DE 98-190
                                     
                        Nuclear Emergency Planning
                                     
           Petition of the Office of Emergency Management that 
       the Chairman of the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission
         Assess North Atlantic Energy Service Corporation for the
        Estimated Costs to Maintain the New Hampshire Radiological
                         Emergency Response Plan 
                 for Seabrook Station Nuclear Power Plant
                                     
       Order Authorizing New Hampshire Office of Emergency Planning 
           to Assess North Atlantic Energy Service Corporation 
                         the Amount of $1,283,232
                                     
                         O R D E R   N O.   23,062
                                     
                             November 9, 1998

         The New Hampshire Office of Emergency Management
(NHOEM) submitted a letter on October 22, 1998 requesting that
the Chairman of the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission
(Commission) assess North Atlantic Energy Service Corporation
(North Atlantic) for the estimated costs to maintain the New
Hampshire Radiological Emergency Response Plan (RERP) for
Seabrook Station Nuclear Power Plant.  The request addresses the
estimated annual costs associated with personnel, training,
associated expenses and equipment expenses incurred by local
municipalities, state agencies and outside support agencies that
have responsibilities with respect to the Seabrook Station RERP.
         The total requested assessment for the Fiscal Year 1999
consists of two parts:  (1) $1,283,232 for State agency and
outside support agency costs; and (2) the direct provision of
certain equipment and/or services in support of the RERP.
The financial support consists of the following:
         10   Personnel-Permanent                $    469,149
         16   Non-Classified Employees           $     22,000
         18   Duty Officer                       $     2,700
         20   Current Expenses                   $     62,000
         28   Rent                               $     30,000
         30   Equipment                          $     31,000
         40   Indirect Cost                      $     20,142
         46   Consultants                        $     25,000
         49   O H M                              $    225,000
         50   Personnel-Temporary/Overtime       $     69,900
         60   Fringe Benefits                    $    179,973
         70   In State Travel                    $     12,000
         80   Out of State Travel                $      5,000
         91   Rockingham County                  $     32,538
         92   Vehicle Lease                      $      7,500
         94   Local Support                      $     62,257
         96   State Agencies                     $     23,070
         97   Other Support Agencies             $      4,003
         TOTAL ASSESSMENT                        $  1,283,232

         The NHOEM requests that payments of the above
assessment be made in response to monthly invoices prepared by
NHOEM and submitted to North Atlantic by NHOEM.  North Atlantic
will prepare each check made payable to the State Treasurer and
send payment to the NHOEM within 30 days after the receipt of
each invoice.  Failure to remit payment in a timely manner will
result in the assessment of a late penalty fee.  The NHOEM also
requests that it be allowed to transfer funds between classes as
necessary in accordance with State of New Hampshire
Administrative Rules.
         RSA 107-B sets forth the Commission's jurisdiction over
the assessment of these costs.  It provides in pertinent part:
         107-B:1 Nuclear Emergency Response Plan.

         I.   The director of emergency management shall, in
         cooperation with affected local units of government,
         initiate and carry out a nuclear emergency response
         plan as specified in the licensing regulations of each
         nuclear electrical generating plant.  The chairman of
         the public utilities commission shall assess a fee from
         the utility, as necessary, to pay for the cost of
         preparing the plan and providing the equipment and
         materials to implement it.

         107-B:3 Assessment.

         I.   The cost of preparing, maintaining, and operating
         the nuclear planning and response program shall be
         assessed against each utility which has applied for a
         license to operate or is licensed to operate a nuclear
         generating facility which affects municipalities under
         RSA 107-B:1, II, in such proportions as the chairman of
         the public utilities commission determines to be fair
         and equitable.
         The NHOEM submits, and the supporting schedules
support, that the above stated costs will provide the resources
and personnel required by the various State agencies and outside
agencies.
         Pursuant to RSA 107-B:1, I have reviewed the NHOEM's
request and supporting data.  I find that the budget costs
contained therein relate to preparing the plan and providing
equipment and materials necessary to implement it.  I also find
that the direct assessment of equipment and/or services is
related to preparing the RERP and providing equipment and/or
services necessary to implement it.  I, therefore, approve the
assessment of $1,283,232 for Fiscal Year 1999 and the direct
provision of equipment and/or services as specified above.
         The NHOEM proposed billing mechanism is reasonable. 
Accordingly, NHOEM is authorized to prepare monthly invoices and
submit them to North Atlantic.  Within thirty (30) days of
receipt of each invoice, North Atlantic will prepare a check made
payable to: Treasurer, State of New Hampshire, and remit payment
to the New Hampshire Office of Emergency Management.  The NHOEM
is also authorized to reserve the right to transfer funds between
classes as necessary in accordance with State of New Hampshire
Administrative Rules. 
      Based upon the foregoing, it is hereby
 ORDERED, that $1,283,232 for Fiscal Year 1999 for
estimated annual costs associated with personnel, training,
current expenses and equipment incurred by State agencies and
outside support agencies plus the incorporation of local
administration and training costs be assessed against North
Atlantic pursuant to RSA 107-B; and it is
 FURTHER ORDERED, that the NHOEM is authorized to
require North Atlantic to make payments against the total
financial assessment of $1,283,232 on a per invoice basis; 
and it is 
 FURTHER ORDERED, that these invoices be prepared and
submitted to North Atlantic by NHOEM (with an information copy to
be provided to the Chairman of the Commission); and it is
 FURTHER ORDERED, that North Atlantic make payment
within thirty (30) days of receipt of the invoice or be assessed
a late penalty fee; and it is
 FURTHER ORDERED, that the NHOEM is authorized to
transfer funds between classes as necessary in accordance with
State of New Hampshire Administrative Rules.

 By order of the Public Utilities Commission of New
Hampshire this ninth day of November, 1998.

                                                             
                                        Douglas L. Patch
                                            Chairman

Attested by:



                                 
Thomas B. Getz
Executive Director and Secretary