ML19273B846

Forwards PNO-79-67AP

ML19273B846
Person / Time
Site:	South Texas
Issue date:	05/23/1979
From:	Seidle W NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV)
To:	Eric Turner HOUSTON LIGHTING & POWER CO.
References
NUDOCS 7906180320
Download: ML19273B846 (1)

Text

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\\.... N d' AR LINGTON, TE) AS 76012 May 23, 1979 Docket No. 50-498 50-499 Houston Lighting and Power Company ATTN: Mr. E. A. Turner, Vice President Power Plant Construction and Technical Services Post Office Box 1700 Houston, Texas 77001 Gentlemen:

Enclosed is supplement AP to Frelim' nary Notification PNO-79-67, " Nuclear Incident at Three Mile Island," dated May 22, 1979.

Should you have any questions regarding this review, please contact this office.

Sincerely, ft

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W. C. Seidle, Chief Reactor C6nstruction and Engineering Support Branch

Enclosure:

PNO-79-67AP 7906180320

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IMMEDIATE PRELIMINARY. NOTIFICATION May 22, 1979 PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE -- PNO-79-67AP This prelitainary notification constitutes summarv information of an event of safety or public interest significance.

The information presented is a

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summary of information as of 7:00_a.m. on May 22, 1979.

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Facility: Three Mile Island Unit 2

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Middletown, Pennsylvania (DN 50-320) 5

Subject:

NUCLEAR INCIDENT AT THREE MILE ISLAND - REPORTED DEATHS OF COWS Newspaper, television and radio stories this past weekend have reported that a number of cows have died in a herd near Tt1I at the Hoover Farm in Bainbridge, Pennsylvania.

The article in the Harrisburg Sunday Patriot News reported that the owner of the F-vd believed the deaths were caused by tLe accident at TMI.

The deaths all ins ved cows giving birth. Twelve calves have been stillborn and 7 cows have died after giving birth. The article stated that the state lab.and the Hershey Medical Center have conducted post morteos and other tests on the dead animals. The symptons common to all the deaths were intrauterine infections and anemia.

On Sunday afternoon, May 20, 1979, an NRC survey team accompanied by an EPA representative went to the Hoover Farm located about six miles south, east of the plant.

Mr. Hoover and his wife stated that they suspect the cows died from leukemia caused by the radiation from THI.

They stated that they never had this problem in the past.

They also stated that they knew of two other farmers that were having similar problems. The initial death occurred on April S.

The survey team took samples of feed, grass, soil, well water and milk for radiningical analysis. The EPA representative also collected 3

samples.

. -g The Pennsylvania State Department of Agriculture has veterinarians looking into the problem.

They are investigating the possibility that a virus infec-tion is the cause of the deaths and that, if so, in a few days they will have identified the virus. The State Bureau of Radiological Health will make a

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radiological examination of the internal organs of one cow.

Another State Agency will examine them for heavy metals.

The FDA has sent a veterinarian from the Phildelphia regional office to examine the herds involved.

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Continued PNO-79-67AP Page 2 May 22, 1979

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Contact:

EDFlack, IE 28188 IJCunningham, IE x28168 LPHigginbotha:n, IE x28188 Distribution:

Transmitted H St yI05 Chair: man Hendrie Comissioner Bradford S. J. Chilk, SECY

,,6f Coc:sissioner Kennedy Comissioner Ahearne C. C. Kamerer, CA

' 'i,"..~. Comissioner Gilinsky ACRS Wor Distribution)

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ik Transmitted: MNBB ff*."ld P. Bldg ll'.k J. G. Davis, IE Ye;.~~ L. V. Gossick, EDO H. R. Denton, NRR Region I tf:3f f;_

H. L. Ornstein, EDO R. C. DeYoung, NRR Region II p co

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J. J. Fouchard, PA R. J. Mattson, NRR Region III H.1:(

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H. Haller, MPA V. Stello, NRR Region IV l 2

• o *4 R. G. Ryan, OSP R. S. Boyd, NRR Region V 1 ) *,4 9 H. K. Shapar, ELD SS Bldg #I:iG (MAIL)

W. J. Dircks, NMSS J. J. Cu::xnings, OIA

. Y S. Levine, RES R. Minogue, SD IE (TMI) Site I) *. T (Provide copy to STATE)

-1.;_5 C. Abraham, PA (Middletown - TMI-Information Center) rp-White House Situation Room 2 PDAA (Provide copies to the Administrator and the Operations Center)

. ::'. EPA DOE /EOC

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BRP (State of PA)

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DCPA BEW Handcarry (FAA)

C IMMEDIATE PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION

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