ML19297A124
| ML19297A124 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane  |
| Issue date: | 10/07/1980 |
| From: | Ahearne J NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Staats E GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19297A118 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8010280304 | |
| Download: ML19297A124 (2) | |
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UNITED STATES 3 J 9 *p' E NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Qhb E
W ASHIN GTON, D.C. 20555
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October 7, 1980 OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN The Honorable Elmer B. Staats Comptroller General of the United States General Accounting Office Washington, DC 20548
Dear Mr. Staats:
The final report by the Comptroller General of the United States entitled "Three Mile Island:
The Financial Fallout" (EPD-80-89), was recently forwarded to our agency.
This letter is in response to recommendations to the Chairman, NRC, summarized on page 62 of the GA0 report.
The recommendations focus on the issues of restart of Three Mile Island Nuclear Station, Unit No.1 (TMI-1), cooperation with the Secretary of Energy in a recommended study of the General Public Utilities System, and development of regulatory guidance relating to the restart, clean-up and recommissioning of the TMI units.
As you are aware, the Nmission Order of July 2,1979 directed that TMI-l remain shutdown until 1 ether order of the NRC, and determined that a hearing precede restart of the facility in order to allow public partici-pation in the proceeding.
By Order on August 9, 1979 as supplemented on March 6,1980, the Commission specified the bases for their concern, the issues to be considered in the hearing, and the procedures to be applied.
An NRC Safety Evaluation Report, (NUREG-0680) issued in June 1980, provided an evaluation of the licensee's compliance with items covered in the August 9 Order.
A supplement to the evaluation is scheduled to be issued in November 1980 covering the resolution of cpen issues identified in NUREG-0680 and addressing the management issues in the March 6 Order.
The assigned Atomic Safety and Licersing Board (ASLB) conducted a final pre-hearing conference on August 12 and 13,1980 and subsequently issued a Memo-randum and Order on August 15, 1980, in which the hearing was set to begin on October 15, 1980. The NRC staff is currently involved in the on-going review of technical information and hearing preoaration concerning the restart of Unit No. 1.
The record on which the Commission will make a determination regarding restart will include a recommendation from the ASLB.
We have placed a high priority, considering other efforts required of the staff, on completing all of the staff effort required to support an expedited hearing schedule.
8010280304
.. The Commission and staff will cooperate fully with any further Department of Energy study undertaken regarding the financial aspects of the GPU system, if it is determined that an additional study is required.
The Commission is continuing to independently evaluate information in the finan-cial area as part of the TMI-l restart review.
An NRC Task Force will soon issue a report examining the possibility of NRC assuming direct responsibility for the TMI-2 cleanup in the event of default by the licensee, and alternatives to such NRC action.
Due to the uniqueness of the TMI-2 clean-up activities the staff prepared and issued on August 14, 1980, a Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) related to decontamination and disposal of radioactive wastes resulting from the March 28, 1979 accident at TMI-2.
This draft PEIS presents an overall study of the activities necessary for decontami-nation of the facility, defueling and disposition of the radioactive wastes which resulted from the TMI-2 accident.
Since the precise condition of the reactor core or reactor building is not known, the staff has described and assessed probable or bounding situations.
When more information becomes available, supplements to the draft statement will oe issued if the affected operations are found to be significantly changed with additional guidance to the licensee as appropriate.
A discussion of the ultimate disposition of IMI-2 is beyond the scope of the draft PEIS, though the staff concludes at this time that all of the clean-up operations must be performed whether TMI-2 is ultimately decommissioned or restored to a condition acceptable for licensed operation.
Regulatory requirements related to the TMI site are con;inuously being evaluated and revised as deemed appropriate in response to new information developed in the course of recovery from the accident, which of course, represents a unique set of regulatory circumstances.
Additional clarification or information regarding the recommendations will be supplied upon request.
Sincerely, John F. Ahearne Chairman
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ACTION CONTROL [ OATES )
CONTROL NO.
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,GTA: Cu:raings COvPt oE Actiray' 8/22/80 a C xN O.v t E co v 4NT
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DATE OF DOCU /ENT INTERN. atPtv \\ _J/
7/21/80 TO:
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PREPARE FCR SIGNATURE
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The Connission FIN AL P EPLY FILE LCCATION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
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SPECI AL INSTRUCTIONSTR; REM' AKg )]JM $
CESCRIPTION O LETTER O MEP'O O REPORT O OTHER IMJ. V.-xJ FIllAL GAO REPORT ENTITLED, "THREE MILE PRIORITY MAIL ekw ' rd,yQtl hu t /%A tA./* '
44~U L i
f ISLAND: THE FINANCIAL FALLOUT" Not6 rest {ico gn eb L r,i sws ssemination.,,.j7h r
NRR should meet suspense noted.
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Response must specifically address CLASblFIED DATA recommendation."
CLASSIFICATION DOL has lead with input from Saltzman NUYBER OF PAGES CATECORY DOST AL R EGIST RY NO.
O NSI O Ro O FRD ASSIG',EO TO:
DATE INFORMATION ROUTING LEG AL REVIEW D FINAL 0 COPY N' tf s;eCriONS
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Denton 7/22/80 Dircks Denton
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- Cornell Case Ross a EcoacviNacoRRESen r, r Rehm PPAS Hanauer E xT.
Co r/ ME NTS. NOTI F Y:
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- Stello Snyder J11ttson M g " ' P'A
- M,ichelson GrinEes) port to be sen t later bo Ie ext.
O vES O NO Mr Q, gw g,g ;CAE NOTIFICATION RECet."/ ENDED.
N_C p v7' a-er EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR C'ER ATIONS DO h0T REMOVE THIS COPY PRINCIPAL CORRESPONDENCE CONTROL
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AUG 1319g9 MEMORANDUM FOR:
William J. Dircks, Acting Ex utive Director fo tions adJ.
ummings irector ~
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FROM:
Office of Inspector and Auditor
SUBJECT:
FINAL GA0 REPORT ENTITLED "THREE MILE ISLAND:
THE FINANCIAL FALLOUT" In accordance with our August 25, 1975, memorandum concerning coordination of GA0 activities within NRC, the subjeci. GA0 report is being provided for your infonaation. Limited advance distrilution of the report was made by OIA on July 21, 1980.
Since the report was publicly released on August 8,1980, additional copies have been made available, enabling us to complete our distribution to agency officials.
It should be noted that this report contains a recommendation to the Chairman, NRC, on page 62.
As you know, Section 236 of the f.egislative Reorganization Act of 1970 requires the Chainnan to submit a written statement on actions taken on GA0 recommendations to the Senate Committee on Government Affairs and the House Committee on Government Operations no later than 60 days after the date of the report.
However, as a result of the restriction on distribution of this report, NRC's response to the Committees must be made within 60 days of the official release date.
The statement, therefore, is due to the Committees by October 7, 1980, and should be presented to the Commission for review and approval no later than September 23, 1980.
Attachment:
Subject GA0 Report Dated 7/7/80 f
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CONTACT:
T. Wiest, DIA 49-27051 se
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2 William J. Dircks s
cc: Commission (4) w/o attachment S. Chilk L. Bickwit E. Hanrahan C. Kammerer J. Fouchard H. Shapar N. Haller H. Denton R. Mattson V. Stello J. Davis C. Michelson W. Kerr T. Murley R. Minogue T. Rehm y
.