DOCKETED USNRC

June 30, 2005 July 6,2005 (9:05am)

OFFICE OF SECRETARY RULEMAKINGS AND ADJUDICATIONS STAFF

The Honorable Den~isJ. Kucinich SERVED July 6,2005 United States House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 2051 5 Docket No. 72-22-lSFSl

Dear Congressman Kucinich:

I am responding to your letter of June 16, 2005, sent to Chairman Nils J. Diaz, in which you register your strong opposition to granting the pending Private Fuel Storage, LLC (PFS) license application.

Under U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission regulations, the Commission has an adjudicatory role in the PFS proceeding. An Atomic Safety and Licensing Board recently has issued decisions that may clear the way for licensing the PFS facility, but the Commission itself must decide whether and when to issue a license. Due to the nature of the Commission's role, I irust you will understand that all members of the Commission must remain impartial during the pendency of this case. It would be inappropriate at this time for any of them to discuss or comment on issues involved in this matter.

A copy of your letter and this response will be served on the participants in the Private Fuel Storage, LLC proceeding.

Sincerely,

Annette L. vied-cook Secretary of the Commission cc: PFS Service List Identical letter sent to:

The Honorable Dennis J. Kucinich The Honorable Diane E. Watson United States House of Representatives United States House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 2051 5 Washington, D.C. 2051 5

The Honorable Donald M. Payne The Honorable Michael H. Michaud United States House of Representatives United States House of Representatives Washington, D.C, 2051 5 Washington, D.C, 2051 5

The Honorable Gwen S. Moore The Honorable Eddie Bernice Johnson United States House of Representatives United States House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 2051 5 Washington, D,C. 2051 5

The Honorable Stephanie Tubbs Jones The Honorable United States House of Representatives United States House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 2051 5 Washington, D.C. 2051 5

The Honorable Janice D. Schakowsky The Honorable Barbara Lee United States House of Representatives United States House of Represen.tatives Washington, D.C. 2051 5 Washington, D.C. 2051 5

The Honorable Charles B. Rangel The Honorable Maxine Waters United States House of Representatives United States House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 2051 5 Washington, D.C. 2051 5

The Honorable Jesse L. Jackson, Jr. The Honorable Timothy J. Ryan United States House of Representatives United States House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 2051 5 Washington, D.C. 2051 5

The Honorable Nick Rahall The Honorable Corrine Brown United States House of Representatives United States House of Represenlatives Washington, D.C. 2051 5 Washington, D.C. 2051 5

The Honorable Cynthia McKinney The Honorable Gregory W. Meeks United States House of Representatives United States House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 2051 5 Washington, D.C. 2051 5

The Honorable Betty McCollum The Honorable Raul M. Grijalva United States House of Representatives United States House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 2051 5 Washington, D,C. 2051 5

The Honorable John Lewis The Honorable Michael M. Honda United States House of Representatives United States House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 2051 5 V\!ashington, D.C. 2051 5

The Honorable Lane Evans The Honorable Hilda L. Solis United States House of Representatives United States House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 2051 5 Washington, D.C. 2051 5 The Honorable Linda Sanchez The Honorable Pete Stark United States House of Representatives United States House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 2051 5 Washington, D.C. 20515

The Honorable Grace F. Napolitano The Honorable Jose E. Serrano United States House of Representatives United States House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 2051 5 Washington, D.C. 2051 5

The Honorable Joe Baca The Honorable John Conyers, Jr. United States House of Representatives United States House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 2051 5 Washington, D.C. 20515

The Honorable Silvestre Reyes The Honorable Sam Farr United States House of Representatives United States House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 2051 5 Washington, D.C. 20515

The Honorable Solomon P. Ortiz The Honorable Major R. Owens United States House of Representatives United States House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 2051 5 Washington, D.C. 2051 5

The Honorable Luis V. Gutierrez The Honorable Sheila Jackson Lee United States House of Representatives United States House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 2051 5 Washington, D.C. 20515

The Honorable Danny K. Davis The Honorable Mike Thompson Unitsd States House of Representatives United States House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 2051 5 Washington, D.C, 2051 5 - The Honorable Neil Abercrombie I he Honorable Maurice D. Hinchey United States House of Representatives United States House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 2051 5 Washington, D.C. 2051 5

The Honorable Emanuel Cleaver The Honorable Bobby L. Rush United States House of Representatives United States House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 20515 Washington, D.C. 20515

The Honorable John B. Larson The Honorable Alcee L. Hastings United States House of Representatives United States House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 2051 5 Washington, D.C. 2051 5

The Honorable Tammy Baldwin The Honorable Louise M. Slaughter United States House of Representatives United States House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 2051 5 Washington, D.C. 20515

The Honorable James P. McGovern The Honorable Jerrold Nadler United States House of Representatives United States House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 20515 Washington, D.C. 20515 The Honorable Elijah E. Cummings The Honorable Diana DeGette United States House of Representatives United States House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 2051 5 Washington, D.C. 2051 5

The Honorable Carolyn C. Kilpatrick The Honorable Rush Holt United States House of Representatives United States House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 20515 Washington, D.C, 2051 5

The Honorable John W. Olver United States House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 2051 5

The Honorable Patrick Kennedy United States House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 2051 5

The Honorable Sherrod Brown United States House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 2051 5

The Honorable Shelley Berkley United States House of Representatives Washington, D.C, 2051 5

The Honorable Jerry F. Costello United States House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 2051 5

The Honorable Nydia M. Velazquez United States House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 2051 5

The Honorable Julia M. Carson United States House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 2051 5

The Honorable Lynn C. Woolsey United States House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 2051 5

The Honorable Bennie G. Thompson United States House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 2051 5

The Honorable Ed Pastor United States House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 2051 5 June 16,2005

Chairman Nils 3. Diaz Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washingon, D.C. 20555

We urge the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to deny a license for Private Fuel Storage (PFS) to host a nuclear waste dump on land sacred to the Skull Valley band of Goshutes. This proposal is unjust, exkmely dangerous, and unnecessary. The IlistoIy of exploitation and racism carried out towards Native Americans by the US. government is well documenled md we must not relive it.

It is unjust for the United States to target a desrimte and vulnerable Xative American tribe. The Shll Valley band of Goshures possess an inextricable spiritual attachment to the land they inhabit and many tribal members say it is all they have lefi. The Department of Energy starred looking into dumping radioactive waste on Native American grounds in 1987, bur finally gave up in 1994 when it dissolved the Office of the Nuclea Wasle Negoriaror, after several Native American tribes resisted its efforts ro build a dump on their land. The nuclear power industry has iaken up where the Department left off, and has targeted the Skull Valley band of Goshutes, one of the most economically and politically ~Lierabletribes in America.

Mmy tribal members dispute lhe lease agreement behveen the tribe and PFS. The leadership of rhe tribe, which consists of three members, signed a lease agreement with PFS without the knowledge or approval of the Skull Valley Goshute General Council. The General Council consists of the 60 adult members who govern the tiibe. The ofier members of tbe tribe claim that the leadershp no Ionger represents themL.It is now apparent the tribe opposes the dump. The nuclear powcr industry is only dealing with the disputed leaders of the mbe, who are acting against rhe wishes of rest of its members. Construclin: a nuclear waste facility on sacred tribal land wihout consent is a violation of Native American rihts. PFS is clearly raking advanlase of a aibe in desperate need of fmds.

This proposal is a safety risk to all Arnericms along the transportation routes to lhc proposed facility. Tramporring casks cross-country creates the possibility of 2 potentially catastrophic radioactivity release due to an accident or terrorist attack. Nuclcar wasce could be aprimary terrorist target when it is moving through highly populated metropolitan areas. hcreasing the amount of handling and ~ransponadonofnuclear waste increases the likelihood of accidents. Transporeation rourcs proposed by rail, road, and barge could pass through as many as 44 states

' h?C:CLI-04-09 - Privare Fuel Sroragz LLC - Docker No. 72-22-ISFSX

PRINTEC CN RECYCLE2 PrPZR Page 2 and the District of Columbia, putting the waste within half a mile of 50 million The transportation of such great amounts of nwlear waste has yet 10 happen in U.S. history. There have only been 3,025 high-level wasle shipments so far, bur rbousands more would be necessary if PFS is ganted a license3. Transportation of such high volunles of nuclear waste would pur virmally every part of the counlry at risk.

Dry casks are a controversial and unproven storage technology that have had problems with hairline fractures, explosions due to chemical reactions, and welding failures. A former lead quality assurance inspector for EdisonIExelon, the producer of the casks, has cited numerous quality assurance violations in the manufacture of these containers4.

It is so pnssihlc that the proposed site might not be temporary at all. PFS has promised that irradiated fucl would stay at skull Valley for for permanent. burial al Yucca Moun~ainin K Yucca Mountain Project rransfcr director, 5a accept irradiated nuclear he1 from PFS, because it would violate the tenns of rhe ~e~artm~dof ~nerg~'sStandard Contract for Disposal of Spent Nuclear ~uei'. The Yucca Mountain Project has been delayed for years and after numerous major setbacks ir may never see the !ight of day.

This nuclear waste facility is not necessary because ir does not reduce :he risks posed by high- level radioactive waste. Waste will always remain at the facility ar operating reactors. This would exacerbare the problems facing nuclear power in the United States, inscead of remedying it.

Thcre is no good reason ro consmet this facility, but there are many reasons to oppose it. PFS' proposal is dangerous to Americans, violates the rights of the Shil Valley band of Goshutes, and is nor in our national interest.

~arion&Tirhwav. ~iil&d Barge out& to Yucca F'lounrain. Srate of Nevada Agcncy for Nuclcar ~rojects.k June 2005, $rrp:l/~ww.state.nv.us~nucwaste/maFs20 3 Nucicar's Facal 133~3:Wastt. Public Citjzcn. 13 .ILI~L-15. 7-005. h1lp:/ici1izcn.or=/c1n~p~en~~~gy~c'n~~iro~n~1c*carnuclcar~o~~~~-~\nn1s/arlii:Ies.cfni?1D~~~3154. ' Mcgan Tady, ''ru'ar;.vcAmericms, Allies Rcsisr Expmsion of Utah Nuke Was~eland,"The New Standard 1 Junc 2005. j Pany Henetz, "Yucca won'r rake wasre from Ut&" Salt Lakr Trihunc 4 May 2005.

Page 4 IUem'brrs on NRC letter

1. Dennis Kucinich 32. Neil Abercro~nbie 2. Donald Payne 3 3. Emanuel Cleaver 3. Gwen Moore 34. John Larson 4. Srephmie Tubbs Jones 35. Tarnmy Baldwin 5, Jan Sch&owsky 36. James McGovcm 6. Charles Range1 37. Pete Stark 7. Jessie Jackson Jr. 38. Jose Senano 8. Niclc Rahall 39. John Conyers 9. Cynlhia McKimcy 40. Sam Farr 10. Betty McCG!~A?I 41. Major Owens 11. John Lewis 42, Shelia Jackson-Lee 12. Lane Evans 43. Mike Thompson 13. Diane Warson 44. Mzurice Hinchey 14. Michael Michaud 45. Bobby Rush 2 5. Eddie Bernice Johnson 46. Alcee Hasrings 16. Ed Towns 47. 17. Bxbua Lee 48. Jerrold Nadler 18. Maxine Waters 49. Elijah Curnrnings 19. Tim Ryan 50. Carolym Kilpatriclc - 20. Corrine Brown 5 1. John Olver 2 1. 52. Patrick Kennedy 22. Rau1 Grijalva 53. Sherrod Brown 23. Mike Honda 54. Shellcy Bmkley 24. Hilda Solis 5 5. Jeny Costello 25. Linda Sanchez 56. Nydia Velazquez 26. Grace Napolitano 57. Julia Carson 27. Joe Baca 58. Lynn Woolsey 2 8. Silvestre Reyes 59. Bemie Thompson 39. Solomon Oniz 60. Ed Pastor 30. Luis Gurierrez 6 1. Diana DeGerre 3 1. Danny Davis 62. Rush Holl UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

In the Matter of ) ) PRIVATE FUEL STORAGE L.L.C. ) Docket No. 72-22-ISFSI ) (Independent Spent Fuel Storage ) Installation) )

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I hereby certify that copies of the foregoing LETTER FROM ANNETTE L. VIETTI-COOK TO CONGRESSMAN DENNIS J. KUCINICH, ET AL. RESPONDING TO THEIR 06/16/05 LETTER URGING THE COMMISSION TO DENY THE PENDING PRIVATE FUEL STORAGE, L.L.C. LICENSE APPLICATION have been served upon the following persons by deposit of paper copies in the U.S. mail, first class, or through NRC internal distribution.

Office of Commission Appellate Administrative Judge Adjudication G. Paul Bollwerk, Ill, Chairman U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel Washington, DC 20555-0001 Mail Stop - T-3 F23 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555-0001 Administrative Judge Administrative Judge Michael C. Farrar, Chairman Paul B. Abramson Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel Mail Stop - T-3 F23 Mail Stop - T-3 F23 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555-0001 Washington, DC 20555-0001

Administrative Judge Sherwin E. Turk, Esquire Peter S. Lam Laura C. Zaccari, Esquire Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel John T. Hull, Esquire Mail Stop - T-3 F23 Office of the General Counsel U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Mail Stop - 0-15 D21 Washington, DC 20555-0001 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555-0001

Diane Curran, Esquire Joseph R. Egan, Esquire Harmon, Curran, Spielberg Martin G. Malsch, Esquire & Eisenberg, L.L.P. Egan, Fitzpatrick, Malsch & Cynkar, PLCC 1726 M Street, NW, Suite 600 The American Center at Tysons Corner Washington, DC 20036 8300 Boone Boulevard, Suite 340 Vienna, VA 221 82 Docket No. 72-22-ISFSI LETTER FROM ANNETTE L. VIETTI-COOK TO CONGRESSMAN DENNIS J. KUCINICH, ET AL. RESPONDING TO THEIR 0611 6/05 LETTER URGING THE COMMISSION TO DENY THE PENDING PRIVATE FUEL STORAGE, L.L.C. LICENSE APPLICATION

Joro Walker, Esquire Martin S. Kaufman, Esquire Director, Utah Office Atlantic Legal Foundation Western Resource Advocates 205 E. 42ndSt. 1473 South 1I00 East, Suite F , NY 10017 Salt Lake City, UT 841 05

Denise Chancellor, Esquire Jay E. Silberg, Esquire Assistant Attorney General D. Sean Barnett, Esquire Utah Attorney General's Office Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP 160 East 300 South, 5th Floor 2300 N Street, NW P.O. Box 140873 Washington, DC 20037-1 I28 Salt Lake City, UT 841 14

John Paul Kennedy, Sr., Esquire Richard \Nilson David W. Tufts, Esquire Department of Physics Confederated Tribes of the Goshute Harvard University Reservation and David Pete 17 Oxford St. Durham Jones & Pineyar Cambridge, MA 02138 11 1 East Broadway, Suite 900 Salt Lake City, UT 84105

Tim Vollmann, Esquire Paul C. EchoHawk, Esquire 33014 Coors Road N.W. ff302 ECHOHAWK LAW OFFICES Albuquerque, NM 871 20 151 North 4th Avenue, Suite A P.O. Box 61 19 Pocatello, ID 83205-6119

Stephen L. Simpson, Esquire Office of the Solicitor Department of the Interior Division of Indian Affairs 1849 C Street, NW, Mailstop 6456-MIY Washington, DC 20240

Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 6Ih day of July 2005