ML19256F547
| ML19256F547 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane  |
| Issue date: | 11/30/1979 |
| From: | Harold Denton Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Joseph Turner AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7912190391 | |
| Download: ML19256F547 (1) | |
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firs. Juanita A. Turner President Tri-County Mental !! cal th Association 219 Pine Street Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17101
Dear Mr s. Turner:
I have been requested to respond to your letter of ifovenber 9,1979, to Chainnan llendri. in which you expressed concern that the flRC staff has said that " psychological distress" should not be a consideration in the proposed reactivation of Unit 1 at TMI.
'le assume that your reference to the HRC staff position that neither the Atomic Energy Act or the National Environmental Policy Act require consideration of such issues as psychological distress in the TMI-Unit I reactivation proceeding refers to the brief filed before the Atomic Sa fety and Licensing Coard (ASLB) on October 31, 1979, entitled Brief of fiRC Staff on Psychological Distress Issues.
This represents a legal opinion prepared at the request of the l'uclear Regulatory Commission which details the agency's statutory responsibilities wi th respect to this issue.
It should be pointed out that the Staff's legal opinion is but one of the factors that will be taken into consideration by the Conmission in their deliberations regarding the admissibility of
" psychological distress" as an issue in the proceeding. Legal briefs filed by other parties as well as public expressions concerning this issue will also be given careful consideration before arri ing at a decision.
Sincerely, f.w.,ie. q Y,8
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1 vHarold R.'Denton, Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation G
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r Nover:ber 9,1979 9e rot
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gr.. Joseph M. Hendrie, Chairman
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Dear Mr. Hendrie:
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M4 J@ d W. C d N.,f N'L1 Enclosed is a copy of _ an article v.hich anpeared in the a'-.
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-' Harrisbu rd PATRICT on Tuesday, Moveder 6., As president
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of the local Mental Health Association, I f'ind this
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article most distressing.
Our Associallon is a citizens' C: S,$iL 2.'f" organization, comprised of some 1,200 nenbers, r!ho include p y '; g ". m" ".
in our purpose the promotion of Good nontal hear.th and the prevention of mntal illnees.
lic have not discussed n us o. -: m s en wa A F ersas QUCIORf {QVdf RS ]U fC$QG [f(bfQ QUp Q((3Q,33(lGQ hd(, V[G f. 13.P4 L. N JF v'i
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C' t '.,C F have sean decided eactional traums created by the accident
,ot r.a r. sma f.r'.k l L'uC"'
- v,hich occurred at Three Mile Island.
I am therefore nstounded th9 t your staff has said "pujchological distress" should no t be a ceasideration on the proposed reactivatica of Unit Ho. 1 at T?H.
?' intal illness is the nurber one health problen of our nation.
The President's Co: mission on l' ental Hen! th reported that as n?.ny as 15,'! of our populace need professional treatnant due to nantal stress. These estintt.cs are for the gennral population, without relation to a specific event.
The recent report of the fresident's Commission on 'FfI -
Indical,ed that etallonal s tress vias the bigges t problem resulting from the sceident. The National Ins titute of L' ental Henlth has also recently provided $375,000 to the Ylestern Payehiatric Institute and Clinic to do an extensive study of the r.mtlal health effects of the accident at Ti(I.
During the past tcro years our Association has sponsored puppet shocis for children from Kindergarten through third grade to help instill good contal health concepts in these children. Schools vrere asked to have the children draw pictures of the puppet cho.7 af ter its presentnLion so that vie could evaluate whether tre vzere acconplishing our purpo;e.
There is one 5cune in the show in v/hich Ihrfles, a rabbi L, avtakens to find his white gym bag floating in the breese which is coming through the open windo'er.
Ihtffles bel leves the gym bng to be a chost.
Only af ter being rew:ured t'j his father, Puffles turns to his teddy baar and sayr,
b Mr. Joaaph I'.
IGn Irie
?!cve '.b 2r 9, 1979 Page 2
" Caddy says v;c should not be afraid".
In the hundreds of pictures which we have re eired, the leddy bear did not appear until we presented the puppet show at the Mec; berry Elementary School and the Fink Elementary School in I.iiddleto;;n, both of vthich are within a five-mile radius of Ti.fl.
Even more alarming, two children from the Fink School drew the gym bad "d ost" in the h
fora of a cooling tower.
Tn,Just? ^ying its position the 171C staff has said that neither the Atomi.c Energy Act of 1954 nor the National Environnental Policy Act of 1969 recluire considerati< n of " issues such as psychological distress". I see no s tatement h<>ceaver that these acts forbid such considerations.
Tn a country which has placed cuch emphasis on the human rights of people during the past three years, I find it difficult to believe that an agency of our federal govenunant
';cauld be so callous as to ignore feelings nnd erotinnal needs of the people
';;ho have been affected by this tragic acal. dent.
Sincerely, 0
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(I'os. ) Juonita A. Turner President ec: The Hon. Richard S. Seicc;eiker The Hon. H. John Heinz, III The Hon. Allen E. Ertel Tha Hon. Vlillima F. Caodling John G. Ken;qr, Chairman -- President's Comission on T?.!E Urs. Edciard Trun':', ?.iber -- P resident 's Coa:dc; Ion on RfE The Hon. Hichard L. Thornburgh The Hon. Viilliam V/. Scrcaton, III I
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