ML19246C545
| ML19246C545 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane  |
| Issue date: | 05/03/1979 |
| From: | Coughlin L HOUSE OF REP. |
| To: | NRC OFFICE OF CONGRESSIONAL AFFAIRS (OCA) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19246C544 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7907260305 | |
| Download: ML19246C545 (2) | |
Text
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May 3, 1979 ar"cniancs t
j 7ffice of Congressional Affairs j
Nuclear Regalatory Commission 1717 H Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20555
Dear Sir:
Attached is a letter for your consideration and comment.
I would appreciate it if you would review the letter's statements and evaluate them in view of the accident at Three Mile Island.
Your ccoperation in resolving this matter
,promptly--consistent with existing rules and regulations--will he most helpful.
Thank you for your assistance and under-standing.
SinEarely,
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LAWRENC,E COUGHLIN I
13th District, Pennsylvania LC:jmf Enclosure e
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FROM:, Congressman Lawrence Coughlin
, 306 Cannon House Office Building The following statement was dictated in my district office by Dr. Aristid V. Crosse on April 26, 1979 1
My
Dear Congressman:
Thank you so much for your letter of April 23 and the first i
f quantitative data from the NRC on the total amount of radioactivity released at the Three bula Island accident.
i At today's meeting of the Energy Committee of the City of Philadelphia M-STAC, which I chaired, I communicated these results.
They were very valuable and permitted me to arrive at important logical l
conclusions, when conbined with the total quantity of radioactivity left in the reactor.
t I
'ThuIs, 1.4 curies of iodine 131 escaped out of a total of 50 million curies in the plant.
Thus, a 99.999971 retention of radioactive iodine was maintained.
The 13 million curies of xeon gas released came from an inventory of about 1.2 billion curies, thus corresponding to a retention of 98.8%.
Chemically iodine 131 is the only radioactive substance that would come down by rain to the ground where it can be measured and controlled.
The very much larger quantities of radioactive gases, particularly xeon 133, after it has been diluted with a lot of air as a " plume" and picked up by the winds,can be dangerous and subject people to gamma radiation.
Governor Thornburgh made the wise decision of not ordering a general evacuation of the population.
In addition to his valid reasons, an additional reason is that people staying in their homes, preferably in their basements, would be much better protected from this radiation than they would on the open highways.
After the plume has passed an "all clear" signal, by radio or television, could notify everyone that it is safe to get out.
In the future, it is recommended that whenever a radioactive plume is released, that it be eclored by smoke such as red, blue or green so that it will assume " shape and form" and will not remain an invisible foe. In addition, it could be made smelly or stinky by adding pungent, but harmless, chemicals at the time rf release. 'Thus the advance of the cloud could be followed and people could get out of its path.
Again with my thanks and best wishes, Dr. Aristid V. Crosse, President Cer=antown Laborato rles Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 40i 304
.