ML12080A151

G20120186/LTR-12-0100/EDATS: SECY-2012-0127 - Ltr. Fm Rep. Nita M. Lowey Concerns About Evacuation Plans for Impacts of a Fukushima-Level Accident at Indian Point

ML12080A151
Person / Time
Site:	Indian Point
Issue date:	03/13/2012
From:	Lowey N US Congress
To:	Jaczko G NRC/Chairman
Shared Package
ML12095A411	List: ML12080A151
References
EDATS: SECY-2012-0127, G20120186, LTR-12-0100, SECY-2012-0127, CORR-12-0024-Revised
Download: ML12080A151 (4)

Text

EDO Principal Correspondence Control FROM: DUE: 04/05/12 Representative Nita M. Lowey EDO CONTROL: G20120186 DOC DT: 03/13/12 FINAL REPLY: Chairman Jaczko FOR SIGNATURE OF :** PRI **CRC NO: 12-0100 Chairman DESC: ROUTING: Concerns about Evacuation Plans for Impacts of a Fukushima-Level Accident at Indian Point (EDATS: SECY-2012-0127)

Borchardt Weber Virgilio Ash Mamish OGC/GC Leeds,NRR Wiggins, NSIR Burns, OGC Schmidt, OCA DATE: 03/20/12 ASSIGNED TO: EDO CONTACT: Rihm SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR REMARKS: Please prepare response in accordance with OEDO Notice 2009-0441-02 (ML093290179).

NSIR and NRR/Japan Lessons Learned Directorate to provide input to Roger Rihm, OEDO, if required.

Roger Rihm will coordinate with OGC and OCA.

EDATS Number: SECY-2012-0127 Source: SECY Assigned To: OEDO OEDO Due Date: 4/5/2.012 11:00 PM Other Assignees:

SECY Due Date: 4/9/2012 11:00 PM

Subject:

Concerns about Evacuation Plans for Impacts of a Fukushirna-Level Accident at Indian Point

Description:

CC Routing: NONE ADAMS Accession Numbers -Incoming:

NONE Response/Package:

NONE I Ote nomto Cross Reference Number: G20120186, LTR- 12-0100 Related Task: File Routing: EDATS Staff Initiated:

NO Recurring Item: NO Agency Lesson Learned: NO OEDO Monthly Report Item: NO Prcs Ifr aio I Action Type: Letter Priority:

Medium Sensitivity:

None Signature Level: Chairman Jaczko Urgency: N(Approval Level: No Approval Required OEDO Concurrence:

YES OCM Concurrence:

NO OCA Concurrence:

NO Special Instructions:

Please prepare response in accordance with OEDO Notice 2009-0441-02 (ML093290179).

NSIR to provide input to Roger Rihm, OEDO, if required.

Roger Rihm will coordinate response with OGC and OCA.)Dou en nfrato I Originator Name: Representative Nita M. Lowey Originating Organization:

Congress Addressee:

Chairman Jaczko Incoming Task Received:

Letter Date of Incoming:

3/13/2012 Document Received by SECY Date: 3/20/2012 Date Response Requested by Originator:

NONE Page 1 of I OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY CORRESPONDENCE CONTROL TICKET Date Printed: Mar 19, 2012 16:58 PAPER NUMBER: ACTION OFFICE: LTR- 12-0100 EDO LOGGING DATE: 03/13/2012 AUTHOR: AFFILIATION:

ADDRESSEE:

SUBJECT:

ACTION: DISTRIBUTION:

LETTER DATE: ACKNOWLEDGED SPECIAL HANDLING: REP Nita Lowey CONG.Gregory Jaczko Concerns evacuation plans for impacts of a Fukushima-level accident--Indian Point Signature of Chairman RF, OCA to Ack 03/13/2012 No Commission Correspondence NOTES: FILE LOCATION: ADAMS 04/09/2012 DATE DUE: DATE SIGNED: EDO --G20120186 COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIAIIONS O.O.,..u....V"i",^" I IWASHINGTON RANKING MEMBER, f A) f 110?l i;t.. 01 STATE, FOREIGN OPERATIONS, AND A'e II O? I'.RELATED PROGRAMS WVSTCtE&US 2l2 ,~AIAliIN;'Nc:

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of ) til h(Liiteb ýbt ate ir I ICU1Mt.LANP SECD.CL)T II Y I Etj. i trict, flet !thrh March 13, 2012 Chairman Gregory B. Jaczko U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Mail Stop 0-16G4 Washington, DC 20555-000 I

Dear Chairman Jaczko:

On March 9, 2012, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) announced that it will begin implementing several enhanced safety recommendations of the Japan Near-Term Task Force. While I strongly SUlp)pOrt tihe NRC's actions to better secure, monitor, and equip nuclear sites to deal with Fukushima-level meltdowns and gather additional data to shape future risk mitigation efforts, I am very disappointed that the NRC's actions do not address the alarming deficiencies in evacuation p)lans for surrounding communities.

As you know, under rules in force for more than 30 years, surrounding communities, within 10 miles of a plant, must prepare federally reviewed evacuation plans. For citizens living within a 50-mile radius, there is no requirement for communities to create evacuation plans. In the event ofa nuclear accident, the NRC operates under the policy that citizens outside the 10 mile radius will stay put until otherwise directed.

This policy contradicts the likely scenario that would play out in the event of a Fukushima-level incident.

Oil March 17, 2011, Bill Borchardt, NRC executive director for operations, stated that ifa meltdown on a similar scale as Fukushima happened in the United States, the evacuation zone would extend to 50 miles.The Indian Point Energy Center is built on two fault lines and is located 25 miles outside of New York City's northern border. A 50-mile evacuation order for Indian Point would inclide over 17 million people in parts of New Jersey, Connecticut and New York City. Given the geography and transportation infrastructure of the region, a timely evacuation would be nearly impossible and requires further review by the many federal, state, and local entities that would be involved in such a massive undertaking.

A year after the Fukushima nuclear meltdown, the Near-Terni Task Force presents an opl)portunity to update our best practices to reflect lessons learned from the disaster.

I encourage the NRC to require evacuation p)lans that extend to 50 miles so that we can have an accurate assessment of the public safety impacts that a Fukushima-level accident would have on our citizenry.

Sincerely, Nita Mv.1.,(.vey Member of Congress I );I fi 'I IL ('I I.'i P' P; k