ML19256F956
| ML19256F956 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 11/15/1979 |
| From: | Rogovin M NRC - NRC THREE MILE ISLAND TASK FORCE |
| To: | Gilinsky V, Hendrie J, Kennedy R NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19256F953 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7912270114 | |
| Download: ML19256F956 (2) | |
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1 NUC; EAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
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November 15, 1979 MEMORANDUM FOR:
Chairman Hendrie Co==issioner Gilinsky Co=missioner Kennedy w.
Co=missioner Bradford g
Cc=missione'r Ahearne FROM:
Mitchell Rogovin, Director
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NRC/THI Special Inquiry Group tr
SUBJECT:
NRC RESPONSIBILITY TO ALLEVIATE RESIDUAL FEARS OF TMI-2 AREi RESIDENTS The terms of the contract between the NRC and Rogovin, Stern and Euge, require ce to inform the Co==ission promptly of any catters that might be considered of "icmediate public health or safety significance." Vaile the discussion that follows may not literally fall within that standard, it is of sufficient magnitude to bring to your attention at this time.
On a recent National Public Radio broadcast, a Middletown, Pennsylvania, resident told of an incident which highlighted to her the impact on the people in the area of Three Mile Island.
A friend of hers living in the area indi-cated she planned to have another child.
She was making this move to assure that her son would have a living brother or sister who could act as a donor in the event he' developed leukemia or some other form of cancer as a result of the Three Mile Island accident.
This striking example highlights the problem of the continuing and sonetimes severe cental stress of the local residents in the area of Three Mile Island.
The recently completed socioeconomic impact study by Mountain-West Research, Inc., found that nearly half of the respondents to their survey still feel T..'I represents a serious or very serious threat to their families.
The recently published report of the President's Co ission on the Accident on Three v.ile Island found that, "the cental stress to which those living within the vicit.i:y of Three Mile Is' land were subjected was quite severe." They also conclude that, "the most serious health ef fect of the accident was severe cental stress."
The Co= mission characterizes this nress as short-lived; however, as indicated above, news media interviews with local residents and the Mountain-West Repo_
vould indicate that this stress is of-a continuing nature. Vaile the character of the health ef fects from the TMI-2 accident have been published in varicus forms including the President's Co -4ssion Repo-t, these presentations have been subj ect to wide interpretation by the press, and have received little cephasis by governnent agencies in a way which would help the residents near TMI understand how they and their loved ones =ight be af fected.
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9i We believe that the continuing mental stress of a significant fraction of the
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residents within the vicinity of Three Mile Island Unit 2 is a serious public
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health matter for which corrective action should be taken. We believe that an g:
appropriate response to the accident would include a program of infor=ing the
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local residents of the nature of the threat to them as accurately as possible.
$5 Such a non-promotional program should not address the safety of nuclear power plants or the future risks from possible operation of TMI-1 or 2 rather; it 5l should provide sound informition on the radiological releases that have Eh occurred and their possible health ef fects.
In addition, the " severe" mental 5
stress experienced by the THI area residents may warrant the use of human
[h service workers in facilitating more comprehensive care for those who may
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develop emotional problems.
It may be appropriate for the Natural Institute of EE Mental Health (NIMH) to act in accordance with Public Law 93-288, Disaster
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Relief Aid and Amendment, dated May 1974, in implementing such a progam.
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While we do not wish to undertake to advise the Commission as to how such a program might be undertaken, we do believe that there is merit to your examina-tion into its need.
Therefore, we recommend that the Commission look into the development of a near term program to inform the residents in the area of Three
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Hile Island of the health effects associated with the accident of March 28.
We believe it is essential that, if such a program is carried out it be done by an authoritative, unbiased group clearly independent of the NRC.
In addition, the Commi,cion may wish to inform the NIMH of the possible need for services in relief of mental health problems.
To wait for issuance of our report to transmit this recommendation to you would unnecessarily add further delay in providin3 assistance to these people.
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FEtchell Rogovin, DLgector
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