ML20209C397
| ML20209C397 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 04/15/1987 |
| From: | Zech L NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Guthman E PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, PHILADELPHIA, PA |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20209A941 | List:
|
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8704280670 | |
| Download: ML20209C397 (2) | |
Text
?
48-
[
%j 8
UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION i
y WASHINGTON, D. C. 20$$5 g
j
%,...../
April 15, 1987 CHAIRMAN Mr. Edwin Guthman Editor of the Editorial Page The Philadelphia Inquirer 400 N. Broad Street Philadelphia, PA 19101
Dear Mr. Guthman:
I do not agree with the statement in your editorial of April 12 that the employees of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission do not take their safety responsibilities seriously.
I do not believe your statement is based on dny reasonable interpretation and review of NRC employees' performance of their duties.
The more than 3000 people who work for the NRC share a dedication to protection of the public that is unsurpassed.
This agency takes prompt and vigorous action when our requirements are not met. The fact is that the NRC is currently denying a numbee of nuclear plants permission to operate because of safety concerns. Currently there are 9 plants with operating licenses which cannot return to operation witFout NRC's prior pennission.
I would point to the recent order shutting down the Peach Bottom plant as evidence that we will move quickly and decisively. The action on Peach Bottom was not taken to give the NRC " ammunition to ccunter critical testimony" at a Congressional hearing.
It was taken, to use your words, in recognition that "Those in charge of regulating and providing nuclear power must regard it for what it is -- a force so great as to always pose a potentially grave threat to the public's health and safety." That attitude does prevail at the NRC today, and I assure you that as the Chairman of this agency, I intend to see to it that our dedication to safety will continue.
Sincerely, b43.
Lando W. Zech, Jr.
1 8704280670 870422 PDR COMMS NRCC CORRESPONDENCE PDR
- ra*yo Anleetpendent Newspaperwm
{
-Pubitenee Enryiseentes by PWi e00 N. BroadStew4. P,0. Bos 8363 puledelyue
{
saws renenera.ascKusa.
os cuatrama adelphia,pm 19161 p
3 ss BUGENE1 2033R75J w
Sunday, April upwtMottrHa AN
~
g maine 12, 1967 t
4.
IIow toim_ prove the T~IC-Page 8-E g
Change minds, notjobs
' Some f the o
. mony about the pervasive fallings !.
most damning test the Nuclear Regulatory Coan NRCinvestigatorprobing th thhrhas come tolight si of witnesses Thursday bsfore thMlle Istand acciden mmission allegations the investigator w y
Covernmental Affatrs Cornmitt. They rov dered to re, port to Mr R b ered by e same ;
allege e Senate as or.
denca.dly attempted to destroy the evt.
p o
' examples The NR erts, who ee, of the deal with serious safety matter'further' C did not probe the agoney's refusal to
' nuclear reactors aroutions t the NRC, was* Victor Stello, di probletns t
~ 'now fnoother regulat"I can unequivocally state thnd the c
\\
a k
a of opera.
o Authority official how toPersonally a gative agency whe at !
U:! sis hau W re senter agency ofory orinvestf.
see Valley NRCinquiryabsst safetyp TVA reactor in Tennessee M answ mf F :c t end er an roblemsata allegsfly told the execullve t
' cut.cr o.f d
the tudustry hti reguld.w..-2.; m.p:
r.Stello M
' m.c de NRC's qqcseous
+
4asin charge ofcr,iminalpJuflan Creenspun who un it. fror.L A.
o tall s
..mn
' e G*.ur5 don took place.
t of two other brought by the US. Justice D seconfing to t recently investigation. estimony,NRC officials, rosecutiona
[Henc there was no
\\
Sen. John Glenn (D e
udi U' part*
\\
- DefensiveNRCofftetalsa bill creating four,independchsfr the N C ing attempted to'portraf th 3
is an aggressive protector of their agency m the boat.
i spectors general, one of who nsored t
Oc, citing the dectaton tc, shut d
\\
ovence ent in.
(ountyte Peech Bottom reacto? In though theNRChatanintactivittaa, of the NRCm epub.
own dog bureaucrac fag on the job. The nely were sleep.soom pe.after le
. AI.
\\
York fectual, as tbe w;y, it is weak and (net.ernal w tch rsonoci routi a
demonstrated.frastrated NRC employeetnesses dr e,w (ommittee member Sen Jeek before the heantg and oshugown cam s, clearly R., pa.
ne ' Sen. Glenn and others beli t(is unpr)e,cedented actior ilom solely to give the co, et Peach Bot
- speculated th the NRC 'mindependent inspector eve an Ultimately, ore' responsible, Perhaps.would mais dmmunition to Deverfulfill tt,obligatihowever, the NRC will counter.ntnissioners critical test (' lie until an e[ntir m
w' linesecs were these:nta Y4ullad by the vades the agency.ely new attitude per-ons to thepu ac e i
(ng that a Louisiana utilie A 1963 internal NRC siem We is p Waple psmise:gthatatti-Underlyin charge potcotlatly serious safety 0efdct Jt is rpower must regardit for whatof ty cov o a!!eg, nuclea teactor w ervd up asleaked to the u.
4ntly by NBC Comraission a force so great as to lways s 41 a ' Pose a.potentially grav tility,appar.,,,.piplic's he l b
}t Roberts or his staff. When cr Thomas a
a t.and safety.e threat to the
~ Jhat at'titada cattainlydoesti't pre.,'
,. the vail tMay..'
t-