ML19220C669
| ML19220C669 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane  |
| Issue date: | 04/11/1979 |
| From: | Bessette D Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards |
| To: | Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards |
| References | |
| ACRS-SM-0086, ACRS-SM-86, NUDOCS 7905140011 | |
| Download: ML19220C669 (3) | |
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April 11, 1979 ACPS 5tDGE3S s
LLSATE StMC^'1MI?rEE Ci4 NUCLEAR RSACICR TEGULTTIC!I liEAICU - ?sPRIL 10, 1979 The Senate subecamittee en Nuclear Regulatica met en April 10, 1979 to discuss matters relating to tha Thraa Mile Inland incident. Witnes-cas consisted of the five NF.C Cc.'r.icsioners and Darrall Eisenhut.
5 cost articla en the subject is included as Attach:.;ent A.
da ah ir,j t.on St. comittee Chairman Gary liart stated that the subcor.imittee will concuct its own independant invaccigation of th? incidar.t aM its ra3ifications. The irc.est! 3 tion *,;ill Lut G ronths vita a report to be iss :-ri in ore year.
The investigation will cover all ascects of tne incu'ent, including:
1.
iion did the accidant happen?
2.
~..ny did it hapcen?
3.
Ms the PC resmnsa adecuate ard ti:r.ely?
4.
Foat were t?.e r. mons for coa ~licchg and confusal InfornaLlon coqing froa taa.'1C and tne utility Suring Se ever.t?
6.
Were there any pr22 c. ors to th2 ovent or prior NaoulMga af da=fician. :s?
sw 7.
Are the hitC's licensin7 ar.d inspection procedures adcqua te?
8.
Is the ~ ergency clanni.v] edequate?
9.
'. Nee cen.rnic2tions admuote?
~< ore t' e plant operatocs pro'cerly trained?
10.
r 98 353 11.
Did the NRC have the necessary authority to act prouerly durir.g the event?
C%icun H ndric'a testirony tefore the ra thec. ':ni ttee is included as Attachment 3.
Chairman :199drie notad 1.h it TIC sta f f had not bean diver.3: " con 'Nree Mile Inler.d nr. orations to t.estify before the Ccmit-oe.
meator : tact me el vin thia couru of action.
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l The follcwinti is a t.
M rased su~. ;,ary of questions and answers that arose during the hearing.
Senator !! art brought up the Acas letter to the Coc'unissioners that was issued after the April 5-7 necting.
He asked about the " pressure gage defects" the latter referred to and whether this apolied to the other PriR's, thus renderirrJ thea unsafe. I!endrie replied that what the letter stated tas t:.at the operator should not use precsurizer water level as his only source of information, but sneeld include other things such es preesure and ta,perature.
The bulletins issued by the NRC have addressed this mtter.
Thus, there should be no innediate problcm with the other plants in this regard.
It was asked how the Co.maission feels about the safety of the other operatim plants.
Bradford said he had rot had time to assess the ether "Oi plants and ould wqnc a cecolate review before he could do so, but that ha nov had less confidence in ata plants.
'.h e a rne stated ha had uada no thorough eveluatica.
Gilir.3.c/ said it was too earlv to tell if it was ope ra to r error or design ci e '. i c i eacy.
Sonator Ihrt asked how water level in the prima ry systua.as detarminc.si.
The pre curizer watrer level,
' zu 'ie x!ri a's recly, and unat there may have been seme probl es with the irdicci ru.sd;np at 'Ihree File Island (T.M I) Sunwca of flashing 5:ena to r Gingson asxed why there.<ere not ocher neans of detaraining water lu/al, perh 53 visually. Hendrie said other 12 vel Indicators. 2y i;e r-quired in the futura.
Sa.ator hct ;a h it
.>3 3 his feelim that the operator could not tall.. hat u,s hapoening f rcn the available instr *rentation.
Senator Parr'ciph inc :irM if th ? MIC's actions in shuttir.g down five plants for guible seimic design deficiancias and alla' ting the reminir.c "l7.1 clants to ope rate in this instance was inconsistent.
Hendrie said no.
Gr oator binnson dks! if other plants are prom to D'.I t',N incidents?
"endria racl173 that the nattar is heir.g studied but t!ut certain ase <:ts of systoa desir;n at non-i3u plants would prehably nake them QO 7.r J J.1 less prene.
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There was considerable discussion about the adequacy of energency evricuat ion plcra at Til ard other plants.
Reference was made to the recent GAO report on this subject.
s The Senators thought that it took the liRC too long to appreciate the full extent of the 'I'4I prob 1m.s.
They also felt the IAC should have had an early analysis of the hydrogen e:cplosion (in the reactor) cuestion and, thus, not have caused needless worry to the people li'/ ira nearby the plant There was a discussion on the problem of' confusing and conflicting information aanearing in the press.
Hendrie said it was a aistake oa the N :C's cart to allcw cveryoce to spea'< his thceghts at any tire and that it should have been li::ited to a few spo'<esmen.
. - !!endrie cited a health affect figure for the radiation release whicn irdicated that for the two nillion pocola livirq in a 30.aila radius of CI, there may be a 251 to 505 chance of or.e individual dying of cancer (on top of the 320,000 that are already destined to die of cancer).
Hart mntiered the rcssibility c5 legislation on plant sitire with re;ortu to ppulation density of r.urround-ing area.
Senator :! art ac%ed the Cc"ricsioners if they felt the T!I incident neant the end of nt.clar cower in the U.S.
Tiend rie said he has not considered that question.
Bradford answered it ww too soon to tall.
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