ML19253A686
| ML19253A686 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane  |
| Issue date: | 08/03/1979 |
| From: | Heltemes C Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Shanken M AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19253A687 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7909100674 | |
| Download: ML19253A686 (2) | |
Text
{{#Wiki_filter:N0C ?Dk ga areg 4 k UNITED STATES y ) "s(( g NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555 ( ).E 7; [ AUG 3 B79 Docket No.: 50-289 W. M. Shanken 1624 Mitchell Road Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17110
Dear Mr. Shanken:
This is in response to the petition you and other Pennsylvania citizens recently sent to W. Harold R. Denton, Director, Office of Nuclear Reactor Re gul ation. I can certainly understand and appreciate the views and concerns expressed in your petition regarding potential plans for the restart of Three Mile Island, Unit 1 (TMI-1). I would like to stramarize where we stand in relation to your concerns. A meeting was held at the request of Metropolitan Edison / General Public Utilities Corporation on June 11, 1979 to enable thm to discuss with the staff, in preliminary terms, the possibility of restarting TMI-1. Du ring the course of this meeting, Ntropolitan Edison / General Public Utilities indicated a number of actions they were prepared to implement in order to provide a better basis for confidence that the THI-1 reactor could be operated safely. Needless to s ~.,, these discussions resulted in no agree-ments or comitments by the st ?f regarding any aspect of the TMI-l restart. On July 2,19/9, the Comission issued an Order requiring that TMI-l remain shut down until after a public hearing. This Order, a copy of which is enclosed, also made clear that the final decision on the restart of TMI-l would be made by the Comission itself. In addition, the Comission plans to issue a further Order in the near future which will specify the hearing procedures to be used, and identify the specific technical concerns that led to the July 2,1979 Order. These technical concerns are expected to be fully addressed during the hearing. It is important to distinguish between delaying the restart of TMI-l until the Presidential Comission Report is issued (prestsnably late October 1979), and delaying consideration of the matters involved with restart. We believe that it is appropriate at this time to consider the necessary and sufficient conditions for the restart of TMI-1, even though the actual startup would not come until much later, i.e., after the public hearing has been concluded and the Ccamission has reviewd the record. Thus, while we agree that much work remains to be accompli.thed before TMI-l could be allowed to restart, we also believe discussions on these knam plant improvements, or administrative changes, necessary for restart, can be initiated now. w: a o .s u, u n, i e h
Mr. M. Shanken AUG 3 1979 Authorization to restart will not be allowed until the technical issues and concerns have been fully addressed, discussed in a public hearing, and that hearing record reviewed by the Commission. The Commission feels that full public participation is an integral and vital ingredient to all aspects dealing with those matters relating to TMI-l restart. In addition, we will continue our intensive and urgent efforts to understand the lassons to be learned from the TMI-2 accident. These efforts not only include several independent and extensive studies within the Connission, but also involve close connunication with other studies, including the Presidential Commission, Congressional inquiries, and a nwnber of industry investigations. It is anticipated at t ais time that the results of a nunber of these investigations, incl uding the Presidential Commission, wili be available before all of the conditions for the restart of TMI-l have been satisfied. I hope that this response adequately addresses your concerns. Sincerely, C. J. Heltemes, Jr., Chief Standardization Branch Division of Project Management Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Enclosure : Copy of July 2,1979 Commission Order l
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'* 3,l _. g. _.,j.. . -3 y o 3G _ y [yt;x. .m. 3. :.- f c,- _- ;::, Q.....:_.. ORDER ~ =_ s-r In view of the variety of issues raised by the accident at the Three Mile Island Unit No. 2 facility, the Cor:nission ~ presently lacks the requisite reasonable assurance that the sace' licensee's Three Mile Island Unit No. I facility, a nuclear power reactor of similar design, can be operated without endangering tlic health and safety of the public. Accordingly, we direct that the Unit No. 1 f acility, presently in a shutdo:in condition, shall rcmtin shut down until further order of the Commission itself. .The Commission has further determined that it is in the public interest that a hearing precede restart of the facility. The Cornission will also issue an order within thirty (30) days specifying in detail the basis for its concerns, and the ' y ~ ~ precedures to govern further proceedings in this matter. The licensee may file a written answer to this Order no later than twenty (20)dahe after the issuance of the detailed Crder. The Commission has found that the public health, safety and int'erest require that this order be effective immediately. ^ ") q f y h )h K S ' <Qu t c.- .J e : 1 n a.. r.;. .e-i
. c g.' A 2 / ~ s It is so ORDERED. For the Conuaission JC:$ o 5,_ ~ W ~ r q ;.. ~ JoM'l C. lioyle / n.. - .A .i.ng Secretary of . *.t7 %.- . _ m. =- .. - c...- - =.... th e - Con:mi s cion. - - . = . - ;.. :-.. = - - - q,. --~ . y .= ~ Dated at Washington, O C. r 4 a. this 2nd day $f July,'~1979
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