ML19249D352
| ML19249D352 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane, Zimmer  |
| Issue date: | 08/07/1979 |
| From: | Vassallo D Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Green A AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19249D353 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7909240332 | |
| Download: ML19249D352 (2) | |
Text
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AUG 7 1979
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3 Ms. Anita L. Green R.D. #1, Box 183-1 Gardners, Pennsylvania 17324
Dear Ms. Green:
I am pleased to respond to your letter to Chairman Hendrie regarding your concerns about nuclear power and the Three Mile Island accident and your comment related to the Zimmer plant in Ohio.
I appreciate your concern regarding the safety of nuclear power plants, r:diation contamination and the protection of the public health and safety, 1.icluding school children, from harmful consequences as the result of using nuclear power. I want to assure you that the Commission has these concerns foremost in their minds as well.
You are correct in your feeling that we have learned many things as a result of the TPI-2 accident that deserve the most careful and penetrating evaluation.
Over the past four months, an all-out effort has been mounted by the Nuclear Regulatory Comission to examine the events of the accident, both before ci after, in order to determine where changes and improvements must be made by the industry and by the Comission to assure that such an accident does not happen again. While these investigations are continuing, they have already resulted in recommendations which are specifically directed at improvements in design and operation of nuclear power plants and in emergency preparedness.
Before any licenses or pennits are granted to operate or construct a nuclear power plant, including the Zimmer plant in Ohio, I want to assure you that they will be required to comply with the rewlts of these investigations.
The previous safety record of 'uclear power has been a reasonably gcod one because, I believe, of Federal regulatory requirements and review. While some small comfort can be derived from the fact that because of these requirements, structures and equipment were in place which functioned as required to contain the cccident and no catastrophic release of radioactivity occurred, nevertheless, the accident at TMI-2 has caused a searching inward look at ourselves and the industry.
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e Ms. Anita L. Green I believe that as a result of this uncompromising review, the safety of
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nuclear power plants will be further enhanced and emergency preparedness significantly improved so that nuclear power can, if deemed a necessary part of our energy production, continue in such a role with adequate protection of the public health and safety.
Sincerely, yA D. B. Vassallo, Acting Director Division of Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation 1002 026 1