ML19309F032
| ML19309F032 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane, Brunswick  |
| Issue date: | 03/24/1980 |
| From: | Harold Denton Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Stone T AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8004280357 | |
| Download: ML19309F032 (4) | |
Text
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NAR 2 4 IWO Distribution Docket (Attach original of inccming correspondence) - Docket Nos. 50-289 4 50-320 0 NRC/PDR (Xerox copy of incoming and place behind outgoing PDR copy) 0 Local PDR NRR r/f SPE/ M r/f DfI Site r/f RVollmer SMiner i
JohnCollins Noliu PChee, Argonne National Laboratory
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RTedesco 1
RReid DDilanni CNelson HSilver RIngram/LA
- Place these three copies in one envelope and forward to DSB-016.
S004280367 1
MAR 2 4 W Ms. Teresa Ann Stone 381 Bloomfield Avenue Montclair. NJ 07042
Dear Ms. Stone:
I am writing in response to your letter to President Carter regarding your request for information about Three Mile Island.
I regret that this answer to your letter has been delayed. The accident and its consequences have created a substantial incmase in the agency's workload, which has prevented me from responding to you as pmmptly as I would have liked to.
I shall respond to your four questions in the order given.
First, you asked if the leakage could have been prevented, and if so, why it was not. During the accident, fuel damage occurred which msulted in releases of radioactivity to the primary coolant for the reactor. Some of this primary coolant was routed to the auxiliary building through coolant makeup and purification systems. Gases phidb:edoTved frorw&ter in these systems were collected in waste gas systems, which had small leaks.
These leaks. though of little radiological significance during normal plant operations, caused high concentrations of airborne radioactivity inside the auxiliary and fuel handling buildings and resulted in higher than nonnal releases to the environment through ventilation exhausts from these buildings.
Ventilation systems include filters and absorbers to amove the radioactive particulates and radioactive iodine. The chemically inert noble gases (e.g.
krypton and xenon) are unaffected by filtration and absorp. tion. Their release to the environment, once they entered the auxiliary and fuel handling buildings, was inevitable. To offset the possibility of such mieases in the future.
NRC is requiring all licensees to periodically leak-test systems outside of the reactor building likely to contain high-level radioactive materials.
l Enclosed are copies of two report sunsnaries that can answer your second question. NUREG-0600 describes the sequence of events that contributed to the accident and NUREG-G578 reconenends various methods for preventing the circumstances that contributed to the accident at three Mile Island. The accident occurred as the result of a combination of human ermr. mechanical errors, and design inadequacies. Although the accident did result in damage to the fuel, the core of the reactor did moY. melt.down.
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' Third, a number of studies of the economic impacts of the Three Mile Island accident have been conducted by the NRC and others. A copy of a report by the Pennsylvania Governor's Office of Policy and Planning, "Three Mile Island Socio-Economic Impact Study," is being sent directly to you by that office.
Reports from other studies will be available soon. The preliminary findings about the impacts on comercial trade is that nonnal sales were reduced during the two weeks following the accident but have since recovered.
Fourth, although I cannot provide President Carter's opinion about the questions you ask, he has stated that "we cannot shut the door on nuclear power" in announcing his recommendations based on the Presidential Comission's report.
I appreciate your concerns and assure you that every effort is being made to ensure the continued protection of the health ar.J safety of the public, not only at the Three Mile Island Station, but airo at all nuclear power plants.
Since: ly, l
i rold R. Denton, Director ffice of Nutlear Reactor Regulation Encls: Sumary of NUREG-0600 Sumary of NUREG-0578 N
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April 4,1979 The President of the United States Washington, D.C.
20500
Dear Mr. President:
This letter is in reference to your concern and authorization dealing with the leakage of radiation in hrrin%re. Pennslyvania.
I would appreciate if the'following matters were answered with the best of knowledge and returned as soon as possible.
1 Do you think that the leakage could have been prevented, and if so, hcw come it wasn't?
2.
Did the workers know or were they aware that this was going to happen and just didn't try to prevent it?
Could they have really prevented the core from melting?
3 This matter did have a strorg economic impact on de-partment stores, families and others who might have suffered any kind of pain. What matter (s) (if any) are being taken toward the financial concern of these people? Will this affect these stores in a way that they might have to close permanently or will they regain the customers that they used to have?
4.
I feel as though this is a matter that may cause serious and provoking feelic.gs from those who are
. concern. It can also cause other Nuclear Plants around the world, and people living around these plants to develop a timid feeling for these plants, causing them to move away or to have these plants i
I closed down. Do you agree with these feelings?
What is you opinion?
I would be very pleased if you took this letter into your consideration and disregarded any questions that you feel isn't necessary or don't have any affect on this matter.
Yours very truly, l/ M Rb Teresa Ann Stone Student at Katharine Gibbs Secretarial School l~ ~-- - - ~.-.-.----
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