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/ �Y y.� Sp ' _ `;°11.i- $ 1 Dr. Thompson stated that without looking at the legalist structure, the present practice of storing fuel 2 in pools A& B creates a risk that adds to the risk posed by the reactor. The density currently in use in 3 pools A & B creates an accident potential that would not exist if low density racking were used in 4 those pools. This is an existing situation and cannot be challenged at this time. The licensing risk � 5 adds a further risk. The relative scale of the risks is a complex question, but only the licensing 6 amendment for the risks at the C & D pools is open for review at this time. If there was a hearing on 7 pools C & D, it would make people more aware of the risk being posed by pools A& B and the 8 company might ultimately choose to adopt a storage strategy that greatly reduces the risk posed by � 9 pools A, B, C & D. The probability of consequences are low; they are not everyday events. However, 10 the consequences can be very large. The consequences of accidents fail into two categories. The 11 short-term consequences arise from exposure to the short-lived radioactivity that might be released 12 from a reactor. Most of the emergency response measures that the government has prep.ared for are 13 directed at protecting people from the short-lived radioisotopes. A pool accident would involve the 14 long-term consequences of the release of seiziumSP. The Chernobyl accident proved that there are 15 long-term consequences of this type of accident. If these pools were to be filled and an accident 16 occurred they would be storing more than ten-times the amount of SP seizium SP stored at 17 Chernobyl. The consequence would be serious and lasting. He mentioned that when the uranium fuel 18 in the reactor undergoes fission it produces fission products, or waste material. Seizuim 137 is a 19 particularly hazardous byproduct. In the spent fuel the Seizium is locked into ceramic pellets inside 20 the tubes. It is locked in place for as long as the rods maintain their integrity. If the fuel overheats 21 then the Seizium would evaporate, rise up and escape from the building and travel downwind. This is 22 a low probability event. 23 24 Chapel Hill Town Council member Joe Capowski asked what circumstances could cause us to be 25 refused "standing" in this situation. 26 27 Ms. Curran stated that"standing" would probably be granted in this case as Orange county is the � 28 government entity that is responsible for the health and welfare of citizens living within a relatively 29 close distance of the plant. _ 30 31 A motion was made by Commissioner Jacobs, seconded by Commissioner Halkiotis, that the Board of 32 County Commissioners direct the consultants, Dr. Gordon Thompson and Diane Curran, to: a) 33 complete the legal and technical documents required to file a request to intervene in the Nuclear 34 Regulatory Commission's perrnitting process for the CP&L proposal to expand its storage capacity for 35 spent nuclear fuel rods at the Shearon Harris Nuclear Power plant; and b)file those documents with 36 the NRC prior to the filing deadline and end of the public comments period on February 12, 1999. 37 Intervention is the formal process whereby Orange County asks the NRC to hold a public hearing on 38 the proposal. 39 40 Commissioner Jacobs stated that he believed that Mr. Scalara was a conscientious employee who 41 believed everything that he stated in these proceedings. However, ultimately CP&L is a for-profit 42 organization that may not always make the same decisions as a nonprofit organization might make 43 regarding safety. This process requires that elected officials and citizens speak now or forever hold 44 their peace. It is prudent for elected officials to be sure that the NRC adequately addresses the 45 issues that citizens have raised. He stated that it is important to observe now how the NRC 46 addresses these concerns. 47 VOTE: UNANIMOUS 48 49 Commissioner Gordon thanked the elected officials, citizens, Dr. Thompson, Ms. Curran and 50 representatives of CP&L. 51 �52 A motion was made by Commissioner Brown, seconded by Commissioner Jacobs that the Board of 53 County Commissioners direct the consultants, Dr. Gordon Thompson and Diane Curran, to: a) 54 complete the legal and technical document required to file a challenge or objection to the NRC staff's