ML090711019
| ML090711019 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Indian Point  |
| Issue date: | 03/10/2009 |
| From: | Slevin J Utility Workers Union of America |
| To: | Stuyvenberg A Rulemaking, Directives, and Editing Branch, NRC/NRR/ADRO |
| References | |
| 73FR80440 00005 | |
| Download: ML090711019 (3) | |
Text
UTILITY WORKERS UNION OF AMERICA Local 1-2, Affiliated with AFL-CIO 5 West 37th Street, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10018 R (212) 575-4400 Fax:(212) 575-3852 HARRY J. FARRELL PRESIDENT JOHN CAPRA ANDREW O'CONNELL VICE PRESIDENT SENIOR BUSINESS AGENTS ROBERT FARRELL LUCIA E. PAGANO SECRETARY-TREASURER JAMES SLEVIN Mr. Andrew Stuyvenberg Environmental Project Manager Division of License Renewal, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation U.S. Nuclear Regulatory CommissiJon
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u mUUII11*1UII to LIIe NUcL ear ix*rUIaUIy 0UI II1IIIIUII Local 1-2,'UWUA is the Union that represents most of the workers at Indian. Point andis
- therefore on the, front lines of the debate, beforeyou today. We are, in t.best position, to contribute,-.,'.
information onthe, stAe jed's of most relevance to the Commission Indian Pt. is a safe facility. If ie'had any iea'son to believe tt'was not,.e would not et our.
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members'work there. Our members not oniy can a t to t ei co safeoperaonu are an integral part Of the team that makes the facility safe.
eTh unparalleled record oflnt safety is are ai ot of
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something we are proud of. Prudent policymaking and planning must avoid leaping to conclusions or being stampeded into rash decisions on the basis of projected and unprecedented catastrophes. One could project any number of possible worst case scenarios-such as a Level 5 hurricane--that would make any evacuation of certain communities in this State unimaginable. Coming up with constructive proposals to mIeet challenges such as these is one thing. Taking an axe to the ability of a community and a region to function is not the way to meet that challenge, but that is what denying relicensing to this facility, will accomplish, and that is all it will accomplish.
As residents of the area'and as involved citizens, we are very much concerned with the physical and economic health of the community. Indian' Point produces 2000 megawatts of electricity. This represents 20% to 40%'of the needs of this region. Cutting off this substantial and vital supply of power would'be a body blow to the economic health and person-ial well-b6iiig of0 every' single 'resident. This:
amount of electricity could ndi be replaced.:New construction :of fossil plants 'is not feasible in view of prevailing environmental concem-s and other tinrie-conIsumirmg obstacles to' he'ir'Lcdnstruction, and green energy sources h'ave not reached the lev'el 6f iability that allowsu's to rely on them in the immediate or realist f6resable future. Nu power is hereand' it 'is envir'nmentallycleýan. Unhke fdsilplarits, it does not contribute to the 'greenhouse' effecft6r globalwarmding. It does not rgelase l ikarfiil'iiarb'n emissions into the atMo`spheirýes fossil plants do. What itbdoesis provide us with inexpensive, safe electric power. We wer'e.otl6Jn the recent -past, that with the. onset. of deregulatpon, andthe.unleashing of market forces in the poýVer generation industry there, would,be.a,glut of low-cost, electric capacity for all classes of consumers. Deregulation passed, but the promised results never followed. How could anyone 5cb~'sjz A'
UTILITY WORKERS UNION OF AMERICA Local 1-2, Affiliated with AFL-CIO with the best interests of the community in mind now demand that we eliminate 2000 megawatts of vitally needed power without the remotest practical expectation that it will be replaced in our lifetimes?
Even if it could be, the cost would be unimaginable. We refuse to play either the blame game or engage in scare tactics, but let's get realistic. Indian Point has long been a mainstay of this community and region, and those who would not merely tamper with its functioning but would eviscerate it should think long and hard about what they would have you do, because it would be extremely unwise, counterproductive and blatantly destructive to deny relicensure to Indian Point.
This concludes my statement.
Sincerely, James T Slevin
(212) 575-4400, Ext.107 FAX:(212) 575-3852 James.Slevin@UWUA1-2.ORG James Slevin SENIOR BUSINESS AGENT UTILITY WORKERS UNION OF AMERICA, A.F.L.-C.I.O.
LOCAL 1-2 5 WEST 37TH STREET, 7Th FLOOR NEW YORK, N.Y. 10018