Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
~~s • aoU ~ - a ~S <br />~~ <br />ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMNIISSIONERS <br />A Resolution <br />In Support of an Emergency Petition to the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission by the NC Waste <br />Awareness and Reduction Network, the Union of Concerned Scientists, the Nuclear Information <br />and Research Service, NC Fair Share and Students United for a Responsible Global Environment <br />Seeking Regulatory Action by the Commission to Enforce Existing Fire Protection Standards and <br />Regulations Applicable to the Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant <br />WHEREAS, the Orange County Board of Commissioners has a long and well-established practice of <br />advocating for any and all activities that would promote the public health, safety and <br />welfare, particularly in regard to feasible threats to that health, safety and welfare; and <br />WHEREAS, approximatelySOpercent of the risks of catastrophic nuclear plant failure are associated <br />with fire-related accidents, as calculated by the .Nuclear Regulatory Commission; and <br />WHEREAS, the Orange County Board of Commissioners also have a long and well-established record <br />of concern regarding security and safety issues at the Shearon. Harris nuclear power plant, <br />related to the potential magnitude and catastrophic consequences of a nuclear power plant <br />fire leading to an airborne release of nuclear waste materials; and <br />WHEREAS, information has recently been presented to the Board of County Commissioners as to <br />ongoing problems with fire safety and fire protection practices at the Shearon Harris <br />nuclear power plant; and <br />WHEREAS, Progress Energy/CP&L has indicated that it will apply to the NRC for permission to take <br />up to nine more years to bring the Shearon Harris nuclear power plant into compliance <br />with fire safety standards and regulations; and <br />WHEREAS, Progress Energy/CP&L has indicated that it will apply to the NRC for atwenty-year <br />extension of its operating license for the Shearon Harris plant while the plant is not in <br />compliance with existing fire safety standards and regulations; and <br />WHEREAS, Progress Energy/CP&L has indicated that it is in the process of evaluation of permitting, <br />designing and constructing two nuclear power reactors at the Shearon Harris nuclear <br />power plant while the existing plant is not in compliance with existing fire safety <br />standards and regulations; <br />NOW, THEREFORE, do we, the Orange County Board of Commissioners, hereby resolve to support <br />the petition of the NC Waste Awareness and Reduction Network, the Union of Concerned Scientists, the <br />Nuclear Information and Research Service, NC Fair Share and Students United for a Responsible Global <br />Environment to the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission asking that the NRC compel Progress <br />Energy/CP&L to immediately bring the Shearon Hams nuclear power plant into compliance with <br />existing federal fire safety standards and regulations applicable to nuclear power plants. <br />This is the 3rd day of October, 2006 <br />