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safe, and this is the way they have been doing it. The thing that has concerned him about this is that <br />Wake, Durham, and southeastern Orange County are growing substantially. He feels that Brunswick <br />County, NC and Robinson County, SC are less urban and more rural. He asked if Dr. Thompson <br />factored in density in the safety analysis. Dr. Thompson said no, he had not. <br />Joe Capowski asked the two experts if this was the safest way of storing these spent fuel <br />rods, taking into account the density of these areas. <br />Dr. Thompson said that the safest method of storing CP&L's spent fuel would be a <br />strategy for all three of its plant sites of combining low density fuel storage with dry storage. This would <br />eliminate the possibility for large releases from spent fuel pools. <br />Mr. Lochbaum agreed with Dr. Thompson's answer. <br />Dr. Earl Fowler said he represents no organization, but is pleased to be here. <br />Rick Pratt said that he was here representing the Orange County Commission for the <br />Environment. As an engineer, one thing he looks at is safety factors. He would like to see a <br />demonstration from CP&L or the NRC that there is enough safety factors built in to sustain an accident. <br />He asked about terrorist activity and if storing above ground would run a greater risk. Dr. Thompson said <br />that different dry storage designs have different levels of protection against a sabotage attack. <br />Mr. Lochbaum said that he toured the Baltimore Gas and Electric plant, and they <br />indicated that sabotage of a dry storage facility would have significantly lower consequences. <br />Moderator Conner asked a written question about risk level if there were a second <br />cooling system installed and how the cost of that type of system compares with dry storage. <br />Mr. Lochbaum stated that he would feel comfortable with that solution because it would <br />address all of the questions except the waste confidence issue and that is out of Carolina Power and <br />Light (CP&L)'s control. <br />Dr. Gordon Thomson stated that part of Orange County's Environmental contentions <br />calls for the study of alternatives and their impacts. The contentions call for a thorough analysis of costs, <br />impacts and risks. This would then be a basis for decisions. <br />Steve Carr with Carolina Power and Light (CP&L), stated that an additional cooling <br />system was not necessary. <br />Allen Spalt said that the purpose of the Environmental Impact Statement is to consider all <br />the impacts, alternatives and relevant options in order to facilitate an informed decision. He also asked <br />what other radioactive materials would be released if there were a spent fuel accident <br />Dr. Thompson stated that dry storage designs have different capabilities for withstanding <br />sabotage. All of the current designs would release a much smaller amount of radioactive material than <br />would be released through the pools. <br />A written question was read. What other potentially harmful radioactive materials <br />besides Cesium 137 would be present if there were a accident? <br />Dr. Thompson said there were a variety of radioactive materials both short-term and <br />long-term. He mentioned Iodine 131. The focus on Cesium is that it is volitile and it is an intense gamma <br />emitter and a major contributor to radioactive fallout. <br />Jim Warren said that he feels that CP&L is making its decisions based on financial <br />concerns and not because it is the safest plan. <br />A written question was read concerning the protective covers over the cooling area not <br />being built to the same standard as those housing the reactors. It was pointed out that the need for <br />protective covering was different for cooling pools than that required for the reactor itself. <br />Dr. Thompson mentioned that cooling pools become less dangerous as time passes. <br />For example, after 66 years the fuel being stored would not undergo a reaction if there were a water loss. <br />ADJOURNMENT <br />With no further items to be considered, the meeting was adjourned. The next regular <br />meeting as listed on the schedule will be held on April 13,1999 at 7:30 pm in the Government Services <br />Center in Hillsborough, North Carolina. <br />Alice M. Gordon, Chair <br />Beverly A. Blythe, Clerk