ML19254B055
| ML19254B055 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane  |
| Issue date: | 08/22/1979 |
| From: | Harold Denton Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Lacey H AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19254B058 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7909240008 | |
| Download: ML19254B055 (1) | |
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UNITED STATES j;.
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION y
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WASHINGTON,0. C. 20555 August 22, 1979 1s*..../
Mr. H. W. Lacey 746 WelwynsWay Alexandria, Louisiana 71301
Dear Mr. Lacey:
This is in reply to your letter of August 13, 1979, to the Nuclear Regulatory Comission asking why Three Mile Island One has not been allowed to resume operation.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission in its Order of July 2,1979, directing that Three Mile Island Unit No.1 shall remain shut down until further order of the Comission itself after a public hearing, stated:
"In view of the variety of issues raised by the accident at the Three Mile Island Unit No. 2 facility, the Comission presently lacks the requisite reason-able assurance that the same licensee's Three Mile Island Unit No.1 facility, a nuclear power reactor of similar design, can be operated without endangering the health and safety of the public."
The Comission's Order and Notice of Hearing on August 9,1979, stated:
In addition to the items identified for the other B&W reactors, the unique circumstances at TMI require that additional safety concerns identified by the NRC staff be resolved prior to restart.
- 1) potential interaction between These concerns result from (2, (2) questions about the management Unit 1 and the damaged Unit capabilities and technical resources of Metropolitan ' dison, in-cluding the impact of the Unit 2 accident on these, (3) the potential effect of operations necessary to decontaminate the Unit 2 facility on Unit 1, and (4) recognized deficiencies in emergency plans and station operating procedures."
The Comission has stated that its primary comitment is to a fair and thorough hearing and decision.
We are mindful of the economic hardships associated with the shutdown of a nuclear power unit, but we must give priority to our responsibilities to ensure the protection of the public health and safety.
Sincerely,
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Harold R. Denton, Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation 7 9 0024 0C06
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