priations. Subcommitic on ti ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT APPROPRIATIONS FOR 1982 HEARINGS BEFORE A SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS NINETY-SEVENTH CONGRESS HUNTER L. SPILLAN, GEORGE A. URIAN, M. C. GREER, and DONALD P. SMITH, Staff KF27 COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS A64 JAMIE L. WHITTEN, Mississippi, Chairman EDWARD P. BOLAND, Massachusetts WILLIAM H. NATCHER, Kentucky NEAL SMITH, Iowa JOSEPH P. ADDABBO, New York TOM BEVILL, Alabama JOHN P. MURTHA, Pennsylvania JOSEPH D. EARLY, Massachusetts LINDY (MRS. HALE) BOGGS, Louisiana WILLIAM LEHMAN, Florida MARTIN OLAV SABO, Minnesota JULIAN C. DIXON, California VIC FAZIO, California W. G. (BILL) HEFNER, North Carolina LES AUCOIN, Oregon DANIEL K. AKAKA, Hawaii WES WATKINS, Oklahoma WILLIAM H. GRAY, III, Pennsylvania BERNARD J. DWYER, New Jersey 1981 Pt.4 SILVIO O. CONTE, Massachusetts J. KENNETH ROBINSON, Virginia CLAIR W. BURGENER, California JOHN EDWARD PORTER, Illinois KEITH F. MAINLAND, Clerk and Staff Director ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT APPROPRIATIONS FOR 1982 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1981. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION JOHN F. AHEARNE, CHAIRMAN WITNESSES VICTOR GILINSKY, COMMISSIONER JOSEPH M. HENDRIE, COMMISSIONER PETER A. BRADFORD, COMMISSIONER WILLIAM J. DIRCKS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS HAROLD R. DENTON, DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REACTOR REGULATION RAY G. SMITH, ACTING DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT JOHN DAVIS, DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY AND SAFEGUARDS ROBERT MINOGUE, DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REGULATORY RESEARCH VICTOR STELLO, DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT LEONARD BICKWIT, GENERAL COUNSEL HOWARD K. SHAPAR, EXECUTIVE LEGAL DIRECTOR LEARNED W. BARRY, CONTROLLER B. PAUL COTTER, JR., CHAIRMAN, ATOMIC SAFETY AND LICENSING BOARD PANEL INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT Mr. BEVILL. The committee will come to order. We have with us today the Commissioners and principal staff members of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. This committee has been concerned for a number of years about the performance of the Commission, particularly in the licensing area. There is currently a backlog of 53 pending operating license requests and 13 construction permits. Of these, 13 operating licenses will not be granted when the nuclear power plants they are intended for will be completed. This will result in a direct and inflationary cost to consumers of over $3 billion. We are having this hearing today to examine the Commission's performance, particularly in the licensing area. Before we turn to your statement, Mr. Ahearne, I would like you to explain to the committee why the operating license backlog has gotten so bad. Is the Commission totally helpless in dealing with this situation, or (1) |