September 12, 2007
Contact:Eric Epstein
(717)-541-1101
NRC Asked to
Review Emergency Planning Prior to Relicensing
Suspension of
Licensing Proceedings Sought
(Harrisburg, Pa.) Eric
Epstein, Chairman of Three Mile Island Alert, Inc., filed a petition with
the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) asking for a new rule requiring a
comprehensive review of emergency planning during the relicensing process.
License renewals extend the operating life of a nuclear plant for an
additional 2o years. The purpose of this rule is to have the NRC make an
affirmative finding that a reasonable assurance of adequate protection of
the population can be provided by emergency plans certified over 20 years
ago.
Eric Epstein Chairman of
TMI-Alert said, "The world has changed in the last 2o years, and
emergency plans around aging nuclear plants require rigorous site-specific
reexaminations. The NRC reviews aging components of nuclear power plants,
but it does not recertify the plant's initial emergency plans." Epstein
added, "The current process is insanity! How many people would ride in an
car or get on an elevator with compliance certificates that are 20 years out
of date?"
Epstein stated, "Current and
pending relicensing proceedings should be suspended until the NRC can
validate and reestablish current emergency plans, and provide a reasonable
assurance of adequate protection.
September is National
Preparedness Month
Three
Mile Island Alert , Inc., tmia.com, a safe-energy
organization based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and
founded in 1977. TMIA monitors Peach Bottom, Susquehanna,
and
Three Mile Island nuclear generating stations.
Petition For
Rulemaking Requiring Periodic Comprehensive NRC Review Of Emergency Planning
Around U.S. Nuclear Power Plants During The License Renewal Process
NRC Speech
- 019 - Stronger Support For State And Local Governments