ML20239A677

Responds to Re Proposed Const of Nuclear Plant at Bodega Bay.Memo Describing Procedures for Reviewing Applications Encl

ML20239A677
Person / Time
Site:	05000000, Bodega Bay
Issue date:	08/29/1963
From:	Seaborg G US ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION (AEC)
To:	Anderson CALIFORNIA, STATE OF
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 8709180093
Download: ML20239A677 (4)

Text

r j 1 j i

hg k 14LL.0 h{ g nf

' ~

y,p 1

/dcas I

i I

i 1

i par Lt. Governor Anderson:

1 This replies to your letter of August 13 1%3 in which you ex-; j pressed concern relative to the proposed construction of a nuclear power reactor at Bodega Bay, California.. Your concern was both for the safety of the public and for the natural beauty.  ;

of Bodega Head. I Since the various technical safety reviews of-this application have not yet been completed 'and the public hearing required by ]

. law.has, therefore, not yet been held, I am unable to state a - l position on the merits of the case at the present time. I be-lieve, however, that a brief description' of our procedures for reviewing applications of this type may be helpful to you. I sur thereforg enclosing a memorandum prepared by our regulatory i staff describing these procedures. Although copies of such notice of hearing as may be issued in this matter will be for- 1 warded to the Coordinator, Office of Atomic Energy Development and Radiation Protection, in Sacramento, I have asked the regulatory staff to address s' copy directly to you.

Sincerely yours, . bec: Chairman (2)

Cong. Lia. (2)

Secretariat (2) 8709180093 851217 PDR H. L. Price, REG FOIA FIRESTOBS-665 PDR ,

E. R. Price, LR-Chairman -

g C. T. Edwards --

7 /M Formal Honorabia Glenn M. Anderson F Supplemental Lieutenant Governor  :

{' Document Room (2)

State of California y Sacramento, California ,

g[

J .. ', 40'd f

Enclosure:

/,

l. 9 Mesorandum (- i 1 ~[ ..

I

, f ,  !)

o->

Q t. Sikz/) .g wc Qg .

(p"^EwG.ua. ,

suwwcM.CIEdwards.:bmj... j

.E8 ice...... tg

..RLste.nat.c.l.n.. .. 3, A.. e a i

Dart > .... . .I . . 1._ i...... . . . . . . 3 .2.f lt ..d. ...

atrm An:c ass (ner.9-sn u. a. m.. .. . n.. .n .. . is emi.: ./

L

@70th .,

+

I i

1 i

I

- l 1

l MEMORMOUM CONCERNING LT. COVERf0R ANDERSON'S LETTER TO CHAIRMAN SEABORC DATED AUGUST 13, 1963 I

i i

Before the Comminston can reach a decision on the issuance of a l Permit authorizing construction of a power reactor like the one j proposed by Pacific Cas & Flectric Company, our technical staff l must make a comprehensive safety review of the proposed design, location and construction of the plant. In addition, these i matters must be reviewed by the Advisory Committee on Reactor  !

Safeguards The and the report of the Committee must be made public. i advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards was established by )

Congress to advise the Commission on matters of this kind. It }

is made up of acientists and engineers who are eminently quali- ,

f fled in the scientific disciplines relating to reactor safety.  ;

Af ter these reviews have been completed, a public hearing must be  !

held before an Atomic Safety and Licensing Board. At such a hear-  !

l ing, the company proposing the plant must present evidence justify- l ing the proposal from the standpoint of public health and safety {

, and members of the technical staff of the Commission present their {

l evaluation of the safety aspects of the plant. In this hearing, nembers of the public who have an interest in the matter umy i I

i participate in accordance with the Commission's " Rules of Practice",

! 10 CFR Part 2, a copy of which in attached.

Lt. Governor Anderson may be particularly interested in Section 2.715(c) which provides that the presiding officer will afford a representative of an interested State which is not a party a reasonable opportunity to participate and to introduce evidence, interrogate witnesses, and advise the Commission without requiring the representative to take a pcsition with respect to the issues.

At the conclusion of the public hearing, the Atomic Safety and Li-censing Board renders an initial decision and this decision is then subject to review by the Commission at the request of a party or on its own notion.

The purpose of these extensive technical safety reviews and procedures is to assure thorough consideration of all aspects of the proposed

! plant bearing upon the question of whether it can be constructed and operated safety of at thethe proposed site without undue risk to the health and public.

i review of reactor projects is provided in the attached pamphlet.A m I

.T n

_ ._rr _.

?

1

• l In the case of the proposed Bodega Bay site, the proximity of the 1 i

' si te to the 4en Andreas fault is one of the factors to which the staff is giving particular attention in evaluating the application.

All technical aspects including the hydrological, meteorological, seismological and geological characteristics of the site are being

{

thoroughly explored in the course of review by the staff and the l Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguarda. A copy of a report by that Committee, dated April 18, 1963, concerning the reactor is attached. In addition, the U. S. Geological Survey, at the Commis-l ston's request, is conducting a thorough field study of the geology l cf the site at which the company proposes to construct the reactor.

A construction permit will not be issued unless the Commission, following completion of the safety reviews described above, a  ;

public hearing and a decision by the Atomic Safety and Licensing  !

Board, and consideration of all factors bearing upon safety, is convinced that the facility can be constructed and operated at the proposed location without undee risk to the health and safety of the public.

It should be noted, however, tLat local zoning and the esthetics of  ! I a site are matters more properly within local and state jurisdiction and are not within the purview of the Atomic Energy Commission.

Therefore, such matters will not be issues which will be considered at the hearing which will be held in this matter at Santa Rosa on a I date as yet undetermined.

l Attachments.

j

1. 10 CFP Part 2 l

2. Pamphlet

3.  !

ACBS Letter dtd 4/18/63 l l

l .

i

, i i

l-i

?

l

t- 1

-]

1 4 .

. g\

/: )

.g... ,

V.

j

" 4.

w .. ; ,,

Dear Mr. Andersoru-This replies to your. letter of August 13, 1963 in which you expressed concern relative. to the proposed California. of construction a nuclear power reactor at Bodega Bay, Your concern was both for the safety of the public and for the' natural beauty- of Bodega' Head.-

Since the various technical safety reviews of. this application have not yet been completed and the public hearing required by law has, therefore, not yet been ,

held, I am unable to state a position ~ on the merits of the case at'the present time. 1.believe, however, that a brief description of our. procedures for reviewing applica-I tions of this type may be helpful to you. ; I am enclosing-a me.norandtan prepared by 'our regulatory staff describing .

these procedures. Although copies of such -notice 'of hear-ing as may ha issued in this'estter will be forwarded' co -

the Coordinator, Office of Atomic Energy De.volopaant and Radiation Protection,.in Sacramento, I have asked the. ,

regulatory staff to address a copy!directly to you. I Sincerely yours, 1

l.l zeye t . ;:.: I bawg Glenn T. Seaborg Honorable Glenn H. Anderson Lieutenant Governor.

State of California Sacramento, California Encl e Rewritten in Chairman s' office t August l 29, 1963 ' - ES

. i l*

s 1 ..

" l. t N.

r i$ -

$w=a--_ :- =_ = e-w ,e=' " ^*~-'~~~ ~ ' ' ' ~ ~ " ' ' '

. .+

~ ' . , 2-