ML19275B083
| ML19275B083 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane  |
| Issue date: | 05/13/1975 |
| From: | Anthony Giambusso Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Schweiker R SENATE |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19275B084 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7911080691 | |
| Download: ML19275B083 (6) | |
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- Fo. 50-239 KRGoller GLear OELD DfUaffe Honorable Richa-d S.
Schweiker GErtter (DR-8628)
United States Eenate hK roff Elt'ghes
Dear Senator Schweiker:
EPe>*on SATeett
~Your note of April 28, 1975 has been referred to re for reply.
Ye" had forwarded to us a copy of a letter dated April 13, 1975 frcm Ms. Jane L. Donahue who seeks information on several safety-related concerns regarding the operation of Three Mile Island I;uclear Station, Unit 1.
Our response to these c:at ters raised by Hs. Donahue is contained in the enclosures to this letter.
It w can be of further assistance, please do not besitate to contact us.
Sincerely, Orignal Ngned By A. Giambusso.
A. Giambusso, Director Division of Reactor Licensinst i
Office of Fluelear Reactor Regulation
Enclosures:
1.
Responses to Cuest ions from Hs. Jane L. Donahue 2.
- NRC Makes Wide Dissemination of Reports by Nuclear Facility Licensees" 3.
Yhe Sa f ety of Nuclear Power Reactors (Light Water Cooled) and Related Facilities",
WASE-1250, July 1973 4.
Letter to Senator Richard S. Schweiker from Hs. Jane L. Donahue dated April 13, 1975 4
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ENCLOSURE 1 RESPONSES TO CUESTIONS FROM MS. JANE L. DONAHUE 1.
The Necessity for Performing Radiation Emergency Drills:
The probability of the occurrence of an accident, which leads to a serious level of radioactive contamination, has been analyzed and found to be extremely small. However, with regard to the health and safety of the public, it is considered prudent to require all reactor licensees to conduct such tests. This requirement is set forth in Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 50, Appendix E,Section IV entitled " Content of Emergency Plans".
2.
Shutdown of Three Mile Island Unit 1 (TMI-1) on April 9,1975:
Metropolitan Edison has informed us that the shutdown of TMI-1 on April 9, 1975 was due to a mechanical problem involving a Control Rod Drive Mechanism (CRDM). This is not an unexpected type of malfunction and continued operation is permitted, under the Operating License, with a single CRDM inoperable. With regard to the case in question on April 9,1975, Metropolitan Edison elected to shutdown TMI-1 rather than alter their mode of operation, as required by their Operating License, following the determination that a CRDM is inoperable.
3.
The Reporting of Abnormal Occurrences at TMI-1:
a-An " abnormal occurrence" is defined in the Energy Reorganizatipn Act of 1974 as "an unscheduled incident or event which the Commission determines is significant from the standpoint of public health and safety". Abnormal Occurrences at TMI-1 are reported by the licensee and, as required, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has made such information available in Public Document Rooms located at.1717 H Street, N. W., Washington, D. C. 20555, and the State Library of Pennsylvania, Box 1601, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17126. The current NRC policy on such reports is contained in Enclosure 2 entitled "NRC Makes Wide Dissemination of Reports by Nuclear Facility Licensees".
4.
General Safety Concerns:
The newspaper articles forwarded with Ms. Donahue's letter address a wide range of safety concerns. t,our response contains a report entitled "The Safety of Nuclear Power Reactors (Light Water-Cooled) and Related Facilities" which provides information pertinent to these concerns.
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UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY CGMMISSION WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555 No.
75-70 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Clare Miles (Monday, March 31, 1975)
Tel.
301/49~-7771 NRC MAKES WIDE DISSEMINATION OF REPORTS BY NUCLEAR FACILITY LICENSEES Information on all events at nuclear facilities which are required to be reported by licensees is being made available to the public in 122 locations 2 cross the nation, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission said today.
This wide dissemination of information on such occurrences is part of the NRC's implementation of provisions of the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974.
The Act requires the NRC to provide as wide dissemination as reasonably possible of certain information on " abnormal occurrences."
The law defines an " abnormal occurrence" as "an unscheduled incident or event which the Commission deter-mines is significant from the standpoint cf public health and safety."
f NRC regulations require licensee reporting of many events for a variety of purposes.
Several cate2ories of reports come within the new statutory standard while others do not.
Those to be reported cover a variety of events ranging, for example, from the failure of an operator to make appropriate log entries to quality assurance problems and cquipment i
I malfunctions.
As a matter of past practice, all have been called " abnormal occurrences."
More than half.(888) of the " abnormal occurrences" reported in 1974 were of little significance in terms of safe operation of the nuclear power. plants, and none of the more than 1400 events had any impact on public health and safe ty.
NRC now is reviewing the categories of required licensee reports tc determine, in the context of the stat-utory definition, the changes which should be made in the present reporting and dissemination system.
The public will be given opportunity to comment on any proposed changes.
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'.' :/, r 2-75,-70 The NRC routinely places reports from licensees in its
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Public Document Room in Washingtoa, D.C., and in the local public document room which contains files on the nearby facility.
Pending sction on the proposed changes, NRC plans to supplement its distribution activities by sending to 122 local public do:ument rooms every two weeks, a computer printout of all occurrence reports by facility licensees for the prece, ding 15-day period.
These public files are located in 39 states and Puerto Rico where nuclear power plants either are in operation, under construction, or.for which construction permit applica-tions are pending.
The computer printouts will contain information on the date and place of each occurrence and the nature and probable consequence.
Information on the cause of cach occurrence and on any action taken to prevent a recurrence will be provided as soon as it is received by NRC.
Additional sum-mary information will be included'in the quarterly report to Congress on " abnormal occurrences" which is required by the law.
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FROM S/
CONTROL NUMBER FILE ' CAT!CN Sen. Richard S'.fSchweiker (Pa.,
8628 OATE OF DOCUMENT ACT:CN COMPLETION DE AOLINE 4/28/75 5/8/75 To ACTION PROCESSING DATES PREPARE FOR SIGNATURE OF:
Acknowledged Chairman Interi Director of Regulation p,,,f h i /,.w d3j7 [X Giambusso J E SC RIP TION letr
$0risiaal O Copy O ork.e Enci ltr fm Jane L. Donahue re the shut down of Three LPDR?
tdo as A Mile Island 8
Return enclosure with reply Encis: newspaper clippings REFERRED TO DATE 15 NOTIFICATICH TO THE JCAE RECOMMENDED?
Gia busso f/ action 5/1/75 6
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COMMUNICATIONS CONTROL USAEC
p ygg-m.-~"g control NUMBE R FILF CATION Sen. Richard S._ Schw91ker (Pa.,
8828 DATE OF DOCUMENT ACTION CCMPLETICN DEADLINE 4/28/75 5/8/75 TO ACTION PROCESSING DAT E5 PREPARE FOR 54GNATURE OF:
Acknowledged Chairmen interi l
Director of Regulosion p ;,,
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REMARKS OESCRIPTION I.tr
@ Criginel O Cop, O c+.,
Encl ltr fm Jane L. Donahue.re the shut down of Three LPDR7 tdo a A Mile Island 8
Return enclosure with reply Encls: newspaper clippings
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- $ NOTIFICATION TO THE JCAE aECoMMENDED?
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