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M Progress Energy <br />December 12, 2006 <br />Honorable Barry Jacobs, Vice-Chair <br />Orange County Board of Commissioners <br />PO Box 8181 <br />200 S. Cameron St <br />Hillsborough, NC 27278 <br />Dear Commissioner Jacobs: <br />Adtve" 3_6 <br />C. S. Hinnant <br />Senior Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer <br />Progress Energy, Inc. <br />C qlls <br /><al�, <br />Progress Energy is committed to open communication with elected officials and other <br />stakeholders about Harris Plant operations. Thus, we were disappointed with the tone of your <br />letter and the board's decision to decline our offer to visit the plant. We have had several key <br />leaders from surrounding communities visit the plant in the past and they found the visit <br />beneficial and informative, and we are pleased that members of the Chapel Hill Town Council <br />and the Wake County Board of Commissioners are planning visits in the near future. <br />Please know that our offer stands, and we hope you will reconsider your decision. We believe a <br />visit to the site would demonstrate first-hand the facts about the comprehensive measures that we <br />have in place to ensure the public health and safety of our employees and nearby communities. <br />It would also be a good opportunity for the Orange County commissioners to share questions and <br />concerns with highly trained staff members who can answer them. <br />The Harris Plant has one of the best safety records in the country and has operated safely since it <br />came online two decades ago. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is onsite, ensuring <br />that the plant meets its standards and operates safely every day. <br />As you and I discussed during the fuel pool litigation, the NRC established a standard 10 -mile <br />emergency planning zone (EPZ) for all nuclear facilities across the country based on very <br />conservative public dose considerations. Data exists that would support reducing the evacuation <br />zone to 5 miles, but the federal agency has determined that the current EPZ will remain at 10 <br />miles. Therefore, we do not support burdening county and state emergency officials, who are <br />responsible for evacuation plans, by arbitrarily supporting an expansion of the zone to 50 miles <br />when the safety risk is not present. <br />We are always open to sharing information with elected officials and community members about <br />the operations and safety features of the Harris Plant and other plants operated by Progress <br />Energy. We have also in the past met directly with NC WARN to discuss issues, including fire <br />protection, in an attempt to alleviate their concerns. We routinely make the plant open to the <br />P.O. Box 1551 <br />Raleigh, NC 27602 <br />T> 919.546.4222 <br />F> 919.546.2405 <br />