ML19322C958
| ML19322C958 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane  |
| Issue date: | 01/18/1980 |
| From: | Harold Denton Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Lewis N AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19322C959 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8002060300 | |
| Download: ML19322C958 (2) | |
Text
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JAN 181980 Hb. Nancy A. Lewis 15 Circle Drive Jacobus, PA 17407
Dear Ms. Lewis:
I am writing in response to your letter to the Commission regarding the Three Mile Island nuclear facility. I regret that this answer to your letter has been delayed. The accident and its consequences have created a substantial increase in the agency's workload, which has prevented me from responding to you as promptly as I would have liked to.
With respect to alternative methods of energy production, such as solar, wind, and geothermal, the Department of Energy is the Federal Agency responsible for their research and development. The NRC considers these alternative methods of energy production in its assessment of the environerntal impact of each nuclear power plant as part of our overall review of each utility's applica-tion for a construction permit or an operating license. To date, we have determined that alternative methods of energy production are neither techni-cally nor economically feasible to provide the required amount of power at the time it is needed.
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 maximum 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 millirems per year. To put these doces into perspective, it should be noted that a traveler flying round trip in a jet between New York City. and Los Angeles receives 5 millirems from cosmic rays in the natural background.
With regard to your comments concernin1 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 will conduct a review of technical information
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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-cents. 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 inpact of future operation on the nearby comunities. A copy of the Commission Order which outlines the issues to be considered is enclosed for your infor=ation.
With regard to Three Mile Island Unit 2, the licensee has not yet sent to the NRC a proposal for plant recovery, although the licensee is conducting feasi-bility studies. It is not possible at this time to determine when such pro-posals for recovery may be submitted or how much time will be needed for the required reviews and approvals in connection with Unit 2's recovery.
I would note, however, that the licensee's authority to operate Unit 2, except for those actions necessary to keep the reactor shut down, was suspended by Order of July 20, 1979.
I appreciate your concerns 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 Station, but also at all nuclear power plants.
Sincerely, Harold R. Denton, Directe Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Enc 1: Comisson Order, Docket No. 50-289 l
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