ML19208C524
| ML19208C524 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane  |
| Issue date: | 09/11/1979 |
| From: | Hendrie J NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Schweiker R SENATE |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19208C525 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7909260563 | |
| Download: ML19208C524 (2) | |
Text
{{#Wiki_filter:f / %g UNITED STATES ~ 8' NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION n E WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555 h 4, September ll, 1979 y{ CHAIRMAN The Honorable Richard Schweiker United States Senate Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Senator Schweiker:
Thank you for your May 17 letter to the Commission expressing opposition to any discharge of irradiated water from the March 28 accident at Three Mile Island Unit 2 (TMI-2) into the Susquehanna River. On May 25, 1979, the Commission directed the NRC staff to prepare an environmental assessment of proposals to decontaminate and dispose of TMI waste water prior to any processing or discharge into the Susquehanna River. The first portion of this assessment was issued for public-comment on August 14. This portion of the assessment deals with the proposed decontamination of intermediate-level radioactive waste water from storage tanks in the TMI-2 auxiliary building using specially built equipment - the EPICOR-II system. The second portion of the assessment will deal with various alternatives for disposal. A third portion, will deal with the decontamination and disposal of high-level radioactive waste water from the TMI-2 containment building. I am enclosing a copy of the first portion of the environmental assessment for your information. I have asked the NRC staff to provide you with the second and third portions when they are published for public comment. A final decision on the operation of the EPICOR-II system will be made by the Commission. After analysis of the public comments on the environ-mental assessment, the staff will brief the Commission and the Commission will then decide whether to adopt the staff recommendation. In the meantime, only test operations not involving the use of contaminated water will be pennitted. No discharge of processed intemediate-level waste will be permitted until ~after completion of the second portion of the environmental assessment and a final decision is made by the Commission itsel f. Of prime consideration in the matter of TMI liquid waste processing, as in all matters for which we have responsibility, is the health and safety of the public. The course of action that we are following, we believe, will assure that a thorough safety review and environmental assessment are completed and that the health and safety of all off-site population groups will be protected. 98QG k I
~ ! 0 The Honorable Richard Schweiker There have been some limited discharges into the Susquehanna River from the TMI site. from Unit 1 decontaminated by the existing EPICOR-I system a The discharge of industrial waste water is necessary to m Unit 2 in a safe condition. In both cases the water may have been slightly contaminated by water from Unit 2 due to leakage. releases have been within NRC permissible limits. However, any I apologize for not prov.iding this response to you sooner but, as you are aware, the Commission and staff have been occupied with continued support of the efforts at Three Mile Island, Orders to other facilities, appearance before the President's Commission and various comnittees of Congress that are investigating the Three Mile Island (TMI) accident, and the realignment of our own resourcer and priorities to give immediate attention to the problems resulting from the accident. Sincerely, f s (k%[ AJ:L_ Joseph M. Hendrie
Enclosure:
72u'up T 'Y As stated 300R Diiisa
==}}