ML20207M266

Raises Concerns Re Possible Plant Restart Prior to Development & Successful Exercise of fully-approved Emergency Preparedness Plan.Requests Opportunity to Address Commission at 881014 Meeting

ML20207M266
Person / Time
Site:	Pilgrim
Issue date:	09/28/1988
From:	Erin Kennedy SENATE
To:	Zech L NRC
Shared Package
ML20204J256	List: ML20204J250 ML20207M248 ML20207M266
References
NUDOCS 8810180204
Download: ML20207M266 (2)

Text

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ED0 3990 EDWARD M. KENNEDY 7his letter replaces

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.' en. Kennedy's earlier etter dated 9/27/88.

EnittD 8tatti 62;tatt Murley, NRR I

WASHINGTON, DC 2051o Hoyle Russell, RI I

September 2.

1988 t

Mr. Lando W.

Zech, Jr.

Chairman Nuclear Regulatory Commission 1717 H Street, N.W.

Washington, D.C.

20555

Dear Mr. Zech:

'It is my understanding that the Commissioners will be meeting on October 14th.

At that time the members will like.1y make a I

decision concerning the proposed restart of the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station in Plymouth, Massachusetts.

I have stated on a number of occasions that I do not believe the Pilgrim plant should be allowed to restart unless a series of critical problems are thoroughly resolved.

I ao particularly disturbed that the Commission is considering restart prior to the development and successful exercise of a fully-approved emergency preparedness plan.

Such a rush to restart can only be interpreted as ill-advised and potentially dangerous to the public safety.

r"-*harmore, uncettling questions remain relative to the potentiai impacts this plant has had on the public health of area residents.

The National Cancer Institute, at my urging, will soon begin a study of cancer mortality in populations living near nuclear power plants.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has already released disturbing statistics on cancer rates near the Pilgrim rsuctor.

This information should lead us to approach the subject of restart with caution.

We should, at a minimum, defer the restart decision until the initial findings of the NCI study are known.

4 8810180204 881007 PDR ADOCK 05000293 U

PNU

There are also a number of continual concerns regarding the completion of important safety improvements at the facility.

The NRC decision on the use of the direct torus vent has still not been made; safety questions about the Mark I Boiling Water Reactor have not been resolved; and the licensee's recent performance rating in the area of radiological controls remains less than satisfactory.

Therefore, I have joined with other members of the Massachusetts Congr" sional Delegation, with State elected officials, and with local sesidents, in calling I'or a full adjudicatory hearing to fully address these and other critical safety issues.

To date, the NRC has not agreed to hold such a hearing.

Last January, I chaired a hearing of the Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources on the proposed Pilgrim restart.

During that hearing I heard from a number of witnesses, most of whom expressed deep disappointment with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's performance in relation to the Pilgrim plant.

Of particular concern was the continual inaccessibility of the Commissioners to the general public.

Residents and elected officials alike felt frustrated over being denied an adjudicatory hearing.

And in the absence of such a hearing, the Commission has not even agreed to provide residents with the opportunity to directly discuss their concerns with the Commissioners prior to a restart decision.

During the Senate Committee hearing, I made a commitmant to the people of the Plymouth area.

I told them that if they were not given the chance to speak before the Commissioners, thea I wou;d personally appear before the Commission to speak on their behalf.

Therefore, I would appreciate being given a brief opportunity to address the Commission during its October 14th meeting.

I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.

Sincerely,

/4-Edward M. Kennedy J

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