ML19294B298

Comments on Proposed Reactor Export.Reactor Design & Site Are Potential Hazards to Health,Safety & Environ.Nrc Has Legal Authority to Review Reactor Issues Re Health,Safety & Environ

ML19294B298
Person / Time
Site:	05000574
Issue date:	11/30/1979
From:	Cranston A, Hatfield M, Mcgovern G MEMBERS OF CONGRESS FOR PEACE THROUGH LAW
To:	NRC COMMISSION (OCM)
Shared Package
ML19294B274	List: ML19294B273 ML19294B298 ML19294B301 ML19294B305 ML19294B312 ML19294B321 ML19294B329
References
800130, NUDOCS 8002280151
Download: ML19294B298 (3)

Text

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MEMBERS OF CONGRESS FOR PEACETHROUGH 1.AW ROOM 3538 HOUSE OFFICE ANNEX 2

• WASHINGTON, D.C. 20515 * (202) 225-8550 CH AIRM AN: REP. PAUL SIMON EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: EDITH WILKIE lIN November 30, 1,74 ,'

2 Nuclear Regulatory Commission _r S9 1717 H Street, N.W. . C'le s 'I' 3 Washington, D.C. E .GM- -

RE: Proposed Nuclear Export to T h ,36, p,$

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the Philippines, PNPP-1. Ih$ggf1

Dear Members of the Commission:

9 We believe that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has jurisdiction over, and should conduct a full review of, issues relating to the health, safety and environmental risks of exporting nuclear reactors in general, and the Bataan/ Westinghouse reactor specifically.

First, we are concerned that failure to assume juris-diction would present an apparent disparity betueen the NRC's approach to the Bataan reactor and its procedures in licensing domestic plants. While the NRC has imposed a moratorium on the licensing of new domestic reactors, it has not yet applied a moratorium to the Bataan reactor export -- thus giving the impression that the NRC takes lightly a potential threat to foreigners while zealously protecting'the American public.

Second, we believe that Congress has made clear through the following actions its intent that the NRC review the hea2th and safety implications of licensing reactors for export, as it does with domes, tic plants:

• The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Act (42 U.S.C. 2155) charges the NRC with the responsibility for determining whether a nuclear export is inimical to U.S. security, or poses un-necessary risks to public health and safety;

• The National Environmental Protectic>n Act (4 2 U.S.C .

4332f) mandates the NRC to " recognize the worldwide and long-range character of environmental problems" to prevent "a de-cline in the quality of mankind's world environment" (empha ? ic added); and

• The Senate Subcommittee with jurisdi~ction over the NRC has stated that "there can be no realistic separation between the criteria for nuclear exports and the criteria for licensing domestic uses of similar materials and facilities."

Thi rd', we believe that both the ' site and design of the 8 0 0 2 2 8 0lis]

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Bataan reactor involve potentially enornous hazards to the health and safety of the Filipino people and the environment of the area:

• The site is on the slope of a potentially active volcano in close proximity to two seismic faults;

• Only Indonesia and Italy have suffered more vol-canic destruction than the Philippines. Mt. Taal, only 60 miles from the site and on the same gc31ogic ridge as Mt.

Natib, has erupted seven times since 1965;

• Experts familiar with the area, including the Philippine Bureau of Mines, the National Society of Seismolo-gists and Earthquake Engineers of the Philippines, and the Philippine Commission of Volcanologists, have indicated their skepticism of the research and ccnclusions drawn by 'iesting-house and the consulting firm Ebasco concerning the seismic and volcanic risks.

We are sensitive to the fact

~ that American the contractor, invol ement Westinghouse in Elec-this project is three-fold:

tric Corporation, is an American firm; the largestand parttheof li-the financing is suppur'ed by the E'.: port-Import Government Bank; agency, cense is subject to ti.' approval of a U.S.

the NRC.

Should any accident occur, the United States will not be able to escape responsibility for it.

We assert that the NRC has the legal authorl;y to conduct a heal ~a, safety and environmental review on the Bataan reactor, and we urge the Commission to exercise promptly its responsi-bility to review this case. _

Sen. Alan Cranston SincerBig, Peter H. Kostmayer Sen. Mark O. Hatfield - -

Rep. Mathew F. McHugh Sen. George McGovern Rep. Andrew Maguire Sen. Spark M. Matsunaga Rep. James Oberstar Sen. Claiborne Pell Rep. Richard L. Ottinger Rep. Berkley Bedell Rep. Leon E. Panetta Rep. Anthony C. Beilenson Rep. Donald J. Pease Rep. David E. Bonior Rep. Frederick W. Richmond Rep. Don Bonker Rep. Peter W. Rodino Rep. Don Edwards Reo. Fortney H. Stark Rep. Tom Harhin Rep. James Weaver Rep. William J. Hughes Rep. Howard Wolpe Rep. James M. Jeffords .

REMBERS OF CONGRESS FOR PEACE THROUGH l AW ROOM 3538 HOUSE OFFICE ANNEX 2

• WASHINGTON, D.C. 2C515 * (202) 225-8550 CHAIRMAN: REP. PAUL SIMON EXECUTIVE DIRECTCR; EDITH WILKIE Neverber 26, 1979 Daar Colleague in d' CPL, Attached is a letter to the IEC expressing cur concern abcut the pe.di.g e:gort of a Wastinghcuse nuclear reactor to the Philippi .es. We are urging the NPC to withold cpproval cf t'.e reactor e gcrt license =til it has con-ducted its cm evaluatien of de health, safecy, a .d envircr. ental risks.

A ?ew of the iss.rs in.alved are noted here:

• The Philippic.es is cne of the :est highly seiric areas of the borld; an earthquake occurs every c ear day.

• Cnly Indonesir. and Italy have suffared rcre vcicanic dest rtien than the Philippines. Mt. Taal, only 60 miles fr n the Mt. Natib site a.d en the sa e geological ridge, has erupted seven ti:nas since 1965.

_

• The International At~nic Energy Asscciaticn has cuestiened the safety of the preposed site.

• Experts fa.tiliar with the area, including de Philippi .e Eureau of Mines, the National Society of Seismlogists and Ea: hquake Engineers of the Philippines, and the Philippine C: mission of Volcanologists, hava indicated thei skepticis : of the research and conclusions drasn by flestinghonce and the censulting firn Ebasco ccncerning the seicic anf volctnic ris';s.

• TM NF.C is currently studying allegations Sat Ebasco in-tentionally covered up evidence that right haue led to the conclusion that the site a .d reactor design selec*.ica of

.4 g. are unsafe.

Furthernere, if the export license is arpreved, the United States will not be able to escape culpability in the event of an accident, since a U.S.

goverr ent acency aill have aut'crized a pro iect built bv an Ararican cora-oration and financed through the U.S. Export /I.rcrt Bank.

The Coranission is presently receiving ccme .t frcr. interested parties on this .trportant ratter.

If you wish to sign, please contact Michael Colepy at L'CFL (:63350; hy Friday, Nov. 30.

Sincerely, V W.-Q $ m.& f.h '

f'- c - f,. .W Vf ll Sen. b'ars O. EatiLLQ 't 32,^.' f M y;Lpe j ll Ser. S=ars .%cs= Lya l

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