ML19262B928
| ML19262B928 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane  |
| Issue date: | 01/10/1980 |
| From: | Harold Denton Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Mitchell N AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8001220209 | |
| Download: ML19262B928 (1) | |
Text
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TEA k J.Ut10 Ej Mrs. Norman Mitchell 519 Penn Ayr Road Camp Hill, PA 17011
Dear Mrs. Mitchell:
I am writing in response to your letter postmarked May 18, 1979, regarding effects the accident at Three Mile Island may have on locally grown fruits and vegetables. I regret that my answer to your letter has been delayed.
The accident and its consequences have created a substantial increase in the agency's workload, which has prevented me from responding to you as promptly as I.would have liked to.
The radioactive materials that were released were primarily radioactive gases. The radioactivity was almost entirely from xenon, which is a chem-ically inactive gas. As the gases leaked out, the winds diluted them.
To determine if food grown in the area wes contaminated, the Department of Energy measured the amounts of radioactivity present in the samples of soil, water, air, and vegetation.
Based on these samples and on other information, it was concluded that the principal isotopes in the escaped gases were renon-133 and xenon-1s5.
Although radioactive iodine was found in samples of some milk, the concen-tration was less than 1% of the concentration permitted by NRC regulations.
Other food samples were tested by the U.S. Food and D'_ug Ad inf atration, and none of the 377 food samples tested contained reacter-produced radioactivity.
As a result, the effect of the radioactivity released by the Three Mile Island accident on the food grown in the area and on soils is negligible, and gar-dens can be planted.
I an enclosing here a summary of a NRC report regarding the effects of radia-tion on the hea;th of the population residing near Three Mile Island.
I appreciate your concerns and assure you that every effort is being made to ensure the coctinued protection of the health and safety of the public, not only at the Three Mile Island Station, but also at all nuclear power plants.
On behalf of the entire NRC staff, I want to express my appreciation of your interest and confidence.
Sincerely, 1784 119 Harolc' ". Denton, Director Offic. f Nucicar Reactor Regulation Enc 1: Summary of NUREG-0558
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NRC FORM 318 f# 76) NRCM C210 UU.S GOVE RN ENT PRINTING OFFIC 1979-289-369
Distribution Docket (Attach original of incoming correspondence) - Docket Nos. 50-289 4 50-320
- NRC/PDR (Xerox copy of incoming and place behind outgoing PDR copy)
- Local PDR NRR r/f SPE/BII r/f BfI Site r/f RVollmer Siiner JohnCollins holiu' PChee DEisenhut RTedesco RReid DDilanni CNelson HSilver RIngram/LA
- TERA
- Place these three copies in one envelope and fonvard to DSB-016.
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