ML19220B137

Forwards Responses to Encl Constituent Ltr Forwarded by ED Eshleman

ML19220B137
Person / Time
Site:	Crane
Issue date:	04/25/1975
From:	Anthony Giambusso Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:	Eshleman E HOUSE OF REP.
Shared Package
ML19220B138	List: ML19220B137 ML19220B143
References
NUDOCS 7904250475
Download: ML19220B137 (4)

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OELD GErtter (DR-8416) l MGroff EHughes EPeyton SATeets n-j Bonore.ble Edwin D. Eshleman I

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Dear Mr. Eshleman:

Tour note of March 4,1973 has been referred to me for reply.

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forwardef to our Congressional Liaison Office a copy of a letter dated January 30, 1975 from Es. Jo Ann Walker who seeks infor:ation on a radioactive gas release at the n.ree Mile Island Nuclear Station, Unit 1 (t'.I-1) and a number of other safety related concerts.

Cur resconse to these =atters raised by Ms. Walker is contained in the enclosures to this letter.

If we can be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact t

us.

5 Sincerely, Origina15ipal EE h, re ur.huss)o l

A. Cia =busso, Director l~

Division of Reactor Licensing Of fice of Nuclear ?eactor Regulation Ecciosures:

1.

Restonses to Cuestions fren Ms. Jo Arn Walker I

2.

Letter to Metrocolitan Edison Ceepany 3.

Licensing of Utclear Power Reactors 4.

Abeormal Occurrence Report 5.

Press Release cIN r,. q. r.

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a ENCLOSURE 1 i

RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS FROM JO ANN WALKER l

l 1.

With regard to Ms. Walker's concern about the effects of radioactive I

releases at Three Mile Island Unit 1 (TMI-1), this nuclear station, f

stailar to all others, releases a certain quantity of low level, l

radioactive eff'ments.

The quantity of such caterial released from TMI-1 is governed by Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 20 (10 CFR Part 20) and the plant operating license. These permissible release levels have been selected so as to be well below those that night have discernible i= pact on aquatic or terrestrial life forms.

With regard to the January 24, 1975 release centioned in Ms. Walker's l-letter, the discharge, consisting primarily of Xenon 133, exceeded the naxi un allowable by a s=all margin for a short period of time.

I However, the overall effect of the occurrence was not significant I

when considered over the period of time in which the release took-place.

2.

16. Walker expressed concern regarding the actions taken by the NRC to linit effluents frca nuclear power' plants. The continuous release of radioactivity in quantities less than those permitted under 10 CFR Part 20 is not har:ful to aquatic or terrestrial life foras as noted above. However, unplanned releases such as has occurred at TMI-1 are undesirable since they indicate an abnormal node of operation.

s We are presently undertaking a course'of action which will eliminate this source of release at TMI-1.

On March 19, 1975 we directed the Metropolitan Edison Company, the licensee for TMI-1, to take action which will in due course prevent a recurrence of this type of release.

A copy of this letter is contained in Enclosure 2.

3.

With regard to ib. h*alker's concern involving her proxicity, or future proxinity, to a nuclear power station, NRC policy requires that each applicant for a construction per=it to build a nuclear power station I

deconstrate to the satisfaction of the NRC, and interested members of the public, that the staticr. will be constructed -and operated with minical inpact on the environment. A description of the licensing process and the related safety and environmental reviews is contained in Enclosure 3 entitled, " Licensing of Nuclear Power Reactors".

4.

Ms. Walker raised questions on the inspection of valves at T'I-1.

Although. a leaking valve initiated a chain of events that led to the radioactive release in question, it was not the component that was directly-responsible. The cause of the release was the overpressurization of the Plant Vent Header caused by the water from the leaking valve.

The elimination of this type of release will be effected by redesigning the Plant Vent Header (see Enclosure 2).

For this reason, the remaining valves at ElI-1 were not inspected.

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Ms. h'alker expressed the concern that occurrences involving radioactive releases were being withheld from the Press.

Previous occurrences of this type at mI-1 were reported by the licensee and, as required, the Nucicar Regulatory Cocaission has made such inforcation available in Public Document Roons located at 1717 H Street, N. W., Washington, i

D. C.

20555, and the State Library of Pennsylvania, Box 1601, i

Harrisburg, Pennsylvani t 17126. contains the Abnor=al Occurrence. Report which. describes the release referred to by Ms. Walker.

I The~ current NRC policy on such reports is contained in Enclosure 5 entitled "NRC Makes Wide Dissemination of Reports by Nuclear Facility Licensees".

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D AT E OF DOCUMEN T ACTICN COMPLE TION DE ADLINE 3/4/75 4/4ns

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REMAh5 L Emel ltr fm Jo Arn Wall:er requasting infernacia concerning l report cf a radie4et tve gas leak that cecT.xred at the Three P.11e Island planc g

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