NRC NEWS

U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, REGION I

475 Allendale Road

King of Prussia, PA 19406

No. I-00-49 July 11, 2000

CONTACT: Diane Screnci (610)337-5330/ e-mail: dps@nrc.gov

Neil A. Sheehan (610)337-5331/e-mail: nas@nrc.gov

NRC ATOMIC SAFETY AND LICENSING BOARD TO HEAR ARGUMENT

ON MILLSTONE 3 SPENT FUEL STORAGE PROPOSAL

A Nuclear Regulatory Commission Atomic Safety and Licensing Board will hear oral argument

on July 19 and, if necessary, on July 20 in New London, Conn., regarding a proposal by Northeast

Utilities to increase the amount of spent nuclear fuel stored in the Millstone 3 nuclear power plant’s

spent fuel pool. In addition, the three-member panel will provide an opportunity on July 18 and 20 for

members of the public to make brief oral statements.

On July 19, the board will hear oral argument beginning at 9 a.m. in the Richard Martin Center

Auditorium, 120 Broad St., New London. If more time is needed for argument, it will take place

beginning at 9 a.m. on July 20 at the same location. Intervenors who have been admitted as parties to

the proceeding and who will participate in the oral argument are the Connecticut Coalition Against

Millstone and the Long Island Coalition Against Millstone.

The sessions at which members of the public may make brief oral presentations (known as

"oral limited appearance statements") will take place on July 18 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Radisson Hotel,

35 Governor Winthrop Blvd., New London, and on July 20 in the Richard Martin Center Auditorium

beginning at 9 a.m. or, if needed, following additional time for oral argument. During these time

periods, any person not a party to the proceeding will be able to make an oral statement setting forth

his or her position on matters of concern relating to this proceeding. Although these statements do not

constitute testimony or evidence, they may help in the deliberations of the board and the parties in

connection with the issues under consideration.

Last year, Northeast Utilities submitted to the NRC a request for a license amendment that

would allow it to increase the capacity of the Waterford, Conn., reactor’s spent fuel pool through the

addition of storage racks. (The plant’s pool is designed to hold as many as 2,169 spent fuel

assemblies; it currently contains about 500. Northeast Utilities’ application seeks permission to store

up to 1,860 assemblies in the pool.)

Under NRC regulations, interested citizens and groups are given an opportunity to intervene in

such amendment requests, provided they can demonstrate standing and raise contentions about the

application that have not been previously addressed. The Connecticut Coalition Against Millstone and
the Long Island Coalition Against Millstone jointly filed a petition seeking to intervene in the

Millstone 3 case.

After a prehearing conference last December 13 in New London, the Atomic Safety and

Licensing Board handling the case determined both groups had standing and that three of 11

contentions raised warranted further consideration. Those contentions will be the focus of the oral

argument on July 19 and, if necessary, July 20. The board will decide whether the contentions warrant

additional review.

The following Administrative Judges are members of this licensing board: Charles Bechhoefer,

Chairman; Richard F. Cole; and Charles N. Kelber.

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