does not know who has the responsibility for making these arrangements."

We, the members of CCCSE, feel that our Cocnty Plan is full of ambiguities, and gaps exist that make it virtually impossible for any rational thinking governmental agency to comp 3y with this State / Local and MP&L ivacuation Plan. In the final Analysis, CCCSE must take the position that a state of readiness is very im-portant in order to protect the public health and safety in the event of a nuclear power plant accident.

As Chairman Hendrie testified, "The accident at Three Mile Island has made it very clear that emergency planning and pre-paredness is a major and integral part of nuclear regulation. I don't think that any one needs to be persuaded that thorough emergency preparedness is an essential component in the regulatory structure protecting public heaJr.h and safety."

The lives of the people in Claiborne County will rest in the utility operator's hands. At least let us have_some degree of. input into the evacuation plan, .a view of the fact tu.c most of the citizens here had no input as to the building of this nuclear A strosity{

w s

.Si cerely yours, James Miller l

l Mu w y -- - -

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