ML19220C551
| ML19220C551 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane  |
| Issue date: | 04/04/1979 |
| From: | NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7905110213 | |
| Download: ML19220C551 (3) | |
Text
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50-320 4/4/79 Draf t text on TMI requested by Vice President Mondale's Office for possible use during an out of town trip 79051104/3 m
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Accroved by Denton and Fouchard - 4/4.
NOTE:
Following is the draft text--very simplified in nature--on the Three Mile Island accident requested by VP Mondale's office for possible use during an out-of-town trip beginning tomorrow.
Your approval is requested asap.
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On Wednesday, March 28, Unit 2 at the Three Mile Island Pennsylvania, _
Nuclear Power Station near Harrisburg,ti / ~ p ~
ps, m <,.m experienced an accident [ sultfnf in M to the nuclear i
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of radioactivity to the f uel smi releases c ' -- - %-=unts i
G L sX~m m-~u environment The cause of the accident is under investigation l
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but appears to be related to human error.
- The first indications of the serious nature of the accident included the releasn of highly radioactive primary cooling water to the containment building; very high radiation readings in the containment building itself and f
the releases of small amounts of radioactivity to the 1
i environment.
l The primary safety concern over the past week--even though the reactor has remained in a stable condition--was the formation of a large hydrogen bubble at the top of the vessel which contains the nuclear fuel.
The bubble had the potential for growing larger and blocking some cooling water to the uranium fuel, which could have resulted in further danage to the fuel.
In addition, oxygen forming in the vessel and combining with the hydrogen presented the
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possibility of a flamable or explosive ccndition.
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-2 However, on April 3, the NRC's chief representative at the site--Harold Denton, Director of the Of fice of Nuclear
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Reactor Regulation--said that an explosion no longer was a significant probics and that while there may be some small bubbles in the contain=ent, they pose no further cignificant safety proble=.
He also said that while evacuation would be a decision left to the Governor, it appears to be J.ess likely all the time.
According to Mr. Denton, the remaining obstacle for bringing the reactor to a " cold" condition is selecting the an 6ption which seems least likely to cause further da age to the fuel and which doesn't result in the release of the highly radioactive water inside the containment building to the environment.
The saf ety implications of this accident for other power reactors in this country remain are being assessed, t
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