ML20070R572

Expresses Support for Approval of DOE Request for Early Site Preparation for Crbr Const If Criteria of 10CFR50.12 Met

ML20070R572
Person / Time
Site:	Clinch River
Issue date:	02/25/1982
From:	Simpson A SENATE
To:	Palladino N NRC COMMISSION (OCM)
Shared Package
ML20069D029	List: ML20070R439 ML20070R445 ML20070R465 ML20070R468 ML20070R475 ML20070R544 ML20070R548 ML20070R557 ML20070R572 ML20070R577 ML20070R581 ML20070R593 ML20070R596 ML20070R599
References
FOIA-82-516 NUDOCS 8302030099
Download: ML20070R572 (2)

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?dCnileb blales Senale WASHINGTON. D.C. 20510 February 25, 1982

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l The Honorable Nunzio J. Palladino Chairman -

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.,C. 20555

Dear Chai e adino:

We understand that the Commission will be taking action in the near future on a request by the Secretary of Energy, pursuant to Section 50.12 of the Commission's regulations, to begin site preparation activities for the Clinch River Breeder Reactor project. Should the Commissi'on, in its discretion, find, after 'considering and balancing the four factors specified in section 50.12, that approval of the Secretary's request is justified, we believe that ,such action _

would be entirely consistent with the long-standing mandate from the Congress to proceed with the Clinch River Breeder Reactor project, and'to do so expeditiously, consistent with the protection of the public health and safety.

Over the past decade., the Congress has voted consistently to continue the Clinch River Breeder Reactor project, despite repeated efforts to terminate the project. Recently, the Conference Report on the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1982, Public Law S7-35, reiterated the view of the Congress ,

that this project is an essential element of the Liquid 1:etal

- Fast Breeder Reactor program and that the project should be constructed in a timely and expeditious manner. Floor state-ments by the managers of the Reconciliation Act in both the Senate and the House of Representatives emphasized the intent of Congress that Federal agencies proceed expeditiously with construction of the project in order to minimize the effects of unrecoverable delays resulting from the previous Administration's 1977 decision to stop the project. In addi-tion, the Committee on Environment and Public Works, in its report on S.1207, the NRC authorization bill for fiscal years 1982 and 1983, addressed the need for expedition in NRC's licensing of the Clinch River Breeder Reactor project. The Committee report (Senate Report 97-113, p. 20) stated:

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The' Honorable Nunzio J. Palladino 1

-n2_ February 25, 1982

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"The NRC now has the authority to license

the Clinch River Breeder Reactor,'if authorized to be built, or any other breeder reactors in-

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s... tended to demonstrate the' commercial viability

'? " ' ~ . _of. breeder technology. The Committee expects

' ' and intends that any . such reactors will be

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ilicensed by NRC. Therefore, it_has earmarked these funds to assure that the NRC's license '

review' process will not stand in the ' critical ri , ,

. path' toward operation of.srch a facility.

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.c "The Committee expects the Commission to

.'use the funds earmarked for this purpose to

. move forward aggressively in establishing the

.necessary regulatory program and. requirements-

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in order that required licensing determinations can be made in a timely manner."

For nearly a decade, section.50.12 has been a part of the established procedures of the Commission for licensing and regulating nuclear power reactors, including the Clinch River ~

Breeder Reactor. We believe that NRC approval.of the Secretary of. Energy's request pursuant to section 50.12, provided that-the Commission finds that all other requirements of that sec-tion are met and that such action is consistent with its

'. statutory respon'sibilities for protection of the public health and safety, would be fully consistent with the expressions of Congressional intent respecting this project d . ibed above.

a'? ' We appreciate your consideration of t se views. ,

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Sincer ly, I ny. ~

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,- we* Alan Impson ete.V. Domenici .

United States Senator United States Senator vn it&:

cesi' Commissioner Gilinsky Commissioner Bradford Commissioner Ahearne Commissioner Roberts