ML19207A465

Ack Receipt of Re Potential Plans to Restart TMI-1.Authorization to Restart Will Not Be Allowed Until Technical Issues & Concerns Have Been Addressed,Discussed in Public Hearing & Reviewed by NRC

ML19207A465
Person / Time
Site:	Crane
Issue date:	08/03/1979
From:	Heltemes C Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:	Walls W AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED
References
NUDOCS 7908200048
Download: ML19207A465 (2)

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'AUG 3 1979 Docket No.: 50-289 Ws. W. S. Walls 317 Linden Street Lititz, Pennsylvania 17543

Dear Mrs. Walls:

This is in response to your letter of June 12, 1979, to the NJclear Pegulatory Comi ssion.

I can certainly understand and appreciate the views and concerns you expressed regarding potential plans for the restart of Three Mile Island, Uni t 1 (TMI-1). I would like to swmarize where we now stand with respect to your concerns.

A meeting was held at the request of Metropolitan Edison / General Public Utilities Corporation on June 11, 1979 to enable then to discuss with the staff, in preliminary terms, the possibility of reactivating TMI-1. Du ring the course of this meeting, Metropolitan Edison / General Public Utilities indicated a number of actions they were prepared to implement in order to provide a better basis for confidence that the TMI-l reactor could be operatec safely. Needless to say, these discussions resulted in no agree-nents or ecmitments by the staff regarding any aspect of the TMI-l restart.

On July 2,1979, the Comission issued an Order requiring that TMI-1 remain shut down until after a public hearing. This Order, a copy of which is enclosed, also made clear that the final decision on THI-l restart would be made by the Comission itself.

In addition, the Ccmission olans to issue a further Order soon which will specify the hearing procedures to be used, and dentify the specific technical concerns that led to the July 2, 1979 Order. These technical concerns are expected to be fully addressed during the hearing.

Authorization to restart will not be allowd until the technical issues and concerns have been fully addressed, discussed in a public hearing, and that hearing record reviewd by the Comission. The Comission feels that full public participation is an integral and vital ingredient to all aspeccs dealing with those matters relating to lHI-l restart.

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Mrs. W. S. Walls AUG 3 579 Additionally, we will iontinue our intensive and urgent efforts to understand the lessons to be learned from the THI-2 accident. These efforts not only incl ude several independent and extensive studies within the Connission, but aiso involve close connunication with other studies, including the Presidential Commission, Congressional inqu ries, and a number of industry i

investigations. It is anticipated at this time that the results of a ntmber of these investigations, including the Presidential Commission, will be available before all of the conditions for TMI-l restart have been satisfied.

I trust this response adequately addresses the points raised in your letter.

Si ncerely, s'

C. J. Heltemes, Jr,

ief Standardization Branch Division of Project Manageme.it Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

Enclosure:

Copy of July 2,1979 Commission Order 809 009

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In the Matter of li' J. - 3

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In view of the variety of isse.es raised by the accioent at the Three Mile Island Unit No. 2 facility, the Cor=11ssion presently lacks the requisite reasonable assurance that the same' licensee's Three Mile Island Unit No. 1 facility, a nuclear power reactor of similar design, can be operated without endangering tiie' health and safety of the public.

Accordingly~, we direct that the Unit No. 1 facility, presently in a shutdcun condition, shall remain shut down until further order of the Commission itself.

.The Cor. mission has further cetermined that it is in the public interest that a hearing precede restart of the facility.

The Cormission will also issue an order within thirty (30) days specifying in detail the basis for its concerns, und the

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procedures to govern further proceedings in this matter.

The licensee may file a written answer to this Order no later than I-twenty (20) days after the issuance of the detailed Crder.

The Commission has found that the public health, safety and int'erest rec,uire that this order be effective imme^diately.

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It is so ORDERl:D.

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. this 2nd day $f July,~1979

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