This document is a committee compendium_prepared by the committee staff and is not a committee report. It is intended as a basis for further analysis and consideration by the members of the Joint Committee and the Congress. III CONTENTS 1. Chairman Holifield's opening statement at first Joint Committee hearing on the subject proposal, July 10, 1962- 2. Atomic Energy Commission statement at July 10, 1962, hearing on 3. Washington Public Power Supply System (WPPSS) statement at July 11, 1962, hearing on the subject proposal. -- 4. Summary of operating and construction contract (draft) No. AT(45-1)- 1355 between Atomic Energy Commission and Washington Public 5. Operating and construction contract (draft) No. AT(45-1)-1355 between Atomic Energy Commission and Washington Public 6. Summary of exchange agreement (draft No. 8), contract No. 14-03, 8. Congressman Van Zandt's press release, July 3, 1962 9. GAŎ letter to AEC dated July 6, 1962 (response to AEC request for 11. GAO letter to Chairman Holifield dated July 6, 1962_ 12. Chairman Holifield's letter dated July 3, 1962, to the Comptroller 14. Comptroller General's letter dated July 6, 1962, to Congressman John Taber stating opinion concerning AEC authority. 15. Congressman John Taber's letter dated June 13, 1962, to Comptroller General requesting opinion on AEC and BPA authority relative to 16. Congressman John Taber's letter dated May 23, 1962, to Comptroller General requesting opinion on AEC and BPA authority relative to 17. AEC Acting General Counsel opinion, May 31, 1962 18. BPA regional solicitor memorandum to BPA Ádministrator, April 10, 19. Congressman Ben F. Jensen's comments on proposed NPR electric plant, April 18, 1962, and AEC response May 4, 1962- 20. Bonneville Power Administration statement on Hanford atomic power- plant before House Appropriations Committee on April 16, 1962- 21. Summary by WPPSS and BPA of pertinent information on NPR elec- tric plant proposal presented to House Appropriations Committee 23. WPPSS letter to AEC dated February 2, 1962.. 24. AEC letter to JCAE dated January 24 forwarding WPPSS proposal V 27. Secretary of Interior's letter to JCAE dated July 12, 1962, stating BPA is prepared to enter into arrangements for proposed project___ 28. AEC letter to JCAE dated July 12, 1962, submitting program justifica- 29. AEC letter to JCAE dated July 12, 1962, concerning technical feasibil- 30. AEČ letter to JCAE dated July 12, 1962, containing comments on proposed proviso concerning participation of private organizations___ 31. WPPSS letter to JCAE dated July 12, 1962, containing information on reactions of utility districts and private utilities on proposed proviso for participation of private organizations. 32. AEC letter to JCAE, July 13, 1962, concerning requirements for 33. Amendments to H.R. 11974 adopted by the JCAE on July 12, 1962__ 34. Program justification data as approved by Joint Committee July 12, UTILITY PROPOSAL FOR POWERPLANT ADDITION TO HAN FORD NEW PRODUCTION REACTOR INTRODUCTION This document contains the principal documents concerning a proposal submitted by the Washington Public Power Supply System to the Atomic Energy Commission and the Bonneville Power Administration for the construction and operation of an electric generating plant at Hanford, Wash., which would use the byproduct steam generated in the Commission's new production reactor (NPR) now under construction. The NPR was authorized by the Congress in 1958 as Project 59-a-5 of Public Law 85-590, "Production reactor facility for special nuclear materials, convertible type, Hanford, Wash., $145 million." The purpose of the reactor is to produce plutonium for the nuclear weapons program. The convertible type of reactor authorized for this purpose is a reactor with certain design features which would permit the utilization of the heat (steam) generated in the plutonium production process for the production of byproduct electrical energy. The authorization did not include funds for the construction of the necessary plant and equipment additions required for the generation of electric energy. In 1961, the administration proposed the construction of the electric generating plant at the NPR. This proposal would have required the authorization of $95 million of Federal funds for the construction of the facilities and in addition, would have required the Atomic Energy Commission to operate the electric plant. The Congress refused to authorize the expenditure of Federal funds for this purpose. Recently, a group of public utility districts in the State of Washington, comprising the Washington Public Power Supply System, proposed to build and operate the facilities at their own expense and without any Federal expenditures. Proposed contractual arrangements have been negotiated among the participating parties which include the Washington Public Power Supply System, its participating utilities, the Atomic Energy Commission and the Bonneville Power Administration. The contracts have not been signed as yet. Under these contracts, WPPSS would construct and operate the electric generating facilities at its own expense. AEC would sell the otherwise wasted NPR steam to WPPSS at a price, approved by the Federal Power Commission which could result in the receipt by the Commission of from $31 million to $125 million over a 10- to 24-year dual purpose period. WPPSS would turn over the entire output of the NPR generating facilities to the Bonneville Power Administration under appropriate power exchange agreements. 1 |