ML19253A909
| ML19253A909 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane, Limerick  |
| Issue date: | 07/16/1979 |
| From: | Hendrie J NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Schulze R HOUSE OF REP. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19253A910 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7909120349 | |
| Download: ML19253A909 (2) | |
Text
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UNITED STATES
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 1
"t W ASHIN GTON, D.C. 20555
- %.... p' July 16,1979
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OF FICE OF THE CHAIRMAN The Honorable Richard T. Schulze United States House of Representatives Washington, D.C.
20515
Dear Congressman Schulze:
I apologize for not providing this response to you sooner but, as you are aware, the Commission and staff have been occupied with continued support of the efforts at Three Mile Island, Orders to other facilities, appearances before. the President's Commission and various committees of Congress that are investigating the Three Mile Island accident, and the realignment of our own resources and priorities to give immediate attention to the problems resulting from the accident.
Task forces have been established within the NRC (1) to give direct support to Three Mile Island on such matters as core cooling, cleanup and recovery operations, (2) to review responses of utilities to NRC Orders and Bulletins, (3) to identify, analyze and recomend changes in licensing requirements and in the licensing process based on lessons learned from Three Mile Island, (4) to assure the continued safe operation of operating plants, and (5) to complete work on Unresolved Safety Issues. The result may 'nclude new or revised NRC regulations and review practices and requiremt. qts concerning such matters as the training of operators, operating procedures, emergency planning, instrumentation, and design.
Priority is being given to plants that the NRC has ordered to shut down, plants that are operating, and plants that are near to being ready for operation.
However, new requirements will also apply to other plants where there is more time available for making changes.
You indicated particular interest in the Limerick plant now under construction.
The Limerick units will have boiling-water reactors, whereas the Three Mile Island units have pressurized-water reactors.
Both types are under review to detemine what modifications, if any, may be necessary.
The applicant for the Limerick units estimates that No. I will be ready for fuel loading in October 1982 and No. 2 in October 1984.
We have not yet received an application for operating licenses.
The status of Limerick construction is such that modifications could be made more readily than for plants that are completed or nearly completed.
To answer your specific questions, (a) there will be impacts of the Three Miie Island accident on nuclear power plants cresently under-construction, such as Limerick; (b) their design will be reevaluat'ed anc some racifications may be required; and (c) the NRC may be establi.shing 3.'I2131 Sy 7909120
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new safety requirements for plants praseritly under contruction.
The g
nature of these impacts, modifications, and requirements must await the completion of the work presently underway on a high priority basis by the various task..rces within the NRC and will take account of other-investigations in process outside the NRC. Our objective will continue to be the protection of the public health and safety at all nuclear power plants.
jSincerely,
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Joseph M. Hendrie M airman e
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