ML19308B589
| ML19308B589 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane  |
| Issue date: | 12/05/1979 |
| From: | Harold Denton Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Dupuis L AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19308B590 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8001150321 | |
| Download: ML19308B589 (3) | |
Text
'
/W, o
P DEC 5 1979 F
Ms. Laura DuPuis 3024 Boulder Ave.
Billings, MT 59102
Dear Ms. DuPuis:
I apologize for not providing this response to you sooner but, as you are aware, the Comission and staff have been occupied with continued support of the efforts at Three Mile Island, Orders to other facilities, appearances before the President's Comission and various comittees of Congress that are investigating the Three Mile Island accident, and the realignment of our own resources and priorities to give immediate attention to the problems resulting from the accident.
The accident at Three Rile Island was a result of many contributing factors.
These included human error, equipment malfunction and deficisncies in design.
I an enclosing a summary of a report which gives in more detail the factors which contributed to the accident.
The former Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) had a Congressional mandate to develop and promote nuclear energy. When the AEC was abolished in 1974, the
- TRC was created by Congress for the sole purpose of regulating the commercial production of nuclear energy. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is now responsible for the Federal Covernment's nuclear research and development activities. Consequently, questions about the future of this energy source should be directed to that agency.
With respect to alternative methods of energy production, such as solar, wind, and geothermal, the Department of Energy in the Federal Agency responsible for l
their research and development. The NRC considers these alternative methods of energy production in its assessment of the environmental impact of each l
l nuclear power plant as part of our overall review of each utility's applica-tion for a construction permit or an operating license. To date, we have l
determined that alternative methods of energy production are neither techni-cally nor economically feasible to provide the required amount of power at the i
time it is needed.
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We appreciate your concerns and assure you that every effort is being made to ensure the continued protection of the health and safety of the public, not only at the Three Mile Island Station, but also at all nuclear power plants.
Sincerely, C;':'- ; :-
!y II..L i.x.;.
Harold R. Denton, Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Enc 1: Sunnaary of NUREG-0600 i
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m Distribution t
Docket (Attach original of inccming correspondence)(O -3 2
- NRC/PDR (Xerox copy of incoming and place behind outgoing POR copy)
-TMI Site r/f PSB/TMI r/f - P-433 RVollmer SMiner JohnCollins W0liu PChee DEisenhut RReid DDiIanni CNelson HSilvor RIngram/LA
- TERA j-
- Place these three copies in one envelope and forward to DSB-016.
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