ML20071A653

Requests NRC Delay Renewal of License Until Complete Impact Statements Prepared & Public Hearing Held

ML20071A653
Person / Time
Site:	Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute
Issue date:	02/15/1983
From:	Gilchrist C, Scull D MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD
To:	Palladino N NRC COMMISSION (OCM)
References
NUDOCS 8302240297
Download: ML20071A653 (2)

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ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND 20850

} N: Si.(.k IARY 4 . .hG & SERvlCE February 13,N b 3 Chairman Nunzio Palladino CGCiET NUMc;;;t g, Nuclear Regulatory Commission 1717 H Street, N. W. PROD.a unt :"-,'"SO- f-h

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Washington, D. C. 20555

Dear Chairman Palladino:

, It has been brought to the attention of the Montgomery County Executive and Council that on February 18 the Nuclear Regulatory Commission Licensing Board will make a " summary disposition" on the relicensing of the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute (AFRRI) nuclear reactor on the grounds of the Bethesda Naval Hospital, and that a key part of this disposition will be a finding as to whether adequate information is now in hand and adequate public debate has taken place to make the licensing decision.

. On December 16, 1980, the Montgomery County Executive and the Council wrote to the Secretary of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission on the subject of the AFRRI nuclear reactor requesting that a public hearing and an environmental impact statement should be included in the relicensing procedure. We are enclosing a copy of this letter. In the more than two years since this letter was sent, there has not been a formal public hearing nor anything that could be considered a full environmental impact statement.

On the contrary, citizen analysis of this facility and reports of an accident in the associated cobalt storage facility obtained under the Freedom of Information Act have raised new questions about current operating health effects, the security of the facility, the reliability of the accident control technology, and the adequacy of environmental monitoring procedures and evacuation plans which have not been publicly debated or answered.

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"^ A serious accident of this reactor would have very grave consequences for

• 1arge numbers of people in heavily populated areas in Montgomery County and the District of Columbia. The Montgomery County Government has responsi-bilities for public health and safety. We consider that not only must the best available knowledge be used to establish that the impacts and risks of ,

this reactor be acceptable, but also that affected citizens must have .

opportunity to study and debate the impact assessment. We are not satisfied that either impact assessment or debate has yet been adequate and ask the

$ Nuclear Regulatory Commission to delay relicensing this facility until more i complete impact statements have been prepared and a public hearing has been

,p held to discuss the findings.,

,, Sincerely, 4 i 3 I C@ W 1 , Charles W. Gilchrist David L. Scull L

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County Executive Council President 8302240297 830215 PDR ADOCK 05000170 0 PDR

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The Honorable Charles McC. Mathias Jr.

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f The Honorable Paul Sarbar.es The United States Senate

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The Honorable Michael D. Barnes House of Representatives The Honorable Lucille Maurer Delegate to the Maryland General Assembly h The Honorable Nancy K. Kopp  :

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7 ROCKVILLE.MARYI.Af1D 20850 December 16, 1980 f"h&& ' -'

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Secretary of the Commission United States Nuclear' Regulatory Commission

_ .;, . _ Washington, D.C. 20555 Attention: Docketing and Service Section Gentlemen:

We are writing to you with reference to the notice that appeared in the Federal Register (Vol. 45, No. 229) dated November 25, 1980,

___ pertaining to the renewal of the Facility License No. R-84 issued to the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute (AFRRI) for the operation g of a TRIGA-type research reactor located on the National Naval Medical Center site in Montgomery County, Maryland.

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As the local government officials responsible for the health and safety of the residents of our County, we are sincerely interested and concerned about any possible threat that this operation may present to the employees of the facility as well as the people who reside in adjacent areas.

Therefore we wish to support petitions before you requesting the

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Nuclear Regulatory Agency to hold a public hearing prior to extending the license of this facility to the year 2000. We feel that it is in the public interest that such a hearing be held so that arguments pro and con can be heard and evaluated by the NRC, the agency responsible for

,, _ relicensing such operations. ..

,.y Further, the Montgomery County government would respectfully request that an appropriate Federal agency be directed to prepare an environmental impact statement on this facility as it concerns the operation of the reactor.

Your early consideration of our requests will be very much appreciated.

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Sincerely,

-y Charles W. Gilchrist 4

th Spector s

I County Executive President, County Council

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