ML19209A381

Discusses Notice Published in 790902 Lancaster News Re Hearings Prior to Restart of TMI-1.Proposes Installation of Permanent Air & Water Monitors in 25-mile Radius of Facility

ML19209A381
Person / Time
Site:	Three Mile Island
Issue date:	09/12/1979
From:	Pennebaker K AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED
To:	NRC OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY (SECY)
References
NUDOCS 7910030686
Download: ML19209A381 (2)

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• j it, M00. f. UTit, FAC. 604 8 8I DOCWENT R0038eptember 12, 1979 97 f@ _,

Secretary of the Cccmission - Sp' s U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission j Washington, D. C. 20555 '

Attention: Docketing and Service Section W '

re hearing for restart of Three Mile Island Unit Number 1 (in response to notice published in Se Sunday News, Lancaster, Pennsylvania) ptember 2, 1979, The users of downstream water in the Susquehanna River Valley are all directly affected by operations on Three Mile Island. We are entitled to have our water supply protected from any upstream contamination from any source, nuclear or otherwise. In Iancaster, we have two sources of water that are both directly affected by operations at TMI. The Susquehanna River, which surrounds TMI and is most directly affected by operations there, has already absorbed some radioactive material from TMI. We have been assured that the water is safe but there are no permanent methods sf monitoring the radioactive elements in the water at our water purification plants downstream from TMI. Also, lancaster gets water from the Conestoga River, the watershed of which lies in the 10 mile radius of TMI and could easily be contaminated by atmospheric radiation leaks from the plant.

The 10 mile radius of the plant is not large enough, considering the fact that Lancaster lies between TMI and Peach Bottom. In the remote probability 'that accidents should occur in both plants simultaneously, evacuation of the area would be extremely difficult.

Special considerations should be 'made for this possibility.

before any operations are resumed at TMI, for either reactor, there should be permanent air and wate:: monitors installed in a 25 mile radius of TMI. These systems should not be dosimeters that require several days for development and readout - it should be a system which could give immediate readout. Some sort of emergency planning needs to be set up and made public for evacuation in case of difficulties at TMI (or at both 31I and Peach Bottom at the same time). The people living in this area would be endangered especially by leakage into the Susquehanna River (we all drank the water for several days before we were told of XENON in our water - which was not supposed to have been harmful: we also drank some Strontium 90, which is harmful in amounts larger than what was in the water at the time).

1091 313 Property values in the area will soon fall if TMI resumes operation without the above safeguards. Industries which produce food and use water from the Susquehanna River are also in danger of collapse if radiation appears in their products, which are not merely locally used. Some of the most productive farmland in the Eastern United States also lies within 25 miles of TMI.

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The language of the notice which appeared in the newspaper was not condusive to promoting many to answer: It seems logical that the public's right to know and it's ri htdto petition has been somewhat curtailed by the insistence of governmental agencies upon writing '

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P00ROR1NAl.

It would seem logical that everyone residing in the 25 mile radius area of TMI is entitled to a voice in the procedures re reopening Unit 1 at TMI. A precise explanation to the public as to the pros and cons involved, followed by a referendum on this issue to be decided at the polls would seem to be the best way to solve the problem.

Not many people in this area are nuclear engineers or even familiar with the operations of a reactor. Those of us who know even a little about atomic energy are convinced that the operation of TMI was very sloppy and poorly managed. So far, no assurances have been made to convince anyone in the area that further operations at TMI will be more carefully monitored by anyone. The fact that no one in other areas wants to store TMI's radioactive garbage or even have it transported through their area is another problem. 'de who live downstream from TMI do not relish the idea of having all that radioactive material left practically in our drinking water, either.

Hopefully, the Nuclear Regulatcry Commission will listen to the people not only within a 10 mile radius of the plant, but also those of us who must drink water from the Susquehanna River and the Conestoga. If our water supplies are contaminated, we are going to be in real troubles financial, psychological, and whatever.

m en L. Pe ebaker (Mrs. Kenneth C. Pennebaker) 430 N. Mary St.

Lancaster, PA 17603 Copies to:

Executive Director, U. S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Mr. George F. Trowbridge

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