ML20076K702

Opposes Premature Decision to Relicense Plant.No Decision Should Be Made Until Completion & Evaluation of Design Review

ML20076K702
Person / Time
Site:	Diablo Canyon
Issue date:	09/14/1983
From:	Agnos A, Bates T, Chacon P, Garamendi J, Goggin T, Hauser D, Isenberg P, Klehs J, Oconnell J, Pet5Is N, Petris N, Rosenthal H, Michael Waters, Watson D CALIFORNIA, STATE OF
To:	Palladino N NRC COMMISSION (OCM)
References
NUDOCS 8309150239
Download: ML20076K702 (14)

Text

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COLMETEF John Garamendi 8*s SENATE MAJORITY LEADEb3 SEP la All:18 CFi!:E C=); -;.k .F 00CKEil% * ::.7 -

BRANCH September 7, 1983 Chairman Nunzio Palladino Nuclear Regulatory Commission SERVED SEP 141983 1717 H Street Washington, D.C. 20555

Dear Chairman Palladino:

I am concerned about the dangers of a premature decision to relicense the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant. Given the history of problems and mistakes at this plant, I ask that you and the Commission hold off making a decision on licensing until the completion and evaluation of the design review you ordered in 1981. Your hearings on design problems will not begin until late October, and the design review will not be completed until sometime after the September 21st date tentatively established l for a Commission vote on relicensing.

What will you do if additional plant modifications are required as a result of either the design hearings or the final design review? I understand that modifications must be made prior to plant operation.

l A nuclear plant that sits next to an active earthquake tault, in

! a seismically active area must be subjected to the most rigorous l standards if the health and safety of California residents is to be adequately protected. Thank you for your consideration of

this request.

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sR ANC5i Saptember 8, 1983 Chairman Nunzio Palladino Nuclear Regulatory Commission 1717 H Street Washington, D.C. 20555 Dsar Mr. Palladino: d I understand that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission is schedule low-power to vote on restoring Pacific Gas and Electric Company's f operating permit for Diablo Canyon before the design review o the plant is completed.

! This prccess seems out of sequence and not in the best int of the public.

be required as a result of the design review should be made before the plant begins operation. i f

permit until the design review is complete and the l

the safety hearings have been evaluated.

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Honorable George Deukmejian Governor, State of California Congressman Morris Udall Chairman, Interior Committee

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$U September 9, 1983 l Chairman Nunzio Palladino Nuclear Regulatory Commission 1717 H Street Washington, D.C. 20555

Dear Chairman Palladino:

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t I am deeply concerned about the prospect of a premature l decision to re-license the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant, on the central coast of California.

The NRC hearings on design problems will not begin until late October, and the design review will not be completed until sometime after the September 21st date tentatively established for a Commission vote on re-licensing. Plant modifications may be required as a result of either the design hearings or the final design review. Those modifications must be made prior to plant operation.

A nuclear plant that sits next to an active earthquake fault, l

in a seismically active area must be subjected to the most l

rigorous standards if the health and safety of California residents is to be adequately protected.

l l Given the history of problems and mistakes at this plant, I l implore you to delay issuing a licensing decision until the l completion and evaluation of the design review you ordered in l . 1981.

l Sincerely, l whea C .&s NICHOLAS C. PETRIS i

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September 9, 1983 Chairman Nunzio Palladino Nuclear Regulatory Commission 1717 H Street Washington, D.C. 20555

Dear Mr. Palladino:

I am writing to express my concern that the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant nay receive its licence for full-power operation before all safety modifications have been made and reviewed.

While it is unfortunate that Pacific Gas and Electric have been forced to delay the plant's operation, the fact remains that the plant is located on a major and active faultline, and there is simply no excuse to jeapordize the local population for economic reasons.

PG6E's history on the construction of the plant is

( anything but encouraging. As I am sure you are aware, l a decision was made to fire many of the people assoc-iated with the plant's construction. But as far as I am concerned, that sort of window dressing cannot sub-stitute for rigorous and objective examination of all safety features of the plant. To simply entrust to PG6E all remaining needed plant modifications after full-power licencing has been granted is to overlook recent history.

I and many of my colleagues believe that this facility should not be given the green light until such time as all safety concerns have been fully answered.

Sincere]/y, .

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PETER R. CHAC0Y PRC/lb cc: Governor George Deukmejian Congressman Morris Udall I

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BRANCH September 7, 1983 Chairman Nunzio Paliadino Nuclear Regulatory Commission l 1717 H Street Washington, D.C. 20555

Dear Chairman Paliadino,

I am deeply concerned over the possibility of re-licensing i

the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant before all necessary design l reviews are completed. I am informed that the plant's owners are understandably eager to begin operation. However, given the long l

history if serious miscalculations at Diablo Canyon, I cannot

comprehend reasoning which would allow licensing without l completion of all prescribed study.

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! As Chairperson of California's Senate Committee on Health and Welfare, I am particularly sensitive to issues with the catastrophic potential of a Diablo Canyon. A nuclear plant located near an active earthquake fault demands every possible safeguard and every prudent consideration of responsible public officials. A project with a 16 year history and 7,500 repairs can certainly be held for a few additional months of study.

I urge your most careful consideration of this matter.

Sincerely, Diane E. Watson Senator, 28th District 1

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Dear Mr. Chairman:

As a California legislator respon.sible for the health and safety of the residents of my state, I am deeply troubled by the

possibility that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission may make a premature decision on the re-licensing of the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant. ,

To do so before the hearings are held on the many safety questions and design problems that ha've plagued this project l

would make a mockery of the entire hearing process.

I Cur overriding concern must be the health and safety of I

the residents of an area whose seismic activity, in conjunction with a nuclear power plant, comprise a lethal combination.

In our headlong rush to achieve scientific superiority and economic power through the development of nuclear technology, we must not forget that we have a moral responsibility for the lives of our people.

Let us demonstrate that we have learned from the earlier mistakes of this project by putting production schedules aside and proceeding with the caution and care that will earn us the trust of the American people.

I respectfully request that you and the other members of the Commission delay your decision on the re-licensing of this project until the hearings have been completed,_

Sincerel ,

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MAJORITY WHIP September 9, 1983 Chairman Nunzio Palladino Nuclear Regulatory Commission 1717 H Street Washington, D.C. 20555 l

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Dear Mr. Palladino:

I am gravely concerned about the prospect of a premature decision to re-license the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant, on the central coast of California. Given the history of problems and mistakes at this plant, I implore you to hold off on a licensing decision until the completion and l

evaluation of all safety hearings, and completion and l evaluation of the design review you ordered in 1981. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) hearirgs on design problems will i not be begin until late October, and the design review will not be completed until sometime after September 21st date tentatively established for a Commission vote on re-licensing.

Additionally, plant modifications may be required as a result of either the design hearings or the final design review. Those modifications must be made prior to plant operation.

A nuclear plant that sits next to an active earthquake fault, in a seismically active area must be subjected to the most rigorous standards if the health and safety of California residents is to be adequately protected.

Sincerely, L/$&M/

MAXINE WATERS MW/afc ASSEMBLYWOMAN, 48th District

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l September 8, 1983 Chairman Nunzio Palladino Nuclear Regulatory Commission 1717 H Street Washington, D.C. 20555

Dear Chairman Palladino:

It has come to my attention that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission is scheduled to consider re-licensing Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant on September 13, and will vote on licensing on September 21. However, hearings on serious design errors are not scheduled until late October. I am greatly disturbed by this time line.

It seems highly questionable and premature to consider licensing Diablo Canyon when the plant review and safety hearings are incomplete. As'you know, literally hundreds of plant design errors have been discovered in the past year, and a workforce of 6,000 is still scrambling to make modifications to virtually every structure in the plant. Obviously, serious safety questions remain to be answered. Should further flaws surface, corrections will be more difficult, expensive, and most importantly, dangerous, once the plant is radioactive.

To hold licensing hearings in advance of the NRC's own staff review of design errors (not to mention the complete absence of a review of possible construction errors), will serve to further erode the people's confidence that the NRC has the public health and safety at heart. I'm afraid no amount of buttressing will improve P.G.&E.'s credibility given the ten year saga of mismanagement, miscalculations and deception that has plagued Diablo Canyon.

I Chairman Palladino September 8, 1983 Page 2 '

The public deserves to know that Diablo has been given a complete bill of health before it is licensed. I urge you to delay licensing hearing until after the safety review is completed.

Thank you for consideration of this request.

Sincerely, W O THOMAS H. BATES Member of the Assembly cct Governor George Deukmejian Congressman Morris Udall THB:ah

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59AhCh September 8, 1983 Chairman Nunzio Paliadino Nuclear Regulatory Commission 1717 H Street Washington, D. C. 20555

Dear Chairman Paliadino:

I am gravely concerned about the prospect of a premature decision to re-license the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant.

Given the history of problems and mistakes that have occurred at this plant, I implore you to hold off on a licensing decision until the completion and evaluation of all safety l

hearings, and the completion and evaluation of the design I

review you ordered in 1981.

l l The Nuclear Regulatory Commission hearings on design l problems will not begin until late October, and the design I review will not be completed until sometime after the September 21st date which was tentatively established for a Commission vote on re-licensing. Additionally, plant modifications may l

be required as a result of either the design hearings or the i final design review. Those modifications must be made prior

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to plant operation.

A nuclear plant that sits next to an active earthquake fault, in a seismically active area must be subjected to the most rigorous standards if the health and safety of California residents is to be adequately protected. Again, I urge you to hold off your licensing decision until adequate safety and i design evaluations have been completed.

Sincerely, I

R JACK O'CONNELL

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l September 8, 1983 Chairman Nunzio Palladino Nuclear Regulatory Commission 1717 H Street Washington D.C. 20515

Dear Chairman Palladino:

I am appalled that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission is being requested to relicense the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant prior to completion of the safety design review ordered by your Commission in 1981.

The possibility that Diablo will be relicensed prior to completion of these studies not only violates fundamental principles of due process, but also suggests that the original safety and design reviews were motivated by a desire to manipulate public opinion rather than to guarantee that engineering and design flaws were to be rectified by a capable quality assurance program.

I request that you delay any relicense of Diablo Canyon until completion of design and safety studies, public hearings on these studies, and a decision of the Commission related to quality assurance.

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OD $ 4 2526 ASSEMBLYMAN,SECoND DISTRICT f n Fisheries and Aquaculture September 9, 1983 Chairman Nunzio Palladino Nuclear Regulatory Commission 1717 H Street Washington, D.C. 20555

Dear Chairman Palladino:

I am gravely concerned about the prospect of a premature decision to re-license the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant, on the central coast of California. Given the history of problems at this plant, I am requesting that you hold off on a licensing decision until the completion and evaluation of all safety hearings, and the completion and evaluation of the design review you ordered in 1981. NRC hearings on design problems will not begin until late October, i and the design review will not be completed until sometime after the September 21st date tentatively l established for a Commission vote on re-licensing.

Additionally, plant modifications may be required l

as a result of either the design hearings or the final design review. Those modifications must be made prior to plant oper'ation.

A nuclear plant that sits next to an active earthquake fault, in a seismically active area must be subjected to the most rigorous standards if the health and safety of California residents is to be adquately protected.

Sincerely,I

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3,u.: c:9 September 4, 1983 Chairman Nunzio Palladino Nuclear Regulatory Commission 1717 H Street Washington, D.C. 20555

Dear Chairman Palladino:

As a California legislator, I am concerned about a premature decision to relicense the Diablo Nuclear Power Plant. I urge you to delay a licensing hearing and vote until after you study the final design review the NRC ordered in 1981, which is unfinished to date. Since the last full-scale review revealed 23 major mistakes, careful consideration of the design review is

, imperative. The completion and thorough evaluation of all safety l hearings is also necessary to avoid further problems like the l mirror-image mistake - discovered after the initial licensing in 1

1981.

l l Nuclear power plants should be licensed only after the NRC 1 establishes such plants as safe to operate. Please allow time for completion and analysis of safety hearings and design reviews to enable you to make a fully informed decision on this important issue. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission must consider all information to adequately protect the health and safety of California residents. Thank you very nuch for your time and consideration of my request.

Sincerely, I

JO AN KLEHS Assemblyman JK:wn

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SENATE COMMITTEE oN ENERGY AND PUBL!c UTILITIES E*aty CNitcNooo sovcatioN Aovisomy CovNew CAuronNaA Motion PictumE CouNc4 AovisonT Couw,TTEE September 9, 1983 **".'EOv'AT757Co N,3.aoN Nunzio Palladino, Chairman Nuclear Regulatory Commission 1717 H Street Washington, D. C. 20555

Dear Mr. Chairman:

I am concerned about the prospect of a premature decision to re-license Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant in California. Given the history of this plant, I believe that it would be in the best interests of the citizens of California to delay a decision to li-cense Diablo until the completion and evaluation of all safety hearings, and the completion and evaluation of the design review you ordered in 1981. NRC hearings on design problems will not be-gin until late October, and the design review will not be completed until sometime after the September 21st date tentatively established for a Commission vote on re-licensing.

Additionally, plant modifications may be required as a result of either the design hearings or the final design review. Those modi-fications should be made prior to plant operation.

I would very much appreciate your consideration of this letter and look forward to hearing from you in the near future.

Sincerely, .f

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~%C 6'W W Q QtiA-HERSCHEL ROSENTHAL Senator, 22nd District HR:jhn cc: Governor George Deukmejian Congressman Morris Udall Assemblywoman Gwen Moore John Fraser, PG&E Marlin Vix