Agenda - 03-29-2007- - Laserfiche WebLink

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September 2006 Assembly of Governments (AOG) meeting of elected officials from Orange County, Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Hillsborough, Orange ' County indicated its intent to renew its efforts to convince Progress Energy/CP&L and appropriate state and federal agencies (the NC Utilities Commission, Department of Crime Control & Public Safety and others; and the US Department of Homeland Security, Environmental Protection Agency and others) to work with all of the elected, law enforcement and emergency management/response officials within the 50 mile radius ingestion zone to develop comprehensive and effective emergency response and evacuation plans. On a separate track, the local governments of Orange County were advised of longstanding issues with the fire protection and safety at the Shearon Harris facility. Specifically, the plant has experienced at least one very serious fire and has a history of prevalent non-compliance with NRC-promulgated fire safety standards and regulations. Given that approximately 50% of the risks of catastrophic nuclear plant failure are associated with fire-related accidents (as calculated by the NRC), the-local governments of Orange County have expressed a high level of concern and alarm at learning of the Harris plant * 's shortcomings in this area. Orange County has been involved in an exchange of letters, resolutions, teleconferences, etc. with the NRC and Progress Energy/CP&L in support of the NC Waste Awareness and Reduction Network (NCWARN), the Union of Concerned Scientists, the Nuclear Information and Research Service, NC Fair Share and Students United for a Responsible Global Environment in their emergency petition to the NRC to compel Progress Energy/CP&L to immediately correct all of the fire safety violations at the Shearon Harris facility. Furthermore, Orange County and other local and state government officials have tried unsuccessfully to this point to ' convince the NRC and Progress Energy/CP&L officials to attend public forums to discuss the issues of fire protection and extending the emergency planning zone to the 50 mile radius ingestion area. Subsequent to the September 2006 AOG meeting, the Town of Chapel Hill tried to set up a public forum discussion involving those organizations who filed an NRC complaint relative to the Shearon Harris fire and safety issues. The forum would have included local public officials and citizens and Progress Energy/CP&L. Progress Energy/CP&L declined to participate and plans for the forum were abandoned. As of this date, the NRC has refused to consider Orange County's request to expand the safety planning zone around the Shearon Harris plant absent the presentation of technical data developed by state and local law enforcement and emergency management officials showing why the existing 10 -mile safety zone should be expanded. The NRC has also ruled against NCWARN, the Union of Concerned Scientists, the Nuclear Information and Research Service, NC Fair Share and Students United for a Responsible Global Environment in their emergency petition for the NRC to compel Progress Energy/CP&L to immediately correct all of the fire safety violations at the Shearon Harris facility. The NRC has agreed to evaluate the petition's allegations of fire protection shortcomings at Shearon Harris. -NC State Senators Ellie Kinnard and Janet Cowell have sponsored a forum on Shearon Harris fire and safety issues, which scheduled to occur at Fearrington Village in Chatham County. Both Progress Energy/CP&L officials and NRC officials have been invited, though NRC officials have formally declined to participate. Local government officials may want to consider additional strategies to convince or compel the NRC and Progress Energy/CP&L to address the fire and safety issues at Shearon Harris.