ML19224B749
| ML19224B749 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane  |
| Issue date: | 04/10/1979 |
| From: | Geoffrey Miller MIDDLETOWN, PA |
| To: | NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I) |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7906220202 | |
| Download: ML19224B749 (6) | |
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4 ENERGENCY THREE MII2. ISLAND NUCLEAR GENERATING STATION
.c By Chief George Miller 4
wednesday, 28 March 1979 Incident took place at 4:00 AM.
First notificatien was received at 7:34 AM.
Inforanation stated "on-site emergency'*.
No other information available.
At-11:00 AM information received on-site emorgency with radiation leak. No
' action taken within police department. At approximately 3:00 PM,-still no other infornation. Went home at approximately 4 :30 PM.
No calls at night.
Thursday, 29 March 1979 Arrived at 7:00 AM.
News sketchy-still listed as an "on-site emergency" iwith radiation leak into the atmosphere.
9:00 Ah we went to Hershey Convention Center for presi conference with Met Ed employees.
At conference, we were
. advised that the "on-site emergency was in the #2 Reactor-problems with cooling system in reactor.
Radiation leaked into the atmosphere.
We were
. assured by Met Ed that it did not pose any threat to the general public.
Met Ed officials were' asked why it took so long to sotify.
They apologized for the delay. We then realized that it was a serious problem.
10:30 AM, raturned to the station and put all manpower on stand-by.
News coming in was not good.
Met Ed employ :es were having problems.
Started working on e schedules for, the department. Went home at approximately 4:30 PM.
No calls.
Friday, 30 March 1979 Arrived at worx at 7:00 AM >Lnd was notified that the condition on the Island
.was not improving. At approximately 9:00 AM, notified of another "on-site emergency". This emergency was an uncontrolled release of radioactive particles into the' atmosphere.
Ati this time, the Governor notified all people in a five (5) mile radius to stay indoors and close all windows (as a pre-cautionary measure), instructed the police cars to announce to the town for all people to stay indoors and close chair windows, and notified the schools to keep the childrar. indoors until further notice.
At approximately 1:00 PM, news coming from the Insland was that they could not control the reactor and that they were fearing a meltdown unless they could. cool down the reactor.
At this time,. all policemen were notified to report for duty.
The governor issued a statement that all pregnant women and pre-school age children should evacuate this area within a five (5) mile circle of Three Mile Island. This was a precautionary measure. They were advised to go to the Hershey Arena.
The people without cars could come to the Community Building and buses would transport them to Hershey. At this time, some of the people of the town took it upon themselves to leave the area. At approximately 2:30 PM, the Mayor and
.myself decided to invoke a curfew from 9:00 PM to 7:00 AM due to the aInount of empty hcznes in town.
This decision was given to the television and radio.'
stations. Police cars, fire equipment, and squad tr* cks also went out into the town to announce the curfew. Off-duty police started to arrive.
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2 A schedule was then made up for the 3-11 shift and tae 11-7 shift.
I was notified that we could expect help frcm outside police depart =wnts.
Police frcza Swatara Township, Lower Swatara Township, Lower Paxton Township, Capitol
. % mn and the Sheriff's Department of Dauphin County came in to assist us.
Police were assigned and deployed to different sections of town.
The town was quiet. While all of this was going on, residents of town were still I
1r.aving the area. At no time was* there any sign of panic.
The rest of the
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day was spent coordinating information with Dauphin County Civil Defense, the
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Mayor, the Chief Radio Operator and myself.
At 9:00 PM, the officers were assigned to their areas.
The.only incidents which eccurred on Friday night were three bar fights resulting in the issuing of two (2) citations for disorderly conduct.
During this time, we were plagued with news reporters and TV cameramen. At 12 midnight I went home.
No calls during the night.
saturday, 31 Mrch 1979 I arrived at the station at approximately 7:00 AM.
The information from the Island was nct good.
They are fearing a meltdown of the reactor core due to a hydrogen bubble in the reactor cha=ber.
A t this time, Det. Don Foreran and I worked out the schedule for this day.
Don Ryan, the Mayor and I started the plan for a mass evacuaticn. This plan was formulated throughout the day.
News from tiha Island was still not good.
They did not know what to do with the bubble. The rest of the day was spent with reporters and TV men and also listening to updated infomation from Three Mile Island. We also checked on the amount of policemen working and spoke with a few reporters.
Word from Three Mile Island it that the bubble is still present and that they are going to try a few procedores to reduce the size of the bubble.
News is that the people living in a ten (10) miln area might have to evacuate. At appro h tely 12 midnight, the news did not change. I went home and got a good night's sleep.
. Sunday,.1 April 1979 7:10 AM I received a call frcm Sergeant Givler informi:.g me that a Secret Service agent ' ras at the station to see me.
Sergeant Givler informed me that President Carter was going to make a speech at the M.C.S.O. this afternoon.
I arrived at the station at approximately 6:00 AM.
I checked with the dispatcher on any new development from Tbree Mile Island and was informed that the bubble was still the big problem.
At 9:00 AM, Mr. Famsey of the Secret Service, came to the office, he infcrmed me that President Carter would visit the M.C.S.O. at approximately 7 :00 PM.
At this time, I assigned Det. Foreman to 91 with the Secret Service agent to work up security plans for the protectior, of the President.
In my office at this time was three (3) accret service agents.
Lt. Secots of t.he PA. State Police, Det. Formu n and myself. Plans were starte.1 for securing the M.C.S.O.
Lt. Secots stated that he would have 16 sate polwemen at the front of the building when the President arrives.
Det. Forema1 at.d Mr. Ramsey went ove" to the M.C.S.O. to plan for the location of police personnel and to check cut the area. After positions for police ware picked out, Det. Foreman and Mr. Ramsey returned to the station.
Mr. Ramsey and the two other secret service men left to complete plans for the Fresident's arrival at the Airport.
Det. Foreman then proceeded t-t
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3 to call other area polico departments for manpo and was assured at least 16 men would come and assistHe got a good response wer.
5 to map out traffic control plans and to work us.
We then comm.;ed and the press when the President arrives.
out plans to contain the crowds companies for roping off the area along the sidewalkWe requested the aid of the fire I assigned Sergeant Givier to the task of traffi across from the M.C.S.O.
assign all the men to their respective places c control.
His job was to at their places inside the M.C.S.O.
At 12 noon all the men were i
secret service.
Men from the other depart =ents started toThis was supervised l*
. briefing with them.
Givler assigned th.m to their postsI informed them of our situation and then Ser arrive.
I held a l*
for the arrival of the President, While all preparations were being made geant situation at Three Mile Island.
I was being brought up to date on the Mile Island were connecting up equipmeI was informed that the engineers at Three would be operat..onal later on tonight to deal with the buhble and it nt At approximately 1:30 PM, Ann Street was covered at all intersectioall officers were at Union.
their assigned positions.
Airport travelling east on Ann StreetThis security was taken because News people werefront of the M.C.S.O.
to Three Mi.leresident coming frcm the were cc:rered in Island.
Also all positions the building.
then lef t into the M.C.S.O.and roof-top security was in place.
checked with Sergeant Givler and Det."Now all we did was wait".
after an ordnance unit checked All police werc in of*icers.
position.
I cor2ing from Three Mile Island.I then checked with the radio operatorForoman At s as to the informadon concern.
this time the bubble was the primary At 2:45 PM President Carter arrived around the President and First Lady werethe Community Building.
at First Lady entere=d the Cc=munity Buildi strengthened.
Positions shake hands with the people of towmthe first Lady came out and 10 minutes later, Apprc~,imately along with Det.
across the street to so that no one could get nesr her. Foreman and myself joined arms and su rounded Mrs. Carter the front door of the Community BuildiAfter shaking hands, she went back to cening out.
is to be noted that at no time while the PHe went to his vehicle, got in ng.
At this time, e
to the Airport.
experience any trouble.
It was a big relief when the President ar iresident *.4as It at the Airport.
After the crowd dispersed, all offic ments went to eat and then returned to their r ved back ers from other depart-At 4:00 PM, own departments.
are saying that the bubble is getting lanews from the Island continues to b ng downhill.
Now they a five (5) mile area.
All police at this time are notified ofrger and they fear an evac Other police from area departments ar report for duty.
doing the assigning of all menI turned this information over the Dete calling a job helped me to relax.and went across the rivar to visit my wifeAt approximat and son.
station I then went for a ride with one of myI returned at approximately 8:0 station.
area and then returned to the station and went to the policemen.
I checked the continued working on evacuation plans The Mayor, Don Ryan and myself then would be using the Community Building fo I was also informed that the NRC r news releases.
I would provide
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inside sacurity for the NPC when they held their briefings.
I left work about midnight, went homa, watched the news on television for. about hour and then went to bed. No calls during the night, aHonday, 2 April 1979 Arrived at the police station about 7:30 AM and was told that the bubble hd shrunk. I talked to NRC agent.
He confirmed that the bubble did in fact shrink and that they were going to go ahead with the cooling of the reactor.
This news was what everyone was waiting for.
At approximately 12 noon, the NRC held a briefing.
Mr. Harold Denton spoke to the press, informing them that the bubble was no longer presert and they they could start going into, a ccid chutdown of reactor #2.
The ?ress wi.s very pleased with the news and also everyone in town.
At this time we were assigning men due to the fact that we still had the curfew in.sffect.
The new coming from the Island was encouraging and some of the peopit were returning to town.
At this time, I posted a notice that all =en u culd return to regular shifts except that there still were no days off.
Th Ls took some of the pressure off of them.
The rest of the evening news from the Island still looked good.
They were experiencing small problems, but we felt that they could handle ve situation.
I went home at about 11 PM.
No calls at night.
Tuesday, 3 April 1979
.I wert to work at approximately 8:00 AM.
!.ews is still good.
Started to return to normal rout'n except for the news media.
I was told of a meeting at 2:30 pH at Dauphin County Courthouse with the Army about National Guard support in case of an evacuation. The town was retu. ning to its routines more people were returning home.
The ban on pregnant women ar.d pre-school age _ children was still in effect. At 2:00 P.M. went to Dauphin County Courthouse for meeting with Civil Defense National Guard personnel and other police chiefs. What we discussed were evacuat. ion plans and the assistance of National daard within our town.
Plans were formulated for the evacuation of a five (5) or ten (10) mile area. Also all legal aapects were covered by D.A. I,aroy zimmerman.
When the meeting was over, I retuzned to the station and' briefed the men as to what took place at the meeting.
I conferred with the Mayor and advised him as to what was discussed at the meoting.
I went home at approximately 5:00 PM.
. wednesday, 4 April 1979 Arrived at work at 7:00 AM.
News is still good coming from the Island. I,ess and less newsmen are in town.
The feeling of the :yeopic in town is calm and happy.
It is to be noted that at no time during the problem at Three Mile Island were there any signs of panic or trouble.
Work during the day was routine. At about 2:00 PM, the Mayor and I decided to take the curfew off.
This inf armation was given to radio and television stations to be announced.
No nare problems.
I went horca at 4:33 PM.
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Thursday, 5 April 1979 All personnel returned te normal activities.
I posted a notice that effective i 7:00 AM Friday, all police personnel would return to their regular assigned schedules with regular days off, but will still be subject to call, i
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it Friday, 6 April 1979
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Arrived at work at 7:00 AM.
All information from Three Mile Island is still looking good.
Cc:::mencing clean up of auxiliary building.
This is the first k
step to cold shutdown.
All men still on stand-by.
I went ho:w at 4:30 p.M.
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Saturday, 7 April 1979
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All news is still' good.
Did not come in to work.
Sunday, 8 April 1979 f
No new development from Three Mile Island except that aux 1'.iary building's j
contaminated water was removed.
Did not come in to work.
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Monday, 9 April 1979 Arrived at work at 7:00 AM.
News from NRC's Mr. Centon is that he would advise the Governor to lift the ban on pre-school age children and pregnant wcmen at
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approvie tely.S:30 PM.
Governor made announc'ement that all 1; regnant woc:en and i
pre-school age children could return home.
This was the best news for the town. Also, all schools in a five (5) mile radius would open on Tuesday.
Tuesday,10 April 1379
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Arrived at work at 7:00 AM.
All activity in tevn back to normal.
Schools f
opened and everyone is feeling good.
At 12 noen NRC brought in a van equipped j
for body scanning for all residents within a five (5) mile radius.
As cf 4:30 PM, April 10, 22 men, wcmen, & children received body scans. All scans have been negative. This scanning will continue until all persons within a five (5) mile radius are checked.
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At no time did the police have any looting or any other problems caused by Note:
the Three Mile Island incident. This emergency caused the police depart: rent to put in 527-3/4 hours overtime at a cost of approxamately $5,200.00 plus gas, oil and other iteme.
This situation has taught us to update and keep current all emergency disaster plans and evacuation procedures.
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