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NRC NEWS U. S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, REGION I 475 Allendale Road, King of Prussia, Pa. 19406

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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