Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
reasons that CP&L says that they want to use storage at Harris and not use dry cask at Robinson and <br />Brunswick, is they do not believe that the Department of Energy will have an ultimate depository site <br />available in the foreseeable future. <br />Mr. Lochbaum then explained the UCS's recommendations for CP&L. The first <br />recommendation is that CP&L must correct the errors and omissions in its application, which are the <br />concerns stated above. Secondly, the NRC must not approve this plan until it reviews the corrected <br />application. Lastly, the UCS thinks that dry cask storage at Robinson and Brunswick may be a cheaper, <br />safer solution. <br />d. Commissioner Comments/Questions <br />Commissioner Jacobs asked about the administrative provisions that CP&L is proposing <br />to address the BTU problem, and asked how often the NRC accept those kinds of assurances rather than <br />a specific plan. David Lochbaum said that there are very few license applications that receive any <br />intervention, and very seldom does the NRC question the applications. <br />Commissioner Jacobs made reference to the newspaper article, and Dr. Gordon <br />Thompson said that if an accident occurred it would have an impact beyond North Carolina and certainly <br />in the County. David Lochbaum said that since the application is incomplete, he can not comment on <br />this. <br />Commissioner Brown asked about dry storage, and the basis for CP&L's decision to <br />bring the storage rods to the Harris plant, based on cost. Mr. Lochbaum said there was a cost/benefits <br />study done on alternatives to bringing the fuel here. The cost of dry cask storage at the Robinson and <br />Brunswick plants was more than transporting the fuel to Harris. Dr. Thompson said that accidents are <br />fewer with dry storage. He said that dry cask is licensed for twenty years. No application has been <br />requested to extend this time. He feels that storage can be extended for 100 years and be safe. Also, <br />Mr. Lochbaum said if they used dry storage, when a depository site became available, they would then <br />have to put it in a transport cask to get it to the site. They would essentially have to move the fuel twice. <br />It might be a problem, unless there were a dual purpose cask. <br />Chair Gordon asked if there is any process that would require CP&L to go to dry cask <br />storage, and Mr. Lochbaum said no. She asked about how much time citizens would have to react in the <br />case of a pool accident, and Dr. Thompson said that it would take about ten days for the pool to dry. If <br />the pool drains away, it could be as short as eight or ten hours. <br />Commissioner Jacobs wanted to personally thank Dr. Thompson and Mr. Lochbaum for <br />their services. <br />Mr. Lochbaum pointed out for the record that he is compensated by the UCS, and not by <br />any other party. <br />Part II: Meeting of Concerned Citizens and Interested Parties Regarding Spent Fuel Issues <br />at the Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant <br />a. Introduction of Moderator <br />Chair Gordon introduced the Moderator, Jim Conner, who is the Chair of the Durham <br />Environmental Affairs Board. She turned the meeting over to Mr. Conner, who introduced the panel <br />members. <br />Panel Members <br />Jim Warren, NC WARN <br />Allen Spalt, Carrboro Board of Aldermen <br />Dr. Gerald Drake, President for Social Responsibility <br />Margaret Pollard, Chatham County Board of Commissioners <br />Joe Bowser, Durham County Board of Commissioners <br />Joe Capowski, Chapel Hill Town Council <br />Steven Carr, Attorney for CP&L <br />Dr. Earl Fowler, retired nuclear physicist <br />Rick Pratt, Orange County Commission for the Environment <br />Dr. Gordon Thompson <br />David Lochbaum