ML19211D161
| ML19211D161 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane  |
| Issue date: | 12/27/1979 |
| From: | Gossick L NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | Forsythe E HOUSE OF REP. |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8001160590 | |
| Download: ML19211D161 (2) | |
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l DEC 27 1979 The Honorable Edwin B. Forsythe United States House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 20515 j
Dear Congressman Forsythe:
i This letter is in response to your letter to Comissioner Hendrie dated August 13, 1979. You inquired about the feasibility of expediting the Three Mlle Island Unit 1 (TMI-1) re-licensing process in the interest of reducing the financial burden on ratepayers in the service area of the Jersey Central Power and Light Company, while continuing our overriding concern for the public health and safety.
The Commissioner has asked me to respond to your letter in view of the fact that there are now adjudicatory proceedings for TMI-1 underway before an Atomic Safety and Licensing Board. Under the Nuclear Regulatory Comission (NRC) rules of practice, the Comission will be called upon to review the Orders and decision of the Licensing Board, and hence, it would not be appropriate for him or other members of the Comission to coment on the matters raised in your letter.
Since the date of your letter, several actions have occurred which may provide you some perspective on the overall situation at TMI. As you know, the Comission on July 2,1979, ordered that THI-1 remain in a cold shut-down condition until further Order by the Commission itself. Also, the July ?,1979, Order stated that a public hearing would be conducted prior to the TMI-1 restart. The Commission believes that public participation is a necessary factor which must take place prior to any restart.
On August 9,1979, the Comission issued an additional Order on TMI-1 speci-fying the basis for the Shutdown Order and the procedure to govern the hearing on THI-1 restart. On the basis of this hearing the Comission will determine whether any further operation of THI-1 will be pemitted, and if so, under what conditions. It should be noted that the Commission Order on TMI-1 requires additional action items on the part of the licensee which were not required in the confirmatory orders to the licensees of all other Babcock &
Wilcox reactors similar to TMI-1/2. I have enclosed a copy of the THI-1 Order issued on August 9,1979, for your information.
During the Comission's deliberations on the TMI-1 Order, a realistic date for expeditiously conpleting all of the tasks related to the Order was estimated (see back page of enclosed Order).
I can assure you that the necessary actions have been initiated by the NRC staff to meet the Comission's suggested schedule for the THI-1 restart. At this time, and U 5&308 s00116( SO omcc).
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A The Honorable Edwin B. Forsythe based on the Commission's schedule, I believe the earliest possible date for bringing TMI-1 back on-line is September 1980. An extended hearing process could further delay this prospective restart date.
While we are of course concerned about financial igacts on consumers as a result of our action, our primary responsibility is assurance of the public health and safety. Let me further assure you that we will continue to do what we can to expedite the hearing process while discharging that primary responsibility.
I trust this response addresses the questions raised in your letter.
If you have further coments, please direct them to R. H. Vollmer (telephone:
301/492-7347) within the Comission's Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
Sincerely,
,gvgi 'Mt by H. G. 5%
s Executive Diractor for Operations
Enclosure:
Copy of August 9, 1979, Order Distribution Copies:
Attorney, ELD Courtesy Copy CCA (3)
Docket No. 50-289 GErtter (ED0#7277' NRC PDR MGroff Local PDR JMullin EDO r/f RReid SEP/TMI r/f DDilanni TMI Site r/f CF?lson RVollmer PKreutzer, LA JCollins TERA HSilver SMiner HDenton ECase HBerkow/WRussell DVassallo DMuller 1756 309 RMattson DEisenhut RTedesco Secy (3)
NOTE: See attached yellow for additional concurrences.*
TMI-1 Resta'rt D/TMI Support NRR NRR EDb OCA
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P.Vol T me r*' ' '
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DATE,
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.. er n. se a '7f5 Congredd at tf]e t!1niteb Gbtated iL9ause at nepctsentatibts Mr.sbingum, D.C. 20515 August 13, 1979 h
9 Joseph M. Hendrie k
Chair =an 9
Nuclear Regulate:y Co dssion h9 1717 E. Street N.W.
Washington, D. C. 20555 4
Dear Cha1=an endrie:
It has been brought to my attentien that the Nuclear Regulatcry Cc-d ssics pla:s to icilov the nc=al hearing procedures in certifying that Three Mile Island Uni: 1 be safely restarted.
I also understand that the NRC s:af f has suggested that a =ini=u: cf 15 =en hs vill be required for :his process.
I s::engly support any necessary steps toward safe operaticn of nuclear plan:s.
Public health and safety nest be an everriding cen-een in this a:es.
In view oI:he major ecenomic effects upon =y constituen:s of the centinuing need c purchase replace =ent power for TMI 1, however, I would like to inquire whether er not it is feasibic to expedite this re-licensing p:ccess while at the sa=e ti=e give every a::entien to safety.
Cc:su=ers in the service area of New Jersey Central Pove:-
and I.igh: Co=pany are presently paying additienal =illices of dollars every senth v'..ich I liepe can be avoided by an ea:peditious return of OC 1 inne sen-ice.
I would grez:1y appreciate thatever infe=ation you can provide in relation :: yeu: plans for this re-icensing precess.
Sine
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d r,rsythe Me=ber of Congress y.3F: kip S/16..Tc EDO for Prepare reply for signature of EDO..Date due:
Aug 31.. Orig to Docket.
!.ogged Ex Darte. 0CA to Ackr.owledge... 79-2397 1756 310
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