ML14099A077
| ML14099A077 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane  |
| Issue date: | 05/22/1979 |
| From: | Liza Cunningham, Flack E, Higginbotham L NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE) |
| To: | |
| References | |
| PNO-79-067AP, PNO-79-67AP, NUDOCS 7906060197 | |
| Download: ML14099A077 (2) | |
Text
IMMEDIATE PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION Hay 22, 1979 PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE -- PNO-79-67AP This preliminary notification constitutes summary information of an event of safety or public interest significance.
The information presented is a SU4X0]
of information as of 7:00 a.m. on May 22, 1979.
racility:
Three Mile Island Unit 2 Middletown, Pennsylvania. (DN 50-320)
Subject:
NUCLEAR INCIDENT AT THREE MILE ISLAND - REPORTED DEATHS OF COWS Newspaper, television and radio stories this past weekend have reported that a number of cows have died in a herd near THI at the Hoover Farm in Bainbridge, Pennsylvania. The article in the Harrisburg Sunday Patriot News reported that the owner of the herd believed the deaths were caused by the accident at TMI.
The deaths all involved cows giving birth. Twelve calves have been stillborn and 7 cows have died after giving birth. The article stated that the state lab and the Hershey Medical Center have conducted post mortems and other tests on the dead animals.
The symptons common to all the deaths were intrauterine infections and anemia.
On Sunday afternoon, May 20, 1979, an NRC survey team accompanied by an EPA representative went to the Hoover Farm located about six miles southeast of the plant. Mr. Hoover and his wife stated that they suspect the cows died from leukemia caused by the radiation from THI. They stated that they never had this problem in the past. They also stated that they knew of two other farmers that were having similar problems. The initial death occurred on April 5. The survey team took samples of feed, grass, soil, well water and milk for radiological analysis.
The EPA representative also collected samples.
The Pennsylvania State Department of Agriculture has veterinarians looking into the problem. They are investigating the possibility that a virus infec tion is the. cause of the deaths and that, if so, in a few days they will have identified the virus. The State Bureau of Radiological Health will make a.
radiological examination of the internal organs of one cow. Another State Agency will examine them for heavy metals. The FDA has sent a veterinarian from the Phildelphia regional office to examine the herds involved.
CONTINUED 7906060197
Continued PNO-79-67AP Page 2 May 22, 1979
Contact:
EDFlack, IE 28188 LJCunningham, IE x28188 LBHigginbotham, IE x2818A Distribution:
Tranismitted H St _____
Chairman Hendrie Commissioner Bradford S. J. Chilk, SECY Commissioner Kennedy Commissioner Ahearne C. C. Kammerer, CA Commissioner Gilinsky ACES (For Distribution)
Transmitted:
MNBB P. Bldg J. G. Davis, IE L. V. Gossick, EDO H. R. Denton, NRR Region I jIIj$
H. L. Ornstein, EDO R. C. DeYoung, NRR Region II J. J. Fouchard, PA R. J. Mattson, NRR Region III i t-f=
N.
M. Haller, MPA V. Stello, NRR Region IV R. G. Ryan, OSP R. S. Boyd, NRR Region V H. R. Shapar, ELD SS Bldg 1i'f1 (MAIL)
W. J. Dircks. NMSS J. J. Cumina aTA IE (THI) Site Jjji (Provide copy to STATE)
C. Abraham, PA (Middletown -
THI-Information Center)
White House Situation Room FDAA (Provide copies to the Administrator and the Operations Center)
RPA DOE/EOC PEHA BRP (State of PA)
DCPA HEW Handearry (FAA)
IMMEDIATE PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION