ML19318B590
| ML19318B590 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane  |
| Issue date: | 06/05/1980 |
| From: | Dircks W NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | Goodling W HOUSE OF REP. |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8006270115 | |
| Download: ML19318B590 (3) | |
Text
DISIRIBul10N:
/
Docket No. 50-320 RHVollmer NRC PDR w/ incoming Dross Local PDR w/ incoming Hanover
&RN w/i ncoming RMattson JUN 5 1980 ED0 r/f Attorney, ELD NRR r/f OCA (3)
TMI:P0 r/f w/ incoming GErtter (ED0 #8876)
TMI Site r/f MGroff BJSnyder (2)
RTedesco The Honorable William Goodling JCollins RReid United States House of WTravers w/ incoming DDilanni Representatives W0liu BGrimes Wash'ngton, D. C.
20515 JCook DEisenhut HRDenton SECY-80-0873
Dear Congressman Goodling:
EGCase PPAS I am writing in response to your note of April 10, 1980, regarding the phone call of March 24, 1980, from your ccastituent Mrs. Jessica Snider.
Mrs. Snider expressed concern about the safe removal of krypton gas from the reactor building at Three Mile Island, Unit 2 (TMI-2).
Specifically Mrs. Snider is questioning why Metro-politan Edison Company (Met Ed) did not accept the loan of a cryogenic processing system from the Limerick Nuclear Pouer Station.
Met Ed submitted to NRC a " Safety Analysis and Environmental Report" (November 13, 1979) in which they evaluated four alternative methods for decontamination of the TMI-2 reactor building atmosphere: purging to the atmosphere, charcoal absorption, gas conpression, and cryogenic processing.
The cryogenic processing section of the report did discuss the use of the Limerick equipment. The NRC staff evaluated the use of this equipment in considering cryogenic processing as a decontamination alternative in its " Final Environmental Assessment for Decontamination of the Three Mile Island Unit 2 Reactor Building Atmosphere" (NUREG-0662), a copy of which is enclosed for your information (see Section 6.6).
In its Final Environmental Assessment, the NRC staff considered the importance of removing the krypton from the reactor building as quickly as possible.
In Section 5.0 the staff explains that reactor building atmosphere decontamination needs to be expedited to permit a safe and quick completion of all cleanup activities on Thr+c Mile Island.
Since the cryogenic processing system would require 20 months o. Tre to design, construct, house, and test before it could go into operation, the NRC staff recorrnended the purging alternative. However, the Commission is responsible for making the final decision about which alternative is used.
Should the Commission require use of the cryogenic processing system, the equipment will still be available for Met Ed to purchase.
I trust that this letter and the enclosed Environmental Assessment adequately address your constituent's concerns.
Sincerely, gggned)T. A. Rsh'*1 S006270115 WiHiam J. Dircks, Acting Executive Director for Operations
Enclosures:
\\i
- 1. Incoming correspondence dated 4/10/80
- 2. Final NUREG-0662 Q. o )MEE cREVIOUS YEttfMOR C0iiCURFEiiCE iC
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-3 INTER-OFFICE
'a See attached Subject editorial - York Daily Name Mrs. Jessica Snider Fecord Address
'IO :
Washington - Reggie Street 17 York Ibad FROM:
York - Phyllis City Jacobus Zip 17407 DATE:
3/24/80 Telephone: home 428-3269 CHECK:
office C Letter (attach)
Social Security #
] Call (date & time) 3/24/80 Service # and Rank Veteran #
] Visit (date & time)
NATURE OF CONCERN Mrs. Snider wonders why the offer of the Philadelphia Electric Cmpany for safe renoval of the Krypton gas was not taken up. She wishes t
03ngressman Goodling would bring pressure to bear to have this done, rather than expose the people of Central Pen:tsylvania to it.
b 6,
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YORK DAILY RECORD 1
Opinton v
. iy.
MONDAY, M ARCH 24,1980
., a (%
o
- b Getridofthe krypton safelyE]
The staff of the Nuclear Regulatory Comm.
"P_hiladelphia Electric C'. has ' purchased o
ission recommends that the krypton gas trap-crvogenic. equipment - whichliquifies gases.
ped in the damaged reactor at Three Mile ~ through use, of extremely low temperatures,...
. Island nuclear generating plant b'e released in. facilitating their containment and safe removal to the atmosphere as soon as possible. At hear- - for its Limerick reactors under construction' i
ings the commission held last week, the public in Montgomery County._After the accident Llast gave its answer loud and clear. It was an angry, M a rch _28. a t_Three_M11elsla nd Mh e_ company.
impassioned "No."
offered to make that equipment available to_.
The commission says the radioactive gas Mropolitan Edison officials, according to PE must be vented in small doses over a period of spokesmen."
time to prevent the far more terrible risk of un-
'Almost a year later, the offer hasn't' bben controlled massive leaks of the krypton 2ater accepted. Wh'y?
on. The leaks, the commission says, would in-voht the leaks of highly radioactive water also. Adapting the cryogenic equipment to lthe trapped in the reactor.
en rmous clean up operation at Three Mile' Deppite the commission's assurances that Island would take time and money, but technic-the levels of krypton to be vented are within ally it is possible, experts say. Let it be done, c..
federal safety limits, there are scientists who If Met-Ed can't pay to do so, then let the'
~
assert that any and all expost[re to radiation federal government bear the cost. That's'n,olin) poses potential harm tgpresent and future thetrue capitalistic spirit, but certainly it is far.-
generatigos. This is the fear that' grips r are preferable than intentionally releasing residents of this region. Nothing the commiss-harmful radioactive gas at who kriows what l
lon can say will allay that fear.
pricein human suffering.
- f)
The krypton gas can be removed safely.
Put the technology to work so thehe,ople 6f There is technology to do so and it is available.
the Three Mile Island region don't have to.go.
The Philadelphia Inquirer reports editorially:
through another spring of discontent and fear..
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