NUCLEAR SITING AND LICENSING ACT OF 1978 HEARINGS BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON NUCLEAR REGULATION OF THE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS NINETY-FIFTH CONGRESS SECOND SESSION ON S. 2775 A BILL TO AMEND THE ATOMIC ENERGY ACT OF 1954, AS MAY 18, JUNE 28, 29, JULY 12 AND 13, 1978 SERIAL NO. 95-H64 Printed for the use of the Committee on Environment and Public Works 30-567 O U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON: 1978 PHILIP T. CUMMINGS, RICHARD M. HARRIS, KATHERINE Y. CUDLIPP (Minority), and RICHARD E. HEROD (Minority), Counsels HAROLD H. BRAYMAN (Minority), Senior Professional Staff Member Professional and research staff: JAMES K. ASSELSTINE (Minority Nuclear Counsel), JOSEPH N. BOWMAN KARL R. BRAITHWAITE, KATHERINE CAPLES, E. KEVIN CORNELL, PAUL L. FADElli, George 1 FENTON, Jr., RANDOLPH G. FLOOD, KATHALEEN R. E. FORCUM, ANN GARRABRANT, RICHARD 1 GREER, CAROLE A. HACKES, WESLEY F. HAYDEN, GEORGE JACOBSON, KATHLEEN A. KORPON, CURT MOORE (Assistant Counsel, Minority), CLIFFORD M. NAEVE, JUDY F. PARENTE (Assistant Minority Sta Director), KEVIN PHELPS, JOHN B. PURINTON, Jr., JAMES D. RANGE (Assistant Counsel, Minority), V LEE RAWLS, PETER D. ROSENBERG, LAWRENCE J. ROTH (Assistant Counsel), JACQUELINE E. SCHAFE CHARLENE A. STURBITTS, E. STEVENS SWAIN, Jr., ROBERT I. VAN HEUVELEN, SALLY W. WALKE LEWIS W. WATTS, BARBARA WEBB, and HAVEN WHITESIDE CONTENTS OPENING STATEMENTS Hart, Hon. Gary, U.S. Senator from the State of Colorado...... McClure, Hon. James A., U.S. Senator from the State of Idaho...-- Page 1, 103 203, 341, 683 Schlesinger, Hon. James R., Secretary, Department of Energy accompanied by John O'Leary, Deputy Secretary; and Robert Hanfling, executive Additional remarks....... Galinsky, Victor, Commissioner, Nuclear Regulatory Commission.. Kennedy, Richard T., Nuclear Regulatory Commission___ Rivlin, Alice M., Director, Congressional Budget Office, accompanied by Prepared statement.. JULY 12, 1978 (p. 341) Carlone, Ralph, Associate Director, Energy and Minerals Division, General Gleason, George, executive vice president and general counsel, American Prepared statement.. Messing, Marc, Washington representative, Environmental Policy Center. Page 341 368 572 360 370 626 Ward, John E., chairman, committee on reactor licensing and safety, 358 Prepared statement__ 482 Supplemental statement.. 554 JULY 13, 1978 (p. 683) Bray, A. Philip, vice president and general manager, nuclear energy projects division, General Electric Co.... 683 Supplemental statement.. 734 Hobart, Larry, assistant executive director, American Public Power 716 Prepared statement... 794 Rosenthal, Alan S., chairman, atomic safety and licensing appeal panel, Nuclear, Regulatory Commission, accompanied by John H. Buck, vice chairman.. 708 Prepared statement. 782 Taylor, John J., vice president and general manager, water reactor division, 688 Prepared statement... 747 ADDITIONAL MATERIAL American Public Power Association, report furnished by, entitled, "Stand- Licensing, Design, and Construction Problems: Priorities for Solution General Accounting Office, report to the Congress entitled, "Nuclear National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners, letter to 721 507 541 559 39 98 23 National Governors' Association, "Policy Statement on Energy Facility 30 Nuclear and Coal Power Generation Economics, a report furnished by the 76 S. 2775, reprint of__ 5 Standardized Nuclear Unit Powerplant System, a report furnished by the Statements submitted for the record: AFL-CIO..--. Northeast Utilities. Nixon, Hargrave, Devans & Doyle... Americans for Energy Independence.. National Rural Electric Cooperative Association_ Rochester Gas and Electric Corp.. Tennessee Valley Authority. Union of Concerned Scientists.. Westinghouse Electric Corp., report from, entitled, "Nuclear and Coal Power Generation Economics". NUCLEAR SITING AND LICENSING ACT OF 1978 THURSDAY, MAY 18, 1978 U. S. SENATE, COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS, Washington, D.C. The subcommittee met at 11:08 a.m., pursuant to call, in room 4200, Dirksen Senate Office Building, Hon. Gary Hart (chairman of -the subcommittee) presiding. Present: Senators Hart, Moynihan, Hodges, McClure, and Domenici. OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. GARY HART, U.S. SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF COLORADO Senator HART. Mr. Secretary, Mr. O'Leary, we are pleased to have you with us here today. The hearing will come to order. This hearing marks the beginning of this subcommittee's consideration of nuclear licensing reform legislation. It is the first of a series of hearings which will constitute a major subcommittee effort this year. Light water nuclear reactors are one proven technology capable of meeting our expanded electrical power needs. There are 69 operating commercial nuclear reactors providing almost 12 percent of our electrical needs. One hundred thirty-three more are in various stages of licensing and construction. These reactors could significantly increase our electrical power generation capacity in the years ahead. In spite of these facts, nuclear power does not, as it did a decade ago, appear to be the single solution to future energy needs in this country. Between 1972 and 1974, utilities placed orders for over a hundred new nuclear plants. Two years later that trend was dramatically reversed. In 1976, orders for new plants dropped to three. In 1977, there were only four new orders. And so far this year, no new plants have been ordered. Furthermore, in the past 3 years, 18 plants have been canceled and over a hundred have been deferred. Part, but not all, of this decline can be attributed to problems in the nuclear licensing process. Other factors such as utility financing difficulties and reduced forecasts for electrical power have had substantial industrywide impact resulting in the delays and cancellations. It is difficult to quantify exactly the degree to which industry leveling off has been caused by nuclear licensing delays. Nevertheless, |