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March 17, 2000

President William J. Clinton
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Clinton:

Last fall, the NRC held a meeting to solicit the opinions of both the nuclear industry and the public on the NRC’s intention to shift from formal to informal hearings on reactor issues and on the licensing of Yucca Mountain as a high-level waste repository.

We see no reason to give away our rights to cross-examination and discovery in order to garner the minimal benefits of an informal hearing. We believe that this move to circumscribe the public’s rights in NRC hearings is wrong and will further erode public confidence in the NRC, the nuclear industry and any potential resolution of the high-level nuclear waste problem.

While the NRC may have the ability to limit the public’s hearing rights, to do so would be to renege on promises already made to and relied upon by the public. According to former NRC Commissioner Peter Bradford:

The current NRC adjudicatory hearing process was developed as part of a bargain from which the nuclear industry gained a great deal in the late 1950s. In return for accepting extensive federal hearings, the industry was exempted from any state and local regulation of radiological health and safety and received the limitations on liability that are set forth in the Price-Anderson Act. Thus, citizens in any community in which a nuclear facility was to be located – gave up both local regulation of the facility and the additional financial and safety assurances that normal insurance industry operations would have brought . . . . In return they got a commitment to the full panoply of trial-type procedures as part of the federal licensing process. Now that memories have faded, the industry is seeking to revoke its share of the concessions in that original bargain.

 

The Commission acknowledges that:

the NRC declared in 1978 that the hearing it would hold on an application to construct and operate a nuclear waste repository for high level waste would be formal. In final rules published in 1981, now codified at 10 CFR Part 2, Subpart J, the Commission provided for a mandatory formal hearing at the construction authorization stage and for an opportunity for a formal hearing prior to authorizing receipt and possession of high level waste at a geologic repository.

Any attempt by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to renege on promises previously made to the public can only further erode confidence in the agency’s ability to adequately protect the public health and safety. The undersigned national environmental organizations and grassroots citizen’s groups ask that the NRC halt any legislative and regulatory efforts to limit our rights to formal hearings in the decisions that effect our families, homes and communities.

Sincerely,

James Riccio Public Citizen's Critical Mass Energy Project
Maureen Eldridge Alliance for Nuclear Accountability
Courtney Cuff Friends of the Earth
Arjun Makhijani Institute for Energy & Environmental Research
Steve Kohn National Whistleblower Center
David Adleman Natural Resources Defense Council
Tom Clements Nuclear Control Institute
Michael Mariotte Nuclear Information & Resource Service
Danielle Brian Project on Government Oversight
Anne Anderson Psychologists for Social Responsibility
Scott Denman Safe Energy Communication Council
Ann Mesnikoff Sierra Club
David Lochbaum Union of Concerned Scientists
Anna Aurillio U.S. Public Interest Research Group

Grassroots/Consumer/Environmental:

ARIZONA
Patricia Birnie, Chair GE Stockholders' Alliance
Frank C. Subjeck, Director Air, Water, Earth, Org.

 

CALIFORNIA

Daniel Hirsch, President Committee to Bridge the Gap
Francis U. Macy, Director Center for Safe Energy
Bob Brister, Convenor Madera County Greens
Philip M. Klasky, Co-director Bay Area Nuclear Waste Coalition
Michael Welch Redwood Alliance
Mary Beth Brangan Nuclear Democracy Network
Don Eichelberger Abalone Alliance Safe Energy Clearinghouse
Barbara Wiedner, Director Grandmothers for Peace International
Ernest Goitein & Claire Feder Californians for Radioactive Safeguards
Ruth Lopez People Against Radioactive Dumping
Ed Oberweiser Fort Ord Toxics Project
Max Bollock, Legislative Dir. Peace Action of San Mateo County

  

CONNECTICUT
Sal Mangiagli, Board Member Citizens Awareness Network
Nancy Burton, Esq. Connecticut Coalition Opposing Millstone
Peg Ryglisyn & Michael Albrizio Connecticut Opposed to Waste
Mitzi & Pete Bowman Don't Waste Connecticut
Mary Ellen Marucci Cooperative Citizen's Monitoring Network

 

DELAWARE

Alan Muller, Exec. Dir. Green Delaware

 

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Ellen Thomas Proposition One Committee
Barbara George, Exec. Dir. Women's Energy Matters

FLORIDA
Bruce K. Gagnon, Coordinator Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space

 

GEORGIA

Adele Kushner Action for a Clean Environment
Rita Kilpatrick Campaign for a Prosperous Georgia
Susan Alzner & Leigh Lytle Earth Challenge
Tom Ferguson Food Not Bombs

 

HAWAII

Kathy Dorn Irradiation Free Food Hawaii

ILLINOIS
David A. Kraft, Director Nuclear Energy Information Service
Liane Casten, Chair Chicago Media Watch, Chicago

INDIANA
Roger Voelker Citizens Action Coalition of Indiana
John Blair, President Valley Watch, Inc.

IOWA

Holly Hart, Secretary Iowa City Green Party

 

KENTUCKY

Mary Byrd Davis Director Yggdrasil Institute

 

LOUISIANA

Gary Groesch Alliance for Affordable Energy

MARYLAND
Robin Mills, Director Maryland Safe Energy Coalition

 

MAINE

Nancy Allen Maine Green Party
Anne D. Burt, Secretary Friends of the Coast-Opposing Nuclear Pollution
Robert Campbell, President Atomic Veterans Radiation Research Institute

 

MASSACHUSETTS
Debbie Katz Citizen Awareness Network

 

MICHIGAN

Michael Keegan Coalition for a Nuclear Free Great Lakes
Corrine Carrey & Alice Hirt Don't Waste Michigan
Kaleema Ann Biteye, Director Youth Environmental Project

MINNESOTA
George Crocker, Exec. Director North American Water Office
Bruce A Drew Steering Com. Prairie Island Coalition

 

NEBRASKA
Diane A. Burton, Managing Dir. Heartland Operation to Protect the Environment

 

NEVADA

Judy Treichel, Exec. Director Nevada Nuclear Waste Task Force
John Hadder, Coordinator Citizen Alert - NV
Suzy Snyder Shundahai Network

 

NEW JERSEY

Joyce and Steve Kuschwara Oyster Creek Nuclear Watch
Norm Cohen, Executive Director Unplug Salem Campaign

 

NEW MEXICO

Joni Arends, Waste Programs Dir. Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety
Eric Jantz Eastern Navajo Dine Against Uranium Mining
Geoffrey H. Fettus New Mexico Environmental Law Center

 

NEW YORK

Barbara K. Hickernell Alliance to Close Indian Point
Susan B. Griffin, Coordinator Chenango North Energy Awareness Group
Tim Judson Citizen Awareness Network
Kyle Rabin Environmental Advocates
Sonya Ostrom, Chair Flatbush Peace Action
Alice Slater Global Resource Action Center for the Environment
Andi Weiss Bartczak, Ph.D. Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Inc
Bill Smirnow Nuclear Free New York
Edward Smeloff, Exec. Director Pace University Law School Energy Project
Scott Cullen Counsel Standing for Truth About Radiation (STAR)

NORTH CAROLINA
Janet & Lou Zeller Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League
Wells Eddleman, Staff Scientist NC Citizens Research Group
Jim Warren, Director North Carolina Waste Awareness and Reduction Network
E.M.T. O'Nan, Director Protect All Children's Environment
Lewis E. Patrie, M.D., President Western North Carolina Physicians for Social Responsibility

OHIO
Harvey Wasserman Citizens Protecting Ohio
Chris Trepal Earth Day Coalition
Shari Weir Ohio Citizen Action
Susan Hiatt, Director Ohio Citizens for Responsible Energy, Inc.
Vina K. Colley Portsmouth/Piketon Residents for Environmental Safety
Charlene Johnston Toledo Coalition for Safe Energy
Emmett White Student Environmental Action Coalition at Ohio State

 

OKLAHOMA

B.J. Medley Earth Concern of Oklahoma

 

OREGON

Lynn Sims Don't Waste Oregon Caucus
George Hutchinson, Exec. Comm. Sierra Club Oregon Chapter

 

PENNSYLVANIA

L. J. Glicenstein, Ph.D., Secretary Central Pennsylvania Citizens for Survival
Judith H. Johnsrud, Ph.D., Dir. Environmental Coalition on Nuclear Power
Katharine Dodge, Energy Chair Northeast Pennsylvania Audubon Society
Karl J. Novak Pennsylvania Environmental Network
Jessica Womer Planetkeepers--Slippery Rock University
Scott Portzline Three Mile Island Alert
Lynn Landes, Director Zero Waste America- PA

SOUTH CAROLINA

Harry Rogers Carolina Peace Resource Center
Christine Witkowski Sustainable Energy and Environmental Solutions

 

TENNESSEE

Ann P. Harris, Director We The People, Inc. of Tennessee

 

TEXAS
Don Moniak, Program Director Serious Texans Against Nuclear Dumping,(STAND)

 

VERMONT
David N. Pyles New England Coalition on Nuclear Pollution
Katra Faust Citizen's Action Network
Dave Rapaport, Exec. Dir. Vermont Public Interest Research Group

 

WASHINGTON

Beth Burrows, President The Edmonds Institute

 

WEST VIRGINIA
Amy Odean Concerned Citizen Coalition

 

WISCONSIN

John LaForge and Bonnie Urfer Nukewatch

 

CANADA
Dr. Rosalie Bertell, President International Institute of Concern for Public   

 

 

Individuals:

 

ARIZONA

Joel M. Few Tucson, AZ

 

CALIFORNIA
Alexis Penn Arcata, CA
Eugene P. Coyle, Ph.D Corte Madera, CA
Kathy Stein Kensington, CA
Richard C. Dawson Los Angeles, CA
Scott L. Fielder Nevada City, CA
Richard B. Norgaard, Professor of Energy & Resources University of California at Berkeley, CA
Donald Robert Smith, Ph.D Oakland CA
Richard Montgomery, Professor of Mathematics University of California Santa Cruz, CA
Marsha van Gelder Fairfax, CA
Barri Boone Willits, CA
Edward Shacklett Ventura, CA
Don Loweburg North Fork, CA
Sonja Williams, SEAC Arcata, CA
Tian Harter Mountain View, CA
John Stevens San Bernardino, CA

 

COLORADO
Estelle Gahn Fort Collins, CO
Sharron Y. Fieber Denver, CO

 

CONNECTICUT
Kathryn S. Hale South Windsor, CT

 

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Dianne Curran Harmon, Curran, Speilberg & Eisenberg

 

FLORIDA
Louis D. Putney Tampa, FL

 

GEORGIA
Susan Bloomfield Augusta GA
Kathy Willingham Macon, GA
Juli Wilson Clarkesville, GA
Tom Southern Gainesville, GA
Reynaldo Pellos Macon, GA

 

HAWAII
Lanny Sinkin, Attorney at Law Hilo, HI

 

IOWA
Christopher Kinneer Iowa City, IA

 

INDIANA
Mike Mullett, Mullett & Associates Indianapolis, IN
Special Counsel--Energy, Utilities and Environment, Citizens Action Coalition of Indiana, Inc.
Adrienne Jagger Porter, IN

 

ILLINOIS

Corey J. Conn Chicago, IL
Pamela R. Thomas Buncombe, IL
Michael Duerr Palatine, IL

 

MAINE
Raymond Shadis, Member Maine Yankee Community Advisory Panel on Decommissioning
Daniel Swartz Lewiston, ME

 

MARYLAND
Marjory Donn Greenbelt, MD
Lawrence Schugam Baltimore, MD

 

MASSACHUSETTS
Robert and Joan Holt Truro, MA
Dominique Meyers Milton, MA
Patricia McSweeney Taunton, MA

 

MINNESOTA
Gladys Schmitz Mankato, MN
Rhoda R. Gilman St. Paul, MN

 

MONTANA
Mary E. Fitzpatrick Billings, MT
Robert & Jeni Dawson Whitefish, MT

 

NEW JERSEY
J. David Alcantara, Esq Ventnor, NJ
Mike & Janet Turco Absecon, NJ
Sidney Goodman Paramus, NJ
Joe Mosley New Brunswick, NJ
Lindy & Joe Jedju New Lisbon, NJ

 

NEW MEXICO

Elizabeth Norlin Albuquerque, NM
Ellen R. Robinson Albuquerque, NM
Nicole Morris Santa Fe, NM

 

NEW YORK
Suzanne Warson Flushing, NY
Kathy Whitley-Bartell Westbury, NY
Russell Todd Roslyn Heights, NY
Karen Charman Woodstock, NY

 

NEW HAMPSHIRE
Robert Backus Manchester, NH
Tony Roisman Lyme, NH

 

OHIO

Louise C. Baker Akron, OH
Rob Pliskin Cleveland Heights, OH
John Serop Simonian Cleveland, Ohio

 

OKLAHOMA

Bob D. Rounsavell Tulsa, OK

 

OREGON
Doris F. Traudt Eugene, Oregon

 

PENNSYLVANIA
Michael A. Wahler McVeytown, PA
Charles Leiden Altoona, PA
John J Kulinski Pittsburgh, PA
Marvin Lewis Philadelphia, PA
Amy Kwasnicki Philadelphia PA
Michael Casper State College, PA

 

SOUTH CAROLINA
Brett Bursey Columbia, SC
Katrina Nylund Columbia, SC

 

TENNESSEE
Adam Davis Brentwood, TN
Richard Wall Knoxville, TN

 

TEXAS
Margaret Shreve Spring, TX

VERMONT
Jonathan M. Block Attorney at Law, Putney, VT
Russell Mills, Ph.D Vermont Technical College, Randolph Center, VT

 

WASHINGTON
Maralyn Chase Seattle, WA
Scott Shively Seattle, WA

 

WISCONSIN
Robert L Benner Saint Francis, WI
Gail Vaughn Ferryville, WI

 

 

CC:

Chairman Richard A. Meserve
Commissioner Nils J. Diaz
Commissioner Greta J. Dicus
Commissioner Edward McGaffigan, Jr.
Commissioner Jeffrey S. Merrifield