R-6388
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CA:RMM:r
Council Meeting 10-27-81
Santa Monica, California
RESOLUTION NUMBER
6388
(City Council Series)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA IN OPPOSITION
TO THE RELICENSING OF THE
UCLA NUCLEAR REACTOR
WHEREAS, 1n 1959 a nuclear reactor was built at the
campus of the Un1vers1ty of Cal1fornia at Los Angeles (UCLA);
and
WHEREAS, UCLA has filed an application with the Nuclear
Regulatory Commission to re11cense the reactor to the year
2000; and
WHEREAS, the reactor was built by AMP, a company that
built only two other reactors and shortly thereafter went out
of the reactor business; and
WHEREAS, the reactor is located at Boelter Hall in an
ordinary, non-airtight room; and
WHEREAS, the reactor was originally constructed for
research and education; and
WHEREAS, the reactor is seldom used for the purpose for
which it was constructed but is used primarily by private
1ndustry for uranium ore assaying and the coloring of comrner-
cial jewelry; and
WHEREAS, the reactor presents a serious threat to the
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health and safety of the UCLA community and surrounding com-
munities because the reactor is old and difficult to repair,
is from time to time operated by unlicensed operators, has
been found by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to be in vio-
lation of federal law on a number of occasions, is not pro-
tected by adequate security, is not surrounded by a safety
buffer zone, has no containment structure, and is releasing
excessive concentrations of radioactive gas into the atmo-
sphere on a daily basis; and
WHEREAS, the reactor, unlike many modern reactors, uses
bomb-grade uranium and poses a threat to nuclear weapons pro-
lIferation should the material be diverted or stolen; and
WHEREAS, an accIdent at the reactor could pose a signi-
ficant hazard to resldents of the City of Santa Monica by
sendlng radIoactive plume throughout the area or by contami-
nating groundwater supplies; and
WHEREAS, a large number of residents of the City of
Santa Monica work or study at UCLA and risk being exposed to
the excessive concentrations of radioactive gas; and
WHEREAS, the Nuclear Regulatory Commlssion has
indicated that the reactor fails to meet federal guidelines
in 37 different ways by failing to provide an emergency plan
should there be difficulties with the reactor; and
WHEREAS, the costs of operating the reactor and the
benef~ts gained from its operatlon do not outweigh the rIsks
from the continued operation of the reactor; and
WHEREAS, no public purpose is served by the taxpayers
of the State of California paying for the operation of a
reactor that is used primarily by private commercial busi-
nesses; and
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WHEREAS, the operation of the reactor lS costly at a
time when concerns about fiscal prudence by public institu-
t10ns is a major concern of citizens: and
WHEREAS, the Regents of the University of California
should not spend taxpayer dollars and should not risk the
health and safety of students and surrounding communities by
seeking the relicensing of the reactor,
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA
MONICA DOES RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The City Council of the C1ty of Santa
Monica urges the Regents of the University of California to
withdraw the application for relicensing of the UCLA reactor
currently pending before the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
SECTION 2. In the event the Regents of the University
of Californ1a decline to w1thdraw the application, the City
Attorney 1S d1rected to part1c1pate 1n the proceedings cur-
rently pend1ng before the Nuclear Regulatory Commission by
entering a limited appearance on behalf of the City of Santa
Monica in oPPos1tion to the re11censing of the reactor. In
addition, the City Attorney is directed to file in those
proceedings such other papers, including an amicus curiae
brlef, that he deems appropr1ate.
SECTION 3. The C1ty Clerk shall certify to the
adoption of this Resolut1on, and thenceforth and thereafter
the same shall be in full force and effect.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
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ROBERT M. MYERS ..-.;ji
City Attorney
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ADOPTED AND APPROVED THIS
3rd
DAY
OF
~ovember
, 1 981.
I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THE FOREGOING RESOLUTION
NO. 6388
WAS DULY ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF SANTA MONICA AT A REGULAR MEETING THEREOF HELD ON
November 3
, 1981 BY THE FOLLOWING COUNCIL VOTE:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Conn, Edwards, Press, Zane
Mayor Yannatta Goldway
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Jennings
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: Reed
ABSTAIN: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ATTEST:
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CITY CLERK