ML19209B209
| ML19209B209 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane  |
| Issue date: | 09/20/1979 |
| From: | Harold Denton Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Baker W CUMBERLAND VALLEY COOPERATIVE |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19209B210 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7910090328 | |
| Download: ML19209B209 (2) | |
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%g UNITED STATES I
X' g NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION eq E
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20S55 a%.%,/
dik a GIS Docket No. 50-289 Mr. Wayne U. dt r, Executive Vice-President Cumberland Valley Cooperative Shippensburg, Pennsylvania 17257 Cear Mr. Baker:
This letter is in response to your letter dated August 3,1979 to Chairman Hendrie, wherein you indicated your concern regarding a twc-year delay regarding the restart of Three Mile Island, Unit 1 (TMI-1). Also, you indicated your concern regarding an increase in purch. sed power costs that might be incurred over a two-year period.
Chairman Hendrie has asked me to respond to your letter in view of the fact that there are now adjudicatory proceedings for Three Mile Island, Unit 1 underway before an Atomic Safety and Licensing Board. Uncer the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) rules of practice, Chaiman Hendrie and the members of the Comission will be called upon to review the Orders and decision of the Licensing Egard and hence, it would be inappropriate for him or other members of the Corm 11ssion to ccament on the matters rairad in your letter.
As a result of the TMI accident, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is requiring a number of actions to be taken by all licensees of operating power plants with regarc to the status of certain equipment, plant procedures, operator actions and facility designs to prevent a similar occurrence in the future, n addition, all nuclear pover plants which utilize a Sabcock & Wilcox (B&W)-designed r
pressurized water reactor similar to TMI 1/2 were required to take specific actions by Order of the NRC. The Orders specified the specific actions to be completed on the S&W plants prior to these plants going back on-line.
On July 2,1979 the NRC ordered that TMI-l remain in a cold shutdown condition until further order and stated that a hearing would be cor. ducted prior to restart.
The NRC believes that full public participation, by way of a public hearing, is in the best interest of all parties concerned regarding matters related to the restart of TMI-1.
On August 9,1979 the NRC issued an additional Crcc on TMI-l specifying the basis for the shutdown Order.
In addition, to the items mquired on the other B&W plants, the unique nature of TMI 1/2 requires additional safety concerns be addressed prior to restart. On the basis of this hearing, the Ccmission will detemine whether any further cperation of TMI-l will be permitted and, if so, under what conditions. Als-the Orcer specified the procedures to govern the hearings regarding TMI-l restart.
I have enclosed a copy of the August 9,1979 Crder for your information.
7910090 8 7 1113 y3 5
s Mr. Wayne D. Baker..
During the NRC deliberations on the August 9,1979 Crder, a meaningful date for expeditiously completing all tasks related to the Order and which must be completed prior to any possible restart was estimaced. At this time, and based on the NRC schedule, I believe that the restart of TMI-l could not occur before September, 1980.
This is approximately one year frcm the date of the August 9,1979 Order on TMI-1.
Regarding your concern for the increases in purchased power costs, the primary objective of NRC regulation is in the assurance of public health ari safety.
The NRC's responsibility under financial qualification regulations is to deter-mine whether al applicant for a nuclear power plant has reasonable ass;rance of cbtaining the necessary funds to pursue the activities for which a permit or license is sought.
State oublic utility ccmmissions and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission have primary responsib"ity regarding questions of rea-sonable cost.
I suggest you contact these agencias and inform them of your concerns regarding purchase power costs.
I trust this response addresses the questions raised in your I?tter.
Sincerely,
,. e-g s p d if u.a.Duta Harold R. Denton, Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Enclosure:
Copy of August 9,1979 Order e
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