ML19257D736

Notifies That Cumberland Conservation League Supports Proposal That Util Develop Evacuation Procedures within 50-mile Radius.Existing 10-mile Radius Will Not Protect People in Cumberland County from Risks

ML19257D736
Person / Time
Site:	Salem
Issue date:	10/11/1979
From:	Covert J AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED
To:	John Miller Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Shared Package
ML19257D732	List: ML19257D731 ML19257D736
References
NUDOCS 8002060010
Download: ML19257D736 (2)

Text

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Janes R. Miller Q

Acting Assistent Director for Site and safeguards 9s 3

Of fice of Nuc1 var Reacto" Regulation

iuclear Regulatory Commission g

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.Vashington, D. ;

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Dear Mr. Viller:

?he Cumberland Conservation League is a 150-member environmental group which has worked since 1974 to preserve the natural resources l

of Cumberland County, New Jersey.

I Ve are greatly concerned with the evacuation procedures of Cunterland County since the boundary of our county is only eight c.iles free the Inlem I.*iuclear Generating Station.

The city of Eridgeton is less than twenty niles fror the plant and the cities of :..illville and i'inoland (:ie s Jersey's largest city) are less than thirty miles away.

1. e are concerned because the utility, Public Service Electric and 31s Co. is only required to be responsibb for the pecple within a ten-mile radius of Salem I when, in fact, the wind c.ay carry the racioactive plune many miles further into the more heavily populated areas of our ocunty.

Therefore, we support tho pr:posal that the utility be responsible fcr the people within a fift v-r.ile radius of the plant, to prote:t them against radiation doses that may be carried by the wind.

The utility should be financially responsible for preparing and distributing inforr.ation leaflets, newspaper, television and radio ads explaining to the public what nuclear a00ident.

they should do in the event of 'a 2 hey should, also, finance the stockpiling of potassium. iodine which is taken internally by those who may be exposed to radiation doses, to prevent the abscrption of radioactive iodine by the thyroid gland.

Trasently, it is being paid for by the taxpayers of New Jersey.

The utility should finance the additional equipnent needed by each

.unicipality's civil defense, such as warning sirens, trucks and the extra personnel required for route-alert teams which are nececsary to alert the public.

And, finally, the utility should finance the transportation of persona ir hos itals, institutions, senior citzen complexes, jails, cricans and ot[.;er groups or individuals requiring transportation.

1927 074 8 0 020 6 0 C)/ O 8002000

he r,unicipality should not be financially responsible for any

- of the mentioned since if the nuclear power generating station did not exist, nor would the need for the information leafletc, the potassium iodine, the special equipment or special arrangements for transportation.

We have not deemed these things necessary in the past for natural disasters, of which we happily have few, and if deemed necessary it is for a potential unnatural disaster caused by a nuclear

now, power plant built by the utility.

If the utility builds a nuclear power plant knowing the potential risks to the people living near it, then the utility should be responsible for the protection cf those people.

The existing ten-mile radius will not protect the people in Cumbepland County from the possible risks.

Again, we support the proposal that the utility be responsible for the people within a fiftv-mile radius of Salem I, to prctect them against radiation doses that may be carried by the wind.

%'e strongly urre that this proposal be acted upon.

An imtediate reply advising our group of the status of this proposal would be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,,

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Jeanne Covert Chairpers on Committee on Nuclear Power cc:

'?. 5. ?. c r. lilliam J.

-: ughs 3 U. S. Ser.ator 7.'illi;r 1radley U. 5. Senator Marrison A. Willians 1927 075