ML19289F899
| ML19289F899 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane  |
| Issue date: | 04/20/1979 |
| From: | Conver S NRC OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND PROGRAM ANALYSIS (MPA) |
| To: | Haller N NRC OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND PROGRAM ANALYSIS (MPA) |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7906210075 | |
| Download: ML19289F899 (20) | |
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Uf4TE D 3TATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMisstCN
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MEMORANDUM FOR:
Norman M. Haller, Director, Office of Panagement and Program Analysis FRCM:
Stephen K. Conver, Chief, /nalysis and Planning Branch SUSJECT:
RECCRD CF ACTICNS RELATING TO THE THREE MILE ISLAND ACCIDENT AS REQUESTED BY EDO APRIL 13, 1979 MEMO We were not involved with NRC's response to the Three Mile Island (TMI) accident until April 4, 1979. Beginning that day, Sybil Kari, Bill
- Maher, Larry Vandenberg and I reviewed limited portions of the NRC Headquarters Operations Center audio tape and reviewed and collected copies of other source dncuments to prepare a preliminary chronology of NRC's response to the TMI acciderit.
Th u,rcnology was used as background informaticn for preparation of the Chairman's Congressional testimony on April 10, 1979. A copy of the sumary of the Cperations tape for ',-lednesday, March 28 from 8:21 a.m. to 9:16 a.m. and a copy of the preliminary chronology is attached.
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/Steph5n K. Conver, Chief Analysis and Planning Branch
Enclosures:
As Stated.
7 9 0 6 ~o lco7s-P als m s 71 4 5 241 259
NRC REACTION TO THREE MILE ISL AND ACCIDENT CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS (PRELIMINARY)
Attached is a chroncicqy of the communications and actions regarding the notificaticn to NRC of the TMI accident, notifications made by NRC, actions taken and various related ccomunications.
The source for the entries are as shown, 2nd, except for the entries whose source is shesn as CC Tape (telephone conversations recorded in the NRC Operations Center in Bethesda), must be treated as preliminary in nature and subject to later confirmation or clarification.
It must also be noted that not all calls to and from the NRC OC were recorded due to saturation of the communications system recuiring use of telephone lines not recorded by the twenty channel recorder in the Operations Center.
241 260
4
. Date/ Time Source Activity Wednesday, March 28 A
2 4:00 None Incident sequence begins.
6:50 Operations Center Licensee declares site emergency.
(OC) tape 7:02 SP Folicwup w/PA Licensee notifies PEMA (Dennsylvania Emergency Management Agency) of site emergency.
7:10 - 7:45 Regicn I Licensee attempts to contact Region I.
Duty officer and Dep. Director en route to office when beeper sounds.
7:24 OC tace Licensee declares general (mentioned in an emergency.
8:40 a.m. conversation on OC tape) 7:45 Reg. I Upon opening switchboard, Regic.7 I receives message from licensee 7:50 Reg. I Region I contacts TMI control room; maintains open line.
7:55 Reg. I Region I classifies event as a Level 1 severity incident in accordance with Region I incident response plan.
8:00 Reg. I Region I Incident Response Center activated; John Davis, HQs., notified by Boyce Grier and also by Public Affairs (Fouchard notified by Region I Public Affairs).
8:05 Various John Davis orders Hqs Operations Center activated.
Region I State Liaison attempts to contact PA Bureau of Rad.
Health.
241 261 e
, Date/ Time Source Activity Wednesday (cont'd) 8:20 AM Reg. I Region I contacts independent measurement van (at Millstone site) and orders it dispatched to TMI site.
8:21 0C tape Operations Center (OC) tape started.
8:23 CC tape Phone cali from Weiss and Moseley to Grier; John Davis calls Gossick, who was in conversation with Fouchard.
8:25 Incoming Tel. Log Gossick calls Davis.
8:30 Rec. I PA State Police informed that NRC emergency vehicle would be en route.
8:31 OC Tape Moseley notifies Stello and Eisenhut; Stello says he will send radiological experts to OC 8:32 OC Tape John Davis calls L.V. Gossick, decision made to ccnvene EMT.
8:34 OC Tape John Davis calls Denton's office; speaks to Case.
8:36 OC Tape Davis calls Hendrie's office; speaks t' '
Dorie.
8:40 (approx)
Gossick,
_ase arrive at Operations Center.
8:40 OC Tape Mike Wilbur calls Boyce Grier, obtains technical information.
8: 45 Reg. I Five inspectors (including health physicists) with radiation monitoring equipment leave for site.
8: 46 OC Tape Davis calls Dorie, asks for Comm. Gilinsky in Chairman's absence; Gilinsky not in yet.
241 262
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Date/ Time Source Activity Wednesdav (cont'o)
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8:48 AM OC Tape Dudley Thompson notifies Tom Carter, NMSS.
No NMSS action required.
8:49 OC Tape Ward notifies J. Davidson, NMSS, to make IAT notification.
8:50 Reg. I Log Licensee calls Reg. I with current status report.
8:50 Reg. I State I.iaison contacts PA Sureau of Rad Health.
8:52 OC Tape Davic, notifies Ccmm. Kennedy (first Commissioner contacted).
Davis re~ ports that he, Gossick, Case & Fouthard are manning EMT at 0.C.
Kennedy says he will notify Con..missioner Gilinsky.
8:56 0C Tape Gossick attempts to reach Gilinsky through Bill Derie and through Gilinsky's office.
Gossick talks to John Austeri and requests that Dorie reach the Chairman.
8:57 OC Tape Davis notifies Commission Ahearne.
8:59 OC Tape Bernie Weiss calls DOE Emergency Operations Center.
9:00 GC Tape Bill Ward informs Randy Pine (CA).
Randy Pine indicates that she will inform local Congressmen (Heinz and :chweiker) and Rep. __.
9:00 Peg. I Second vehicle leaves Region for site (investigator plus inspector); Region I contacts RAP who has already been noti'ied; two teams organized and standing by.
24! 2 0 W
, Date/ Time Source Activity Wednesday (cont'd) 9:00 AM Bob Ryan Ryan notified by SP Region I personnel.
Arrives Hqs. OC 9:35 AM.
9:02 OC Tape Weiss notifies EPA (Floyd Galoin).
9:08 SP notes Joe Fouchard calls Carl Abraham, Reg I Public Affairs.
9:10 GC Tape Gossick calls Congressional Affairs Office.
Randy Pine informs Gossick that CA had received several inquiries from local Congressmen.
9:10 to 9:30 CCA OCA places call to majority and minority staffs of House of Subcommittee on Energy and Environment, House Subcommittee on Energy and Pcwer and Senate Subcommittee on Nuclear Regulation as well as Senators Heinz and Schweiker and Representatives Walker and Ertel to advise of declaration of site emergency at Three Mile Island.
9:06 0C Tape Bill Ward informs Communications Branch.
3:10 OC Tape Grier calls Moseley to explain technical aspects of incident.
9:11 Incoming Log Gilinsky calls Gossick and Davis.
9:16 OC Tape Fouchard notifies DOE Public Affairs Office (Bob Dulin).
241 264 e
. Date/ Time Source Activity Wednesday (cont'd)
AFTER 9:15 AM Other NRC personnel began arriving at Headquarters Operations Center (OC tapes not yet scanned for times after 9:16 am) 9:15 AM OC Notifications White House Situation Room Log contacted.
9:27 Inccming Log Defense Civil "reparedness Agency (DCPA) calls Joe Hegner.
10:05 PN79-67 Reg. I response team arrives at site.
10:05 Reg. I Reg I contacts EPA Has. (also attempts to contact EPA:III).
10:05 to 10:10 Reg. I Discussion w/ RAP re Accident Response Moni' aring Survey Team (ARMS) aircral t survey.
ARMS people put on standby.
10:15 Reg. I Onsite team informs PA Rad.
Health that they are available for questioning.
10:16 Incoming Log "anference call:
All Commiasioners and Davis.
10:20 SP Log Telephone to PA State Rad Healtn Dept. (Gerusky not available).
Call returned at 10: 45 (1st liaison established by Hqs) subsequent calls every hour or two, starting about 5:25 pm to discuss status of sampling and monitoring.
10:30 to 11:30 OCA OCA calls principal oversight committees (including appro-priations subcommittees) and Pennsylvania representatives from vicinity of site to advise of release of radioactive materials.
241 265 I
, Date/ Tine Source Activity Wednesday (con { d) 10:30 AM Reg. I Reg. I contacts Delaware.
10:40 Reg. I Reg I contacts PA Governor's action center.
10:45 Reg. I Reg I contacts NY State Energy Office.
10:30 PR#79-64 First Press Release based on Preliminary Notification.
10: 40 SP Log Press Contarence (from where?)
patched through to PA Rau Health Dept.
10:55 SP Log Telephone call to PA Civil Cefense (second call to Operations Of ficer at 11:30 am).
10:58 Incoming Log White House Duty Officer to Weiss.
11:00 Reg I Second Team arrives at site and in control room.
11:35 Reg I FPA Region III contacted.
11:45 Reg I NJ Dept of Energy contacted.
11:55 Reg I State of MD, Power Plant Siting council contacted.
03 12:04 Reg I EPA Region III contacted.
12:10 Reg I DOE (Valley Forge Office) contacted.
12:30 OCA OCA calls principal oversight committees and PA representa-tives regarding latest infor-mation (Arranged for briefing by Mr. Stello in response to requ2st from Henry Myers for technical information).
241 266
. Date/ Time Source Activity Wednesday (cont'd) 1:00 PM Reg I Third vehicle departs for site.
1:00 Reg I Reg I contacts MD Health Dept.
1:01 Incoming Log 5tello calls Henry Myers.
1:12 SP Log SF calls VA Civil Defense.
1:30 00E Logs DOE advance party establishes
- onand post at Capitol City Airport.
2:15 DOE Logs ARMS helicopter arrives at site and begins tracking.
2: 3']
DOE Logs Battelle Northwest Laboratories (ENL) RAP arrives Capitol City Airport; sampling begins.
2:45 Reg I State liaison contacts Governor's office in Connecticut.
3:00 SP Log Proposed NRC Press Release cleared with PA Rad Health Dept.
3:4 PN 79-67 First formal preliminary
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notification report distributed by NRC.
4:00 OCA Telephone briefing for Senate Subcommittee on Nuclear Regulation and Senator Heinz.
4:13 Comm. Gilinsky's Comm. Gilinsky spoke to Nat Telephone Log Goldhaver, Office of Gov. of Pa.
5:00 PR 79-65 Second press release issued.
5:15 Reg I NRC mobile lab arrives at site.
6:00 Reg I Fourth Reg I vehicle leaves for site.
7:55 SP Log Call to FA Rad H::'th Cept (ARMS data shows count is up, status cf SNL monitoring activities).
24l 267
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Date/ Time Source Activity Wednesday (cont'd) 6:15 PM SP Log PA Rad Health Dept acknowledges receipt of ARMS data and says they are keeping Governor informed.
8:17 Reg. I Log Reg I notified of decision to send NRR team to site; arrival expected next AM.
8:30 Reg I Fourth vehicle arrives on site.
8:30-Reg I NRC, State, RAP Team brief 9:45 Lt. Governor Scranton.
9:00 Region I Log Reg I notified that Salem providing equipment.
9:00 SP Log SP verifies (how?) that FAA has not been notified.
10:00 -
11:00 Reg. I Reg I participates in Lt.
Governor's press conference.
Thursday, March 29 bd 11:30 (PM) to 12:30 (AM)
Reg I Team briefs Governor Thornburgh.
12:15 PR #79-66 Press Release.
1:00 SP Log SP rotifies Defense Civil Preparedness Agency and r2 ads press release.
2:00 SP Log SP telephones PA Emergency Managem.ent Agency, reads press release.
2:10 SP Log SP tries to telephone Health Center for Disease Control (Atlanta) (PA radiological Health says they will try again in morning).
241 268
. Cate/ Time Source Activity Thursday (cont'd) 8:30 AM SP Log SP calls H. Calley, EPA, to read press release and suggests he call Gerusky and offer assistance.
9:00 Reg I Two additional vehicles (6 people) dispatched to site.
9:30 SP Log Food and Drug Administration calls and offers to have Baltimore Fielo Office provide assistance in 1ccking at food pathways.
9:30 Commission briefed by Gossick, Eisenhut and Jordan at "H" Street.
10:25 PN-79-67A Issued.
11:00 SP Log SP tries to contact NY Bureau of Radiological Health (call completed at 12:17 pm).
11:05 SP Log SP calls NJ Dept. of Health.
11:15 Comm. Gilinsky's Comm. Gilinsky spoke to Lt. Gov.
telephone log Scranton of Pa.
11:30 OCA Chairman Hendrie and NRC staff brief members of Subcommittee on Energy and Environment, other Members of Congress, and Congressional staff on status of incident.
11:45 SP Log SP calls Delaware Rad-Health Dept.
12:00 (Approx)
NRR team (Vollmer +7) arrive on site; Strasma (Region III Public Affairs) on site.
241 269
Date/ Time Source Activity Thursday (cont'd) 3 12:05 SP Log SP returns call to Gov. Ray's (Washington) assistant.
12:10 SP Log SP cells WV Rad Hcalth c o r. tac t.
12:15 SP Log SP calls Va. Radiological Health (call finally completed at 1:15).
12:00 -
1:00 Reg I Vehicles 6 and 7 on site (total IE personnel:
17).
2:15 Reg I Congressional group (Hart, Udall, Heinz, et al.) arrive observation center; receive briefing.
2:40 SP Log SP telephones Fish and Wildlife Service.
3:00 Pti-79-67E Licensee pulls thermolumi-nescent dosimeters from 17 fixed positions located within a 15 mile radius of site.
Dosimeters had been in place for three months and had been exposed for about 32 hours3.703704e-4 days <br />0.00889 hours <br />5.291005e-5 weeks <br />1.2176e-5 months <br /> after incident.
Only two dosimeters showed exposures above normal levels.
3:01 SP Log SP briefs (by phone) Md.
Radiclogical Health on status of samples.
3:20 Reg I State liaison contact with Vermont.
3:15 -
6:30 Reg I NRC representatives are called to State Capital to brief Governor and Lt. Governor prior to Governor's 5:00 PM press conference.
241 270
, Date/ Time Source Activity Thursday (cont'd) 3:35 PM SP Log In response to inquiry from Minnesota Rad. Health, SP gives status briefing.
5:55 Reg I Log The Executive Management Team directs the licensee to stop dumping all water.
RI notifies HQ that stopping the dumping will cause backing of water into the Turbine Building.
(Late entry - the licensee has been dumping water to the river -- the water is within TS limits WRT contamination.)
6:00 Log???
PA Rad Health says NRC can make decision on rad. water dump without checking further with them.
6:10 Reg I Log Licensee notifies NRC that he is stopping the discharge.
5:30 Reg I Log Briefings provided by Met.
Edison to Senator Schweiker, Congressmen Gooding (iork),
Mike McCormack; Waller (Lancaster),
Weidler (L.I.,NY) 6:00 PN-67B NRC requests Met. Edison to terminate release of slightly contaminated industrial waste.
Permission to resume release granted at 12:15 am and coordinated with State.
State press release issued.
4: 50 -
7:00 Reg. I Multiole attempts to reach EPA:III concerning industrial waste dumps; finally contacted at 7:00 p.m.
241 271
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_ Date/ Time Source Activity Thursday (cont'd) 6:35 PM SP Log PA Rad Health calls back and asks NRC to hold river dump because of Governor's concern.
SP provides update on ARMS data.
7:05 SP Log Offer from DOE Emergency Assistance.
8:30 Reg I Call to Governor's aide to inform of core damage.
9 00 -8:30 SP Log Updated status reports to MD, WVA and US Bureau of Rad.
Health.
10:05 SP Log PA Rad Health says "go" if NRC wants to have water dumped.
10:12 Reg I Log Industrial Waste Discharge verified to be off.
Friday, March 30 AU 12:05 Reg I Log EMT asks IE/ site to relay to Met. Ed that NRC says OK to release industrial waste.
Notify "R.C when release commences.
2:06 Reg I Log Industrial Waste Tank over-flowing onto ground.
5:35 Reg I Log Fire in Unit One Aux. Building Basement - (picked up from intercom).
Fire in ventilation system.
8:00 SP Log Status report to EPA.
8:20 SP Log Status report to FDA, Bureau cf Radiciogical Health.
3:30 SP Log Status report to Md. Rad Health.
241 272 e
. Date/ Time Source Activity Friday (cont' 3:50 AM SP Log Call from FPA requesting status.
9:00 Reg I Control room personnel (Unit 1) hear announcement that evacuation in a 10-mile radius arcund plant has been recommended by NRC.
9:05 Reg. I Onsite inspector calls Region to verify that above was true.
Were told re..ommendation was not official.
9:25 Reg I Log State notified of release; evacuat. ion ru~.ored; site does not plan to call for evacuation.
9:15 -
10:10 SP Log SP calls PA Civil Defense re potential evacuation.
9:50 PN 79-67B Issued.
10:00 Reg I Log Some confusion exists because State evidently has recccmended evacuation of Middletown (Doc.
Collins).
Plant /NRC has not recommended evacuation.
10:25 Reg I Log Communication Lost with Unit 2 Control Room.
10:30 -
10:45 Reg I Log State has advised residents within 10 miles to go inside and shut windows.
NRC position remains:
no evacuation /
unnecessary to take any special precautions.
10: 47 Cmrs. Tel. Log Conference call between Gossick and Commissioners:
decision to send Denton to site.
241 273
Date/ Time Source Activity Friday (cont'd)
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11:00 AM Reg. I Unit 1 Control Room beccmes aware that an evacuation was~ ~ - -
suggested by Governor.
11:40 Cmsr. Tel. Log Hendrie and Governor discuss evacuation.
11:45 Reg I Log Release at 11:09 for about 15 secs.
M 12:03 Reg I Log Chairman of NRC recommands that Governor of PA evacuate 5-mile radius.
12:07 Reg I Log EPA, Region III advised of evacuation recommendation.
12:30 Reg I i.cg The NRC evacuation recommenda-tion is changed or is clarified as follows:
pregnant women and preschool children in the 5 mi. radius should be evacuated.
This recommendation to Gov. of PA - not public.
Dr. Langford of EPA is notified of this change.
1:00 SP Log Another conversation with FDAA re Governor's recommendation for President to call National Security Council meeting at 1:30.
1:15 -
1:30 SP Log Calls to MD, Delaware, NY, NJ VA, WV Rad Health regarding Governor's recccm.endation.
1:25 Cmsr. Tel. Log Hendrie conference at White House followed by 1:30 p.m.
NSC meeting.
1:30 Reg I Another vehicle (2 HPs) departs for site.
241 274
. Date/ Tine 53urce Activity Friday (cont'd)
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2:00 PM Mossburg Denton +12 arrive by Gossick Notes' helicopter at site; 2:20 Mossburg NPR Cperations Center Gossick Notes established a'. nearby residence; notifications to President Carter and Governor Thornburgh.
2:30 Reg I Director and Branca Chief plus 2 HPs dispatched by helicopter.
(About) 3:30 Unverified Wayne Kerr (OSP) +5 arrive at site to assist IE Health Phvsics.
By this time, S3 NRC personnel are onsite and in vicinity (51 IE, 4 SP, 3 PA, 25 NRR).
6:30 Press Release Press release "no imminent No. 79-67 danger of core melt; technical experts (Denton, et al.) on site" 8:45 Reg I Log (Madden) acting as Administrative Officer reports the following:
Trailer, manned by NRR (Denton) and the White House Communications Group is now behind the Observation Center and wired for use.
Additionai Trailer by 2145 will be wired with 6 telephones.
Boyce Grier is downtown in Harrisburg at a Press Conference w/Stello, Denton, Governor Thornburgh.
Air National Guard Unit at Harrisburg Int. Airport avail-able for assistance.
241 275
. Date/ Time Source Activity Saturday, March 31 AM
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1:25 SP Log Coordinating meeting held at Capital City Airport (EPA, DOE, PA Dept. of Environmental Resources, FDA, NRC).
3:50 SP Log Telephone call from Bettis, Radiological Assistance Team at Cocmand Post at Capital City Airport; analytical equipment in airport hangar.
6:00 Reg I Log Oak Ridge man believes he can use the Loose Parts Monitoring to tell the size of the bubble in the vessel.
6:25 SP Log Call from PA Civil Defense; status update.
About 9:00 Public Affairs Ce,ter activa *.ed at site; limited operation until April 1.
About 8:30 SP Log Trailer moves just outside plant gate; NRR operations center in full force.
9:17 SP Log Call from HEW asking what their role would be if evacua-tion necessary; NRC says PA Civil Defense has lead; status update.
9:25 SP Log Call from Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ); status report 9:20 SP Log Call from NY Rad Health Bureau; status report.
10:00 SP Log Call from Defense Civil Preparedness Agency; status report.
241 276 W
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. Date/ Time Source Activity Saturday (cont'd)
Ed 12:00 50 Log Conversations with FDA-Bureau of 12:30 Radiological Health re supplies of potassium iodine.
2:00 SP Log PA Rad Health Dept. agrees to refer all calls relating to health matters to NRC.
3:26 Cars. Tel. Log Ccamission meets in Bethesda at Operations Center.
4: 25 Cmrs. Tel. Log Hendrie and Governor confer via telephone on status.
5:00 SP Log NRC informed that Governor, WV had activated Sta+.e Radiological Assistance Team.
Sunday, April 1 10:45 AM PN-67G NRC representative (Stello?)
at facility informed that sabotage attempt would be made during the night.
FBI, PA State Police and licensee notified.
1:30 SP Log SP calls 00E Command Center (they do not know where EPA people are); also calls PA Rad. Health; EPA lab is next door but no one is there.
8:13 SF Log SP calls PA Rad Health (00E wili collect all data and transmit results tc NRC).
Meeting scheduled at 8:30 to set up coordination.
9:35 SP Log Contact established by Lu0enau/Vaden at PA Rad. Health offices.
11:00 Reg I Log NRC Personnel on site (65 I&E; 27 NRR; 5 otners).
241 277
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