ML19224A737

Notifies State of PA That Emergency Plan Must Be Updated. Requests Cooperation During Review

ML19224A737
Person / Time
Site:	Crane
Issue date:	05/09/1979
From:	Hendrie J NRC COMMISSION (OCM)
To:	Thornburgh R PENNSYLVANIA, COMMONWEALTH OF
References
NUDOCS 7905300144
Download: ML19224A737 (2)

Text

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UNITED STATES A

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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

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WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555

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May 9, 1979 xme u The Honoracle Richard Thornburgh Governor of Pennsylvania Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17120

Dear Governor Thornburgh:

Because of the Three hile Island accident, we must reexamine radiological emergency response planning in support of fixed nuclear facilities.

The NRC and the State of Pennsylvania have worked togetner effectively in the difficult situation at Three Mile Island.

As we begin our review of emergency planning, the NRC would appreciate the assistance of your staff so that we can benefit from the lessons of the past month.

Our Office of State Programs has already been in touch witn Colonel Oran K. Henderson of your Emergency Management Agency to talk about your State plan and the NRC staff and other cooperating Federal agencies t

have, at Colonel Henderson's request, started to work with State and local government officials to update plans in Pennsylvania.

We should note that the General Accounting Office has urged us to " allow c-nuclear powerplants to begin operations only where state and local P

emergency resconse plans contain all the Ccmmission's essential planning N

elements." Since this recomended action would alter the traditional

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NRC role in this area, we would appreciate receiving any conraents that in you might have with regard to it.

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Please call me (telephone 202/634-1459) or Mr. Robert G. Ryan, Director

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of our Office of State Programs (telephone 301/492-8170) with any thoughts or questions you may have on this matter.

L Sincerely, J t

Jose;;h M. Hendrie 79053001M e

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OFFICE OF THE CH AI RM AN The Honorable Richard Thornburgh Governor of Pennsylvania Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17120

Dear Governor Thornburgh:

Because of the Three Mile Island accident, there has been natural and, in my judgment, a properly increased interest in the whole field of radiological emergency response planning in support of fixed nuclear facilities.

As you know, the offsite ccmponent of this planning is the responsibility of State and local gcvernments.

To date, eleven States have achieved a concurrence in their emergency plans in support of these facilities from tiRC.

But NRC, I regret to say, has so far not been able to concur in the Pennsylvania plan.

I am sure that you want te h =

Pennsylvania achieve an improved radiological emergency preparedness posture down to the involved county and municipal levels of government at the earliest possible date.

I want to pledge to you today that tiRC will provide whatever assistance we can to help you achieve that goal.

Within the past few days, our Office of State Programs has been in touch with Colonel Oran K. Henderson of your Emergency Management Agency to talk about the Pennsylvania plan. We have not received a request for a review of your plan.

The latest version we have on file is dated September 1977, which contains only limited coverage of !!RC recommended guidelines.

The tiRC staff and other cooperating Federal agencies nave, at Colonel Henderson's request, started to work with State and local government officials to update and improve plans in Pennsylvania.

We are very concerned about this matter as you are and I assure you that NRC will give your Emergency Management Agency whatever assistance we possibly can to bring the Pennsylvania Plan for fluclear Generating Accidents to a point of readiness and to achieve an t1RC concurrence at the earliest possible time.

Please feel free to call on me personally (telephone 202/634-1459) or on fir. Robert G. Ryan, Director of our Office of St " Programs, (telephone 301/492-8170) with any thoughts or questions you may have on this matter.

Again, I pledge our utmost cooperation in this important matter.

Sincerely, Joseph M. Herdrie Chairman 167.103