ML19308B808
| ML19308B808 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane  |
| Issue date: | 04/01/1979 |
| From: | PENNSYLVANIA, COMMONWEALTH OF |
| To: | PENNSYLVANIA, COMMONWEALTH OF |
| References | |
| TASK-TF, TASK-TMR NUDOCS 8001170335 | |
| Download: ML19308B808 (11) | |
Text
,
7 s
e THE T.M.I.
INCIDENT March 28 - April 1, 1979 Office of the Governor UEDNESDAY - cARCII 28, 1979 7:02 a.m.
TMI Supervisor notifies Pennsylvania Emergency 1
Management Agency (PEMA) watch officers that there is a " site emergency".
7:04 a.m.
PEMA notifies Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources (DER).
7:08 a.m.
PEMA notifies Dauphin County.
7:12 a.m.
PEMA notifies Lancaster County.
7:20 a.m.
PEMA notifies York County.
7:36 a.m.
TMI notifies PEMA of " general emergency" status.
7:40 PEMA re-notifies 3 counties and appropriate Departments 7:50 a.m.
of Pennsylvania Government.
7:50 a.m.
PEMA notifies Governor of accident at TMI.
8:20 a.m.
PEMA notifies Lt. Governor.
9:05 a.m.
Governor calls Lt. Governor; requests report.
9:37 a.m.
Lt. Governor calls Governor; briefs him'by phone.
10:55 a.m.
Lt. Governor Press Conference (See Transcript) 11:30 a.m.
Meeting:
Governor Lt. Governor DER Official Governor's Staff Lt. Governor's Staf f 8001170.3,3 55 t
(
c
WEDNE,SDAY - MARCH 28, 1979 (continued) 2:30 p.m.
Meeting in Lt. Governor's Office:
Mr. Herbine - Met Ed TMI Plant Manager Senator Ross Paul Critchlow - Governor's Office Mark Knouse - Lt. Governor's Office Dave Milne - DER Tom Gerusky - DER Peter Duncan - DER Bill Anderson - Department of Justice Gerusky reports on a release occurring between 11:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. and complains about lack of notification.
Herbine reports on procedures in use; this is a " normal ventilation"; remarks that "we might have to have some controlled steam venting."
When confronted regarding 11:00-1:30 venting, admits it and says "it didn't come up" during his press conference.
Notes "possible fuel damage."
4:30 p.m.
Lt. Governor's Press Conference (See Transcript) 6:00 p.m.
Knouse invites Higgins and Gallina of 'NRC to visit Lt. Governor (First NRC contact?)
8:45 p.m.
Meeting in Lt. Governor's Office:
Lt. Governor j
Galinna - NRC Higgins - NRC Friess - DOE Jay Waldman - Governor's Office Paul Critchlow - Governor's Office Mark Knouse - Lt. Governor's Office Tom Gerusky - DER Rep. DeWeese Galinna says " future emissions, if any, will be less than today's venting from auxiliary building";
also notes possible core exposure.
9:33 p.m.
Lt. Governor calls Governor to brief and arranges later briefing at Governor's Home.
10:00 p.m.
Lt. Governor's Press Conference #3 (See Transcript) 10:00 p.m.
Governor meets citizens at gate of Governor's Home.
l
- 11:00 p.m.
Meeting -- Governor's !!ome:
Governor Lt. Governor Higgins - NRC Pricss - DOE Galinna - NRC Tom Gerusky - DER Dave Milne - DER Mark Knouse - Lt. Governor's Office Paul Critchlow - Governor's Office Roland Page - Governor's Office n
Tinny Thornburgh
(
John Thornburgh 6
s 1
THURSDAY - MARCH 29, 1979 Morning:
Met Ed Press Conference Morning:
Lt. Governor calls members of Pennsylvania Congressional Delegation.
Morning:
Lt. Governor discusses possible site visit with his staff and Governor's staff.
10:30 a.m.
Governor authorizes Lt. Governor's visit.
12:30 -
3:15 p.m.
Lt. Governor at T.M.I.
2:30 p.m.
Signal Corps "not-line" installed in Governor's Office.
3:45 p.m.
Lt. Governor reports to Governor and Governor's staff, plus Higgins and Galinna.
g"c 5 is_ p.m.
Governor's Press Conference (See Transcript) 7:00 p.m.
Critchlow receives report at possible discharge of 40,000 gallons of water; phones Governor; begins " digging".
10:00 p.m.
Higgins calls Critchlow; dit: cusses possibility of fuel damage and continued emissions.
10:00 -
Intermittent calls between Governor and Critchlow.
Midnight Midnight DER Secretary Cliff Jones issues statement about water discharge.
-m
.--m
==
d
FRIDAY - MARCH 30, 1979
)
Early a.m.
PEMA reports emission to Lt. Gove rnor.
8:58 a.m.
Lt. Governor reports emission to Governor's Office.
(Governor in transit to his office.)
9:00 -
9:45 a.m.
Critchlow confirms with Abraham of NRC that there was an emission, and that a Harold Collins of NRC
" recommends evacuation".
9:06 a.m.
Governor calls Lt. Governor; learns of emission, and the Collins recommendation.
9:24 a.m.
Lt. Governor calls Governor; further discussion.
9:59 a.m.
Governor places call to Chairman Hendrie.
r 10:00 a.m.
Lt. Governor visits PEMA.
Henderson (PEMA) calls Critchlots, advises that DER figures do not indicate evacuation.
10:00 a.m.
Governor reaches Hendrie; receites advice that people should stay inside, discusses children and pregnant women.
10:25 a.m.
Governor appears on WHP (live) to deal with~
evacuation rumors.
11:00 a.m.
Governor's staff begins legislative notification process.
11:15 a.m.
President Carter calls Governor:
1.
Concurs in the "no evacuation" decision.
2.
Inquires about Signal Corps line.
3.
Informs the Governor that Jessica Tuchman Matthews of his staff is assigned to this matter.
4.
Informs the Governor that his on-site personal representative will be Harold Denton.
FRIDAY - MARCH 30, 1979 (continued) 11:40 a.m.
Hendrie calls Governor:
1.
Says there will be future emissions.
2.
Reports on water pumping attempts.
3.
Advises that pregnant women and children should evacuate.
12:30 p.m.
Governor's Press Conference (See Transcript) 1:30 -
3:00 p.m.?.
Jay Waldman speaks with Jessica Matthews; learns that the situation is unprecedented; that the " worst case" was meltdown, and that lead time on meltdown could be 4-6 hours only.
Matthews also reports that Jack Wa': son will be coordinating for the White House.
2:00 p.m.
Waldman calls Jack Watons; asks to have Harold Denton visit Governor's Office.
3:08 p.m.
Governor calls Matthews, who confirms Waldman's conversation, and adds:
1.
There is a gas bubble present.
2.
The situation is stable.
3.
There we.s a " conscious" venting this morning.
4.
There is a constant leak.
5.
There is work being c'one on the drain pipes.
6.
The core is hot, and its top is not covered.
7.
There is nobody with a good pict re of the situation.
8.
Denton and Fouchard are on the way.
3:25 p.m.
Jack Watson calls Governor.
a
l FRIDAY - MARCH 30, 1979 (continued) 3:45 p.m.
Hendrie calls Governor 1.
Says core damage is serious, and Met Ed agrees that,it is.
2.
Bubble is present, but stable.
3.
No need for off-site protective response; explosion potential is low.
i 4.
1% meltdown chance, but 5% of chance of large unplanned releases.
4:05 p.m.-
Denton calls Governor; has been on site one hour and has assigned 4 task forces to study
)
the situation.
1.
Release off-site is routine noble gas; no threat.
2.
1 - 20 mr/hr on the island.
3.
Fuel damage is significant.
4.
Bubble on top of core, possibly expanding.
5.
Need several days of analysis.
6.
Discussion of need for public briefing.
After the call, arrangements made for Denton's visit to the Governor's Office.
4:30 p.m.
Watson calls Waldman; discusses declaration of emergency / disaster; feeling is that such an action would generate public panic, and that, in any event, Pennsylvania is already receiving the same type and amount of assistance as if there was a declaration.
Also designates Bob Adamcik as federal liaison for emergency preparedness.
8:30 p.m.
Denton visits Governor's Office.
1.
Fuel damage is great, making this a unique case.
2 No immediate need to evacuate, but Governor's order regarding pregnant women and children should stay in effect.
1
FRIDAY - MARCH 30, 1979 (continued) 8:30 p.m.
3.
There is still a slight chance of inter-(cont.)
mittent release.
4 Worst case:
meltdown; with " billion dollar effect" and only " hours" of lead time.
5.
Non-evacuation,given its own dangers, can't be faulted, but you should have a plan ready.
6.
The bubble must be manipulated; critical
" puzzle" is that pressure must be lowered for cooling, but that would expand the bubble.
7.
Met Ed is " thin" on technical proficiency.
10:00 p.m.
Governor's Press Conference (See Transcript) e l
l
SATURDAY - MARCH 31, 1979 9:40 a.n.
Governor discusses PEMA with Jay Waldman, 10:00 a.m.
Governor assigns Dr. Robert Wilburn to review t,-
PEMA and operation.
V 10:05 a.m.
Wilburn meets with Lt. Governor.
v 10:30 a.m.
Waldman advises Watson of Wilburn's " mission".
11:00 -
Wilburn at PEMA.
j 12:00 noon 1:00 p.m.
Denton briefs press.
2:00 p.m.
Governor, Lt. Governor visit evacuees at Hershey Park Arena.
2:45 p'.m.
Hendrie Press Conference in Washington, D.C.
3:00 p.m.
Wilburn briefs Governor on PEMA.
3:45 p.m.
Governor calls Denton; discusses Met Ed report that bubble is down by 1/3, learns that report is in error.
Also discusses various percentages for hydrogen flammability / explosion.
4:25 p.m.
Governor calls Hendrie to clarify matters raised in Hendrie's press conference.
Hendrie recommends keeping pregnant women and pre-school children away for another night.
"Better today than 24 hrs. ago."
No precautionary evacuation is necessary, but procedure dictates readiness.
5:00 p.m.
Governor issues statement.
(See Attached) 5:45 p.m.
Critchlow and Jody Powell agree to coordinate fed /srate public statements.
7:00 p.m.
Critchlow calls Gene Eidenberg (Watson's office) to discuss White House assessment of Pennsylvania Emergency Plan; learns the meeting to assess is still in progress.
8:15 p.m.
Eidenberg calls Critchlow; expresses "high degree of satisfaction" with plan; but mentions concerns over hospitals and nursing homes.
I l
1 s
SATURDAY - MARCH 31, 1979 (continued) 8:27 p.m.
Governor receives copy of wire story about possible bubble explosion; this story touches of f general confusion in the area.
Critchlow calls Denton to check the story and learns that the "explosiion" was simply a
" hypothetical", a " postulation".
Critchlow calls Governor, discusses possib.1.e statement.
9:30 p.m.
Denton arrives at Capital; Governor suggests his diversion to Capital newsroom to put explosion story to rest.
10:10 p.m.
Governor and staff meet with Denton and Fouchard:
1.
"No near-term explosion problem", though bubble is still 90% of its original size.
2.
Recommends schools stay closed.
3.
Discusses general technical situation.
4 Med Ed is " thin" on technical personnel.
During this meeting, President Carter's visit the next days is confirmed.
11:00 p.m.
Governor and Denton's Press Conference (See Transcript)
SUNDAY - APRIL'l, 1979 9:00 a.m.
Lt. Governor, Secretary Wilburn, Senator Gekas and Dauphin County officials meet to discuss pre-paredness plans.
12:20 p.na.
Governor departs for Middletown for President Carter's visit.
1:00 -
3:00 p.m.
President Carter at T.M.I.
4:20 p.m.
Lt. Governor hosts meeting in Governor's Conference Room for emergency preparedness personnel, including Adamcek.
1.
Discussion of evacuation radius; NRC requires only 5 miles (regulation) and 10 miles is absolute limit, medically.
No further discussion of 20 miles.
2.
Governor arrives, asks Adamcek for assess-ment of local preparations by next morning.
3.
Secretary McLeod (Pennsylvania Department of Health) notes that available stock of potassium iodide is defective, with no labels on half the bottles, poor instruc-tions and droppers which don't fit.
7:00 p.m.
Governor issues statement.
(See Attached) 8:45 p.m.
Governor, Lt., Governor meet with Hendrie and Denton:
1.
Discussion of bubble status.
2.
Governor raises "Mr. Collins" evacuation statement, and Hendrie disclaims knowledge.
9:50 p.m.
Governor briefs Pennsylvania legislative leaders at his home.
.