ML19309B529
| ML19309B529 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane  |
| Issue date: | 02/28/1980 |
| From: | Harold Denton Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Snyder I AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19309B530 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8004040247 | |
| Download: ML19309B529 (2) | |
Text
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FEBRUARY 2 8 N j
j Krs. Irene E. Snyder 814 Hoffer Street Middletown, PA 17057
Dear Mrs. Snyder:
Thank you for your letter concerning the accident at Three Mile Island Nuclear l
Station, Unit 2.
I regret that this answer to your letter has been delayed.
The accident and its consequences have created a substantial increase in the l
agency's workload, which has prevented us from responding to you as promptly as we would have liked to.
The very small dose of radiation that was received by people in the area came from radioactive gases that escaped from the auxiliary building. The average dose of radioactivity received by the population within_50 miles of Three Mile Island was approximately 4 millirems. The -4==
exposure to any individual was less than 100 millirems, which is less than the yearly dose each person receives as a result of natural background radiation. Doses at these levels result in less than one health effect over the lifetime of all people in this area. Natural background radiation received by people in the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, area is approximately 125 millirens per year. To put these doses into perspective, it should be noted that a traveler flying round trip in a jet between New York City and Los Angeles receives 5 milli-rems from cosmic rays in the natural background.
Several NRC staff task forces have been organized to identify and evaluate safety concerns, which originated from the Three Mile Island accident, that merit consideration in the licensing actions for presently operating reactors as well as those for which operating licenses and construction permits are j
pending.
The task forces' reviews have disclosed a number of actions in the areas of design and analysis and plant operations that will be required in the short term to provide substantial additional protection of the public health and safety. All nuclear power plants in operation or under construction will be affected to varying degrees by the specific recommendations.
You cousnent that the NRC should phase out nuclear power plants. NRC's primary responsibility consists in the licensing, inspection, and enforce-ment of regulations for nuclear power plants in the interest of public health and safety and for the protection of the environment. changes in NRC's regulatory responsibilities can stem from the public's will and the resulting Congressional action.
800.4040247
FEBRUARY 2 8 1900 There is currently a pause in the licensing of nuclear power plants until the recommendations of the President's Commission on the Accident at Three Mile Island and the NRC staff investigations have been evaluated and until those rec-dations relevant to licensing are implemented.
In announcing his reco==andations based on the Presidential Commission's report. President Carter stated that "we cannot shut the door on nuclear power."
With regard to your comments concerning the possible future operation of Three Mile Island Unit 1, the Commission has ordered that a public hearing be conducted to determine whether the facility should be operated and, if so, under what conditions restart of Unit 1 would take place. Prior to start of the hearings, the NRC staff vill conduct a review of technical information concerning the restart of Unit 1.
As part of this review, the NRC staff will conduct meetings with the licensee in the presence'of the public, and the public will be given the opportunity to raise questions and to make state-mants. During the hearing, the technical issues which are appropriate to assure the public health and safety will also be addressed. In addition, the Hearing Board may consider the psychological impact of future operation on the nearby communities. A copy of the Connaission Order which outlines the issues to be considered is enclosed for your information.
I appreciate your concern 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 Nuclear Station, but at all other nuclear power plants as well.
Sincerely, CrPd Q::gd q -
j E. G. Cne s rold R. Denton, Director j
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Encl: Cocunission Order
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