ML19322C039
| ML19322C039 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane  |
| Issue date: | 11/29/1979 |
| From: | Gossick L NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | Goodling B HOUSE OF REP. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19322C040 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7912280471 | |
| Download: ML19322C039 (2) | |
Text
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NRC PUBMC DQC# MENT R00,M UNITED STATES
[
g NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 5
E WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555 k **.+ /
The Honorable Bill Goodling United States House of Representatives Washington, D. C.
20515
Dear Congressman Goodling:
Your letter of May 16 enclosing a resolution of the Executive Board of the East York Elementary School PTA and a petition signed by 2,402 local citizens submitted by the York Committee for a Safe Environment has been referred to me.
I regret that this reply has been delayed.
The resolution of the Executive Board of tne East York Elementary School PTA requested the NRC to prohibit reactivation of either reactor at Three Mile Island. The petition submitted by the York Comittee for a Safe Environment requested the NRC to permanently shut down and decomission both Three Mile Island reactors. This petition also requested that a hearing be held prior to any major licensing decision, such as: cleanup of the accident, refit and reactivation of the plant, or continued operation of the plant.
.With regard to Three Mile Island Unit 1, on July 2,1979, the NRC ordered that Unit I remain in a cold shutdown condition until further order of the Comission and stated that a hearing would be conducted prior to any restart of the facility. The NRC issued a subsequent Order and Notice of Hearing on August 9,1979, which reiterated the requirement that the licensee maintain Three Mile Island Unit 1 in a cold shutdown condition until further order of the Comission, and also established an Atomic Safety and Licensing Board to conduct a hearing and render a decision relative to the resumption of operation by Unit 1.
Prior to start of the hearing, the NRC staff will conduct a review of technical information concerning the restart of the Unit. As part of this review, the NRC staff will hold meetings with the licensee which will be open to the public with the opportunity to raise questions and to make statements. During the hearing, the technical issues, which are appropriate to assure the public health and safety, will also be addressed.
In addition, the Licensing Board may consider the psychological impact of future operation on the nearby communities if the Comission determines that such consideration is appropriate. On the basis of this hearing, the Comission will determine whether any further operation of Three Mile Island Unit 1 will be permitted, and if so, under what conditions.
With regard to Three Mile Island Unit 2, the licensee has not yet submitted to the NRC a proposal for overall plant recovery, although the licensee is conducting feasability studies.
It is not possible at this time to determine when such proposals for recovery may be submitted or how much time will be needed for the required reviews and approvals in connection with Unit 2's l
recovery.
I would note, however, that the licensee's authority to operate Unit 2, except in its present shutdown mode, was suspended by Order of July 20,1979.
7912280 D /
()
r The Honorable Bill Goodling.
We hope that the actions we have taken are responsive to the concerns of your constituents.
Enclosed are copies of the Orders issued on July 2, 1979 and August 9, 1979.
Sincerely, _
ORIGitlAL SIGNED BY R.G. SMITH y [e. V. Gossick
} Execut ve D; rector
"' E"" #
Enclosures:
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1 1.
Order dtd. 7/2/79 2.
Order dtd. 9/9/79 i
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