ML16340B930

Responds to G Nicolopulos to President Reagan,Re Licensing of Facilities.Nrc Actions Taken Will Provide Major Improvements in Licensing Schedules

ML16340B930
Person / Time
Site:	Diablo Canyon
Issue date:	07/10/1981
From:	Harold Denton Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:	Nicolopulos G AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED
References
NUDOCS 8107230143
Download: ML16340B930 (22)

Text

The Honorable Gus Hicolopulos Mayor of South San Francisco South San Francisco, California 94080

Dear t3ayor Wicolopulos:

JUL 10 198)

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g Your tray 1981 letter to President,Reeganregarding the expedition of the licensing of Diablo Canyon, Units 1 and 2 has" been referred to me for response.

The licensing of Diablo Canyon will be conducted in two stages; the decision for a fuel load and low power (not to exceed five percent of full power) test license and a decision on a full power license.

Pacific Gas and Electric Company filed a motion last year with the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board (ASLB) for authorization to load fuel and conduct low power testing prior to final Commission action with respect to PGSE's application for a full-power operating license.

The NRC staff subsequently issued a supplement to the Diablo Canyon Safety Evaluation Report which addressed additional issues related to new Commission requirements arising from the Three tlile Island (THI) accident.

The ASLB held hearings on TNI-related low-power issues on tray 19, 1981.

A licensing decision on low power issues is expected in the next couple of months.

Early in 1980, the Atomic Safety and Licensing Appeal Board (ASLAB) reopened the record on earthquake design and facility security issues.

The Appeal Board conducted evidentiary hearings on these matters in October and November 1980 and issued a favorable decision on seismic issues on June 17, 1981.

An ASLAB decision on security issues is expected within the next few weeks.

With regard to the full power license, the NRC issued on April 2, 1981 supplements to the Diablo Canyon Safety Evaluation Report on THI issues related to full power and several remaining other issues.

This essentially completes the NRC staff actions with respect to full power license.

Intervention is also anticipated For the full power operation, consequently a Commission decision on full power operation is not expected before early next year.

With respect to changes in existing Commission procedures major improvements in the licensing process are underway or being considered.

These improvements include:

Expedited and rescheduled review by the NRC staff for plants in the short term category those presently complete and those to be completed in 1981 and 1982.

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Increased efficiency of the hearing process and subsequent Commission and Appeals Board review.

The time now being taken between issuance of the supplemental staff evaluation report and initial decisions by licensing boards averages 18 months.

The HRC believes it can compress that time to about 10 months by tightening up the times allowed for each part of the prehearing process and by providing firmer time management of the whole process.

The Commission has published for public comment proposed changes to its rules which would accomplish this.

Changes in the review process the Commission itself exercises over these cases.

The Commission is considering two alternatives to shorten this review period which could save at least two months in each case that has been in hearing.

Early completion of NRC staff review for plants to be completed in 1983 and beyond.

This will require better scheduling of reviews and increased staff resources applied to casework.

Some staff resources can be redirected by deferring lower priority work and shifting some work to other NRC offices.

Before making such a change, the Commission will carefully review the impact on other essential safety-related activities.

In sugary, we are confident the actions we have taken and those we will take will provide major improvements in licensing schedules without compromising the regulatory requirements for safety.

Ne appreciate your interest in the Diablo Canyon project and understand your concern at the delays in the licensing.

Please be assured that the NRC is taking every reasonable action to expedite the licensing process, consistent with our commitment to ensure the public health and safety.

Sincerely, Ngbaf Sgneil Sg It E. L Cess arold R. Denton, Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation DISTRIBUTION; SEE NEXT PAGE.

SEE PREVIOUS CONCURRENCES.

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Gus Nic lopulos, Mayor Post Of ce Box 711 So.

San 'cisco California 94080

Dear Mayor Nic lopulos:

Your May 1981 le ger to President Regan regarding the expedi on of the licensing of Diablo Canyon, 9 its 1 and 2 has been refer red to me for esponse.

The licensing of Diab

,Canyon will be conducted in two ages; the issuance of a fuel load and low wer (not to exceed five perce of full power) test license and the issuance a full power license.

P ific Gas and Electric Company filed a motion las ear with the Atomic S@ ety and Licensing Board (ASLB) for authorization to Quad fuel and conducing ow power testing prior to final Commission action with expect to PGSE's

)plication for a full-power operating license.

The NRC staff, subsequentl issued a supplement to the Diablo Canyon Safety Evaluation Ag~ort whic addressed additional issues related to new Commission requiremagts ar ng from the Three Mile Island (TMI) accident.

The ASLB held hear%

s TMI-related low-power issues on May 19, 1981.

A licensing decision o

ow power issues is expected this fall.

Early in 1980, the Atomic Safety a

Lic sing Appeal Board (ASLAB) reopened the record on earthquake design facilf~

security issues.

The Appeal Board conducted evidentiary hea ngs on this matters in October and November 1980 and issued a favorable d

ision on seism q issues on June 17, l98l.

An ASLAB decision on security sues is expected fore the end of June.

llith regard to the full wer license, the NRC iss ed on April 2, 1981 supplements to the Dia o Canyon Safety Evaluation'port on TMI issues related to full power and sev ral remaining other issues.

T Qs essentially completes the NRC staff aetio with respect to full power licensg.

Intervention is also anticipated r the full power operation, consequently a Commission decision on full ower operation is not expected before Mapch of next year.

With respect o changes in existing Commission procedures magog improvements in the lice Ang pt'ocess are underway or being considered.

Th se improvements include:

Ex dited and rescheduled review by the NRC staff for plants in<the s rt term category those presently complete and those to be co leted n 1981 and 1982.

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I Nicolopulos, Mayor Po,Office Box 711 So.

n Francisco Calif,qua 94080 Dear Mayo

,Hicolopulos:

Your l1@

198 getter to President Regan regar ng the expedition of the licensing of Diablo Canyo> Units I and 2 has been ref red to me for response.

The licensing of D

lo Canyon will be co ucted in two stages; the issuance of a fuel load and 1 'power (not to exc ed five percent of full power) test license and the issuan ~of a full po>>e license.

Pacific Gas and Electric Company filed a motion 1>gt year with he Atomic Safety and Licensing Board (ASLB) for authorization t+~l,oad fue and conduct low power testing prior to final Commission action with>gespec to PG&E's application for a full-power operating license.

The NRC staff/~

bsequently issued a supplement to the Diablo Canyon Safety Evaluation port which addressed additional issues related to new Commission requir, me>

s arising from the Three ftile Island ti

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,~s-end hearings on TthI-related issues w~e& og tlag 19 1981.

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'oard (ASLAB) reopened the record on earth ake design and facility security i ques.

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on these tt rs in 0 tober and November 1980 and ecision on ssues ew. ~ ~7j

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o 1lith regard to he full power license, the NRC issued on April 2, 981 supplements t the Diablo Canyon Safety Evaluation Report on TNI i'es related to full powe and several remaining other issues.

This essentially mpletes the NRC sta actions with respect to full power license.

Interventjo is also antic ated for the full power operation, consequently a Commissio decision full power operation is not expected before March of next yea With re ect to changes in existing Commission procedures major improvements in the icensing process are underway or being considered.

These improvements inclu

'l xpedited and rescheduled review by the NRC staff for plants in the short term category those presently complete and those to be completed!

in 1981 and 1982.

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,0 ayor Nicolopulos In eased efficiency of the hearing process and subseque Commission and eals Board review.

The time now being taken bet een issuance of the su elemental staff evaluation report and initial d cisions by licensing boards a> rages 18 months.

The NRC believes it can mpress that time to about 10 m

ths by tightening up the times allowed r each part of the prehearing p

cess and by providing firmer time m

agement of the whole process.

The ommission has published for publi ~comment proposed changes to its rules wh would accomplish this.

Changes in the revi

~ process the Commissio tself exercises over these cases.

The Commissio is considering two ternatives to shorten this review period which could sav at least two mont s in each case that has been in hearing.

Early completion of NRC sta review or plants to be completed in 1983 and beyond.

This will require be ger s Ceduling of reviews and increased staff resources applied to case%~

r.

Some staff resources can be redirected by deferring lower priority work d shifting some work to other NRC offices.

Before making such a change, th Co Iission will carefully revie~ the impact on other essential safety-rela ed ac vities.

In sugary, we are confident t actions we ave taken and those we will take will provide major improvemen s in licensing chedules without compromising the regulatory requirements for afety.

ate appreciate your intere t in the Diablo Canyon oject and understand your frustration at the dela in the licensing.

Please e assured that the NRC is taking every reason le action to expedite the li nsing process, consistent with our commitment ensure the public health and sa ty.

Sincerely, Harold R. Denton, Directo Office of Nuclear Reactor gulation It ll OFFICE/

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NRC FORM 318 IIO/80) NRCM 0240 OFF.ICIAL RECORD COPY

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-275 32 LPDR TERA LB¹3 Files HRDenton EGCase DEisenhut FHiraglia BBuckley JLee

Attorney, OELD GErtter (10517)

SCayanaugh (10517)

EHughes LBerry

BPCotter, ASLB IE (3)

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FROM'us Nicolopulos, Mayor City of South San Francisco, California ACTION CONTROL COMPL DEADLINE'CKNOWLEDGMENT INTERIM REPLY DATES 10517 DATE OF DOCUMENT TO:

President (CC: Chairman, NRC)

FINALREPLY F I LE LOCATION PREPA IGNATURE OF:0 CHAIRMAN 0

EXECUTIVEDIRECTOR DODD DESCRIPTION Q LETTER Q MEMO Q REPORT P OTHER SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR REMARKS Encl. Resolution No. 55-81 entitled, "A Resolution Supproting"Activation of Diablo Canyon POHGr Facility". Requests

.NRC to expedite the licensing process DOCUMENT/COPY NO.

NUMBER OF PAGES POSTAL R EG IST RY NO.

CLASSIFIED DATA C LASS IF ICATION CATEGORY 0

NSI 0 RD Q FRD ASSIGNED TO:

DATE INFORMATIONROUTING ase ur ey Denton g.

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PPAS$.

Snyde 2..

Hanauer Mattson LEGALREVIEW ASSIGNED TO:

DATE 0

FINAL 0

COPY NO LEGAL OBJECTIONS NOTIFY:

0 EDO AOMIN&I CORRES BR EXT.

COMMENTS, NOT IFY:

EXT.

NRC FORM 232 (11~75J JCAE NOTIFICATIONRECOMMENDED:

0 YES 0

NO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS DO NOT REMOVE THIS COPY PRINCIPAL CORRESPONDENCE CONTROL

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(415) 877-8500 tlay 13, 1981 H'

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The President of the Unite'd State" of Amer',ca The Hhite House Washington, D.C.

20500

Subject:

Activation,.of'iablo Canyon Power Facility

Dear t1r. President:

The City Copngil, of,,the City of South. Sari Francisco, at its regular jlIeeting,o/fIIpg;-6, 198'I, adopted the attached Resolutioii Ro.

55-,81

.en6tlesd, "K Resolution Support";ng Activation of Diablo Canyon

='-Power..Facil ity. "

This City respectfully requests that the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission expedite the licensing process so that the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Plant can be licensed at the earliest possible

'ime consonant with a reasonable assessment of protection of public

., hea'ith and safety.

Thank you for your consideration of this City's position on this matter.

Very t.uly yours, Hp~Q cn4pIA,tH~

Gus Nicolopulos tlayor GA/bab Enclosures CC:

Governor Brown Senator Alan Cranston Senator S. I. Hayakawa Congressman Paul N, McCloskey Congressman Tom Lantos House of Representatives Chairman of'he U. S.=Nuclear Regulatory Commission H

'400 GRANO AVENUE-P. O. BOX 711 040SO

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RESOLUTION NO.

55-81 CITY COUNCIL, CITY OF SOUTH SAN.FRANCISCO, STATE OF CALIFORNIA A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING ACTIVITATION OF DIABLO CANYON POWER FACILITY WHEREAS, the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant was certified for con-struction by the California Public Utilities Commission more than fourteen years ago; and WHEREAS, the power plant has been constructed at a remote site near, San Luis Obispo and is now complete and awaiting licensing by the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission; and WHEREAS, Dr. John A. Blume, president of the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute and a renowned authority on earthquake engineering and structural

dynamics, has said that the nuclear plant containment structures

.-.~;- are=-ihe "strongest that man has designed 10 to 20 times stronger than the best buildings in our modern cities

. Diablo Canyon and other nuclear plants are the best structures for earthquake safety ever built by man.;" and WHEREAS, Congressman Tom.Bevill, Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Energy and,Water Development, finds that "The apparent inability of the (Nuclear Regulatory)

Commission to deal with licensing issues in a timely I

and effective manner is taking a terrible economic toll on the utility ind-

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ustry, the nuclear power industry, and on the ultimate customer 'nd WHEREAS, Congressman Bevill further states:

"At a time when all Americans are suffering from double-digit inflation, the (Nuclear Regulatory)

Commission's failure to license completed nuclear power plants in a timely manner has con-tributed to that inflation by forcing reliance on increasingly expensive im-ported oil and domestic natural gas.

As an example, for those nuclear power plants (including Diablo Canyon) identified in the (NRC) status report as

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4mpacted, the estimated total additional cost to ratepayers will range as high as

$3.6 billion;" and WHEREAS, the California Public Utilities Commission has stated that operation of the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant has "substantial advantages,"

including "added generation capacity at a time when electric reserve margins in California are low, replacement of overworked oil and gas-fired generating

'lants which depend on expensive and insecure supplies of imported fuel, and utilization of the massive investment already made in the Diablo facilities;"

and WHEREAS, the California Energy Commission also recognizes the vital importance of Diablo Canyon hnd includes this power plant in its forecast of the energy supplies required to meet state needs to the year 1990; and ilHEREAS, President

Carter, on December 7, 1979, responding to recommend-ati.ons.othe Kemeny Commission on the Accident at Three Mile Island, endorsed the Nuclear'egulatory Commission's decision to pause in issuing licenses in order to put its house in order but urged the ".

NRC to complete its work as quickly as possible and, in any event, not later than six months from today;" and WHEREAS, California s varied and diverse industrial mix of agriculture, food processing, manufacturing, electronics, and oil refineries all rely on

/

electrical energy, and individual consumers depend upon electrical energy in their jobs, in their homes, and in every other aspect of their daily life; and IlHEREAS, when licensed and fully operating, the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant will generate 2,200 megawatts'f electricity, reducing the need for 20 million equivalent barrels of foreign oil annually, and will generate enough electricity to serve the needs of two million Californians at a savings

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$ 2 billion in utility bills over what customers would otherwise pay for electric power during any given five-year period during which the plant was not operating; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of South San Francisco that the City of South San Francisco requests that the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission expedite the licensing process so that the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Plant can be licensed at the earliest possible time consonant with a reasonable assessment of protection of public health and safety.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a= copy of this 'Resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, the Governor of California, each United States Senator and Member of the House of Representatives from California,'nd the Chairman of the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

I hereby certify. that the foregoing Resolution was regularly introduced and adopted by the City Council of the City of South San Francisco at a

<<gular meeting held on the 6th day of May

1981, by the'ollowing vote:

AVES NOES:

Councilmen Ronald G. Acosta, Emanuele N. Damonte; and Gus Nicolopulos Councilman Mark N. Addiego and Councilwoman Roberta Cerri Teglia ABSENT:

ATTEST:

City Clerk

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