ML19224D296
| ML19224D296 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 05/23/1979 |
| From: | Hendrie J NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Califano J HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES, DEPT. OF |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7907110309 | |
| Download: ML19224D296 (2) | |
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[1 UNITED STATES
( hd( C' E WASHINGTON, D.C. 20555 J
E NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Nv,/
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May 23, 1979 OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN The Honorable Joseph A. Califano, Jr.
Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare Washington, D. C.
20201
Dear Mr. Secretary:
This is in response to your letter of April 14, 1979 which lists the additional information or actions that you will need from the NRC to ensure the accuracy of the NIOSH study of worker exposures to radiation and radio-active material in connection with the accidant at the Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant.
All NRC nuclear power facility licensees are required to maintain records of individual worker exposure to externT1 radiation indefinitely or until the Commissign authorizes disposition. Also, any bioassay results that provide interpretation of internal radiation exposures, as required by NRC license conditions, must similarly be maintained indefinitely or until disposition is authorized.
Survey results consisting of measurements of radioactivity in general work areas or on surfaces, or ambient dose rates in work areas, must be preserved for two years af ter completion of the survey.
However, records are required to be maintained until disposition is authorized in the case of:
(1) records of air monitoring for determin-ing compliance with limits on air concentrations to which workers are exposed; (2) in the absence of personal monitoring data, records of surveys to determine external radiation doses; and (3) records of the results of surveys used to evaluate the release of radioactive effluents to the environ-ment.
For nonnal operations, licensees are required to report only the~
annual frequency distributions of worker exposures, and not the individual doses identified for each worker, unless the worker terminates employment or assignment.
Upon termination, each worker's external dose is reported to NRC.
The NRC staff will be reviewing the licensee's plans for radiation protec-tion and internal and external dosimetry for workers during recovery opera-tions.
We will be pleased to provide HEW personnel with access to this information and welcome any suggestions they may have.
It appears likely that the usual reporting requirements will need to be augmented for Three Mile Island for the duration of the cleanup and recovery operations.
Although our plans for these special reporting requirements are not yet final, we will continue to make available to the HEW onsite representatives under Mr. Charles Cox any and all data acquired by this Agency.
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The Honorable Joseph A. Califano, Jr. During the incident at Three Mile Island, the licensee established a program for monitoring the internal exposures of workers using an ontite whole-body counter.
Records of these measurements will be maintained by the licensee and will be available for inspection.
It appears evident that considerable coordination between NRC and HEW staff will be essential if we are to satisfy fully the needs you have listed.
The NRC staff will be in contact with HEW representatives to set up an early meeting with appropriate personnel to develop detailed arrangements.
Mr. Robert A. Purple has been assigned the responsibility for ensuring the needs that you have listed are fully met.
Since this information is covered by the Privacy Act, transfer of the information will require appropriate safeguards to protect the privacy of individuals.
We very much appreciate the interest of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare in these aspects of our occupational health protection program.
Sincerely, Joseph M. Hendrie
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Chairman bbN 1O'
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w a 5 m l e. G T O N. D. C. Z C 2 C l APR 141979 The Honorable Joseph M.
Hendrie Chairman, Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D.C.
20555
Dear Chairman Hendrie:
Thank you for your letter of April 3, in which you cescribed some vf the plans for monitoring worker exposure to radia-tion at the Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant.
I appre-ciate your offer to pro.
Se information or take additional actions to establish adr ate worker records.
We will need the following additional information or actions f ron the NRC to ensure the accuracy of NIOSH's study of worker exposures:
1.
A procedure for obtaining, on a regular basin, the latest employee exposure data from Metropolitan Edison, Depa rtment of Energy and NRC.
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An opportunity to review the system and
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methodology -- and to suggest improvements, if
[f necessary -- for determining workers ' internal dose, including criteria used to select workers for whole b
body counting, as well as any plans to combine internal and external dose for each worker.
3.
Our assessment of worker exposure will also require access to monitoring of general environ-mental radiation levels on-site.
We need access.
to all such information that NRC has, us well as your assistance in ensuring access to data i
collected by the utility.
In addition, in designing our studies, it would be extremely usef ul if we could review the plan or alternative plans for clean-up of the f acility and any safety analyses done with regard to potential worker exposure.
Thank you again for your assistance.
Sincerely,
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Joseph A.
Cali_ano, Jr.
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THESCCACTART OF H C A L T H. C D U C AT I O N, A DJ D W C L T A R C b A 5 M e w o T O N. D. C; 2 o z o April 1, 1979 MEMORANDUM FOR THE CHAIRMAN, NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
SUBJECT:
Workers and Contractors on Three Mile Island As part'of the public health management of the Three Mile Island accident, it is requested that you establish on an urgent basis a registry for all persons on the Island.
Workers will certainly.be monitored with dosimeters, but a complete record of who has been where on the site may prove essential to proper follow-up for health effects.
Dosimetry or film badges should be extended to as many exposed indi-viduals,as feasible.
This matter is of great importance for the protection of the public health.
Dr. Anthony Robbins, the Director of the Natkonal Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, stands ready to assist your staff in any way you need.
He can be reached at (202) 443-1530.
If there are any problems with establishing m
this registry immediately, please let me know.
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+. n EDD-5J 72 HDenton JDavis April 3,1979 1.Underwood J5niezek OIA The Honorable Joseph A. Califano, Jr.
Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare Rashington, D. C.
20201
Dear Mr. Secretary:
This is in response t5 your cercrandura of April 1,1979 regarding the
- =>nitoring of persons on the Three Mile Island site during the incident.
All individuals entering the island site are registered end provided appropriate dosimetry.
It is our understanding that the site will evaluate and compile the exposures for all these individuals including pe.rsonal infomation such as affiliation, address, date of birth and social security nt.&.r.
We hYe discussed this With Mr. Mark Nelson Who is an HEW representative at the h7.C Operations Center and he has agreed to relay this infor,ation to Dr. Robbins.
s It should also be pointed out that both NRC and DOE have syste:s which can account for all their e=ployees and contractor employees attached to both agencies working on the island site or in the vicinity of the site.
If necessary, the list of these ir,dividuals could be made available to -
Dr. Robbins.
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If there is any additional infomation yo6 need or any additioral actions which you believe ve should take to establish adequate records, please let ce know.
Sincerely, J.
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.Oripnal Signed By. '-
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Joseph M. Hendrie C/R NOTE: This letter has been coordinated with all Comissioners and approved for signature.
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