ML20086L837

Requests Development of Proposed Facility Public Oversight Committee.Committee Establishment Would Inspire Public Confidence

ML20086L837
Person / Time
Site:	Zimmer
Issue date:	01/11/1984
From:	Collins M KENTUCKY, COMMONWEALTH OF
To:	Palladino N NRC COMMISSION (OCM)
Shared Package
ML20086L819	List: ML20086L821 ML20086L827 ML20086L837
References
NUDOCS 8402130395
Download: ML20086L837 (1)

Text

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Orner. oF THE GOVERNOR FRANnrORT, KENTUCKY 40606 g Mant A LavNr Cowns co<sa=o.

January 11, 1984 Mr. Nunzio Palladino Chairman Nuclear Regulatory Commission 1717 H Street NW Washington, D.C.

Dear Mr. Palladino:

Although the Nuclear Regulatory Cormission has approved Cincinnati Gas & Electric's Course of Action Plan, I request that you create the public oversight committee proposed by the City of Cincinnati. I understand this committee has the endorsement of Governor Celeste and Senator Metzenbaum.

As soon as this committee receives your authorization, I will appoint Kentucky's representative. The creation of this committee would, no doubt, inspire public confidence in the efforts to deal with the impact of the Zimmer facility on the Southern Ohio and Northern Kentucky regions.

Sincerely, m L y- 1 .

Martha yne Collins Governor g r / 3 '. )$O995 XV

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301 Plum Street Cincinnati. O. sin 42c December 12, 1983 Phone (51.h 3521250 Commissloners U.S. Nuclear Megulatory Commission Washington, D.C. 20555 Gentlemen:

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We are writing in reference to the November 25, 1953 letter from the Nuclear Regulctory Comadssion's Rcgion 111 office rejecting a proposal by the City of Cincinnati, many groups and citizens in this region for the establishment of a Zimmer public oversight committee. This committee would serve to monitor Cincinnati Gas & Electric's and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's future steps to assure that all safety-related problems of the Zimmer Nuclear Power Station are resolved before the plant is licensed.

The senior City Councilmembers of .both the Republican and Democratic parties, and the two newly-elected Councilmembers, join me in maintaining that the acceptance of our proposal tv the Commissioners would serve the welfare of the citizens of this region and also serve the best interests of the NRC.

For over a decade CG1E and the NRC repeatedly assured this community that the Zimmer Nuclear Power Station would meet all requisite screty standards.

Even after the $200,000 fine, the utility and the Regional NRC office indicated that the problems at the plant were paperwork problems. Now the disclosure of the scope of the problems, which were orginally brought to your attention

• by worke.s and members of the public, has been confirmed by an independent management review and by your own investigators. The history of the NRC Regional Office's failure to assess the scope of the QA breakdown has been costly, both in terms of dollars and the credibility of CG&E and the NRC. ,

As a result of this history, the public simply will not believe the further assurcnces of the NRC and CG&E nor any of its partners unless, there is a mechanism for ongoing public verification. Region Ill's proposal to build public confidence by holding more public meetings and by enlarging CG&E's internal oversight committee completely ignores the seriousness of local concerns with the result that major questions involving the credibility of the process will continue to. Increase.

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U.S. Nuclcer Regulatory Con. mission Page 2 December 12, 1983 The NRC must take at least two steps to restore public confidence. First, there must be a hardware review done by a g.oup of experts who have no stake, real or perceived, in the outcome. Second, the NRC's and CG&E's implementation of the findings of the hardware review must be monitored by a group of knowledgeable citizens appointed, fc.- the mest part, by lccal and state officials. Accordingly, I have attached the citizen oversight ecmmittee proposal for your consideratien. Many hours of volunteer time went into building public support for this plan. Your regional staff heard many groups endorse it et the >'ovember 1,1983 public hearing in Cincinnati. The aim of the proposal is neither to infringe upon the legal responsibility of the NRC nor to veto the decisions of the utility. The committee would cast a light on the major selective policy decisions of both entities, thereby helping the public .

understand the policy implications of these decisions.

The goals of the NRC would be furthered by the creation of such a committee.

The citizens of this area deserve no less than those living near Diablo Canyon and Three Mile Island. Failure to approve such a group of interested citizens would create a crisis in the already strained relationship between the community, the utility and the NRC.

Sincerely 7 M

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, David haanrhCouncilmem Sr.ft, m.3er-2c 8JN "8.

Guy Guckenberger, Sr. Counc'imember 7L w- o u" bc.Oy k'L  %

Marian Spencer, Vice Mayor Sally Fellerhoff, Councilmember cc: Governor Richard F. Celeste Governor Martha Layne Collins Mr. James G. Keppler Mr. William Dircks e

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