ML100760703

E-mail from J. Hawkins of USNRC to E. Smith, Regarding TMI Contamination Event & Media Attention

ML100760703
Person / Time
Site:	Three Mile Island
Issue date:	11/23/2009
From:	Raymond Mckinley NRC Region 1
To:	Smith E - No Known Affiliation
References
FOIA/PA-2010-0118
Download: ML100760703 (1)

Text

Hawkins, Justin From: Hawkins, Justin Sent: Monday; November 23, 2009 11:54 AM To: 'Elizabeth Smith'

Subject:

TMI Contamination Event & Media Attention this is what happened From: McKinley, Raymond Sent: Monday, November 23, 2009 11:38 AM To: All R1 Users

Subject:

Staff Update: TMI Contamination Event & Media Attention Attention All Region I Personnel, At about 1600, on Saturday Nov 21, TMI experienced alarms inside the containment due to high airborne contamination levels. TMI is shutdown and replacing their steam generators. The containment was evacuated of approximately 175 workers. Several of the workers were not able to clear the portal monitors due to the contamination levels, and the licensee performed whole body counts on all of the personnel inside containment at the time of the event.. Approximately 20 workers received doses ranging from a few mrem to about 40 mrem, and these doses are a very small fraction of the annual federal occupational exposure limit (5000 mrem/yr). The airborne contamination levels have returned to pre-event activity levels. This event did draw a significant amount of media attention, and it also drew attention from other federal agencies and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. I The cause of the contamination event is still under investigation, but steam generator removal and work on the Reactor Coolant System loops were in progress at the time of the event. One monitor near the containment opening did show a short duration increase in activity; however, the licensee esimates that this activity level was less than 1% of the quarterly Offsite Dose Calculation Model (ODCM) limit. The licensee surveyed the area around the containment maintenance opening and did not detect any activity in the areas that were surveyed.

A number of Region I personnel and Headquarters personnel responded to this event over the weekend. The Resident Inspectors, DRS Inspectors, and the Public Affairs Officer responded to the site to investigate the event and to address media inquires. In addition, representatives from Region I Senior Management, DRP Branch 6, State Liaison Officer, and Public Affairs responded to the Regional Office to coordinate our understanding of the event and outreach activities.

In summary, while this event did draw a significant amount of media attention, there was no impact on the health and safety of the general public. The workers that were affected by this event received doses that were a small percentage of the annual occupational exposure limit. Region I is continuing to follow this event.

Thank You, Ray McKinley Region I RDO